Best Gluten Free Eats in Melbourne

Melbourne is the foodie capital of Australia and for good reason. It is known for its laneway cafes and historic arcades full of bespoke foodie outlets and shopping gems. But, I have to say, I was quite surprised to discover it more than lives up to this reputation on the gluten free foodie front as well.

I honestly had NO IDEA there were simply so many amazing gluten free venues to be explored down there. I am now officially in love with Melbourne. Yes I did know Melbourne/Victoria is the best behaved city/state in Australia regarding seeking Coeliac Aus official endorsement (well done Melbourne), but to actually see how that translates into the range of foodie cultural experiences possible that are gluten free is exciting. Gluten free foodie paradise. And I didn’t even get to experience them all personally (I only had 3 days, but did my best…astoundingly over-ordering at every venue I went to, possibly scaring some of the staff).

 And thank you beautiful GFJ FB + Insta community for giving me so many amazing places to try out! Of course I didn’t even make it to half of them, but will just have to come back to try the ones a little further out. It has given me a HUGE list to share with you though. And I plan to return so I can tick more off my list.

And heads up, I am now planning Melbourne Gluten Free Weekend Escapes (stay tuned for dates & details!).

So here is the beautiful, beautiful list of the best gluten free experiences from this foodie paradise.

 

Melbourne CBD

(all walking/tram accessible if staying in the CBD)

 

R O U L E  G A L E T T E

So much joy finding a little piece of France tucked into a laneway in Melbourne

All of their traditional buckwheat galettes are of course gluten free, but the good news is they use a separate grill & kitchen space for them so no cross contamination from their gluten infused crepes! AND all of the crepe flavourings can be done with the buckwheat galettes, so win win.

I decided I needed to try 2 savoury galettes *all in the name of research J and chose the Chicken & Avocado and the Camembert

Both beautifully presented and very different in flavour. My favourite was the chicken, but I loved both. Then, because I couldn’t resist, I went back to check out their sweet versions, and the La Belle Normande won me over! (They did substitute the cinnamon apple with poached fig which was a little disappointing but still really yum). I also tried their traditional French cider, which I was told was gluten free (and I didn’t react to it). It is traditionally drunk with galettes I am told, and was served in cute little patterned bowls.

So if you need to escape to Paris but can’t quite make it happen…visiting this little gem is the next best thing. When all the staff and most of the customers are speaking fluent French…you know it’s authentic!

Of course…you can get immersed for real in French cuisine & culture with my Gluten Free Boutique PARIS Tour every September!

Location

Scott Alley, 241 Flinders Lane. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-8/9.30pm, Sat & Sun 9am- 5/8pm

 

S E E D L I N G  C A F E

I loved my first visit so much I ended up eating at BOTH of their cafes over our short 3 day stay!

The Flinders Lane Cafe is a teeny tiny one, so it can be tricky getting a table…but it is an easy 5 min walk from there to the Little Collins St one which has a bit more room and cute indoor and outdoor spaces. I loved both!

100% GF and focussed on whole foods, they have perfected beautiful, wholesome and yum gluten free offerings. And as always, it is such a treat to choose from the whole menu.

I chose the bacon & egg breakfast toastie, packed full of bacon and spinach & yum sauces that balanced it beautifully, and paired it with a strawberry cream smoothie. Oh wow. Then we couldn’t resist the banana flapjacks (only available on the breakfast menu until 11.30am). Oh. My. Word. So yum. Beautifully presented & just gorgeous in flavour. On my second visit I had the veggie frittata with a side Raw Power salad, plus a banana+raspberry muffin and the yummiest salted choc slice (this was just to die for!!).

Really, this gorgeous cafe duo is just a must visit if in Melbourne. They do close at 3pm, so great for a brunch or lunch option.

Location

275 Flinders Lane. Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm

349 Little Collins St. Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm

 

S T A L A C T I T E S + H E L L A  G O O D

GREEK FOOD at its best!!

