Melbourne’s best restaurants make charming backdrops for any special occasion. Whether you’re marking a birthday, a date night, an anniversary, or a professional achievement, Australia’s second-most populous city, long considered Victoria’s cultural heart, has a table for you.
A low-lit, Japanese charmer in the Central Business District, known for seasonal sushi and robata offerings, calls for intimate special occasions. In Brunswick East, a lively, Lebanese spot, ideal for more boisterous get-togethers, serves up one of the city’s best shareable feasts. A hotel in the CBD is home to an effortlessly elegant lounge, and Toorak boasts one of the city’s best Italian restaurants. To turn up the wow factor, head to a storied spot on the Mornington Peninsula, where oysters and kingfish crudo come with panoramic Port Phillip Bay views.
At the best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne, the food, service and ambience are made for festivities, so book a table now on OpenTable.
The best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne to book right now – read on for a guide
For an elegant evening at one of the best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne – head to Ms Ava in the Melbourne CBD
Timeless and effortlessly sophisticated, Ms Ava strives to embody its namesake, Hollywood actress Ava Gardner. Stained-glass windows, plush furnishings and high ceilings create a relaxed, lounge-like feel, accented by leafy plants dotted throughout the dining room. The creative menu boasts elevated comfort food and signature cocktails, perfect for any special occasion. Start with creamy mortadella and cheese croquettes served with a smooth honey mustard dip, and follow it up with a juicy burger – Tasmanian beef or plant based – with house-made pickles and crispy chips. Or, book the express lunch and enjoy fish and chips with beer-battered rockling from Port Phillip Bay alongside house wine and beer.
For a fusion feast – visit Kushiro Fusion Cuisine in Fitzroy
From its menu to its decor, Kushiro Fusion Cuisine combines old and new, inspired by the cultures of Japan and Melbourne. Housed in a century-old heritage building, its sleek decor blends glittering chandeliers, Japanese-inspired lamps and a vibrant mural of coastal Hokkaido. The menu showcases modern creativity while remaining rooted in Japanese cooking traditions. Start with some expertly prepared sashimi and share some pan-fried gyoza. Mains include crispy seafood tempura and tender confit duck with black plum sauce. Pair it with a glass of one of Kushiro’s exclusive sake, with six different flavours crafted in Japan.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne – book at Cecconi’s in Toorak
Cecconi’s Toorak is the slightly more luxurious sister restaurant to Cecconi’s ever-popular Flinders Lane restaurant. Monochromatic and bathed in natural light, the dining space draws inspiration from European dining and Melbourne aesthetics, creating an intimate space for each table. The menu celebrates Venetian flavours and traditions. Start with juicy Skull Island prawns or an assorted selection of house-marinated olives. Move on to hand-rolled pasta or the creamy risotto of the day and mains like tender lamb cutlets or veal cotoletta with green apple. Dessert is, of course, a must, with sorbets and gelato for hot summer days and warm chocolate fondants for chilly winter evenings. Larger groups of between nine and 14 diners should book the three-course fixed-price menu, featuring a curated selection of Cecconi’s best dishes to choose from.
For the wow factor – try La Madonna in Melbourne CBD
A sweeping Italian marble staircase guides you to La Madonna, a golden-lit restaurant and bar in CBD’s Next Hotel. Wow your guests at this swanky spot from powerhouse duo Danny Natoli (Zia Rina’s Cucina, Neptune Food and Wine) and Adrian Li (also of Rina’s and Tokyo Tina), that serves coffee and breakfast, through to cocktails and share plates. Menu highlights include BBQ ox tongue with pickles and flatbread, and orecchiette with burnt broccolini and kosho. To drink, there’s an Australian-focused by-the-glass wine list, local beers and standout cocktails such as the toffee apple sour with butterscotch liqueur, gin and sour apple liqueur. To level up your experience sip on a barrel-aged negroni in a private room lined with barrels ageing cocktails, spirits and herbal liquors.
For an intimate celebration – visit Alta Trattoria in Fitzroy
Inspired by Italy’s Piedmont region, Alta Trattoria in Fitzroy is a charming dining spot from veteran hospitality restaurateur Carlo Grossi (Ombra, Grossi Florentino). Chef McKay Wilday cooks simple dishes, just like nonna, prioritising seasonal ingredients in modernised classics. Don’t miss the tajarin with a classic Piemontese ragu or the tender lamb rump with celeriac and hazelnut. Sommelier James Tait (King & Godfree) has curated a drinks menu that focuses on Piedmontese wines (think Barolo), with a few favourite producers from other regions. With an intimate atmosphere, ALTA Trattoria will elevate any occasion.
