Diners' Choice: Romantic restaurants in Melbourne

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the most romantic in Melbourne? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Love Letter

4.8

4.8 (63)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Richmond

About the restaurant

Dear Richmond,
This little restaurant is our love letter to food. It's our happy little place, where we get to live the joy of feeding people everyday. We all grew up in spaces that equated food with love, just like this place. Everything we have done here is deliberate, from the art on the walls to the produce we use. We've made a point of sourcing ingredients from some of the best suppliers in the state, making sure that our menu reflects what's in season.

For us, this place is about experience: we try our best to make you feel both at home and 'out for something special'. Every plate that comes back wiped clean by someone who just couldn't get enough is a 'the hard work is worth it' moment for us.

Matty & Tee

From Love Letter, with love x

Top review

Taylor

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Cool vibes inside. The booth seats are a bit too high for the tables so it’s a little awkward to sit at. Steak was perfectly cooked, although the mushroom sauce was not really a sauce but just some mushrooms on top. The side of chips were yum but could do with more salt (none provided on the table). The chimichurri side sauce also lacked flavour. Kingfish was fresh and perfect for a hot day. Cavolo nero spaghetti was the highlight!

Kushiro Fusion Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (27)

$41 to $100

Fusion / Eclectic

Fitzroy

About the restaurant

Kushiro - Melbourne
Nestled in a 100-year-old heritage building in Fitzroy, Kushiro blends historic charm with modern culinary artistry. Inspired by Melbourne's vibrant laneway dining and street art culture, the restaurant features a beautiful bar, Japanese-inspired lamps, chandeliers, and a striking graffiti wall depicting a fishing village in Hokkaido.

Kushiro's menu combines traditional Japanese techniques with contemporary flavors, offering standout dishes like Scampi Tartare, Cured Salmon, Chef Po’s Char Siu, Slow Roasted Short Rib, Confit Duck, and Tofu Panna Cotta. Patrons can also enjoy Kushiro's exclusive brand of sake, crafted in Japan.

Kushiro enriches Melbourne's diverse culinary scene with its unique offerings and vibrant atmosphere.

Top review

Wilson

Dined 5 days ago

Creative fusion food, very friendly staff. A very pleasant dining experience.

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Experience

$3 Oysters for Oyster Lovers-Booking Is Essential!

4.7

4.7 (742)

$41 to $100

French

Brighton

About the restaurant

Bistro La Provence is located at 234 Esplanade Brighton opposite the Brighton Baths and Royal Brighton Yacht club. Our diners will experience traditional seasonal French food and beverage.. We pride ourselves on ensuring your experience is one you will remember and want to share with your friends and family.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Dec 17, 2024

Really enjoyed my meal here. We were attended to by a new starter who was from the Netherlands and was exceptional . The food itself was plentiful and if a high quality. Overall a really excellent meal I just wish I was staying in Brighton longer so I could return

Bansho

4.7

4.7 (116)

$101 and over

Japanese

Armadale

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Armadale on High Street, Bansho is a sophisticated Japanese-fusion gem that invites you to embark on an exquisite culinary journey.

Here, the timeless elegance of French cuisine harmoniously intertwines with the refined artistry of Japanese flavors, creating a dining experience like no other.

Our menu is a celebration of both innovation and tradition, meticulously crafted with the finest ingredients from both culinary worlds. Complement your meal with our beautifully curated cocktail menu and an extensive selection of wines, designed to elevate your dining experience at Bansho.

Top review

MargaretVIP

Dined 5 days ago

The food and service here are excellent and we will definitely be back again.

La Madonna

4.6

4.6 (105)

$41 to $100

Fusion / Eclectic

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

La Madonna - a Good Food Guide listed day to night dining and drinking enclave dedicated to spontaneous menus, a celebration of local produce and the spirit of sustainability. Acclaimed Melbourne chef, Paul Turner playfully riffs on cuisines and technique all delivered with a creative, relaxed finesse.

Enjoy menu highlights such as Wagyu bresaola with romesco, pickled zuchinni and togarashi, pan-fried gnocchi with kimchi, broccoli and fresh curds and a signature dry aged duck dish…. with a barrel aged cocktail or wine at hand.

Or perhaps wind down after a busy day at La Madonna Bar. With plenty of comfortable couches and dimly lit corners to enjoy a cocktail, or two and a selection of snacks. Sink into a seat surrounded by wooden barrels and glass bottles ageing various cocktails, tinctures and spirits.

