Ed Gorwell
Looking for the best private dining rooms in Melbourne for your next celebration? From intimate long lunches to milestone birthday dinners and polished corporate soirées, the city’s leading restaurants offer secluded spaces that pair restaurant-grade service and exceptional menus with the warmth and ease of a great dinner party.
Across the city, there are beautifully restored heritage dining rooms, softly lit spaces made for lingering over Martinis and steak frites, and contemporary neighbourhood gems where thoughtful design and generous shared menus set the tone for a more relaxed affair. Some lean towards old-world glamour, with crisp tablecloths, impeccable service and cellar-worthy wine lists, while others embrace a quieter kind of luxury.
Whether you’re planning a Christmas party, engagement dinner, post-wedding feast or simply a lavish dinner party with friends, these are the Melbourne restaurants with the best private dining rooms worth booking now.
Harriot
Melbourne CBD
Lead by a culinary dream team with an impressive resume that includes the likes of Tipo 00, this swish modern European restaurant tucked within 555 Collins Street boasts a 14-person private dining room. Carrying the same cosy bistro feel as the main dining room outside, Harriot’s private dining space features rich timber accents, soft lighting and an inviting display of some of its cellared wine selection. A range of seasonal menus starting from $120 per person are available for group dining, tailored by head chef James Kelly, and wine can be pre- selected from a list or paired by the team to suit your meal. With full AV capabilities and the ability to isolate restaurant music, it’s perfectly primed for all manners of celebrations or corporate events. Book via SevenRooms.
Julie
Abbotsford
Housed in a former convent building on peaceful, leafy farmland next to the Yarra River, this dreamy garden restaurant in Abbotsford exudes a certain kind of timelessness that makes you want to stay forever. High ceilings, cream tiles, linen-dressed tables and pink terrazzo give the light-filled space instant Euro appeal, as does chef Julieanne Blum (of whom the restaurant gets its name)’s seasonally driven menu. The private dining experience saves room for between 24 to 52 seated guests to be treated to said menus in a dinner party-like setting – always with bubbles or French-accented wine flowing. Enjoy a luscious 3-course long lunch with your party at approximately $270 per person (food and drinks) before walking it off around the grounds or perusing the neighbouring gallery. Find out more information and book direct via their website.
Entrecôte
Prahran
If you’re location-scouting for your next soirée, the ever-chic Entrecôte in Prahran has no doubt sprung to mind. This dear bistro – inspired by the original Le Relais De L’Entrecôte that opened in 1959 in Porte-Maillot – never fails to transport us straight to Paris with its striped awnings, suited waitstaff and exquisitely French dining room. Regardless of your reason to gather (be it work-related or an occasion worth celebrating), Entrecôte‘s two private dining spaces, Le Salon Privé or the open Le Conservatoire, will surely dazzle. With room for 30 seated guests (50 standing) or 56 seated (80 standing) respectively, guests will be treated to curated prix-fixe menus inspired by French châteaux, Chantilly ($125 per person), Chambord ($155 per person), and Versailles ($187 per person). Each menu showcases the best of French cuisine and might feature Entrecôte’s signature steak frites, ‘boulettes’ (spiced beef croquettes) and crème brûlée. Book via their website.
Kisumé
MELBOURNE CBD
Chris Lucas’ three-level Japanese-inspired restaurant on Flinders Lane is guaranteed to bring the theatre to any occasion. The dark-hued palette, dramatic lighting and mixture of leather, velvet and brass detailing give the place a high-end club feel. And if the venue is a club, the top level, Kuro Kisumé, is its VIP section. Seating 44 for a larger-scale dining experience (or accommodating 50 guests standing for a cocktail-style event), Kuro is the moody space between the golden-clad Chablis Bar and the Chef’s Table, lined with provocative photos from world-renowned Japanese photographer, Nobuyoshi Araki. Guests dine on Kisumé’s signature set menus showcasing seasonal Japanese fare, with options starting from $95 per person and the ability to have Kisumé’s sommelier tailor a drinks list to your group’s needs. AV hire, DIY theming and a private bathroom round out the experience. Enquiries and bookings can be made via their website.      Â
Stokehouse Restaurant
St Kilda
If your party non-negotiables include a room with a view, St Kilda’s sun-bathed Stokehouse Restaurant’s private dining options will do the trick. Palm room, secluded from the main dining area and softened with sheer curtains and pastel tones, offers a sense of privacy and exclusivity while still delivering stunning seaside views over the palm-lined promenade and Port Phillip Bay. Seating up to 40, guests can enjoy drinks, canapés and an elegant menu with dedicated wait staff. After something more intimate? Stokehouse’s Cellar Room is nestled between the main dining room and Stokebar. Filled with copper and timber finishes, it seats up to 14 and is more of a semi-private dining experience, including a dedicated staff member to attend to your party. Enquiries and bookings can be made with their website.
Florentino Dining Room
Melbourne CBD
Old-world grandeur greets you at every turn at Florentino Dining Room, and its semi-private dining space off the main dining room is no exception. An intimate room set within the wine cellar seats up to eight of your nearest and dearest, with set menus starting from $160 per person. A minimum spend of $1500 is required to be met across food and beverages while a 10% service charge applies. Bookings can be made via their website.
Vue de MondeÂ
Melbourne CBD
A meal at this institution atop Melbourne’s Rialto building is one of the most singular experiences in Australian dining. But if you’d like to kick it up to the next level, the private dining room at Vue de Monde, which seats 12, is the way to do it. Enjoy Hugh Allen’s high-end dégustation amongst the recently renovated room. There’s an exciting high-low rhythm in the 16-ish courses, which will be sure to make for a memorable event. Book via their website.
Gimlet
Melbourne CBD
The lovely thing about the Palm Room, Gimlet’s private dining option for eight to 12 people, is that it watches over Andrew McConnell’s beautiful, buzzing restaurant. So somehow, you get to have your private cake – or in this case, a chocolate torte with rum caramel and cultured cream – and eat it too. The menu, like the space, suits any occasion – spanning oysters and snack plates to shared mains of premium meats and seafood. Perhaps a caviar service or steak tartare prepared table-side will tickle your fancy? With antique Murano glass chandeliers and artwork by Tony Clark setting the scene, it’s hard to resist. Book via their website.
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