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Romantic Restaurants in Melbourne for the Perfect Date Night

Looking for a dinner spot where you can cosy up by candlelight? Feast your eyes on the best romantic restaurants in Melbourne.

Kirk's Wine Bar
Kirk's Wine Bar

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.

Good Gnocchi
Good Gnocchi

Good Gnocchi

We're a little bit in love with this retro-infused Italian dream. Decked out in crimson, Good Gnocchi is serving up heaped bowls of some of the best gnocchi and pasta in town. Think four cheese and greens lasagne, fusilli alla vodka with cacio e pepe whipped ricotta, and wagyu lasagne gnocchi.

There are delicious antipasti and comforting mains worth a look in too, lots of fun cocktails and some apple pie cannoli for dessert. The whole dining experience as a whole is a big mood; the perfect spot for your next date night. 

797 Nicholson Street, Carlton North 

Yugen
Yugen

Yugen 

Yugen Tea Bar's subterranean sister venue, Yugen, is an opulent two-level restaurant that enraptures from the moment you descend down the elevator. Elemental materials pair with plush seating and warm, glowy lighting to create a space that feels rich, grand and utterly romantic.

On the à la carte menu, expect show-stopping modern Asian dishes including a smoked eel chawanmushi finished with brown butter and crispy chicken skin, prawn toast, a sashimi platter and a shio-koji-marinated Wagyu Shio Koji dressed in tarragon, ponzu and lime.

Want to take your date night to new heights? Book the Golden Orb, which is suspended high in the air above the restaurant.

605 Chapel Street, South Yarra

Lagoon Dining
Lagoon Dining

Lagoon Dining

Contemporary Chinese fusion magic and a moody and cocooning space awaits at this highly lauded Lygon Street restaurant. Lagoon Dining surprises at every turn, with its striking modern interiors incongruent with the dose of Little Italy nostalgia that lives and breathes outside its unassuming frontage, to its expertly crafted dishes brimming with both powerful and surprising flavours. It makes a fun date spot, elevated but welcoming. 

263 Lygon Street, Carlton 

Poodle Bar & Bistro
Poodle Bar & Bistro

Poodle Bar & Bistro

This handsome art deco venue is a place that’s sure to impress. Dark wood and cosy leather banquettes will have you sidling up to each other for your tête-à-tête supper, unless you choose to park out in the vibey courtyard on a balmy evening.

Poodle’s fresh take on Euro bistro food and perennial good times atmosphere will have you both not wanting to leave.

81-83 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

Empty table at Pearl Chablis in Melbourne
Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar

Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar 

An intimate bar and dining space in Melbourne's bustling CBD, Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar is dedicated to nature’s perfect (and most romantic) pairing. Head on in to this gorgeous spot and enjoy the finest varieties of Chablis, paired with Australia’s freshest oysters. It's a wine connoisseur’s dream, where you can peruse the largest collection of Chablis in Australia, with over 500 wines from all over Chablis and Burgundy.

Then it's onto our favourite oceanic delights; fresh, seasonal oysters sourced sustainably from the best growers along the Oyster Coast of NSW. At Pearl, they're served chilled, grilled or au natural - and shucked on demand. All of that and nature's aphrodisiac? Time to book in a date to this sophsticated spot ASAP. 

108/200 Bourke Street, Melbourne 

Leonie Upstairs
Leonie Upstairs

Leonie Upstairs 

Leonie Upstairs is the new go-to Japanese restaurant in Melbourne, and it's perfect for no-brainer dinner dates over premium sake and artfully-crafted temaki sushi, balancing chill with charm. An unassuming entrance leads to a warm and cocooning space, all lounge-y sake bar vibes that provide an elevated and alternative feel to mid-week date nights. Expect an ‘omakase’ suite of twelve signature temaki sushi, or enjoy creating a do-it-yourself temaki set. Walk in for a relaxed bite, or linger for a more fine dining experience, steeped in saké and followed by something sweet. This reimagining of Japanese dining sets the tone just right as one of the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne. 