This was our first meal on arrival in Melbourne and so thankful to the gluten free community for pointing us there as we just loved it!

It is Coeliac Australia accredited so I could relax and feel confident in the CC practices, although I still verbally checked of course.

I was travelling with a Greek foodie friend @insofiaskitchen so she helped with my menu choice and also reviewing the authenticity and flavour of each dish we ordered.

Choice coma did set in though…when nearly an entire menu can be made coeliac safely there are just way too many options…so I predictably over-ordered. To start we ordered their gluten free pita bread and hummus, and seriously it was amazing. The bread was so so good and their in-house hummus next level. I then chose the cabbage rolls and loved it…it was a ’close your eyes and savour the flavour’ moment. AND had a side of fries, just because I could (separate fryer). My friend had the chicken skewers so I was able to taste test them as well. They had a beautiful char to them, were very moist and full of great flavour.

I really can see what the fuss is all about.

Be prepped for a wait during dinner service, but it is worth it.

They also have a takeaway version down near Flinders Station, called Hella Good, which we didn’t get to try but would be perfect if you wanted some great gluten free food on the run.

Location

Stalactites: 177-183 Lonsdale St. Open 7 days 24 hours

Hella Good: 7 Elizabeth St. Open Sun-Wed 11am-midnight, Thurs-Sat 11am-3/5am

 

A 2 5  P I Z Z E R I A

Over ordering and over eating is unavoidable when you dine here. There is no option. We had an unbelievably delish night out thanks to everyone for recommending this gem of a gluten free foodies dream come true. It is has a fun 60s retro vibe and is definitely always busy, so make sure you book ahead of time. And, what’s more, it is Coeliac Aus endorsed, so you can relax knowing they have great CC practices in place.

We ordered their renown truffle porchini fries and A25 signature pizza. Both were amazing. They also have a fun cocktail menu. Then, as per usual, I couldn’t decide on which yum dessert to try, so ordered all 3 on offer…cannoli, tiramisu, & their homemade pistachio crostini J Loved them all. Really, it was such a wonderful foodie experience of all things gluten free Italian.

And the staff were amazing. I will definitely be back next time I am in Melbourne.

Location:

Lonsdale St. Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am -9.30/10pm

Docklands Shop 2/800 Collins St. Open Mon-Wed 7am-5pm, Thurs-Fri 7am-8/9pm

 

H O P E T O U N  T E A  R O O M S

There was always a queue to get into this gorgeous cafe in the heritage Block Arcade, and it is easy to see why!!

We decided to go early-ish for brunch to try to avoid their peak busy period (their busiest time is in the afternoon for afternoon tea or High Tea). And I feel it was a good decision. Not only was it easier to get a nice table, but it meant I felt more reassured they would manage their CC handling better. Plus we got the best of both of worlds…brunch and morning tea! I had savoury breakfast waffles, which were so so good and beautifully presented, and then I just couldn’t choose so ordered TWO of the 3 gluten free cake options in their stunning window display…the chocolate roulade and the vanilla cream & strawberry cheesecake. Both were divine.

Point to note…they were not all on the top shelf and the bottom one was next to other gluten filled cakes…so stress careful serving when ordering or just avoid if you are not ok with this level of CC risk. I happily had no problems.

Definitely a ‘must do’ experience if visiting Melbourne.

Location

The Block Arcade, 282 Collins St. Open 7 days 8/9am-5pm

 

M A M A S I T A

While we did not have to time to visit ourselves, the recommendations from gluten free Melbourne locals came thick and fast for this fun & colourful Mexican restaurant, hidden away in an upstairs space on Collins Street. Innovative mexican cuisine at its best, with an addictive atmosphere, they obviously know how to create very loyal customers. And who doesn’t love a (almost) 100% gluten free menu 🙂

Location:

Level 1/11 Collins St. Open Sun-Wed 5pm+, Thurs-Sat 12.30pm+

 

