The Most Romantic Restaurants in Melbourne for Date Night

When it comes to wining and dining your significant other, Melbourne presents no shortage of options for the lovestruck. Beautiful spaces, mood-setting ambience and breathtaking views get things off to a perfect start, before the dishes even begin to arrive.

Next time you’re planning a date night to remember, consider our picks for the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne – these amorous spots are guaranteed to get you in the mood.

Di Stasio Carlton

There’s no place in Melbourne quite like Di Stasio in Carlton for a romantic escape. While you can find its charm in St Kilda and the CBD, nothing compares to dining al fresco in the sunlit courtyard or watching the sky transform as the day turns to night.

Create your own Lady and the Tramp moment with the delicate spaghettini pomodori or indulge in the rich, briny spaghettone vongole. Or, for a truly intimate experience, order a few plates to share and let the conversation flow as freely as the wine.

224 Faraday Street, Carlton

Kaprica 

We're obsessed with Kaprica. This lively, snug pizzeria is intimate but convivial in equal measure, with whitewashed walls and an old-school feel, plus plenty of outdoor seats that beckon for a cute little lunch date come summertime. 

As always, the pizza here is some of the best in the city. But don't rush past the array of delicious appetisers and hearty pastas either, best paired with plentiful wine and a Negroni to start. Tiramisu for dessert is of course, essential. It's also so much sweeter when you get to share it.

Prepare to leave spellbound and already planning another date night there. It'll have you crooning 'That's Amore,' to the moon (and your squeeze) out on the nostalgic streets of Carlton. 

50 Grattan Street, Carlton

Castlerose 

Enter the enchanting realm of Castlerose, Melbourne’s hidden underground restaurant in South Melbourne. This intimate supper club invites guests to descend a spiral staircase into a sophisticated den-like space, perfect for rainy date nights. Plush leather banquettes and elegant lighting set the mood for an unforgettable experience. The menu blends comfort and sophistication, offering seasonal dishes with a modern twist.

Sitchu Tip: For a truly romantic touch, indulge in their curated cheese trolley for a memorable evening.

67 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne 

Poodle Bar & Bistro

This charming Art Deco venue exudes elegance and allure, with dark wood accents and cosy leather banquettes that beckon for intimate tête-à-tête suppers. For a touch of magic, you can also enjoy the vibey courtyard on a warm evening.

Poodle’s modern take on classic Euro bistro fare pairs perfectly with its lively atmosphere, ensuring that every moment is filled with flavour and unforgettable vibes. It’s the kind of place where time slips away, leaving you both wanting more.

81-83 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

Rocco's Bologna Discoteca 

There's zero chance of a date landing in the regretti-spaghetti pile at Rocco's Bologna Discoteca, bringing a new-school romance to Fitzroy every Wednesday with its Date Night offering.

Forget stiff white tablecloths and schmaltzy string quartets, Rocco's is one of the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne that is suited to all, from first dates to long-term lovers to purely platonic friendships.

The $45 set menu includes spaghetti ajo ojo peperoncino and the aforementioned sub, plus a soft serve del giorno to share for dessert. The half litre of vino rosso will also keep the good vibes flowing. 

Every Wednesday, 5.00pm til late

15 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

WAYGOOD

WAYGOOD is a neighbourhood wine bar with date night written all over it. Choose from over 3500 wines and slip beneath the archway into an intimate, European-inspired space with your beau.

The menu, focused on seasonal, approachable dishes, will delight your foodie hearts. Highlights include grilled ocean trout skewers with kohlrabi remoulade, roasted carrots with whipped feta, crispy falafels with hummus, and burnt cheesecake with baklava nuts. It’s the perfect spot for an unforgettable evening.

213 Swan Street, Richmond

Neighbourhood Wine

Neighbourhood Wine nails the romantic date night vibe with its polished charm and intimate setting in Fitzroy North. The menu, ever-evolving with the seasons, features a tempting mix of share plates designed for romance. Think rustic floorboards, candlelit wooden tables, and laid-back jazz and blues on high rotation. When the sun’s out, the alfresco area is perfect for a cosy, sun-soaked date. It’s the ideal spot for your next unforgettable meal.

1 Reid Street, Fitzroy North

Firebird 

Firebird is both evocative and approachable, one of Melbourne’s most romantic restaurants, perfect for getting to know each other over grilled oysters with nuoc mam, luscious roasted duck with orange jus, and the best scotch quail eggs you’ll ever taste. Refreshing cocktails and captivating interiors set the mood.

The warm, inviting atmosphere will have you and your date ordering more from the refined, wood-grilled Neo-Vietnamese menu than you might have planned. Stay a while and savour the experience.

223 High Street, Prahran

Copycat

This intimate Elsternwick cocktail bar and restaurant is made for late nights and date nights. Situated next to Classic Cinemas, Copycat is the perfect spot for a post-movie nightcap and debrief.

With beautiful banquette seating, textured concrete walls, and a sunken cocktail lounge, it sets the mood for cocktails and conversation. Indulge in seasonal plates like grilled king prawns with green chermoula or spiced lamb shoulder with rose harissa. With an extensive drinks list, including non-alcoholic options, Copycat is a must-add to your date night rotation.

