Taxi at Federation Square, Melbourne

I found a reference to this hip restaurant in an issue of Wallpaper* magazine, and since it was just minutes from my hotel, I decided this would be my first stop in my culinary exploration of Melbourne. I've actually put together my own "One Perfect Weekend in Melbourne" guide after spending a few days sampling the local cuisine and watering holes, but I'll save that for maybe later. For now, I just wanted to rave about Taxi.

I was a little early when I stepped into the restaurant, but just in time to see the last golden rays of the sun setting behind the Melbourne skyline.
Seated at the bar counter, I was treated to the frenzied activity in the open kitchen area and the stream of well-heeled diners making their way in. I ordered a glass of champagne to start, and fresh oysters topped with Ahi and caviar in a Japanese punzu dressing to whet my appetite.
Yum! For the main course, I picked the sesame miso cod and zucchini strips with seared scallops over caramelized red onions. I loved the fusion flavors, fresh modern Japanese seafood yet with a lot of Western influence. There was no room for dessert unfortunately, so I decided a brisk stroll to the next bar was in order.

This was definitely the best meal I've had since arriving in Melbourne a day ago, and I was really looking forward to discovering more delicious local cuisine during the rest of my short stay.


This entry begins a series of fascinating discoveries in Melbourne over several days, and I'm including my "One Perfect Weekend in Melbourne" recommendations here:

Start with a hearty breakfast or brunch at Cumulus, where you taste some amazing blood sausages made fresh. Sit by the counter, take in the natural light streaming through the windows and catch up on your daily reading. If you like food and cooking, check out Books For Cooks, a bookstore for the budding chef and any professional looking for cooking references. Amazing selection of books from everywhere. I bought an El Bulli compendium volume here, couldn't resist. Next, take an afternoon stroll around the city, making your way to Brunswick, Gertrude and Smith Streets for a very interesting side of Melbourne life, part Bohemian, part grunge.

To wet your parched lips, walk into Gertrude Street Enoteca for a glass of excellent local wine and some fresh bruscetta, rest your feet, then head across the street to pick up some amazing toiletries from Aesop, the famous Australian skincare brand. Looking for a place for dinner? Try Taxi, a very trendy restaurant in the heart of Federation Square serving modern Aussie/Japanese fusion cuisine.

If you're still up for more exciting discoveries, take a taxi to Der Raum, voted one of the top 10 bars in the world. Order the El Moroccan Blazer, which takes over 5 minutes to prepare, but well worth the wait. They make awesome cocktails here!

The next day, if you still have time to spare, lunch at Rockpool, a very beautiful restaurant located inside the Crown Casino complex, also in the heart of downtown Melbourne. Order the ribeye, it's charred to perfection and wash it down with a local Chardonnay. Federation Square is an interesting area to walk around, sometimes you can catch art performances in the late afternoon in spring. For dinner, Gingerboy is a modern Asian fusion eatery and always very crowded. Food is not very Asian, but do get a seat by the bar and order several appetizers for dinner and wash it down with one of their house signature cocktails.