The Best Degustations in Melbourne for a Fine Dining Flex

Unlike a typical à la carte menu, degustations ask you to surrender control — placing complete trust in the chef’s vision.

That’s why you’ll only find them at the crème de la crème of restaurants, where culinary mastery meets storytelling, and guests are rewarded with a sensory journey worth every bite (and every penny).

So, for your next special occasion — or just because you feel like spoiling yourself — book into one of these fine diners serving Melbourne’s most unforgettable degustations.

Chae

Set in the peaceful Dandenong Ranges, Chef Jung Eun Chae’s intimate degustation is unlike anything else in Melbourne. From her beginnings in a tiny Brunswick apartment, Chae now serves seasonal Korean-inspired dishes in a serene mountain setting. With just 24 seats a week, her ever-changing menus showcase homemade ferments and delicate drinks, honouring traditional Korean techniques with meticulous care. This is food crafted with quiet reverence—subtle, precise, and profoundly unforgettable.

33 Mountain Road, Cockatoo

Farmer’s Daughters

Farmer’s Daughters warmly invites you on a Gippsland-inspired five-course degustation, celebrating the region’s finest seasonal bounty. Each dish is kissed by the smoky magic of their open campfire kitchen, blending rustic charm with modern technique. With thoughtful wine pairings to match, this ever-evolving feast is a love letter to the land — a soulful, distinctly Melbourne dining experience rooted in Gippsland’s rich flavours and heritage.

95 Exhibition Street, 80 Collins Precinct, Melbourne 

Estelle

Estelle five-course tasting menu crackles with vibrant, seasonal brilliance—each plate a masterstroke of bold flavours and exquisite finesse. From velvety whipped goat’s curd with beets and citrus zing to melt-in-your-mouth braised beef cheek, every bite ignites the senses. Paired with expertly curated wines, this menu is a jubilant celebration of local bounty and culinary artistry, delivering an electrifying dining journey that’s equal parts elegant and unapologetically flavour-packed. Melbourne’s must-try for the true gourmand.

243-245 High Street, Northcote

Smith St Bistrot

Smith St Bistrot’s Dégustation du Chef is a symphony of French finesse—four courses that pirouette between tradition and daring whimsy. This is Collingwood’s ode to Parisian romance, served on a plate. This Melbourne degustation balances classic technique with modern flair, showcasing standout dishes like roasted gnocchi and tender lamb rump. With thoughtful wine or champagne pairings, every course flows seamlessly, creating an elegant and memorable evening.

300 Smith Street, Collingwood

Etta

Brunswick East’s acclaimed Etta serves one of Melbourne’s most dazzling degustations with its ‘Leave It To Us’ menu — a bold celebration of seasonal Australian produce and fearless flavour combinations. From wood-fired rare beef kissed by sambal to delicate torched kingfish skewers and ethereal golden tofu crowned with chrysanthemum, each course dazzles. Seamlessly paired with fine wines or Champagne, this $115 (or $250 with bubbles) journey invites you to surrender to culinary adventure in a vibrant setting where innovation and heart meet effortlessly.

60 Lygon Street, Brunswick East 

O.MY

O.MY in Beaconsfield redefines farm-to-table dining with an intimate, ever-evolving 7-course degustation showcasing produce from the Bertoncello brothers’ own farm. Each dish—featuring local treasures like Jerusalem artichokes and marinated zucchini—is crafted with meticulous care, embracing traditional techniques such as roasting and fermentation. Paired expertly with wines and non-alcoholic options, this $245 menu celebrates sustainability and seasonality in every bite.

70 Princes Highway, Beaconsfield 

Ruckers Hill

Ruckers Hill in Northcote is a refined French-inspired bistro where seasonality shines through every dish. Chef David Murphy’s 5-course tasting menu ($79) is a masterclass in balance and elegance—from smoky eggplant dip with dukkah to tender Riverina entrecôte glazed in rich bordelaise. Accompanied by thoughtful old-world wine pairings, each course unfolds with precision and care. Intimate yet welcoming, this charming spot transforms casual dinners into memorable celebrations of local produce and timeless technique. A truly underrated jewel in Melbourne’s dining scene.

