The Best Romantic Restaurants in Melbourne for the Perfect Date Night

Nestled amongst riverside treetops on Southgate’s mid level, La Camera boasts two balconies with stunning views over The Yarra River and iconic Flinders Street Station. La Camera Italian Restaurant Southgate offers an array of authentic Italian dishes including unique Roman-style pizzas, authentic Gnocchi oxtail from Trastevere, Rome and by far the most delectable Tiramisu in town. The emphasis is on quality ingredients, and fresh, seasonal produce.

Part bakery, part restaurant, this all-day eatery from the Windsor Group serves up breads, pastries and breakfast in the mornings, lunch during the day and an eclectic dinner menu in the evenings. Housed within a sleek and moody industrial-style space, the huge open kitchen with wood-burning oven adds a touch of drama to the ambience. Private events are well accommodated, with private and semi-private dining, and whole venue buy-out options available.

Photography: Courtesy of Antara 128

Beverly Rooftop is a drinking and dining oasis, sitting 24 floors above South Yarra's Chapel Street with 270 degree views of Melbourne towards the city skyline and Dandenong Ranges. With indoor and outdoor lounges, bar areas and dining spaces, Beverly Rooftop is the perfect venue to simply catch up or linger longer and enjoy the mainly Modern Australian menu. Sip on a very special Bellini Sunset cocktail, maybe then try the spanner crab and marron pasta accompanied by a fine wine from the international wine list. A flawless drink and dine experience expands across indoor and outdoor lounges, bars and intimate table settings. From lunches, to casual catch ups, these equally work together in a space that transitions you through the day; to cocktails at dusk and well into the evening for indulgent dinners & late-night drinks. 

Tucked away on Little Collins St in Melbourne's CBD lies a dining adventure of refined modern cuisine in a cosy space known as Aru. No detail is overlooked, with Aru designed using light timber furnishings and an impressive wooden fireplace. The narrow dining space brings diners close to the action looking on into the bustling theatre of the open kitchen. Details are what also make the dishes look like art on the plate. Experience combinations like Moreton Bay Bug, blistered tomato with native curry, and the scorched pavlova with cream for something sweet.

Le Bon Ton is a New Orleans-inspired oyster saloon, smokehouse, cocktail bar and absinthe den in Melbourne’s Collingwood. Think exposed brick walls, copper studded bar, velvet mustard chesterfields, chandeliers overhead and a fairy-light dappled courtyard. It’s a place to revel in some early-20th-century jazz and blues, American craft beer, New Orleans cocktails and a punchy menu of Southern favourites including pit-smoked meats and Southern fried chicken.

Photography: Courtesy of Le Bon Ton

St Kilda's iconic Stokehouse proudly boasts the title as the first five-star green star restaurant, combining sustainability with stunning custom designed features that showcase the picturesque, uninterrupted views of the ocean. Creating a sense of theatre, guests are greeted at the entrance which is on the ground floor and completely covered by a sand dune. The heart of the Stokehouse is the kitchen where the beach and seasonality inspire a modern seafood style menu that is based on flavour philosophy of fresh, clean, zesty and light.

Gimlet at Cavendish House is a grand cocktail bar and dining room located in the centre of Melbourne. Established within the 1920's building, Gimlet is brimming with contemporary charm whilst channelling its old-world surroundings. Bought to life by Melbourne's culinary icon Andrew McConnell, you can expect to find a reimagined drinks and food menu of inventive creations. Treat yourself to dishes like yellowfin tuna tartare, dry-aged Muscovy duck breast and a decadent cheese service for dessert, complete with a side of honeycomb and fruit bread.

Photography: Courtesy of Gimlet 

Open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday

Photography: Courtesy of Yugen