There are a number of good places for fine dining in Melbourne. These restaurants range from elegant French to Asian-influenced eateries, each with a distinctive style. Whether you are looking for a high-end restaurant or just a place to grab a quick bite, there is something for everyone here.
Matilda 159 Domain South Yarra
Matilda 159 Domain South Yarra is a contemporary Australian fine dining restaurant. This stylishly designed dining room is a visual and sensory journey, celebrating the connection between people and food.
Set against the backdrop of the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Matilda 159 Domain restaurant is named after the daughter of Chef Scott Pickett. It is a fine dining experience with a focus on seasonal produce. The menu is inspired by the regions of Australia.
One of the dishes to try is the pink lady apple tarte tatin. This delicious dessert is served with smoked yoghurt ice-cream. Another signature dish is the prawn butter.
As you would expect, the restaurant has a very good wine list. You can choose from 22 wines by the glass. There are also cocktails to be enjoyed.
Matilda 159 Domain is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For a special occasion, the restaurant can cater for up to 100 guests. Alternatively, you can book a private suite.
Florentino
Florentino is a high-end Italian restaurant in Melbourne. It has been around since 1928 and offers a classic fine dining experience. The restaurant is located on Bourke Street in the CBD and has an impressive history.
Florentino’s is not just about great food; it’s also about history. The restaurant was originally a wine shop and has undergone a contemporary makeover. Today, it is the oldest restaurant in Melbourne.
Grossi Florentino is an Italian and Australian fine dining establishment in Melbourne’s CBD. It has been operating since 1928 and has shaped the culture of Melbourne’s dining scene.
It has a grand room that evokes the Renaissance era and offers a sophisticated casual dining experience. In addition to traditional Italian food, you can enjoy seafood dishes and steaks.
The menu at Grossi Florentino includes some of the best Italian food in Australia. The restaurant features local ingredients and uses sustainable practices. It is one of the best places to eat in Melbourne.
Hector’s
Hector’s Fine Dining Melbourne, a well-known sandwich shop in Richmond, has opened a second store in South Melbourne. The menu features a host of sandwiches, including the aptly named Hectic sauce.
For starters, there is an impressive wine list. It is led by Jack Muir-Rigby, formerly of Etta and Embla. Their locally distilled aperitif Okar is also on offer.
Hector’s menu is a mix of the classic and the new. They have a few gimmicks, like their rum baba and stracciatella, but the real highlight is the ‘HCT’, a double cheese sandwich on a potato bun.
There are a few other sandwich-related items to look out for. You might be surprised to discover that their “Roasted Pork Sandwich” is not actually roasted pork, but a pork and bacon sandwich.
In addition to its sourdough sandwiches, Hector’s has also added a range of donuts, including the “Hector’s Doughnut”, which comes with an interesting filling.
Tonka
A fine dining experience in the heart of Melbourne, Tonka is owned and operated by Adam D’Sylva, a culinary whiz who previously helmed Sydney’s Coda. The menu includes a slew of traditional Indian dishes mixed with some zingy Aussie ingredients. It also has a decent wine list, the most enticing being a swag of Australian and French bottles.
There is a lot to be said for the best suited wine to go with your meal. You could be spending a small fortune on a night out at one of the city’s finer establishments and still be left feeling robbed of your hard earned cash. As a result, you’ll want to make a reservation at the earliest possible opportunity.
This may be a good thing. In the context of the dining industry, the last few years have been a struggle for the industry as a whole, and especially the top end of the food chain.
RUSSH Club
Melbourne, Australia is an international city with a vibrant arts and nightlife scene. It’s also a great destination for food lovers. With a vibrant, diverse immigrant population, there are many amazing restaurants in Melbourne.
Chancery Lane is a classic bistro in the heart of the city. The restaurant features a range of dining areas, including a Cellar Room, a Dining Room and a private atrium. You can choose to enjoy European cuisine or a more casual European-style lunch.