Marion

Marion doesn’t ask what you want—it tells you. The Chef’s Selection ($85) is a confident march through whatever the kitchen’s obsessed with that week: maybe flounder drowned in kombu beurre blanc, roast chicken dripping with tarragon butter, or saffron-kissed mussels on grilled sourdough. No menus, no substitutions—just good food, poured wine, and a room that hums with quiet swagger. It’s dining without the dance—just sit down, say yes, and let the plates do the talking.

53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Enter Via Laundry

Enter Via Laundry distils Melbourne’s culinary soul into a vibrant celebration of Indian flavours, guided by Chef Helly Raichura’s inspired hand. The ever-changing 10-course menu, served Thursday to Saturday, journeys through India’s regions, weaving indigenous Australian ingredients with time-honoured recipes. Highlights like Bharuchi Machi—whiting kissed with lemon gum—and tender Badami Quail studded with almonds and apricot, captivate the palate. Thoughtfully matched wines lift each dish, making Enter Via Laundry an essential destination for adventurous diners craving bold, unforgettable flavours in the heart of the city.

507 Nicholson Street, Carlton North 

Doju

Located in Melbourne’s CBD, Doju offers one of the most unforgettable degustations in Melbourne. Head Chef Mika Chae’s first restaurant masterfully blends Korean tradition with modern innovation. While the à la carte menu is tempting, the $150 Chef’s Banquet reveals the true magic—featuring delicate dishes like calamari jeotgal with farm leaves and intercostal wagyu galbi with garlic chive kimchi. The meal concludes with signature desserts such as hotteok with macadamia and wattleseed caramel, celebrating bold, authentic flavours throughout.

530 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Kazuki’s

Kazuki’s is a beloved Melbourne icon where Japanese precision dances with French flair. Chef Kazuki Tsuya, originally from Akita, Japan, beautifully marries the best Australian produce with his rich heritage to create dishes that truly captivate. A proud Age Good Food Guide hatted favourite for over a decade, Kazuki’s tasting menus—ranging from five to seven courses—are perfectly paired with thoughtful wine and saké selections.

121 Lygon Street, Carlton

Shelaneous

Shelanous delivers Melbourne’s ultimate multisensory dining experience, where each kosher 10-course dish reflects the city’s shifting seasons. Designed to engage all your senses, this degustation blends playful creativity with bold, vibrant flavours. Expertly paired beverages and a touch of whimsy elevate the meal into an immersive adventure, turning dining into a celebration of imagination and taste. At $295 per person, Shelanous offers an unforgettable feast that delights the palate and sparks joy—book now for a truly extraordinary night.

154 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne 

Shusai Mijo

For a omakase degustation experience like no other, Shusai Mijo in Fitzroy is the place to go. Here, Head Chef Jun Oya cooks directly in front of you as watch his handiwork unfold in a variety of sashimi, nigiri and other dishes spanning across eight incredible courses. They also offer seasonal upgrades, and you can add on a drinks package so you can sip as you indulge. Some dishes include Sakizuke with persimmon, snow crab and Tasmanian ocean trout, garfish sashimi and premium grade wagyu that melts in your mouth in a delicious burst of flavour.

256 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Greasy Zoe’s 

Tiny but mighty, Greasy Zoe’s is one of Melbourne’s finest degustations, just minutes from the city. Nestled in Hurstbridge, this intimate eight-seater, opened by partners Lachlan and Zoe in 2017, serves only 32 guests weekly. With no written menu, each multi-course feast is crafted daily by Zoe, inspired by hyper-local, organic produce from small, ethical farms. Sustainability and mindful sourcing lie at its heart, making every dish a celebration of seasonality and locality taken to an extraordinary new level—quality over quantity in every bite.

Shop 3/850 Heidelberg – Kinglake Road, Hurstbridge 

Akaiito

Akaiito on Flinders Lane is bold, moody, and deeply romantic, its dark hues and sleek black marble creating the perfect setting to impress on a special occasion.

