Find your cosy corner and chase the winter chill away with a heartwarming dining experience in Melbourne.
Are you looking for warmth and indulgence amid the winter chill and occasional showers? We have just the ticket to cosy you up. Picture this: crackling fireplaces, intimate interiors, and the allure of a delightful meal in a snug and inviting atmosphere. Whether you’re seeking a romantic rendezvous or a heartwarming catch-up with your nearest and dearest, this is our selection of Melbourne’s quaintest and most romantic restaurants complete with the perfect cosy corner.
With tables as in demand as these, it helps to have a pro on your side to help you secure the reservation you want. At Westpac Concierge, we have a team of dining specialists who can provide recommendations for the foremost places to eat and help you manage your reservation if you’re an eligible Westpac cardholder. Check your eligibility below.
Discover the most intimate, romantic restaurants in Melbourne complete with the perfect cosy corner
Epocha
A cosy corner for: Australian ingredients with European flare
Located on the CBD end of Rathdowne Street and overlooking the Carlton Gardens, this charming eatery embraces a rustic ambience that complements its modern European cuisine. Epocha presents an exquisite dining experience that blends history (it’s housed in a fully restored 1884 double-storey terrace) and contemporary flavours.
The menu is packed with innovative twists on classic dishes, such as handmade farfalle pasta with cacio e pepe and nettle pesto, showcasing co-owners Angie Giannakodakis and Guy Holder’s passion for culinary excellence. Maybe it’s the roaring fireplace or gleaming worn wooden floors and soft lighting that make this a good winter restaurant, but there’s a warm and welcoming atmosphere that can’t be ignored as you tuck into thoughtfully crafted plates, allowing each bite to transport you on a sensory journey despite the wintry chill.
📍 49 Rathdowne Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Aru
A cosy corner for: Australian ingredients and modern Asian flavours meet the wood fired hearth
When it comes to winter restaurants, the roaring wood-fired hearth at Aru on Little Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne seals its reputation as a perfect choice. As a sibling to Chinatown’s renowned Sunda, Aru showcases the same innovative and bold combinations and promises an exceptional dining adventure that brings the best of native Australian ingredients and modern Asian flavours together. From your cosy banquette seating, warm up with the carefully created dishes, ranging from aromatic noodle bowls to sizzling grilled meats. There’s also a spectacular set menu available for Sunday lunch, but pre-booking is essential.
📍 268 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Dolly
A cosy corner for: pre-theatre dinner
This signature subterranean restaurant and cocktail bar at five-star Le Meridien Melbourne in the uptown part of the CBD was once the storied Palace Theatre. Although the theatre no longer exists, the drama can still be felt as you descend the spiral staircase and enter a glamorous art deco-inspired destination. Dolly is an excellent winter restaurant option with its intimate, softly lit interiors. Think buttery-soft brown leather banquettes tucked into booths with table lamps casting an inviting glow.
Its location near the theatre district makes it perfect for date night with dinner and a show and a pre-theatre menu to boot. Expect a range of European cuisines, where flavour, culinary flair, and comfort harmonise flawlessly through mainstay dishes such as Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne sorbet.
📍 20 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Green Man’s Arms
A cosy corner for: conscious dining
As far as winter restaurants go, if you’re looking for cosy and casual vibes with a dash of conscious dining, this charming restaurant and pub in Carlton is the ticket. Green Man’s Arms highlights sustainable practices and delivers an entirely vegetarian and plant-based menu which is crafted with locally sourced ingredients that mostly come from the owner’s farm in Yarra Valley.
There’s no parma on the menu but you won’t miss it with knockout dishes such as the ‘chorizo’ burger with pomme frites. As winter embraces the city, the welcoming atmosphere beckons patrons to rug up near the fireplace and seek refuge from the cold. Indulge in generous, soul-warming meals complemented by a list of natural wines and a diverse range of craft beers and kombucha on tap.
📍 418 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Matilda
A cosy corner for: South Australian cuisine crafted with local seafood and native ingredients
Named after chef-restaurateur Scott Pickett’s daughter, this bistro-style restaurant in South Yarra celebrates the art of open-fire cooking. Matilda zones in on Pickett’s culinary finesse, spotlighting locally sourced ingredients and innovative techniques through a seasonal menu that’s inspired by South Australian cuisine and has a focus on seafood and native ingredients. As a restaurant for winter, the intimate ambience begs you to find a nook near the open kitchen where you can watch the crew and dancing flames, savour the rich smoky flavours, and warm both body and soul.
📍 159 Domain Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
Tipo 00
A cosy corner for: hearty Italian cuisine
As the chill continues to blanket the city, this list of top winter restaurants wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Tipo 00 located in the restaurant section of Little Bourke Street. Named after the finely ground durum flour used to make pizza and pasta, Tipo 00, though small in size, is big on flavour, enticing foodies with its authentic Italian cuisine – the spot boasts a rich variety of handmade pasta dishes, such as gnocchi with braised duck and porcini mushrooms.
Its warm and inviting ambience, accentuated by the crackling fireplace, beckons patrons to relish hearty Italian meals, making it the ideal spot for a satisfying and comforting winter dining experience. This is more than just a pasta bar; it’s a beloved culinary institution cherished by Melbs locals and visitors alike. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the most romantic restaurants in town with its dimmed lighting and two-seater tables perfect for swapping sweet nothings and each other’s food.
📍 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Are you looking for more dining recommendations in Melbourne? We’ve also curated a list of the best fine-dining venues in town. And if you’re keen to explore more romantic restaurants around the country, you might like our selection of the top romantic restaurants in Perth.
