The most romantic restaurants in Melbourne in 2026

Rocketing up to the highest floor of the Rialto Tower, your ears might pop and your stomach drop, but the destination is well worth the ride. At dusk, the rapidly fading sunlight in Vue de Monde bounces off the CBD’s skyscrapers, and the twinkling lights and far-off ranges are so very, very beautiful. It’s a dramatic entrance, and one that sets the tone for your meal to follow. If you’re willing to invest and looking to wow someone’s socks off (or simply your own because, hey, self-love), it’s money well spent on what can only be described as a riveting dining experience. 

Harriot’s offering, loosely pitched as a refined European bistro with Melbourne soul, initially seemed indefinable. Yet unsurprisingly, this mysterious newcomer is already one of the city’s hottest new restaurants. Harriot delivers on playfully executed dishes that make the most of classical French cooking techniques and Victorian produce, cleverly pairing them with sommelier Justin Howe’s picks from the outstanding wine list. Perfect for a date night where appreciating incredible seasonal ingredients in perfect new forms is the focus. 

Marmelo (Portuguese for quince) makes a strong case for the culinary traditions of Portugal, which are not widely represented in Melbourne. From respected restaurateurs Ross and Sunny Lusted, it draws on regional flavours and techniques, with a menu that moves beyond the usual shorthand to reveal a cuisine of real range and nuance. The sprawling venue is warm and lustrous, and seating ranges from banquette-style configurations to chef’s table spot overlooking the open kitchen. If you want to sit at the chef's table, you are not required to commit to a set menu, making it a great option for date nights with a front-row view of the kitchen.

When you first step into the stylish airlock entrance at Stokehouse, the transportation to another world is immediate. Suspended in the liminal space, the door behind you closes and the noisy buzz of St Kilda's busy streets fades to a calming hum. A journey begins. Stokehouse is a bastion of traditional hospitality and serene comfort since the early 1990s. Engagements, declarations of love and transitions from situationships to relationships have all taken place here, and you can almost smell the romance floating in the air. Better yet, there are stunning ocean views. When it comes to the sustainable seafood-driven menu, Stokehouse's historic acclaim is well-deserved, that much is for sure. Keep this one in the bookmarks for the most special of occasions.

Incredibly chic, perfectly warm and full of high quality touches, this French-inspired bistro by Chris Lucas is the closest you'll get to travelling to the glamorous brasseries of Paris and London without leaving Melbourne. Romance reigns supreme here, in the soft-air cheese souffle, in the high ceiling finery, in the tableside chocolate mousse. Ultimately, this is a special occasion restaurant. You do it right: you set a date, make a booking, wear something nice, and you invite someone along who appreciates the cinema of it all. That all aside though, if you want to get a bit grounded, we recommend the cheeseburger. 

Moody lighting and tables for two? Tick. Sublime food and wine? Tick. Unique premise? Triple tick. Al Dente Enoteca is a sleek Italian restaurant in Carlton, but nothing at all like some of the tourist traps peppering parallel Lygon Street. Here, the dishes change with the seasons to focus on local produce and regionally inspired Italian flavours. Think panzerotti pomodoro with mozzarella and basil (aka the most epic take on a pizza pocket you’ll ever try) and juicy golden-fried olives stuffed with meat for starters. And, of course, the crowd favourite since Al Dente’s inception: the tortellini cacio e pepe. The desserts are just as fantastical, so make sure you save room.

Named ‘Julie’ after chef Julieanne Blum, who earned her stripes as the head chef at Cam’s Kiosk, this restaurant situated in one of Melbourne's most idyllic locations aims to offer thoughtful produce-driven dishes in a warm, dinner party-like atmosphere. But as we found out one dusky summer's evening, it's also surprisingly romantic. Julie’s menu is designed to rotate frequently according to the seasons and the creative whims of the kitchen talent, with ingredients sourced largely from the Abbotsford Convent’s dedicated veggie garden. 

Whatever iteration Marion’s menu is in, one can never go past the flatbread with fromage blanc, a staple so universally adored it’s never left. Salt-speckled, garlicky wedges of dough give way to the most pillowy interiors, which go a treat when dipped in fresh cheese so smooth and spreadable it’s akin to a yoghurt. Marion is plush and elegant, but it’s never too cool for school – fries can be ordered by the half-serve if you’re in a duo, wine can be ordered by the half-bottle, and all manner of questions are welcomed by the accommodating staff. Like all good neighbourhood wine bars, the focus is on the customer and, above all, comfort. The result? A romantic experience in the most natural and sophisticated of ways.

Kisumé is the Lucas Collective’s ambitious, three-storey Japanese dining den. Yes, there’s Nick Cave, rocking a blue wig and red lipstick thanks to Aussie photographer Polly Borland. Yes, there’s the omakase counter where slivers of jewel-coloured ocean flesh are laid out with all the ceremony of tea in Kyoto, some complete with judiciously placed ornaments of edible gold leaf. In short, this is a place determined to bring the bling. So if your partner's all about that (and also happens to love fine Japanese food), you're onto a solid winner. 

To question Gimlet’s beauty is like pondering out loud whether the sky is blue. One foot through the door into the Trader House team’s almighty fine diner and you’re swept into an era of astonishingly impressive 1920s glamour. It’s undeniably fabulous, but also cosy at the same time – less ostentatious ‘razzle-dazzle’ and more hearth-y and heartwarming somehow, even in all its magnificence. You can, of course, go all out at Gimlet and dine on lobster, caviar service and exxy bottles of wine all night, but you can also have just a taste of a few dishes, which is still a lovely way to experience the restaurant. It’s an indulgence (with a price tag to match), but you’ll float away afterwards on cloud nine.

