Rice Paper Scissors serves a legendary lunch deal, in the culinary capital of Australia. In both the Hardware Lane and Fitzroy locations, choose five dishes from the vast menu for just $35pp. The kingfish sashimi, Vietnamese pork and noodle roll, and Sister’s Lobster Roll are menu highlights, but you really can’t go wrong with its other offerings.

Pop by Lucy Liu for its Express Lunch to add flavour and spice to your day. For $40pp, choose a ‘little snack’, ‘something raw’, a ‘dumpling pack’, and ‘something more’, plus a glass of wine, beer or a soft drink. We recommend the green papaya salad, wok-tossed calamari, and pan-fried mushroom and chive dumplings.

There’s nothing better than a plate of warming Indian food on a cool day in Melbourne, and Mukka offers some of the best. Choose among South-Indian dosa, biryani, street eats and North-style curry pots. Mukka makes it easy to eat solo or with company, and it also offers delivery to suburbs up to 12km away from the restaurant.

While many would argue that croissants are not a lunch food, we’d vehemently disagree. The ham and gruyere croissant, spanakopita and seasonal Danish are perfect for a light lunch, or indulge in one of the classic sweets for a late brunch. Or make it more

With stores in both Paris and Melbourne, The Hardware Societe is the kind of cafe that has you dreaming of its dishes well after you leave. There’s a vibrant all-day brekkie and lunch offering, with dishes including salmon grebiche with a herbed potato cake, salmon caviar, crispy kale and poached eggs; confit duck with duck fat-roasted potatoes, caramelised shallots, pea purée, roasted witlof and jus gras; and lobster benedict with citrus hollandaise, soft herbs, a brioche bun and poached eggs.

One of the pioneers of Melbourne’s thriving dumpling scene, HuTong Dumpling Bar is a favourite of many Melburnians. Order some green tea and settle in to sample a range of dumplings packed full of the freshest ingredients. The CBD location is the original, but there’s an outpost in Prahan now, too.

Named after the finely ground flour used frequently in Italian cooking, Tipo 00’s dishes are aptly classic. Seasonal favourites include the Mooloolaba king prawn and ’nduja pickled shallot, truffle spaghetti cacio e pepe, and prawn tortelli with saffron and sorrel. This is a local favourite and one you’ll be returning to time and time again.

Nestled on Punch Lane, and with chef Khanh Nguyen at the helm, Sunda is quintessential Melbourne. Book in for The Sunda Classics ($98pp) or The Sunda Experience ($168pp) – the menu changes with the seasons, but subtle hints of Vietnamese flavours always work in harmony with the richness of Southeast Asian flavours. It’s only open for lunch on Saturdays so this is one to book well in advance, and to relish when you get there.

Settle in for lunch at Embla; an atmospheric eatery with exposed brick walls, copper fittings and a wall of wine. The menu changes regularly but expect to feast on seasonal dishes such as spring garlic ricotta, peas, basil and yuzu; or flounder with hazelnut and salted mandarin.

French classics are done to perfection at Bon Ap’ Petit, a tiny bistro in Brunswick. Order à la carte or get two courses for $36, with a choice of escargot, oysters and charcuterie as entrees, and steak frittes, coq au vin and gnocchi à la Parisienne to choose from for the main. You’ll be rolling your Rs and curling your lip before the day is done.