Level 1, 15-17 Lincoln Square, Carlton

Rocco's Bologna Discoteca
Rocco's Bologna Discoteca

Rocco's Bologna Discoteca 

There's zero chance of a date landing in the regretti-spaghetti pile at Rocco's Bologna Discoteca, bringing new-school romance to Fitzroy every Wednesday with its Date Night offering. Forget stiff white tablecloths and schmaltzy string quartets, Rocco's is a romantic restaurant in Melbourne that is suited to all. Think first dates to long-term lovers to purely platonic friendships; even if you're simply wanting your very own Lady and the Tramp moment; simply replace spaghetti and meatballs with Rocco's famed (and extra saucy) meatball sub, and you get the picture. 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, 5pm til late

15 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

Kirk's Wine Bar
Kirk's Wine Bar

Kirk's Wine Bar

Fancy a date at the closest thing to a Parisian wine bar we have in the city? Say hello to one of the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne, Kirk's Wine Bar. The small space has a charming, lived-in aesthetic, with warm service and a buzzing atmosphere, spilling from the inside out onto the bounty of small round tables bustling with conviviality. It's sure to put you and your date at ease from the get-go, with its blend of new-world casual and old-world sophistication, and new and old world wines to sip at. Food wise, the European-accented menu offers an array of beautiful imported cheeses and house-made charcuterie, the freshest, most briny oysters and a range of well-crafted share plates and larger dishes. 

Sitchu tip: The cosy space fills quickly, so try and get there early. Fortunately, it really is best suited to duos. 

46 Hardware Lane, Melbourne 

Neighbourhood Wine
Neighbourhood Wine

Neighbourhood Wine

We at Sitchu believe there's no better way to romance a partner than with a delicious Sunday roast. And none do it better than Neighbourhood Wine, one of Fitzroy North's most warm, polished and charming wine bar offerings. Beyond their celebrated drinks list, this upmarket local's winning roast regularly changes with the weather and best seasonal produce available – and it's not to be missed! There's also an approachable array of share plates to enjoy, and an atmosphere made entirely for your next romantic dinner and drink. Think rustic floorboards, dimly lit lounge rooms and humming ceiling fans, cosy wooden tables, a long candle-lit bar, and rows of '50s to '70s jazz and blues records played out on high rotation. Book into this romantic restaurant in Melbourne for a cool winter's eve - and be sure to add cuddling to your to-do list. 

1 Reid Street, Fitzroy North

Luxsmith
Luxsmith

Luxsmith Restaurant + Bar 

A local favourite in Seddon and culinary destination for those who love Vietnamese and Thai-inspired modern Asian cuisine, Luxsmith Restaurant + Bar is a light-filled, charming and easy-going space, made for a midweek date night out west. As the sun goes down and the pretty dining space dims to shades of golden and blue, get to know each other over plates of soft shell crab bao, wok-charred edamame, prawn dumplings, and steaming bowls of beef brisket Massaman curry and warm drunken chicken. 

5 Gamon Street, Seddon

Vex Northcote
Vex Northcote

Vex Dining

For a dinner you'll talk about together long after leaving it, you can't go past Vex. Clever and classy, this bistro meets wine bar is simply made for a relaxed, intimate and unique date. The concise menu changes often, according to availability and seasonality, and the bar's low-waste approach to dining is sure to impress your most eco-friendly paramour. The current menu include freshly shucked Sydney Rock oysters with elderflower mignonette, vegetable tartare, blue eye with marinated peppers, green olive and basil, grilled porterhouse with sour pumpkin butter, and a sorrel sorbet with strawberries. Wine wise, the focus is on good farming ethics, plus buying in small quantities so that the team can bring in new bottles often to keep things fresh. 

66-68 High Street, Northcote 

Prince Dining Room
Prince Dining Room

Prince Dining Room

St Kilda icon Prince Dining Room has been reinvigorated with a new dining offering that promises to be "the freshest menu this side of the Aegean", some seriously tasty cocktails, and romantic vibes aplenty. Honouring the storied venue's history, the fit out features Art Deco custom furniture with modernist design touches and black and white photography. The result? A setting that is both glamorous and inviting... and perfect for your next date night. 

Whisper sweet nothings to each other over dishes that let the produce sing, including a southern calamari with red pepper and spiced almond, beef tartare with a gruyere puff and a Tasmanian lamb rump with smoked eggplant and tahini. 