Welcome to Poodle, an Art Deco-inspired multi-level venue that’s graced our fair city. The green, marbled and dark wooden veneered bones of the site scream Italianesque grandeur, but the people within make you feel at home. Owner Zoë Rubino mans the door and partner Emilio Scalzo floats around, both providing service and smiles iterative of any ex-McConnell staff. Downstairs you'll find intimate booths, doodles by previous guests framed on the wall and a locked and loaded bistro menu. This is romance with an artsy touch, and dinner here may just turn into a loved-up bar crawl on Brunswick Street. 

France-Soir is truly a Melbourne institution. If you’ve been to Paris before, this ambience will not feel unfamiliar: high energy, a little bit brusque, but simultaneously fun and hedonistic. The menu is composed of France's finest fare, a guaranteed arrow into the heart of those who love a bit of old-school European romance. Oysters are shucked fresh to order and served on ice, with a puckery mignonette dressing. Thick slices of French bread automatically appear with the compulsory pat of butter. Steak tartare is ubiquitous in the Melbourne dining scene, however, this rendition is one of the best. Though the food may be rustic and not as sophisticated as that of some of the finer diners on this list, France-Soir has that ineffable panache that makes you feel as though you’re in a romantic Parisian flick. 

Did you really think we'd curate a list of romantic restaurants and not mention oysters? The OG aphrodisiac since Venus herself emerged from one, oysters make the perfect snackage for romantic nights out – especially when paired with good drinks. And both are what you can expect at this tried-and-tested oyster and cocktail bar, that we love for its understated glamour as much as its fastidious kitchen smarts.

The folks at Commune Group, responsible for fellow southside gems Firebird, Hanoi Hannah and Tokyo Tina are behind this two-level Italian dining and drinking space, alluringly christened Studio Amaro.The multi-purpose venue isn't just another place to wine and dine, with a generous focus on music and DJ residencies. Think disco, funk and plenty of Euro nostalgia. On the food and drink front, expect no-nonsense aperitivo drops, a sharp selection of wines and beer (and rivers of amaro, of course!), and classic Italian staples designed for sharing. This is an excellent mid-range date night option, with mains setting you back between $34 and $48. 

Marameo is not a place for people still practising their restaurant manners, but the phrase “cheeky Italian”, found somewhat alarmingly on the website, ought to shine some light on the regime. The food pitch here is contemporary, fun and progressive, albeit with the same roll call of showy ingredients at the heart of good Italian dining. Think smashable pasta bowls, lavish cakes and young bar talent (and even the occasional spaghetti-slurping DJ on the decks), which all makes for a disarmingly romantic night out that's less snobbish and more just plain, rollicking, good ol' fun.

Literally meaning ‘dark’ or ‘obscure’, Yugen is an important word in the history of Japanese aesthetics. It describes a depth of beauty not fully seen, but felt, and it’s something the restaurant Yugen manages to evoke as soon as you walk in. Though moody dark pockets may catch your eye, the restaurant’s shimmering opulence will seduce each one of your senses from the outset. A rich, woody signature fragrance hangs in the air and in a swish glass elevator, down you'll descend to discover what may just be the most graceful and effortlessly cool subterranean dining space in Melbourne. There's an exceptional omakase offering here, share plates, lip-smacking cocktails and plenty more to play with in choosing your own romantic adventure. 

Lagoon Dining takes foods from across the world and transforms them into contemporary, Chinese-inspired dishes, all the while drawing upon Japanese and Korean influences too. The venue is clad in black and white tones, with whitewashed brick walls, a black wrap-around bar and a grid pattern that dominates the sides of the walls and greaseproof paper sheets. The food, however, is far from the angular, monochrome interior. Chefs Keat Lee and Ned Trumble are both ex-Ezard and Longsong, and have added a few new dishes to the menu’s usual repertoire, including charcoal roasted char siu with tare and a dash of hot mustard. Expect dishes that broaden your horizons and make romance climb to new heights – just make sure you book in advance for your next dinnertime rendevous.

Look closely and you can see a twinkle in the eye of Di Stasio Pizzeria. It’s indiluted Latin sass and pure Italian swagger; a “this is how you do it” as it throws down the pizza gauntlet in Carlton, of all places. It marks a fitting new chapter in the 30-plus-year legacy of Rinaldo Di Stasio’s eponymous brand, from St Kilda’s Cafe Di Stasio and its next-door bar to Spring Street’s baby sibling Città. It’s also a triumphant end point, should the indefatigable Medici of Melbourne dining wish to stop at this point and rest on his laurels. Laurel resting at the Carlton outpost could mean taking a seat in the stunning piazza, gravel crunching underfoot, urns arrayed around the high brick walls and a 17th-century Roman fountain tinkling away merrily. Romantic? Sublimely so, especially if you're seated outside.

Il Bacaro serves up a modern twist on classic Venetian fare in its intimate charmer of a restaurant. We're not talking foams or sands or molecular tech on the plate. The duck breast comes with cherry, parfait and chocolate, and the pistachio semifredo is adorned with an espresso zabaligone. Subtle creativity and high-end dining are the name of the game here. Not as new or trendy as some of the other restaurants on the list, Il Bacaro may not be the first name that crosses a millennial's lips, but ask anyone who's lived and breathed Melbourne for decades and you'll definitely hear a fond mention.