Australia’s diverse and dynamic cultural scene has provided a backdrop of ever changing cuisines, providores, artisans, chefs and beverage suppliers who love good produce and strive to provide excellence for their customers.
Like the ever-changing culinary backdrop so too is this list of new restaurant openings. As we investigate the diversity of Melbourne’s dining scene we hope the next few minutes shines a light on Melbourne’s excellent Private Dining offerings which are fast becoming a regular request for our team.
Our team are always on the lookout for interesting spaces that are unique and offer that little something different for clients to hold breakfasts, lunches or dinners, activations, meetings and presentations in intimate and inviting environments.
When seeking out your next private dining activation, here are some of our team’s “favorite Melbourne picks”.
Le Plonc Melbourne
At James Said, 926 High Street, Armadale
Looated in a 107 year old building that started its life a Theatre, Greg Natale has designed a stunning new space with rich navy upholstery, black-stained timber floors and a beautiful setting for food and wine. The Le Plonc experience is a journey into a tantalizing world of food and wine that piques all your senses in surroundings designed to make everything delightful. Located on High Street, one that offers an eclectic mix of high-end fashion, art and artefacts, antiques and designer furnishings.
Le Plonc has a new private room with a view over the bar and stunning decor for 12 guests.
Vue de Monde
Level 55 Rialto, 525 Collins Street
Shannon Bennet’s three chef hat restaurant situated on the 55th floor of the Rialto building should be added to the list of ‘things you must do at least once. Set yourself this strict rule. Never turn down an invitation to Vue de Monde.
Vue de Monde – Rialto is an impressive way to entertain, educate, thank or network – The Dom Perignon Room within Vue de monde, or the Darwin and Lady Nelson rooms at Vue Events can cater for a variety of sit down and cocktail style functions varying from 10 to 230 guests.. With a range of Private spaces available across the Vue Empire each providing a different experience but all featuring Shannon Bennett’s adventurous tastes and attentive staff.
Collins Kitchen
Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins
Executive Chef, Jason Camillo delivers a contemporary sensibility to Collins Kitchen, combining quality flavours with a bespoke selection of carefully cultivated local produce.
Boasting two individually styled private dining rooms, Collins Kitchen combines luxury, intimacy and a theatrical experience. The Chef’s Table seats up to 10 guests and is positioned directly off the show kitchen, allowing diners a closer experience of the theatrical show of the chefs. The Kitchen Room offers a spacious and sophisticated private environment seating up to 14 guests.
San Telmo
14 MEYERS PL, between Bourke & Lt Collins Streets
Melbourne’s very own San Telmo is inspired by its namesake in Buenos Aires. The warm and welcoming rustic, bohemian environment is a meeting of old world Argentine Bodega, and Melbourne style open-plan dining where the kitchen is an intimate part of the atmosphere.
San Telmo’s private dining space is intimately secluded behind a wall of wine but still allows guests to still experience the ambiance and lively atmosphere of the restaurant. Set menu options take guests on an exciting tour of Argentinian Cuisine and seated groups of up to 16 guests can be accommodated.
The George on Collins
162-168 Collins Street
The George on Collins is a re-imagined New York style basement bar, in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Nestled in one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the venue celebrates its history wiht a fresh and modern twist. The Cellar is a cool and sophisticated space with the capacity to seat up to 45 guests or be opened up to accommodate 200 guests for a cocktail reception. The space features a private bar, private bathrooms, projector, microphone and PA.
Kisume – Kuro Kisume
175 Flinders Lane Melbourne
Kisumé and is the latest addition to the Chin Chin Family. Kisumé is a 3-story contemporary experience that’s built on duality. it’s where the traditionalist and the modern artist meet.
Kisume occupies the basement and ground floor while Kuro Kisumé sits discreetly on the first level. Kuro Kisumé, encompasses the table – a room dedicated to the mastery of omakase seating up to 12 guests and two private dining rooms, offering an uncompromisingly secluded dining experience. Adorning the walls is the work of Japan’s nobuyoshi araki – a famed photographer with an obsession for the sensual and provocative tying in nicely with its name sake Kuro.
The two private dining rooms, ‘kiko’ and ‘hanako’ can accommodate up to 16 guests per room and can also be joined to accommodate larger groups.
Pastuso
19 ACDC Lane, Melbourne
Located at one of the coolest addresses in Melbourne, Pastuso is a modern peruvian grill, cevicheria and pisco bar. Head chef, Alejandro Saravia has carefully designed menus guests to enuoy the best of their dishes and to be taken on an exciting journey of Peruvian cuisine. They have two private dining rooms, the larger of the two will seat 32 guests and the smaller room will seat 16 guests.
Garden State Hotel
101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
The Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane is a superb, purpose built four storey bar and venue. The central atrium is decked with full grown trees and glowing spheres with steps leading down to an indoor garden with seating along the balconies and across the tiered platforms. Located on the first floor is the Balcony Dining Room seating up to 20 guests and has lift access, private bathrooms, a wall-mounted plasma screen for presentations and and a private balcony with views down through the rest of the venue below.
Dinner by Heston
Crown Towers, 130/8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is one of the world’s most exciting restaurants. Dinner takes its creative inspiration from English historic and nostalgic culinary past and creates an ultra-modern dining experience offering an elegant, sophisticated backdrop in which to enjoy internationally acclaimed award winning cuisine by one of the world’s best.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal’s private dining room boasts vast windows framing Yarra River views sweeping across Melbourne’s CBD. The Chef’s table can seat 6 guests for a 10 tasting menu, showcasing the best that Dinner by Heston has to offer.
The Private Dining room is where your guests will enjoy a culinary experience for 12 guests with clear views of the kitchen, the Yarra River and Melbourne’s CBD in an exquisite Tudor-inspired setting.
Matilda 159 Domain
159 Domain Road, South Yarra
“Matilda is a visual and sensory journey, and a true labour of loave for me. The restaurant will be more relaxed than my usual style of cooing, somewhere guests can visit and be guaranteed a local piece of meat, cooked exceptionally well over live flames and open grills, paired with seasonal produce.” Scott Pickett
Matilda has two private dining spaces, the Harrison Room seating 30 guests and Oscar’s Room seating 30 guests, both lcoated below the main dining room on Domain Road. The rooms can be used independently or combined to create one large space. The combined space can accommodate 78 guests for a seated event or upto 120 guests for a cocktail reception.
Akaiito
349-351 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Akaiito intertwines a story of love and connection, the name deriving from the meaning ‘red thread of fate’ in Japanese – connected with the symbolisation that the red thread joins people to kindred spirits and how people are ultimately ‘tied’ to each other. Akaiito’s interior is beautifully designed with Japanese elements throughout the entirety of the restaurant, presenting an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of Melbourne. . With both shared and private dining spaces available, we aim to present our guests an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of Melbourne.
The Tsukiyo Dining Room is the restaurant’s intimate dining room with a dining journey of 8-course menu designed exclusively for you and your guests and served over 2-hours. Seating 12 guests, this really is a magical experience.
