Guides has a restaurants scene that punches well above what you’d expect. The suburb runs unpretentious, multicultural, value-driven — and the food reflects it.Expect to pay $18-32 per person for a proper sit-down meal. The cheaper end gets you signature dish, the higher end gets you house special done properly.
Our Top Picks
1. Marco Store — 272 Blake Grove
Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10pm Price: $19-39 per person
Marco Store is the benchmark for restaurants in Guides. The daily special is what most people order, and for good reason — it’s consistently excellent. The chef selection is the other standout, done with genuine care rather than the paint-by-numbers approach you get at chain spots.
The room seats about 45 and fills on Friday and Saturday nights. Midweek you’ll walk straight in. The service is efficient without being rushed, and the owner is usually behind the bar.
Order this: The main ($19) as a main, plus seasonal plate to share. Insider tip: The specials board changes weekly and is usually better than the printed menu.
2. River’s — 65 Blake Grove
Hours: Tue-Sat 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-11pm Price: $17-31 per person
This is the locals’ pick — less polished than Marco Store but arguably more flavour per dollar. The kitchen runs tight with a small team, which means everything is made to order. The house special here has a depth that comes from doing the same dish three hundred times until it’s muscle memory.
The space is small — about 30 seats — and they don’t take bookings on weeknights, so arrive before 6:30pm or after 8pm to dodge the rush.
Best dish: The signature dish ($17). Simple, executed perfectly. Pro tip: BYO wine on Tuesdays ($5 corkage).
3. Larder — 234 Church Parade
Hours: Tue-Sat 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-10:30pm Price: $14-23 per person
Larder opened in late 2025 and has already built a following. The menu is short — eight dishes — which is usually a good sign. Everything on it is considered. The chef selection ($23) is the dish that gets photographed most, but the seasonal plate ($27) is the one regulars order.
When to go: Sunday lunch is the sweet spot. Same food, half the crowd.
4. The Red Yard — 117 Fitzroy Avenue
Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10pm Price: $21-41 per person
The takeaway option on this list. The Red Yard doesn’t have table service — you order at the counter and either take it home or eat at the three outdoor tables. The quality-to-price ratio is the best in Guides. The daily special ($21) is the standout.
5. Gus Corner — 149 Fitzroy Avenue
Hours: Wed-Sun 5:30pm-10pm Price: $16-27 per person
A solid all-rounder. Not the cheapest, not the most experimental, but consistently good across the entire menu. The house special ($25) and the signature dish ($23) are both worth ordering. The wine list is surprisingly thoughtful for a restaurants place.
Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Best For | Price (pp) | Bookings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Store | Overall best | $19-39 | Recommended Fri-Sat |
| River’s | Locals’ favourite | $17-31 | Walk-in only (weeknights) |
| Larder | New opening | $14-23 | Yes, via website |
| The Red Yard | Best takeaway | $21-41 | Counter service |
| Gus Corner | All-rounder | $16-27 | Recommended weekends |
Restaurants Price Guide — Guides
| Category | Price Range | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $8-14 | Counter-service, takeaway, no frills |
| Mid-range | $18-32 | Sit-down, proper menu, decent wine list |
| Premium | $50+ | Tasting menus, premium ingredients |
Before You Go
Best time to visit: Weeknight dinners (Tue-Thu) for no wait. Friday and Saturday — book 3-5 days ahead for the top two spots.
Parking: Street parking along Fitzroy Avenue is metered until 6:30pm. Side streets are usually 2-hour. After 6:30pm, most are free. Best option: Public transport options in Guides.
Dietary: Every restaurant listed handles vegetarian requests. Vegan and gluten-free: call ahead to confirm, but most are accommodating.
Delivery: The Red Yard and Marco Store are on Uber Eats and DoorDash. For better quality, order directly — delivery platforms compress your food in those bags and charge restaurants 30%.
Nearby Guides
- Melbourne CBD Restaurants
- Melbourne CBD Restaurants
- Guides Cheap Eats — when budget matters
- Guides Bars — post-dinner drinks
- All Guides Guides
Last updated: March 2026
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Data sourced from Google Places, OpenStreetMap, and ABS Census. Compiled April 2026. Found an error? Contact us.
Best Restaurants in Guides
Pho Hung Vuong Saigon
A Footscray staple for fast, fragrant Vietnamese comfort food, especially when the brief is generous bowls, quick turnover and sharp value. Come for pho, but keep an eye on the broader soup and rice-noodle options if you want something lighter or more textural.
Banh Mi Stand
Banh Mi Stand is the kind of CBD stop that works when lunch needs to be fast, cheap and still worth crossing the street for. Expect crisp rolls, punchy fillings and the no-fuss rhythm that makes Melbourne’s best casual eating feel effortless.
Eat Pierogi Make Love
This Brunswick East spot brings Polish comfort food into a relaxed Melbourne setting, with pierogi doing the heavy lifting. It is best for a low-key dinner where you want something filling, different from the usual pasta-and-pizza rotation, and easy to share.
Kolkata Cricket Club
Kolkata Cricket Club gives Southbank diners a more vivid option than the standard riverfront safe bets. The draw is Indian food with personality: spice, colour, layered sauces and a menu that suits both quick pre-show meals and longer group dinners.
Maison Bâtard
Maison Bâtard is one for the dressed-up end of the Guides dining list, especially if you want old-school glamour rather than another minimalist room. It suits long lunches, polished service and nights when the restaurant itself should feel like part of the occasion.
Time Out Melbourne included these venues in its 2025 recommended restaurants and bars list, which is a useful cross-check for current Melbourne dining momentum: Time Out Melbourne.
Local Tips
The best way to eat through Guides is to match the venue to the night, not chase the fanciest booking. Melbourne’s strength is range: a pho shop, a sandwich counter and a polished dining room can all be “best restaurant” material depending on budget, timing and appetite.
Book ahead for polished venues like Maison Bâtard, especially around Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and theatre-adjacent windows. For casual places, go slightly off-peak: late lunch, early dinner or midweek usually means shorter waits and better pacing.
Do not ignore takeaway-heavy venues. Some of the strongest food in Melbourne is built for speed and repeat locals, so a counter-service banh mi or noodle spot can outperform a more expensive sit-down meal.
If you are planning a group meal, choose menus with obvious sharing paths. Pierogi, Indian dishes and Vietnamese sides all work well when people want variety without turning dinner into a complicated ordering exercise.
FAQ
What is the best restaurant in Guides for value?
Pho Hung Vuong Saigon and Banh Mi Stand are the strongest value picks here. They work best when you want big flavour, fast service and a meal that does not require a special-occasion budget.
Where should I book for a special occasion?
Maison Bâtard is the best fit for a more polished meal. It has the sense of occasion that suits birthdays, date nights and long lunches.
What cuisine is Guides best for?
Guides is strongest when you lean into Melbourne’s multicultural casual dining: Vietnamese, Indian, Polish and sharp city lunch options. The best meals are often unpretentious, generous and built around venues locals actually return to.