Top review

Daniil

Dined 4 days ago

Great experience, would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a romantic dinner. Food was unreal, and unlike anywhere else we've eaten at. All starters were so unique and tasty. Will definitely return

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Experience

Valentine's Day at La Madonna

4.6

4.6 (484)

$101 and over

Asian

South Yarra

About the restaurant

Yugen redefines dining after dark. A promise of an experience where food, drink, and music continue well into the night. A subterranean setting with a refined industrial feel, offering dishes and beverages influenced by the cultural richness of Asia. Tradition met with the intuition of a contemporary flair.

Top review

Emily

Dined 4 days ago

Great food, atmosphere and the whole team were professional and helpful. Highly recommend.

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4.5

4.5 (188)

$41 to $100

Wine Bar

Coburg

About the restaurant

Olivine wine bar is nestled inside of the 170-year-old heritage-listed bluestone walls of the former HM Pentridge Prison.

You will meet your host to guide you through this unconventional space, until you find yourself in velvet-clad, faintly lit booths. Hidden away, the only distraction here is our novel-like book of wine, your key to our walk in cellar.

Olivine is a place for all from the most passionate to those just beginning their journey of wine. Our list is written in a way that encourages you to sample different regions, we hope you'll come away with a few new favorites or some wines to add to the bucket list.

Walk-ins are subject to availability. Booth seating cannot be guaranteed but we aim to accommodate guest requests where we can.

Top review

Roberto

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Great selection of sharing plates, intimate setting excellent service a standout was Madison. Also fantastic warm greeting by Manager Fabio. Overall an excellent place for very tasty sharing plates and an equally impressive drinks list. We will be back.

Funghi E Tartufo

4.4

4.4 (89)

$40 and under

Vegan

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Funghi e Tartufo' - Italian plant based restaurant

Who ever said that to eat vegan and earth friendly food you need to renounce the delicacies of traditional Italian cuisine?
Our Chef Alessandra D'Angelo moved to Australia from Sicily in 2009 and she has been working incessantly on vegetarian and vegan recipes since then.

At Funghi e Tartufo, she have turned plant-based food into something so delicious that you won't desire anything else!

In a converted 19th century warehouse in the heart of Melbourne CBD, Funghi e Tartufo – meaning Mushrooms and Truffle in honour of their signature dish – will offer you a unique experience leaving you breathless.

The inspiration is traditional Italian and the vision is a modern and earth friendly way to marry deliciousness with plant based food.

Top review

Vaishali

Dined on Jan 2, 2025

Great variety of food, great value for money and a lovely atmosphere

Norma Fitzroy

4.3

4.3 (12)

$40 and under

French

Fitzroy

About the restaurant

Experience the exquisite flavours of the French Mediterranean at Norma Fitzroy, where the aroma of freshly baked baguettes mingles with the scent of sun-ripened tomatoes. Indulge in a culinary journey that captures the essence of Provence and the French Riviera, all within the charming ambience of Norma Fitzroy.

Top review

Sarah

Dined on Dec 18, 2024

Amazing food and great atmosphere - we’ll be back for sure!

Ototo

3.9

3.9 (381)

$41 to $100

Asian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Discover a hidden gem beneath the city streets at our contemporary Asian restaurant. Located underground, our venue boasts a full bar and an exquisite menu that promises a fusion of flavors. Delight in the Chef's Tasting Menu, a curated selection of favorites. Savor dishes like Kingfish Sashimi with truffle ponzu, or popular wagyu tataki. Dumpling enthusiasts can relish our diverse range, while main courses feature delights such as 48-Hour Black Angus Short Ribs and Signature 14-Day Dry Aged Duck. Don't forget to pair your meal with creative cocktails from our bar. Complete your journey with decadent desserts like Chocolate Fondant and Pandan Creme Brulee.

Top review

Annie

Dined 7 days ago

Wagyu Wednesday special was great value! Food tasted great, a bit heavy since all 3 courses was the wagyu then some noodles – would've been nice to have a small salad to share or as an add on option. Service was good, it was quiet since it was an early dinner on a weekday. Not sure if they charged us correctly for our 2 drinks though since it was near the same price as our meals... Also the door was hard to find since it's lowkey disguised as the wall

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