The contemporary degustation menu dazzles with luxurious ingredients like silky ootoro tartare and expertly grilled Glacier 51 toothfish, each dish crafted with meticulous precision. Courses arrive in a seamless flow, growing ever more indulgent yet irresistibly tempting — you’ll wish the experience would never end.

Above, a striking blood-red sculpture twists gracefully, symbolising the thread of fate that binds destined lovers, adding a poetic touch to this unforgettable Melbourne dining sanctuary.

349-351 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Minamishima

If you’re ready to indulge, few places in Australia rival the exquisite sushi found at this elegant, intimate haven tucked away on a quiet Richmond street. Minamishima offers only omakase — the chef’s carefully curated daily selection — a graceful procession of expertly sliced, shaped, torched, and brushed nigiri, served one piece at a time.

Sushi master Koichi Minamishima’s knife skills, refined over three decades, craft extraordinary textures and flavours that linger long after the last bite. This is more than a meal; it’s one of Melbourne’s most unforgettable degustations.

4 Lord Street, Richmond

Yakikami

At Yakikami, the Josper Wagyu Menu is a sublime celebration of Wagyu’s finest expressions. Featuring exquisite A5 Omi and Kobe from Japan alongside Australia’s David Blackmore and Sher M9+ cuts, each piece is grilled at a fiery 600°, sealing in decadent marbling and buttery richness. Served on a pillowy French milk bun with a glossy caramelised soy, mirin, and Daiginjyo sake glaze, every bite sings with umami and elegance. This multi-course journey is a masterclass in Japanese technique and flavour — a sensory feast where fire meets finesse, honouring Wagyu’s legendary depth in every indulgent mouthful.

150 Toorak Road, South Yarra 

Atlas Dining

Atlas is anything but conventional. The brainchild of chef Charlie Carrington, this bold South Yarra restaurant reinvents itself every four months, unveiling a fresh new tasting menu inspired by a different corner of the world. Each iteration is a deep dive into the heart of a culture — past destinations include Sri Lanka, Israel, India, China, and Lebanon — resulting in an ever-evolving, globe-trotting dining experience. For those craving discovery on a plate, Atlas delivers one of Melbourne’s most inventive and unforgettable degustations.

133 Commercial Road, South Yarra 

Maha

Maha stands as Melbourne’s pinnacle of Middle Eastern fine dining, presenting a meticulously curated set menu that celebrates the region’s rich flavours with contemporary finesse. Each course flows seamlessly, showcasing the finest seasonal produce — from velvety hummus paired with freshly baked flatbread, to vibrant dishes featuring feta and tuna crudo, and hearty mains of succulent chicken or lamb. The experience culminates in an exquisitely crafted dessert, delivering an unforgettable journey through bold, nuanced tastes. Simply put: a Melbourne degustation to savour and remember.

21 Bond Street, Melbourne 

Longrain

Some things are timeless, and Longrain – Melbourne’s beloved Thai restaurant – is certainly one of them. The revamped venue presents a banquet-style feast overflowing with vibrant northern Thai flavours. With a modern twist on classic dishes, chefs are wowing diners with delights such as caramelised pork hock paired with freshly shucked oysters and succulent chargrilled chicken skewers. Each bite promises an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of Thai culinary tradition.

40-44 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Freyja

Freyja redefines Melbourne’s degustation landscape with Michelin-trained Chef Jae Bang at the helm, showcasing New Nordic cuisine through time-honoured techniques like pickling, curing, smoking, and fermenting. Set within the historic Olderfleet building, each course reveals bold, elemental flavours that seamlessly blend tradition and innovation. The intimate dining experience offers a thoughtful, artful progression of dishes that captivate the senses, delivering a distinctly original and unforgettable exploration of Scandinavian-inspired fine dining.

477 Collins Street, Melbourne

Matilda 159

Matilda is a celebrated modern Australian restaurant from acclaimed chef Scott Pickett. Renowned for its masterful use of woodfire, charcoal, and smoke, Matilda elevates local produce to extraordinary heights. The four-course chef’s selection menu is a sensory feast, blending visual artistry with deeply layered flavours. Signature dishes like Blackmore’s wagyu bavette with smoked bone marrow and dry-aged duck infused with cherry wood smoke showcase the restaurant’s innovative, fire-driven approach. Matilda offers an unforgettable, elemental dining experience that truly embodies contemporary Australian cuisine.