9b Gordon Street, Elsternwick

Marion

When it comes to date night, Marion is a triple threat: mouth-watering food, an unparalleled wine list, and an intimate atmosphere perfect for two. While there's no mistaking this northside institution as a wine bar (and a great one at that), the food certainly doesn’t take a back seat.

Stop in for a glass of wine before dinner or make it the main event with unfussy yet surprisingly elevated dishes that highlight seasonal produce. With oysters, chocolate, and, of course, red wine on the menu, ramping up the romance has never been easier.

53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Neptune Food and Wine

Whether you choose to sink into a booth, cosy up at the bar, or settle by the fireplace, Neptune is full of mood-setting vibes. From the warm lights and dark woods to the lush pan-Euro eats, including charred octopus amatriciana, twirls of spanner crab spaghetti, oysters upon oysters, and Negronis on tap to really get the conversation flowing. It's one of the most underrated romantic restaurants in Melbourne, offering a perfect blend of atmosphere and exceptional food for a memorable date night.

212 High Street, Windsor

Yugen 

Yugen Tea Bar’s sister venue, Yugen, is an opulent two-level restaurant that captivates from the moment you step off the elevator. Plush seating, warm lighting, and elemental materials create a rich, romantic atmosphere.

The à la carte menu dazzles with modern Asian dishes like smoked eel chawanmushi with brown butter and crispy chicken skin, prawn toast, sashimi platters, and shio-koji-marinated Wagyu dressed in tarragon, ponzu, and lime.

For a truly unforgettable experience, book the Golden Orb, suspended above the restaurant for a date night like no other.

605 Chapel Street, South Yarra

Reine & La Rue 

Easily one of the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne, Reine & La Rue is a French-inspired restaurant and bar nestled within the grand 1890s neo-gothic Melbourne Stock Exchange.

Once you're taken by the stunning interiors, dive into a menu inspired by French classics, including a three-course meal and a tableside cheese selection for dessert.

Chic, candlelit, and sophisticated, this dreamy spot promises to impress and earn major brownie points with your partner.

380 Collins Street, Melbourne

Smith St Bistrot

Is there anything more romantic than a classic French bistro? Scott Pickett's Smith St Bistrot reimagines traditional French cuisine with the chef’s signature flair, set in an elegant space that transports diners straight to Paris. The opulent interior, with its cosy red leather couches and marble tables, creates the perfect backdrop for anniversaries, engagements, or a truly memorable first date. 

300 Smith Street, Collingwood

Gimlet

Enter a world of glamour and Chicago-style elegance at Gimlet At Cavendish House. Complete with glimmering chandeliers and intimate booths in a stunning 1920s building, this is one of Melbourne's most romantic restaurants. Whether you're celebrating a special milestone or impressing a food-loving first date, Gimlet is a foolproof choice.

The menu highlights Australian produce with refined European flavours, complemented by an extensive cocktail list. Begin your evening with caviar service, then indulge in baked Valrhona chocolate with crème fraîche, a cheese platter, or perhaps a dessert cocktail or two to finish.

33 Russell Street, Melbourne

Navi

Located in the trendy suburb of Yarraville is one of the most innovative and romantic restaurants in Melbourne, Navi. Serving a degustation menu to only 25 guests a night, weekends are usually booked out months in advance.

The perfect hideaway for special occasions, adventurous diners are bound to love the genre-bouncing playlist, exciting menu and novel drinks list (think saltbush Negroni).

83b Gamon Street, Yarraville

Cutler & Co

This Fitzroy fine-diner is a true institution, blending inventive Japanese and European cuisine in a seductively chic, industrial-style setting. Cutler & Co is a go-to for date night—or any night—with couples flocking for its impressive menu and elegant atmosphere.

Impress your date as you savour dishes like yellowfin tuna crudo, Aylesbury duck breast glazed with smoked maple syrup, and decadent chocolate délice. It’s a dining experience that never disappoints.

55–57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Flower Drum

For a fancy dinner-date for two, book a table at Flower Drum. With a focus on high-quality food and wine with top service, this intimate and elegant Chinese restaurant serves authentic Cantonese cuisine that will impress your significant other. To end the date on a sweet note, we recommend ordering the banana fritters.

17 Market Lane, Melbourne 

Grossi Florentino

When a dining experience kicks off with a ceremonial Champagne trolley, you know you’re in for a good night. That's right: in the opulent setting of Grossi Florentino, they really pull out all the stops. Crystal chandeliers hang elegantly from the ornate ceiling and ancient murals decoratively line the walls. This has Italian romance written all over it. The food is exquisite, and though it’s on the pricier side, we guarantee it’s more than worth it. This is a dining experience like no other. 

80 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Loved our edit of the best romantic restaurants in Melbourne and looking for more date inspo? From underground cocktail haunts and cosy Melbourne pubs, to quirky date ideas and boozy brunches, we've whittled it all down to make sure your next date is a complete success.