For a hot date night – book at Akaiito Restaurant in Melbourne CBD
With its low-lit, minimalist interiors, this chic Japanese spot is a coveted setting for a cosy celebration. The centrepiece is an illuminated red thread installation that stretches across the roof, making Akaiito one of the most breathtaking dining rooms in Melbourne. Enjoy a five-, or seven-course seasonal menu created by sushi and robata chefs—and watch them while they prep. Seasonal plates might include hand-picked spanner crab, WA marron with leek velouté, or seven-day dry-aged duck with shimeji mushrooms, lardo, and cherry red wine jus. Extend your special night out with an after-dinner cocktail at Ototo, Akaiito’s underground, speakeasy-esque bar.
For a zero-waste celebration – try Kirbie in South Melbourne
Taking the spot of Korean-inspired restaurant J A M E S, Kirbie is an inviting bistro that does a little bit of everything. Think Japanese scallops with lardo and burnt butter paired with juicy pork belly with fermented stone fruit. Dig into a tender rump cap with signature Kirbie butter and finish with a creamy chocolate ganache tart. Just keep an eye out for the red-neon sign and step into a relaxed, elegant dining space with wide windows and cosy, white-clothed tables. For something extra special, book the seasonal three-course chef’s menu, featuring both shared and individual plates.
For a toast with champagne at one of the best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne – head to Bistro La Provence in Brighton
Bistro La Provence, a beloved French bistro, makes a charming setting to celebrate an anniversary. Toast with champagne in the elegant dining room, dressed with white tablecloths and chandeliers. Treat yourself—and someone special—to decadent classics including escargots in garlic and parsley butter, confit duck à l’orange, or steak tartare. Don’t skip dessert: showstopping confections such as crêpes Suzette and upside-down apple tart bring a slice of Provence to Melbourne.
For festive Insta-worthy plates – try Freyja in Melbourne CBD
Executive chef Jae Bang, formerly of MICHELIN-starred Re-Naa, brings the heat to the menu at this cinematic, Nordic-inspired spot, worthy of practically any special occasion. The seasonal lunch and dinner menus feature dishes such as lamb tartare with green plum and the signature Freyja waffle with smoked sour cream (and optional caviar). The Taste of Freyja tasting menu and the Freyja Feast sharing menus are perfect for special occasions. The festive plates are enhanced by Freyja’s photogenic interiors (it’s housed in a heritage-listed Olderfleet building) which include cathedral windows with views of Collins Street, plus timber, metal, and raw brick accents galore.
For a banquet-style feast – feast at Mama Manoush in Brunswick East
For a group celebration look no further than the bright, colourful and lively Mama Manoush. Go for traditional Lebanese fare, served banquet-style. Start with dips such as baba ganoush, hummus and labneh served with flatbreads.Then feast on mezze, tabouli, and fattoush salads, plus a selection of charcoal-grilled meats. To that, add a classic cocktail such as a Beirut sour, drizzled with Lebanese red wine, and you’ve got all the components for a memorable, Middle Eastern bash.
For a grandiose night out at one of the best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne – head to Yugen Dining in South Yarra
Yugen’s soaring stone walls and suspended porcelain light installation add grandeur to any special celebration. The opulent, Capitol Grand building space is split into a dining room, an omakase bar, and a private golden orb booth that juts out over the main dining room, seating eight. Its modern, pan-Asian menu takes cues from Japan, Korea, China and Thailand, with seafood-forward highlights such as wood-grilled John Dory with anchovy sambal and brown butter, assorted sashimi platters and prawn toast with chilli amazu. Book the Yugen Chef experience and let the kitchen take charge, creating a unique selection of dishes (plus an optional celebration cake). The prolific sake menu (there are over 20 kinds to choose from) is made for toasting, as is the varied wine selection. Live DJs play here every night, sure to up the ante on any occasion.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting a private dinner party or treating a loved one, the best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne have what you need. From group-friendly dining to stellar tasting menus, celebrate your next occasion with a bang at these must-visit gems.
The best special occasion restaurants in Melbourne fill up fast – book your dinner on OpenTable before you go.
Looking for more great restaurants in Melbourne? From fine dining to casual, OpenTable has you covered:
- The best fine dining restaurants in Melbourne for a fancy meal out
- The most romantic restaurants in Melbourne for an unforgettable date night
- The 10 best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne to book right now
- The top 10 best Indian restaurants in Melbourne
- 9 excellent Mexican restaurants to try in Melbourne
- 10 of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne to try right now
- The 8 best Korean restaurants in Melbourne to try ASAP
- 10 of Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants to book right now
- The 10 best steak restaurants in Melbourne
- The best pubs in Melbourne loved by locals