159 Domain Road, South Yarra

Kisumé

At the pinnacle of Kisumé’s elegant Flinders Lane space lies The Chef’s Table—an intimate, twelve-seat sanctuary for the serious sushi devotee. Here, tradition meets innovation in an exquisite omakase experience, where each course is meticulously crafted from the freshest local produce and served with poetic precision. Expect an unforgettable progression of nigiri, sashimi and seasonal creations that unfold like a quiet crescendo.

175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 

Vue de Monde

Under a canopy of sky and city lights, Vue de Monde offers an experience that feels plucked from a dream. Soaring above Melbourne on the 55th floor of the Rialto, guests are swept into a world where the skyline meets sculptural plates and native flavours are elevated to pure artistry. Each course arrives with quiet drama — delicate, daring, and deeply thoughtful. It’s not just dinner, it’s a memory in the making, stitched with luxury, ambition and awe.

Rialto Towers, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne 

Gaea

When the head chef has stints at Attica and Vue de Monde under their belt, you know you’re in for a good time. This 16-seat degustation-only restaurant is fronted by a Henan-born chef passionate about creative cooking and local produce.

Those unafraid of the novel will be delighted by imaginative flavour and textural combinations within Gaea’s multi-course menu, with dishes guaranteed to have you deep in thought at the dinner table.

1/166 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Ishizuka

Beneath Bourke Street lies Ishizuka—a serene, ultra-refined expression of Japanese kaiseki dining. With just 16 seats, this intimate, minimalist restaurant delivers an 11-course journey that celebrates seasonality, craftsmanship, and restraint. Dishes are exquisitely plated and quietly luxurious, with ingredients like A5 wagyu and delicate yuzu sorbet. Every element is thoughtful, balanced, and quietly breathtaking. It’s not just a meal—it’s a perfectly composed moment that unfolds with grace, precision, and a deep respect for tradition.

139 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Attica

Attica is so much more than a restaurant — it’s a poetic tribute to Australia’s land, stories and ingredients, filtered through the vision of celebrated chef Ben Shewry. Tucked away in Ripponlea, this globally lauded fine diner offers a multi-course experience that’s deeply personal, imaginative and moving. Think native produce like saltbush, emu and marron reimagined with artistry and respect. Each dish is a moment, a memory, a story on a plate — served with warmth, humility, and the quiet magic only Attica can conjure.

74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea 

Amaru

Amaru is a refined, sensory playground where artistry meets flavour in unexpected, delicious ways. Unbound by geography and genre, Chef Clinton McIver’s ever-evolving tasting menu heroes hyper-seasonal produce, layered textures, and bold, elegant restraint. Think: mud crab with Shaoxing and pumpkin, or marigold paired with carrot and finger lime. The space itself? Earthy, intimate, quietly stunning—letting the food do the talking. A meal at Amaru isn’t just dinner—it’s a beautifully orchestrated moment you won’t forget.

1121 High Street, Armadale

Navi

Serving a degustation menu to a maximum of 34 guests each night has given Navi’s chef-owner Julian Hills more space to flex his creative muscles, with the ‘wild food’ – inspired chef constantly foraging for new ingredients and inspiration.

Adventurous diners are bound to love the genre-bouncing playlist and unique and impeccably crafted drinks list, while the five and eight-course tasting menus include adventurous bites you likely won’t see anywhere else. 

83b Gamon Street, Yarraville 

IDES

This intimate fine dining gem seats just 36 guests and delivers a thrilling take on modern Australian cuisine. At IDES, the ever-evolving tasting menu is a celebration of seasonality and creative flair — think bold ingredients, unexpected combinations, and a meticulous attention to detail.

Each of the seven courses is a masterclass in balance and presentation, culminating in the legendary Black Box dessert — a true Melbourne rite of passage that’s as intriguing as it is unforgettable.

92 Smith Street, Collingwood 

Made your way through the best degustations in Melbourne? Discover more dining inspiration with our picks for the best Japanese, Greek, and Italian restaurants in town.