2 Acland Street, St Kilda 

Reine & La Rue
Reine & La Rue

Reine & La Rue 

One of Melbourne's most highly anticipated openings of 2023 also happens to be one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. Reine & La Rue is a French-inspired restaurant and bar, sitting ornately within the transformed 1890's neo-gothic Melbourne Stock Exchange into a 150-seat dining experience, across three distinct spaces. With a menu inspired by French classics and designed to allow guests to choose the way they want to dine, you could simply walk in for snacks and Champagne at the bar, or procure a cosy booth for two to indulge in a three-course meal. A selection of cheese for dessert is also served up tableside. It's chic and sophisticated, candlelit and majestic - and guaranteed to win you brownie points with your partner.

Get fancy together and order the Eastern Rock lobster cocktail with endive and rouille to kick things off appropriately and move into steak territory, served with Bordelaise or cafe de Paris butter. Devolve into amorous giggles after sipping your way through the large selection of French and American wines, with over 40 available by the glass, and finish things off with a drink from the cocktail list. Inspired by New York classics, you can't go wrong with Reine & La Rue's riff on a Manhattan or Sazerac. 

380 Collins Street, Melbourne

Yakikami
Yakikami

Yakikami

If you really want to impress your date to a romantic dinner with a difference, treat them to the premium Niku Kappo Wagyu Omakase experience (the only one of its kind in Melbourne) at South Yarra's Yakikami. This 70-seat restaurant presents two offerings; a casual yakitori-style eatery and the fine dining and moodily-lit Josper room, where you can settle in for some of the finest wagyu dishes in the world in an intimate setting. Seating up to 10 guests, watch on in awe as true masters of the game Koji and Soichi prepare a 12-course degustation menu ($285pp) that you and your loved one won't soon forget. Experience, education and quality are at the helm of this offering, whereby each dish is prepared, cooked and explained to guests at the counter-set dining table. We can confidently say if there's one romantic restaurant in Melbourne to add to your list, this is it. 

150 Toorak Road, South Yarra 

Etta
Etta

Etta

Etta is a small neighbourhood restaurant that has quickly built a reputation as an essential Melbourne dining experience - and under the guise of head chef Rosheen Kaul and owner Hannah Green, it's easy to see why. Combining a range of global influences from The Phillipines to the Middle East, the menu is exceptional, with an order of small dishes recommended (sourdough and smoked brown butter, oysters, blistered padron peppers, green lip abalone and lardo skewer) and at least one larger dish (High Country rainbow trout with coriander salsa, whole turmeric spatchcock with calamansi lime and peanut sambal) a must. The 250-bottle wine list is an wonderful capture of the world’s best growing regions, so sharing a bottle together is also essential.

Etta is a beautiful, though slightly austere setting, with lavish marble bars, concrete walls and a gorgeous forest mural included in the packaging. But it's the food that will have you blissed out together by the end of the night, certain to evoke a lust for life, and food, and wine, and each other!

60 Lygon Street, Brunswick East

Copycat
Copycat

Copycat

This intimate Elsternwick cocktail bar was made for late nights and date nights. Conveniently situated right next door to the much loved arthouse theatre, Classic Cinemas, Copycat is the perfect place for a post movie-date nightcap and debrief.

Beautiful banquette seating, textured concrete walls and a stunning sunken cocktail lounge are the perfect setting for a romantic night of cocktails and conversation. The dimly lit interior is perfect to set the mood while you and your beau indulge in seasonal plates like grilled king prawns with green chermoula or spiced lamb shoulder, eggplant, rose harissa. With an extensive drinks list, including plenty of non-alcoholic options, it’s about time you add Copycat to the date night rotation.

9b Gordon Street, Elsternwick

Rosella
Rosella

Rosella

With a menu designed to share, Rosella in Fitzroy is the perfect romantic restaurant in Melbourne. Laid back Italian food, prepared with heart, Rosella is a beautiful and welcoming haven on Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude Street. Swoon over seasonal plates of pasta, bowls of fresh mussels acqua pazza and what better way to end the date than digging into a generous helping of tiramisu. Not to mention the perfectly curated wine list - when the venue owner’s previous gig was as the ex Vue de Monde wine director, you know you and the success of your date night are in the safest of hands.

