Your guide to Christmas Day dining in Melbourne

Before you know it, the big day will be here. Discover the best Melbourne restaurants open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Day 2026.

A restaurant with red bikes parked outside.

The best Christmas day dining

A curated spread of Christmas dishes displayed on a wooden table.
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Christmas Day Dining at Langlands

Celebrate the festive season with Langlands' Naughty but Nice Christmas dining experience.

A festive table setting with lit candles, pine cones and holly in amongst the plates.

Christmas Day Lunch at Alluvial

Celebrate the festive season with a buffet lunch at Melbourn's iconic luxury heritage hotel.

A hotel buffet with a line of bain-marie with lids open against a deep red background.

Christmas Day Buffet Lunch

A festive Christmas Day buffet lunch in Melbourne with seafood, Santa, gifts and family cheer.

A Christmas buffet including seafood, ham and turkey plus a gingerbread house and a statue of a reindeer.

Christmas Day Lunch at Allegro

Celebrate the festive season with a special Christmas Day buffet lunch at Allegro Restaurant.

Christmas buffet with meat, seafood and cakes.

Christmas Day Lunch at Dock 37

Celebrate the magic of Christmas with an indulgent buffet luncheon.

Large group of people sitting under the shade of a large tree in a park setting.

Melbourne Social Club Christmas Day Lunch

Join a relaxed festive picnic lunch in Queen Victoria Gardens and meet new people this Christmas.

A dining table in a club laden with a Christmas feast including platters of roasted vegetables, ham, roast turkey, salads, and glasses of wine.

Christmas Day Dining at Elevate Club Lounge

Celebrate Christmas Day with a festive buffet above Melbourne.

A children's themed three-tiered platter of high tea treats, alongside a teddy bear, drinks and Christmas baubles.
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Le Petit FestiviTea

Little ones can join the festive celebrations with a high tea just for them.

The interior of JUNI restaurant, with tables all set for service and two chefs in the kitchen.

Christmas Day Lunch at JUNI

Celebrate Christmas Day at JUNI with a six-course long lunch.

More of the best spots for group catch-ups

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The best restaurants for group dining in Melbourne

Catch up with friends at these group-friendly local venues.

A group of friends sharing drinks at a table outside a restaurant.

The ultimate guide to bottomless dining in Melbourne

Eat and drink your heart out with unlimited brunches, lunches and cocktails.

People dining in a laneway outside an old cottage-style city pub.

Melbourne’s best old-school pubs and bars

Sip your way back in time and soak in the atmosphere at these historic establishments.

A table set with Thai dishes and someone lifting noodles from a bowl of soup.

Melbourne’s best dinners under $20

Find Melbourne's best cheap eats and pub deals for your next dinner out.

A busy restaurant with people dining and drinking at a bar surrounded by purple neon lights

The best new restaurants in Melbourne

Find Melbourne's best new spots for drinking, dining and all-round good times.

A person grilling meat in a restaurant

Where to find the best Korean BBQ in Melbourne

Feast on the best flame-grilled pork belly and bulgogi with friends and family.

People drinking margaritas on a rooftop bar with cacti and umbrellas in the city.

Melbourne's best rooftop bars

Schedule in a rooftop sesh at these sun-soaked rooftops.

People dining in timber booths at a retro style diner.

Melbourne's best old-school diners

Craving a slice of nostalgia? Kick it oldschool at these classic diners and retro eateries. 

Last updated on Tue 8 Sep 2026

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Interior of Central Club Hotel showing curved art-deco bar, soft lighting and patrons eating and drinking at high bench tables and the bar area.

Central Club Hotel

Great craft beer and delicious market-to-table food, opposite the Queen Victoria Market.

People seated outside drinking and eating in the late afternoon sun, at St Andrews Beach Brewery at Melbourne Park.

St Andrews Beach Brewery

Located in Melbourne Park, with indoor and outdoor dining, and a diverse family-friendly menu.

A person brushing the tops of uncooked pies with a pastry brush.

Naughtons Hotel

Historic pub providing warm hospitality, quality drinks and farm-to-table dining.

A waiter presenting a plate to two diners.

Ludlow Bar and Dining Room

Enjoy this modern Southbank riverside pub, dining room and large beer garden terrace.