When you hear people talking about restaurants and eateries, more often than not they are talking about what’s new or who’s just opened down the street. But what happened to the classics? The stalwarts... the institutions?

We love new concepts, but we also believe that old is gold, and that is why we’ve compiled this list of Melbourne institutions that have survived and thrived in the Melbourne food scene for many years. Take some time this long weekend to check one (or a few) of them out!