The best date-night restaurants in Melbourne

Mod-Oz in an Art Deco diner. This is the hottest piece of eating action in Northcote if you like all things molecular.

'Eating house' doesn't quite cut it. ‘All-day diner’ falls worryingly short. In fact, when trying to sum up the place Cumulus Inc plays in Melbourne’s hungry heart, ‘favourite clubhouse’ comes as close as any description. This beloved venue is down-to-earth fine dining, perfect for impressing someone without looking like you've tried too hard.

Classic food in a modern venue. The high energy and fast pace of this restaurant will keep your date in good spirits. Approachable food and smart drinks means it's one less thing to think about, too.

It may be in an old gentleman's club (you know what we mean), but a lot has changed since those days. The service here is the best in Melbourne and perfect for romancing the one you've been crushing on for years.

Tiny, hidden, intimate; this 13-seater tempura bar in a side street of South Melbourne is our pick for dining without a crowd. Just be confident in your conversation because there will be nowhere to hide.

This Gertrude Street institution is more than just a pre-dinner pit stop. Its simple, but excellently executed bistro menu is unfussy and delicious. The real star of the show is the wine list – a mix of local and international producers that are food-friendly or great on their own. Get some fries and let the staff pick you a bottle to share. 

Upon being seated at the Carlton Wine Room, the crew hands you a one-pager of aperitif and cocktails before you even see the food menu. The full wine list contains 100 bottles, but it's approachable, decipherable and balanced. Even if you're not a fine wine connoisseur, trust us when you say you can't really go wrong here. Great for a pre-dinner drink or a low-key date night.

It's dark, convivial and intimate, what could go wrong? Learn your salumi from your salami over a few carafes of wine and lean in over a pizza.

If southside, it's only natural to head to Bar Di Stasio. Sit up at the marble bar and watch the bartenders craft your cocktails over a plate of fritto misto and people watch the who's who of St Kilda. 

Ring the doorbell and be led upstairs to indulge in Japanese whiskies and sake while overlooking the Treasury Gardens. Perfect for a nightcap when you don't want the world to find you.

Melbourne's bar scene continues to be the envy of the nation, and our late-night credentials only get stronger with every new opening. Here is Melbourne viewed through the bottom of a glass: from its world-beating cocktail lounges to its down-and-divey saloons.