C H O C O L A T E  B U D D H A

It can be very tricky finding quality Japanese cuisine that has good gluten free options, anywhere. If anyone has travelled to Japan you will know what I mean. In general, there is very little understanding or awareness of coeliac disease, and their intrinsic inclusion of soy sauce means most GF Japanese is simply protein and veggies, no sauce. So it is quite a treat to discover this gem, which has adapted beautifully to its Australian context, incorporating many gluten free options in a separate list, including some really yum dessert options such as sticky date pudding, black forest tart & caramel chocolate mousse. Important to note however it is not 100% gluten free, and while they state they are careful to avoid CC, they do have a disclaimer against their gluten free menu. The Melbourne GF community did highly recommend this venue though, so if you are in the mood for some innovative and creative Japanese cuisine, then apparently this is the place to be.

Location

Federation Square – Swanson St & Flinders St. Open 7 days 11.30am-10/9.30pm

 

L A N G H A M  H O T E L  High Tea

OK so anyone who has read my High Tea BLOGS will know I just LOVE a good high tea. And I would have to say I am quite passionate about what they should and shouldn’t include. Sadly again, I had no time to try this one out personally, but their gluten free version received a lot of praise from the Melbourne gluten free community. So lets start first with the hotel itself. It definitely ticks my ‘location & ambience’ boxes…with a gorgeous and elegant space created for their Aria Restaurant, where the high teas are served. They offer 2 high teas, and both can be made gluten free on request (at time of booking). I am happy to say that both include gluten free versions of the scones, sandwiches and cakes, with substitutions made for the normal pastries (dependent on what the chefs have created that day)

The Afternoon Tea is available Mon-Fri from 10.30am-8pm, priced from $75pp

The Chocolate High Tea is only available on the weekends, with 2 sittings both sat & Sun, \either 11.30am or 2.30pm. It costs from $95 per adult, and $45 per child.

Location:

Melbourne South Bank – 1 Southgate Ave. High Tea hours (see above)

 

 T H E  L I T T L E  R O Y A L

This gorgeous little dessert kiosk in the middle of the historic Royal Arcade took me straight back to Paris and my love affair with Laduree macarons. They are stockists for La Belle Miette (‘beautiful small thing’) macarons with French inspired branding & gorgeous packaging… All of the macarons are gluten free, although their other dessert cakes are not. For the highly sensitive coeliac to CC this may be a problem, but thankfully not for me. They also have gourmet ice cream in cute little tubs, with most flavours being gluten free (check when ordering). I definitely ordered more than I ‘needed’ just so I could get more of their pretty boxes…I’m afraid I am a marketing cliché. Packaging matters. But of course, the macarons had to also be authentic (little pillows of flavour sensations), and I can happily report they were J Definitely recommend a visit to stock up your supplies of gluten free treats next time you are in Melbourne CBD.

Location:

Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke St. Open 7 days 9/10am-6pm

 

L A  B E L L E  M I E T T E

With two cafes in Melbourne’s CBD you can get the full La Belle Miette experience with a sit down indulgence of their macarons and specialty teas. As mentioned above, nearly all of their macarons flavours are gluten free, and some of their cakes. Their stores are exquisitely beautifully, transporting you to another world. Definitely worth finding a moment to escape to their paradise for a bit of calm in the midst of your Melbourne shopping frenzy!

Location

30 Hardware Lane. Open: Monday to Thursday 10am – 6pm, Friday 10am – 9pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm 

8 Collins Street. Open: Monday to Friday 8:30am – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm 

 

S T R A I T S  C A F E  (Rendezvous Hotel)

We ended up dining in house in our hotel one night due to typically bad Melbourne weather, disappointed we would miss out on one of the GF recommended venues on our hit list, but it ended up being a great decision.