229 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Smith St Bistrot
Smith St Bistrot

Smith St Bistrot

Is there anything more romantic than a classic French bistro? Scott Pickett's newest fine dining restaurant Smith St Bistrot puts the award-winning chef's signature spin on traditional French cooking in an elegant space which has been reimagined to transport diners to Paris. The opulent interior serves as a beautiful backdrop to an anniversary, engagement, or very flashy first date, and there's the option to choose between casual dining at the bar or more formal dining around marble tables on cosy red leather couches. 

300 Smith Street, Collingwood

Siglo
Siglo

Siglo

No bookings, no time limits. Siglo is a Melbourne institution built for late nights. Located above The Melbourne Supper Club, what better place to wrap up your night than on the rooftop at Siglo, soaking in city views and sipping on classic cocktails. It's a classy, intimate venue where you and the one you love can settle in at your white clothed table and mull over the tough decisions, such as whether you’ll opt for champagne, or spirits, or even a cuban cigar if you so please.

2/161 Spring Street, Melbourne

Gimlet
Gimlet

Gimlet

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

With a menu that heroes Australian produce, yet reflects refined European flavours and an extensive cocktail list to match, you’ll settle in for an evening of pure luxury. Start your night with the caviar service, and end it with baked Valrhona chocolate and crème fraîche, a cheese platter or a desert cocktail or two.

33 Russell Street, Melbourne

Tipico
Tipico

Tipico

A successful date night involves great food and wine, an intimate ambiance and very few decisions over what to eat. Tipico delivers all of those things, and so much more. Reigning supreme as one of the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne, the contemporary Italian eatery has a dreamy grey and white terrazzo bar, greenery to soften the space, and two distinctive dining sections: one more dimly-lit and moody, and the other perfect for casual conversation and feasting.

On the food front expect classic Italian flavours with a modern twist, from burrata with smoked peach puree to rich beef pappardelle and pillowy parcels of spinach and ricotta. Opt for the 'Decidiamo Noi' and let the experts do the ordering for you – less decisions, more time for romance. Win-win!

242 High Street, Windsor

WAYGOOD
WAYGOOD

WAYGOOD

A cosy neighbourhood wine bar at its core, WAYGOOD has date night written all over it. Buy a bottle (one of over 3500 options available) and slip beneath the archway into an intimate space, where a distinctly European sensibility awaits you and your beau. The menu changes weekly, but the focus is always on nourishing, approachable plates that will send your foodie hearts aflutter. Standout dishes on the current menu include Appellation oysters with Champagne mignonette, wild Barramundi, mussels, leek, saffron sauce and ‘La Vina’ basque cheesecake.

213 Swan Street, Richmond

Bistrot d'Orsay

Escape to the city of love, even if it’s just for the night. Moody, intimate, and serving up a classic provençal Mediterranean menu guaranteed to impress, this cosy spot at the Paris End of Collins St is a local lover’s favourite. Settle in under the trompe l’oeil ceiling with a glass of champagne (French of course) and a charcuterie board to share before indulging in French Bistro classics such as Bouillabaisse and Coq Au Vin. You’ll want to save room for dessert - the vanilla crème brûlée is best enjoyed by two.

184 Collins Street, Melbourne

Navi
Navi

Navi

Located in the trendy suburb of Yarraville is one of the most innovative and romantic restaurants in Melbourne. Serving a degustation menu to only 25 guests a night has given chef-owner Julian Hills more space to flex his creative muscles, with the results speaking for themselves – 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

Marion
Marion

Marion

When it comes to date night, Marion is a triple threat; mouth-wateringly good food, an unparalleled wine list, and an intimate atmosphere that is perfect for two. While there is no mistaking that this northside institution is 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 hero seasonal produce. With oysters, chocolate, and of course red wine on the menu, ramping up the romance has never been easier - if you catch our drift... 

