Melbourne Restaurants

Say no to boring work functions and choose a venue where you’ll actually enjoy the food! Red Spice Road’s private dining rooms in the heart of Melbourne have been the venue for countless team lunches, work Christmas parties, birthday parties for one year olds (seriously), seventy year olds, and all the ages in between, as well as christenings, engagements and even a few weddings.
Home to Melbourne’s favourite pork belly and more for over 10 years, Red Spice Road has been dedicated to serving the best food Asia offers, in a buzzing and energetic communal dining environment. Red Spice road has repeatedly been named as home to Melbourne’s favourite pork belly.

At the restaurant, you’ll get a South East Asian-style dining experience with all the energy of a busy Asian metropolis right in the heart of Melbourne.

From the moment you step inside Red Spice Road, you’ll be transported away from Melbourne’s (quite probably) dreary weather and feel like you’re in the heart of Asia. You’ll be dining under our famous red lantern, surrounded by three large scale David Bromley artworks and stunning murals by up-and-coming Melbourne street artist, Mike Eleven.

Amazing food, fresh, good service and well priced with plenty of choices.

Carolina is a cafe located on the border of Brunswick East and Carlton North.

Housed in an old shoemakers shop, Carolina is an unassuming local where you can enjoy sublime Industry Beans coffee, sumptuous seasonal food as well local boutique beers and ciders and a carefully selected range of Australian wines.

We have a beautiful leafy courtyard perfect for lazy afternoon drinks and complete with sandpit for the kids earlier in the day.

Founded 23 yrs ago with the support and inspiration of the High Priestess of Royal Thai, Acharn Boonchoo, Melbourne's most awarded Thai has a simple goal - to make the best Thai food in the way of Acharn. Ours is a very personal experience as we take you on a culinary journey back in time with dishes as pure and fresh as they were made 60 years ago and still taught by her daughter and granddaughter today. Located in vibrant food precinct Lygon Street, Lemongrass is a must for all Thai lovers. To Find Better You'll Need to Eat Airline food first!

Tataki is a traditional and authentic Japanese cuisine restaurant founded in May 2009. Since the launch we have received a huge amount of positive feedbacks and compliments from our customers. Our philosophy we faithfully carry out is, providing customers with delicious, healthy and authentic Japanese dishes and impeccable service with passion...

Head chef Andy Nakayama has 16 years working experience of Japanese cuisine in Tokyo, along with another few years experience as a Japanese chef in Australia. He has his own original perception ranged from the selection of ingredients and seasonings to the most reasonable combination of nutritions, by preparing the food to Australian customers' liking while keeping the unique Japanese flavours. All the sauces used in our Entree and main dishes are personally home made by our head chef without any artificial flavours, in order to ensure the unique flavour that you won't be able to experience anywhere other than Tataki.

Tataki, a fine Japanese restaurant you can trust. We are looking forward to your visit.

Vasko boasts a unique family presence, and a successful fusion of contemporary cuisine with a strong Mediterranean flavour.


Private dinner, cocktail party, engagement, wedding, christening you name it, Vasko’s enviable reputation for creativity ensures your next special occasion will be a complete success. A private bar, champagne garden and al fresco deck seating are just a few of the many great features included in our private space.

Vasko can accommodate up to 150 guests cocktail style, offering a broad range of canapés, finger food and grazer options. For a sit-down celebration we can cater for up to 70 people with a variety of set menus to choose from.

Each dish on their cocktail and set menus are house made and are of the highest quality.


For a conference Vasko’s private space can cater for your annual general meeting, training seminar/workshop, exhibition and more. The space is fully equipped with a comprehensive audio visual system including a wide screen plasma, DVD and i-pod facilities.

Tucked down a small city lane, with a neighbouring shoe-repair place and a sushi bar, this inconspicuous lunch spot draws inspiration from the classic Italian deli. And it has a lot of charm. Previously a nondescript pho joint, the space has had a complete makeover, turning the small space into a slick, modern eatery with art-deco style curves, wooden swivel stools and a bright neon “deli” sign above the counter.

Chef Brian Narciso (La Luna, The European and Gorski & Jones) heads up the kitchen, smoking trout, curing pickles and preparing salads which fill the deli counter.