We started with drinks in the hotel bar, which has a gorgeous heritage atmosphere. I have to say the gluten free options on the menu were very limited, but decided to include them in my list as it was just a great foodie moment. Really, so yum. If you don’t like fish, or specifically salmon, then you would have been left wanting, but for me I loved it. Perfectly cooked and great accompaniments. Definitely check the menu ahead of time to see what options are available before you choose to eat there, and check the CC prep (fries not coeliac safe), but another good option in Melbourne CBD if you are after an experience with great atmosphere. The Rendezvous hotel itself is in a great central position, perfect for exploring Melbourne, and is so beautifully heritage. We loved our stay there.

Location

Rendezvous Hotel, 328 Flinders St. Open 7 days Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner service.

 

B E T T Y ‘S  B U R G E R S 

Now you don’t have to travel to Melbourne to experience the sheer joy of a gluten free Betty’s Burger and fries, but definitely worth including for any visitor to Melbourne who may not be from interstate. 

So these guys are NOT a gluten free eatery, but they have great coeliac safe food practices in all of their kitchens (starting with asking if you are coeliac when you order gluten free so they make sure they handle your food safely). I have included them because they hands down provide THE BEST gluten free burger & fries experience you can hope for. Some say Grill’d is great, but I always find their gluten free buns too dense and stoggy which takes away from the burger flavour and you just fill up too quickly with the carb load. The Betty’s Burgers version has a ridiculously yum char grilled flavour to the burger pattie that takes me to burger heaven every time, and their fries are just classic, fresh oil flavour with an optional aioli that will have you rolling your eyes in ecstasy with each mouthful. It really does create one of those moments. LOVE them.

Location

97 Elizabeth St. Open Sun-Thur 10.30/11am-10/10.30pm, Fri-Sat 10.30am-12am

222 Exhibition St. Open 7 days 11.30am-9/9.30pm

 

Greater Melbourne Area

 

A 2 5  P I Z Z E R I A

See CBD review above

Location: South Yarra – 720 Chapel St. Open 7 days 11am-10pm

 

R O U L E  G A L E T T E

See CBD review above

Location: Carnegie – 104 Koornang Rd. Open 7 days 8am-9/10pm

 

B E T T Y ‘S  B U R G E R S  

See CBD review above

Location:

The Glen Waverley – 235 Springvale Rd. Open 7 days 11am-9.30/10pm 

Windsor – 129-131 Chapel Street. Open Sun-Thurs 11/11.30am-9.30/10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12am

 

100% Gluten Free Venues you MUST Visit

All of these places come with the highest recommendations from the Melbourne gluten free community. Being 100% gluten free you can totally relax knowing your food will be coeliac safe. They are, in a nut shell, gluten free heaven on earth 🙂 

I am yet to visit them, so no reviews, but if you do manage to get to any of them I would LOVE you to give me feedback in the COMMENTS or by email so I can pass it on the GFJ community.

La Tortilleria  Kensington

Eat Cannoli  Preston

Gluten Free Swiss Cakes and Bread  Bayswater

Simply Gluten Free  Mentone + Cranbourne

Gluten Free 4 U  Geelong, Frankston, Boronia, Moorabbin + Kew

Hemp Kitchen  St Kilda

Cafe Henkel  Brunswick

 

So there you have it! Melbourne/Victoria you win. You are officially the gluten free foodie capital of Australia. And I have ALOT more venues I apparently need to try out…so Gluten Free Melbourne Weekend Escapes need to be a thing. Watch this space 🙂    Jane x

 

For more GLUTEN FREE FOODIE GUIDES around Australia check out these:

MELBOURNE’S Best Brunch Hot Spots

BRISBANE’S Bucketlist Gluten Free Eats

Best Gluten Free Fish & Chips in BRISBANE

Best Gluten Free High Teas in BRISBANE Part I + Part II

Best Gluten Free Eats at Eat Street Markets BRISBANE

Best SUNSHINE COAST Gluten Free Eats

 

And if you are keen to access some gourmet gluten free foodie joy but can’t make it to these lovely venues…we have the solution!

Our Gourmet Gluten Free Hampers (with DF + Vegan options) can be delivered to your door! HEAD HERE to see our gorgeous range of Australian made gourmet gluten free goodies.