Chin Chin is a contemporary Australian restaurant that has a unique approach to food. You can find everything from crispy squid with Sriracha mayonnaise to zucchini fritters with pesto dip. And the decor reflects that eclectic mix of art and music that defines the Melbourne scene.
Attica is one of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in Melbourne. This sophisticated dining experience is known for its unique dishes and adventurous drinks list. Located on Gertrude Street, next door to Cutler & Co., it is a great spot to try the chef’s innovative menu.
Society on Collins Street
If you are looking for a top-end Melbourne restaurant that has a fine wine list, then Chris Lucas’ Society is one of the best options in town. This high-end dining experience is set to open in 2021.
The first floor will house Yakimono, a Japanese-inspired eating house. Upstairs you’ll find a wine list that stretches to over a thousand bottles. As well as an a la carte menu, you’ll also be able to order some great dishes such as a coral trout served with cauliflower puree and sea buckthorn sauce.
Chancery Lane is another fine example of a Collins Street bistro. Located in the historic Normanby Chambers building, it features a deep green marble bar and dramatic arched windows. There are also several different dining areas.
One of the most impressive aspects of this establishment is its open kitchen. This gives a unique ambiance to the dining experience. You’ll be able to see chef Martin Zozaya cooking up his signature dishes.
Cutler & Co.
Cutler & Co is an award-winning Melbourne restaurant that has reinvented the fine dining experience. Its menus are crafted around local produce, including raw Merimbula rock oysters and the Gundagai lamb loin and belly that pairs well with marsala fortified wine.
The menu is an ode to the best of the season. There are dishes such as the suckling pig and a six-course degustation.
A degustation costs $150 and comes with an optional wine pairing. Wines are expertly chosen by sommelier Liam O’Brien. Despite its status as an upscale dining spot, Cutler & Co is a casual venue, with a full bar and lounge seating.
The interior is stylish and chic. You’ll find a range of high benches at the front bar. Light-flooded, open kitchens are also on display. They feature art deco lights that add a glamorous ambiance to the room.
The menu includes a range of signature aperitifs, from a winter spritz to a tiramisu. A separate bar menu offers a wide variety of small plates and snacks, ranging from an abalone katsu sandwich to a cheese platter.
Mo Zhou’s 16 seat, degustation only restaurant
The city of Melbourne is home to an array of acclaimed fine dining restaurants. Each serves an array of innovative Australian produce, cuisines and cocktail concoctions. Some are even renowned for their degustations.
Among the top contenders are Mo Zhou’s 16 seat restaurant Gaea and Scott Pickett’s latest venture, Chancery Lane. While the menu may be relatively small in number, it does the shuffle with a splash of panache.
One of the most impressive items on the menu is the Blackmore wagyu rump cap, served with Manjimup truffle. In keeping with their ethos of minimal intervention, this establishment offers a 300-strong wine list. Another notable item is their found-object aesthetic.
Gaea’s signature six-course degustation is a culinary smorgasbord. For a mere $155, diners can indulge in the multi-course gastronomic experience. Using premium ingredients, the food is paired with wines from the region’s most illustrious producers.
Chancery Lane’s marquee dish is a wood-roasted duck, and the menu also features a handful of other novelty foods including a Parisian-style martini and a Parisian-style burger.
Philippe
Whether you’re looking for an elegant night out or a quick bite before a busy day at the office, Philippe’s fine dining Melbourne has a menu of the best French food available. This restaurant is the brainchild of chef Philippe Mouchel, who has built a name for himself on his innovative take on traditional fine French cuisine.
Located on Collins Street in the city, Philippe’s bistro is a classic French restaurant. The walls are covered in leafy greens and the venue boasts a wave-like roof. Its fully stocked bar is another impressive feature.
The dining room is also a standout, with a romantic ambience. You can order a range of entrees and regional dishes, while enjoying expert service from French speaking waiters.
One of the house’s specialties is a “French Dipped Sandwich,” which consists of roast beef, turkey, pastrami, and roast pork. The restaurant serves a wide selection of wines from France and Australia.