The menu, put together by writer and regular New Guernica DJ Nick Jamieson, features six rotating daily salads. When we visited there was trout orecchiette, a salad of enoki mushroom with edamame, cherry-smoked chicken and farro and a zucchini ribbon salad. The sandwiches include a tonkatsu roll (crumbed pork, cheese and coleslaw), a mushroom roll or a Reuben sandwich. There is also house-made tequila-cured salmon and a selection of unusual cheeses (including the only smoked blue cheese in the world, apparently). Dine in or take these home with cured meat, pasta and a bottle of wine. Because it is licensed, Chuckle Deli also offers a small selection of international wines, the owner’s favourite spirits and some beers to have with lunch.

Showcasing Melbourne's stellar skyline with its 180 degree view of the CBD, Yarra River and the Arts Precinct, Taxi Kitchen is the gem in Federation Square's crown.

Our food is accessible and affordable yet rustic and plentiful. Created with the highest quality produce and complimented by a concise and relevant wine list, our team of professionals deliver a relaxed and quality experience without the pretence.

Pop in for a quick bite before you head out on the town, or come celebrate with us. We take bookings, but we are just as happy for you to turn up unannounced. Welcome to fun dining at Taxi Kitchen.

Group Bookings

Catering from 12 to 160 guests sit down and up to 250 for cocktail events, we offer a range of options to suit any occasion. Groups of 12 and above are asked to order from one of our set menus, or we can tailor a sharing menu to suit your goup on the night . We are pretty flexible and if you want to get creative with our set menus then tell us what you’re after and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

Our private dining room, The Taxi Platform can seat up to 40 guests. Overlooking Fed Square and the Yarra River it’s an enclosed terrace with heating and cooling and a semi alfresco feel. All decked out in greenery and with blinds that can open on a sparkling Melbourne day, it makes for an impressive space to entertain clients, family or friends. Minimum spends and set menus apply in here.

The Embassy Room is available for group bookings of up to 46 pax. In this semi private dining area your guests get the quintessential view of the Yarra River which is flooded with the lights of the city and the Arts Centre spire by night.

Our Main Dining Room is a spectacular place to hold large scale dining events, weddings and stand-up cocktail style functions with that wow factor. We can accomodate your entertainment and AV requirements and will personally liaise with you to create the perfect event.

Eating and drinking are taken to an exciting new level at Pabu, a modern take on the traditional Japanese pubs or Izakaya. The word Pabu is Japanese for pub, and like any Aussie pub, Pabu is casual, friendly and always lively. You will be wowed by the cutting-edge Japanese-influenced décor as soon as you walk through the door. The infamous giant abacus on the ceiling has been the talk of the town ever since Pabu opened it’s door! At the front of the restaurant you will find the beautiful communal table made of recycled timber which welcomes single diners or larger groups. Stretching the length of the side-wall is the beautiful graffiti artwork inspired by the seasons of Japan by Hiroyasu Tsuri, an award winning local Japanese artist based in Melbourne.

Code Black Coffee is a coffee roaster and cafe located at 15-17 Weston Street Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. We roast the highest grade beans from international farms and growers, which result in a range of single origin coffees, signature blends and decaffeinated coffee made without compromise.

The Empress Hotel is a renewed and revamped take on an icon. This classic inner Melbourne pub situated in the north of Fitzroy, has been serving thirsty locals since 1873.

At its soul, the Empress Hotel provides everything you’d wish for from your local pub, a relaxed public bar to share a beer with your friends, dining hall, pool room, beer garden, bottle shop and several functions spaces.

While the spirit of the refurbished Empress Hotel remains very much intact, the addition of an alfresco outdoor dining area and modern Australian, Italian contemporary menu, with some old classics, complete the pubs reincarnation. Tables may be reserved for groups of two, four, six or 12 people.

Doing away with the dingy and dank of corner pubs of the past, Publican Guy David has torn the roof off what was once a band room to reveal a sun filled beer garden perfect for long summer days and alfresco all-day dining. Now featuring a retractable roof, the beer garden can be enjoyed all year round, rain, hail or shine.

Offering live sports, craft beer and concise yet exciting wine list the Empress Hotel really sets itself apart from other local pubs.

Cool & Chic modern Melbourne Bar Restaurant

Combining interior design with fine wine and food, Cumulus Inc is at the forefront of the Melbourne dining scene. While a table can never guaranteed with its no reservations policy, we can assure Cumulus Inc first-timers, that this place is well worth the wait.