53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Rustic interior with black accents at Cutler and Co Fitzroy
Cutler & Co

Cutler & Co

Serving an artful blend of inventive Japanese and European cuisine, this Fitzroy fine-diner is an institution in its own right. Come date night – come to think of it, any night – this revered restaurant has couples queuing out the door. Not least for its seductively chic, industrial-style setting, but for its impressive food selection. If you’re looking to impress, Cutler & Co never disappoints.

Settle into the restaurant to work your way through sumptuous plates of yellowfin tuna crudo; Aylesbury duck breast glazed with smoke maple syrup; Chocolate délice.

55–57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Lui Bar
Lui Bar

Lui Bar

Is it a restaurant? No. Is it breathtakingly romantic? Hell yes. Found on level 55 of the Rialto, Lui Bar is the gold standard of special occasion dates. Sure, you go for the view, but you stay for the out of this world cocktails that are some of the city's finest. For all the espresso martini lovers out there, proceed at your own risk with the Vodka Pour Over - it's that good you'll struggle to drink the basic version ever again. 

We know what you're thinking, why not choose the more appropriate sibling venue Vue De Monde? Don't get us wrong, Vue De Monde is one of the most romantic restaurants in Melbourne, but you probably already knew that. Upstairs boasts a more relaxed energy where you can cosy up to your beau without the formal dining setting. 

Rialto Tower, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne

Bar Liberty
Bar Liberty

Bar Liberty

A trendy wine bar that serves superlative snacks; a little restaurant boasting an eclectic selection of darn good drops. Whatever you’re in the mood for, Bar Liberty has you covered. Iterations of Old and New World wines guarantee endless tasting notes, whilst the fermented beverage list and selection of ‘sticky icky' drops will keep your date suitably entertained.

234 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Flower Drum
Flower Drum

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. Perfect for a mid-week rendezvous, to end the date on a sweet note we recommend ordering the banana fritters.

17 Market Lane, Melbourne 

Grossi Florentino
Grossi Florentino

Grossi Florentino

When a dining experience kicks off with a ceremonial Champagne trolley, you know you’re in for a good night. And 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

Eureka89
Eureka89

Eureka89

Impress your date by taking things to the next level – the 89th level to be exact – with a degustation on top of the Eureka Tower. Feast on tiger prawns with tamarind, miso and sea herbs paired with some of Victoria’s best regional wines, whilst soaking up the sunset and dramatic 360° views. There’s a reason this innately romantic restaurant in Melbourne's CBD is high territory for anniversaries and proposals. 

Level 89, Eureka Tower, 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank

Neptune Food & Wine
Neptune Food & Wine

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: think charred octopus amatriciana and twirls of spanner crab spaghetti, plus negronis on tap to really get the conversation flowing.

212 High Street, Windsor

Bar Romantica
Bar Romantica

Bar Romantica

Romantic by name, romantic by nature. Deep red leather booths, heart-shaped tables, low lights and natural wines set the scene – they’ve got the formula for date night down pat. Better yet, they serve Napoli-style pizzas and snacks until 12am on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can keep your lover’s company deep into the night.

52/54 Lygon Street, Brunswick East 

Coda
Coda

Coda

Hidden down a laneway and under street level, you and your date will feel stowed away from the rest of the world. Dark wood, dim lights and a smart split layout afford a layer of privacy, while the modern European and Asian menu is full of bright and fresh flavours. Begin with the classic aphrodisiac of oysters shucked to order, topped with spanner crab and nam jim dressing.

141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Bar Lourinha
Bar Lourinha

Bar Lourinha

Many a weary office worker making the 5pm trundle to Parliament Station has peered longingly into the warm glow of Bar Lourinha. Here, couples share both conversation and plates of tapas, alternating murmurs and laughter with spiced spanner crab tostados, and jamon croquettes. Intimate, buzzy and decorated with all sorts of conversation-starting bric-a-brac, it’s the perfect place for both a first date or milestone anniversary.

37 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Loved our edit of the best romantic restaurants in Melbourne and looking for more date inspo? We've got plenty to keep you and your loved one entertained besides just romantic restaurants in Melbourne. From underground cocktail haunts and cosy Melbourne pubs, to quirky date ideas and boozy brunches, we've whittled down the coolest things to do in Melbourne to make sure your next date is a complete success.

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