The ultimate guide to late-night dining in Melbourne

Whether you’re in need of sustenance after a show or a night owl just getting started, these restaurants and bars are best visited after dark.

People sitting in a moody restaurant with art on the walls and long red bench seating.

Frenchie

A new late-night French restaurant has opened and everything on the menu is just $14. And yes, that includes cocktails on tap! Expect classic bistro-style share plates, French Champagne, martinis and loud Parisian party vibes. There's also roaming trolleys and tableside service. The kitchen stays open until 11pm from Sunday to Wednesday and until midnight from Thursday to Saturday.

A table with snack plates and cocktails and someone taking an oyster.
Frenchie

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Old world glamour and modern dining collide at Andrew McConnell's latest endeavour. You'll find Gimlet inside the Chicago-style 1920s building Cavendish House. The late-night supper menu is available Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm to 1am. Dine on strip cheeseburgers and French fries. Or enjoy fresh oysters and the caviar service. For a nightcap try the namesake gimlet cocktail.

Lexy Restaurant and Bar

Keep the good times going after 10pm with Lexy's bespoke after-dark menu. Available until midnight, the grazing menu features indulgent snacks like prawn dumplings, crispy chicken bites and fresh Pacific oysters. Order a caviar bump then knock-back late-night-only flaming cocktails at this glam new spot.

A chic dining room with orange booth seating and glass orbs hanging from the ceiling.
Lexy

Curtin House was one of Melbourne’s first so-called ‘vertical laneways’. But the tenant that put it on the map was Cookie. A bar, Thai restaurant and club rolled into one, this venue is worth the stairs. Perfect pad Thai and sticky beef ribs are served with hand-picked gin, margaritas and Trappist monk inspired beer. On weekends the kitchen closes around 10.30pm but stick around until midnight and enjoy the disco. 

Kafeneion

Kick-ons at the Supper Club are a time-honoured Melbourne tradition. Especially now that Greek pop-up restaurant Kafeneion has found a permanent home at this institution. Open until the wee hours, supper is served until 1am. Feast on hearty soups and tasty Greek share plates. We're talking creamy dips, feta, hand-cut chips, lamb and baklava for dessert.

A table of Greek dishes including bread, dips and pickles.
Kafeneion

Her Melbourne

Her Melbourne is a vertical laneway celebrating food, drinks, music and art. Enter the moody ground floor bar and knock back negronis and pommes frites, or soar up to the rooftop for a Med-style escape under the stars. Her Rooftop stays open until 3am Friday and Saturday nights. The late-night menu kicks off from 10pm, slinging BBQ plates from Thai restaurant BKK downstairs. Think flame-licked pork skewers, fried chicken wings and red curry fish cakes.

Dragon Hot Pot 

Warm up from the inside with a big hearty bowl of hot pot. Using a century-old recipe, Dragon Hot Pot simmers its broth for over 12 hours to get that rich flavour. Choose your level of spice then customise your meal with more than 100 fresh ingredients. Satisfy your cravings for noodles and spicy soups right up to 2.30am on weekends and 1.30am Monday to Thursday. 

A bowl of hot pot with lots of fresh vegetables and meat on top.
Dragon Hot Pot

Bodega Underground

Did you know there’s a pocket of Mexico City in a basement on the edge of Chinatown? Moodily lit but bright with conversation and Mexi-kitsch decor, Bodega Underground is about good times. The taqueria's gluten-free Mexican menu is served until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Snack on late-night combos like a paloma and street corn or a mezcal negroni and fish tacos. Keep your energy levels high with espresso martinis and churros for dessert.

Stalactites 

When it comes to eating Greek in Melbourne, it doesn’t get more old school than Stalactites Restaurant, which opened in 1978. At some point in most Melburnians’ lives, a big night out has been capped off here. Call in for souvlaki, moussaka, baklava or Greek coffee. Stalactites is open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 2am on Friday and Saturday.

People eating from a large table of greek food
Stalactites

Butchers Diner 

Night owls will love the all-day menu at Butchers Diner, where the rolls, burgers, grills and roasts use premium Aussie meat. Grab a seat at the long communal table and trade stories about your night with new friends. The diner is open until 1am Monday to Saturday, because it’s never too late for a burger. 

The best night-time events

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Firelight Festival

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Now or Never

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Lightscape

Melbourne's favourite winter tradition Lightscape returns to Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

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Until

Stellar Nights

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Fondue Chalet

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Two individuals talking to each other inside Melbourne Museum at night, with blue lighting.
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Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

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The Book of Mormon

Australia’s biggest ever musical comedy returns this February.

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Until

Waitress The Musical

The irresistible Broadway hit about resilience, friendship and hope.

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Dimly lit interior of Gin Palace, small selection of framed paintings on a wall, and two people sitting on a couch and sipping drinks.

Gin Palace

Late-night cocktail bar specialising in the juniper-based spirit, with a selection of over 330 gins.