Best Restaurants in Collingwood — Where to Eat in 2026
Collingwood’s restaurant scene runs on converted warehouses, a competitive Smith Street strip, and kitchens that treat weeknight dinner with the same seriousness as a Saturday booking. The suburb shares Smith Street with Fitzroy — the border runs down the middle of the road — and that competition keeps standards high on both sides. Johnston Street adds Vietnamese and Thai options heading east toward Hoddle Street, while Gipps Street and the blocks south of Johnston have picked up newer openings in former industrial spaces. The food here is good because lazy restaurants don’t last.
Here are the spots that earn repeat bookings.
1. Alimentari — Italian Without Pretence
Alimentari on Smith Street runs as a deli, cafe, and restaurant across the day. By evening, the focus shifts to Italian cooking that respects tradition without being rigid. House-made pasta, seasonal small plates, and a wine list that favours Italian producers make it a reliable weeknight dinner spot. The deli counter means you can also grab provisions — olive oils, cheeses, tinned fish — on your way out. The room is busy and energetic, with staff who move fast and know the menu cold.
Address: 302 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Sat 7:30am–4pm (cafe), dinner hours Thu–Sat Price: $$ What to order: House-made pasta of the day and a glass of Nebbiolo from the list
2. Le Bon Ton — Barbecue, Bourbon, and Late-Night Bites
Le Bon Ton on Gipps Street is a bourbon bar and barbecue restaurant that commits fully to both. The smoked meats — brisket, ribs, pulled pork — are done in-house with proper technique, and the bourbon list runs several pages. After 9pm, the kitchen shifts to Asian-fusion small plates: bao buns, fried chicken with gochujang, and sliders that soak up the whiskey. The room is dark, the music is loud, and the Gipps Street location means you can pair dinner here with a session at Stomping Ground next door.
Address: 51 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Daily 4pm–1am (hours vary) Price: $$–$$$ What to order: Brisket plate with pickles and slaw, followed by a bourbon flight
3. Proud Mary — The All-Day Producer
Proud Mary on Nelson Street is better known for coffee and brunch, but the kitchen operates at a level that makes it a legitimate restaurant recommendation. The menu runs from the Full Breakfast board through to lunch dishes that use high-quality produce treated with care. It’s not dinner service — Proud Mary closes at 3pm — but for a long Saturday lunch with the kind of food and coffee that competes with dedicated restaurants, the warehouse space on Nelson Street delivers.
Address: 60 Nelson Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Fri 7am–3pm, Sat–Sun 8am–3pm Price: $$–$$$ What to order: The Full Breakfast board ($32) or whatever the seasonal lunch special is
4. Shop Ramen — Fast, Focused, Excellent
Shop Ramen on Smith Street does one thing and does it well. The peanut ramen is the cult order — a rich, slightly sweet broth with genuine depth. The space is small, the tables are tight, and the operation runs with the kind of efficiency that lets them turn tables fast without rushing you. The soft-serve dessert is an unexpected standout. This is not fine dining. It’s a 45-minute dinner that costs under $25 and leaves you properly satisfied. On a cold weeknight, there’s no better option on Smith Street.
Address: 329 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Daily 11:30am–9:30pm Price: $–$$ What to order: Peanut ramen and the house soft-serve
5. Stomping Ground — The Brewery Restaurant
Stomping Ground on Gipps Street operates a full restaurant program alongside its 30-tap beer hall. The food has evolved beyond standard pub fare — wood-fired pizzas, proper mains, and a weekend brunch menu that draws its own crowd. The space is a converted warehouse with a beer garden, table service, and enough room to absorb large groups without chaos. The beer pairings are the obvious play — the kitchen designs dishes to work with whatever’s on tap, and the staff can walk you through combinations.
Address: 100 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–11pm, Fri–Sat 11:30am–12am, Sun 11:30am–10pm Price: $$ What to order: A wood-fired pizza and the Gipps Street Pale Ale
6. Johnston Street Vietnamese — The Strip
Johnston Street heading east from Smith Street toward Hoddle Street has been Collingwood’s Vietnamese food corridor for decades. The bakeries do banh mi for under $10 — crusty rolls, pate, pickled vegetables, chilli — and the pho restaurants serve 12-hour broth with brisket and tendon at prices that make Smith Street look expensive. Individual shops rotate (openings and closures happen regularly), but the strip as a whole stays consistent. For the best selection, walk the stretch between Smith Street and Hoddle Street and follow the foot traffic.
Key street: Johnston Street between Smith Street and Hoddle Street Price: $ What to order: Banh mi from any bakery with a queue, and pho with the works
FAQ
What’s the best restaurant in Collingwood for a date? Alimentari for Italian ambiance on Smith Street, or Le Bon Ton on Gipps Street if your date likes bourbon and barbecue. Both are walkable from each other if you want to start with drinks at one and eat at the other.
Where’s the cheapest dinner in Collingwood? Johnston Street’s Vietnamese strip. Banh mi under $10, pho for $15, and rice plates for $14–18. Shop Ramen on Smith Street also comes in under $25 for a full meal.
Should I book or walk in? For Alimentari dinner service and Le Bon Ton on weekends, book ahead. Shop Ramen doesn’t take bookings — just queue. Stomping Ground has enough space that walk-ins usually work, even on Saturdays.
How does Collingwood compare to Fitzroy for restaurants? Fitzroy has more options overall, especially on Brunswick Street and Gertrude Street. Collingwood’s strength is the Gipps Street precinct (Le Bon Ton, Stomping Ground) and the Johnston Street Vietnamese strip, which Fitzroy doesn’t match. They share Smith Street, so many venues get claimed by both suburbs. See the Fitzroy restaurant guide for comparison.
Is there good vegetarian food? Transformer on Rose Street (just over the Fitzroy border) is one of Melbourne’s best vegetable-forward restaurants. Within Collingwood proper, Proud Mary and Alimentari both have strong vegetarian options.
Our Verdict
Collingwood’s restaurant scene works because it covers genuine range without spreading thin. Alimentari does Italian with soul on Smith Street. Le Bon Ton commits to barbecue and bourbon on Gipps Street. Shop Ramen proves that a focused menu beats a big one. Johnston Street’s Vietnamese strip delivers the cheapest and most honest food in the suburb. And Stomping Ground shows that a brewery can run a real kitchen when it takes the food as seriously as the beer. The suburb is compact enough to walk between all of them in 20 minutes, which means choosing where to eat is the only hard part. For more on the food scene, check our [best cafes in Collingwood](/collingwood/best-cafes/), best brunch, and best Asian food guides.
Know a spot we missed? Email [email protected].
Explore More of Collingwood
- Collingwood History
- Collingwood Late Night Eats
- Collingwood Things To Do This Weekend
- Collingwood Cheap Eats
- Collingwood Rent Guide
- Collingwood Date Night Guide
- Collingwood New Openings
- Collingwood Things To Do
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