The best Sunday roasts in Melbourne

What is it? Think roast pork fennel porchetta with baked cocktail potatoes, grilled broccolini and carrots; roast half chicken served with buttered leek mash and seasonal vegetables; or slow-cooked roast lamb shoulder paired with creamy polenta, grilled broccolini, carrots and gremolata – all served with gravy and Yorkie pud. We're sat.

Why we love it: The Waterside Hotel (a Flinders Street institution since 1925) has recently reemerged as a grand, multi-level destination complete with seven stories of food, drink and design. The brand new dining and drinking destination also now boasts a rooftop cocktail bar, so you can pop upstairs for a few drinks and enjoy the city views after your roast. Love!

Time Out tip: The roast menu is available on Saturdays as well in case you can't make it Sunday.

What is it? How about an extravagant family lunch, Italian style? If you can wrangle everyone into the CBD in their best Sunday dress, Florentino Dining Room is one of the most beautiful places to be. The grand restaurant has recently introduced ‘Arrosto della Domenica’, a new Sunday roast lunch menu inspired by the Italian tradition of pranzo della domenica.

Why we love it: At $95 a head, this roast is a fair notch pricier than others in our guide – but for a special occasion, we think it's well worth a booking. Who can resist the delights, after all, of assaggini like grana padano, honey, grissini and plump olives; soul-warming braised short rib tortellini in brodo; succulent herb-spiked porchetta and roast potatoes with gravy and Veneto cheese; and incredibly excellent wine? Mamma mia, we're in a daydream just thinking about it.

Time Out tip: There's a minimum booking of just two, so if you wanted to keep this lunch a smaller affair you could always just bring along a friend or partner. Molto romantico day date.

What is it? Beverly's exciting new weekly Sunday Roast is inspired by head chef David Ball's English heritage. The seasonal menu celebrates farm-to-table dining with ethically sourced meats, biodynamic vegetables and all the classic trimmings you know and love.

Why we love it: From free-range rotisserie chicken with apple and sage stuffing to dry-aged rib eye with a mustard and herb crust, every roast is served with crisp roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, carrot and swede mash, sugarloaf and rich house-made gravy. 

Time Out tip: There's also a generous vegetarian roast featuring honey-roasted red kuri pumpkin with apricot and pepita stuffing, so your plant-preferring pals won't go without.

What is it? A traditional classic roast dialed up a notch with local, quality produce. Think 100% grass-fed and dry-aged beef from the sustainable, ethical Snaith family farm in Clonbinane, Victoria. 

Why we love it: The Lincoln is not your standard pub, so don't expect your standard roast. Each week, the menu rotates between free-range pork, grass-fed lamb and beef, all served with glorious Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and seasonal veg – familiar enough ingredients, to be sure, but prepped and primed with just enough cheffy technique to give the roast that proper gastropub edge. We love the perfect umami-rich gravy and on cold days, the meal is best washed down with a stout. It's $35 a serve, available from noon until sold out and one of the finest roasts you can get in all of Melbourne. 

Time Out tip: Though you can try your luck, we wouldn't risk a walk-in for this tasty deal. Book your seat in advance if you don’t want to miss out – the word's out!

What is it? A proper British-style roast (weekly-rotating meat) in a cosy popular Thornbury restaurant.

Why we love it: The Sunday roast was brought to us by English tradition, so it makes sense that British chef and owner Michael Slade does a mean one. It also doesn’t hurt that he used to be a butcher, so he gives that meat some much-deserved respect. While the roast changes weekly, expect the typical beef, pork or lamb with sides like roast spuds, brussels sprouts or cauliflower gratin with the obligatory Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It's guaranteed to be better than your mum’s.

Time Out tip: Missing the wintry, white Christmases of Europe and the UK? Book for Gitmas in July, a mid-year festive feast at the restaurant, and share in the nostalgia with expats. 

What is it? When you call up this Fitzroy neighbourhood fave to ask what the day’s roast is, don’t be surprised if the answer is a tad vague. We were greeted with, “I’m not sure yet, but it’s always changing, and it’s always delicious.” Correct on two points, Mr Marquis.

Why we love it: The roast changes but on one particular weekend, the cosy backstreet pub was dishing out slow-cooked lamb shoulder with golden kipflers, a savoury lick of gravy and a bitter note from the charred radicchio. Another time, visitors could get grilled eye fillet with Bordelaise sauce, remoulade and crispy artichokes. Expect something just as sophisticated, often with a fantastic (and ginormous) Yorkie pudding.

Time Out tip: The pub sometimes rotates 1.5-litre magnums of wine to give locals something bold and intriguing to try. Get a glass of what's on offer that week to pair with your roast.

What is it? A three-course set menu consisting of sourdough and shared entrées, followed by the roast of the day or a vegetarian alternative.

Why we love it: Similarly to other top picks in this guide,  Neighbourhood Wine takes well-loved flavours and dials up both the taste and presentation in line with what you'd expect from some of Melbourne's finest wine bars. The rotating menu changes according to what's in season, from porchetta, roast cabbage and potatoes (with a Yorkie pud and jus, of course) to velvety potato and leek soup followed by a porterhouse. We especially love that in this deal, dessert's icluded. 

Time Out tip: With around 800 wines on the list at any given time, this is your chance to go nuts with pairings.

What is it? The Lion and Wombat is one of Melbourne’s most respectable watering holes for traditional British pub food and drinks, and that's in no small part due to its epic Sunday roasts; choose from a beef, chicken or nut roast each week.

Why we love it: From the generous pots of housemade gravy to the Yorkie puds, peas and carrots, everything here just has that homely British taste you're unlikely to detect in just any old Aussie pub. Bonus points: the drinks list here is excellent. The house cocktail list has been developed by Dav Eames from Cocktails and Eames, (try a Paddington, featuring marmalade and whiskey or a Pimm’s Cup). 

Time Out tip: The Lion and Wombat is also known for its hand-pulled cask ale, so don't forget to grab a pint.

What is it? Every Sunday, the Orrong Hotel in Armadale offers a different pub roast special with all the trimmings.

Why we love it: Now that the weather has cooled down, the pub has cranked up its open fireplaces giving pub-goers the perfect opportunity to defrost. After all, a Sunday roast isn't just about what you eat; a cosy environment goes along way in adding to the occaison. They've got a solid list of Australian wines and beers to pair with your toasty roast, too.

Time Out tip: The pub's Instagram page is where you can feast your eyes on their most recent roasts.

What is it? A traditional Sunday roast (beef or lamb with all the trimmings). Across the World Cup 2026 tournament, visitors are encouraged to order a giant Yorkie lamb roast with gravy and matched with Three Lions Lager.

Why we love it: There's truly never a dull moment at The Impy. We love the rooftop, the heat lamps outside, the fact there's regular live music and screenings of all the most important sports games live and loud. 

Time Out tip: If you're reading this during the World Cup, bookmark the Impy for your next pub game. It's screening matches across every space, including a mega-screen on the rooftop.