Assorted dishes and drinks at Hotel Nacional.
Photograph: Supplied / Hotel Nacional
Photograph: Supplied / Hotel Nacional

The best bottomless brunches in Melbourne

Improve on perfection by adding bottomless drinks to your brunch experience

Written by: Lauren Dinse
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Brunch is a beloved institution across Melbourne. It doesn't require an early wake-up call and is simultaneously on the right side of the day, so you can still have your avo on toast if you need it. But how do you improve on perfection? By adding bottomless drinks, of course.

Bottomless brunches have taken our city by storm, and if you've done one, you've no doubt discussed tactics with friends: what to drink, how to pace yourself, the best way to grab the waiter's attention and if it's possible to surreptitiously double park. After all, bottomless brunches are all about getting the best value and a healthy buzz. And not dissimilar to the chicken and egg debate, are drinks or food more crucial when selecting your venue? We believe you can have the best of both. We've compiled a list of Melbourne's best bottomless brunches so that you can enjoy your chicken or eggs with a great selection of limitless bevs. 

Only after a great coffee? Here are our fave spots in the CBD to get a fix. Planning a big day and night? Kick on at the best late-night bars in Melbourne.

Best boozy brunches in Melbourne

Hardware Lane's sunny new Mexico-inspired restaurant has launched a new bottomless brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday from noon. Up on the exclusive open-air rooftop, soak up the summer rays and indulge in bar snacks like tajin-coated corn ribs, housemade potato croquetas, tacos and more. After checking it out, our Melbourne editor Leah Glynn says "I can vouch it's yummy food!" You also get 90 minutes of totally unlimited Margaritas (classic, spicy, frozen and passionfruit), prosecco, house wine and beer – all for $75 a head. There's alternatively a mocktail version of the bottomless brunch package if you'd rather go alcohol-free. Click here for all the details.

Nitty Gritty: Sessions are available on Saturday and Sunday from noon at $55 to $75 per person, with the last bottomless sesh of the day held at 2:30pm.

For those who like their boozy brunches high in the sky on a sunny rooftop, Blacksmith Bar and Grill is the place to be this summer. Located on Level 7 of Voco Melbourne Central, this laidback rooftop offers uninterrupted panoramic views of the CBD – perfect for an afternoon of sipping and grazing to your heart's content.   

Nitty Gritty: The bottomless brunch deal is available every Saturday, where you can enjoy two hours of free-flowing Dal Zotto wines, signature Spritzes (limoncello, anyone?) and beer, alongside a spread of grazing dishes — starting at $75 per person.

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  • Indian
  • Fitzroy North
  • price 2 of 4

If you love Indian food and cocktails, Horn Please is your golden ticket to bottomless brunch paradise. The beloved modern Indian eatery – a stone's throw from Fitzroy North village – has curated a 90-minute "proudly unauthentic" curry feast to stand out from the brunch crowd. Expect a selection of Indian-inspired street food, creative mains, and desserts from the talented hand of North Indian chef Amar. The sitting comes with an unlimited amount of beer, wine and your choice of the bar's top three cocktails. Make a booking at the website.

Nitty Gritty: 90-minute sessions are available on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3pm at $69 per person.

  • Latin American
  • Collingwood
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

Pincho Disco is a lively Latin American restaurant in the heart of Collingwood and it's dishing up one of the vibiest boozy new brunches of the year. Make a booking for 'La Fiesta' to enjoy some of Pincho Disco's most delightful eats alongside bottomless beer, wine, Chilli Cha Cha Margs, and limoncello Spritzes.

Nitty Gritty: The 'La Fiesta' lunch sitting is held every Saturday from noon until 2pm, for $89 per person.

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  • Melbourne

Love a boozy brunch? Join the club! But not just any club, it's gotta be the Brunch Club: Magic Mountain Saloon's brand new Saturday offering. Spread across three levels, the venue has capacity for you to bring along a friend (or even an entire gaggle of gal pals) and settle in for a Thai-style banquet and rivers of free-flowing bevvies. Curated playlists from Magic's resident DJs will be keeping the vibes high, and it's all you can drink. We can't think of a better way to kick off the weekend. Bookings are essential so make a booking now.

Nitty Gritty: Saturdays 11:30am-1pm, starting from $65 per person.

  • Thai
  • Fitzroy

Gorge on four fragrant Asian fusion dishes alongside two hours of free-flowing booze at just $79 per person in this fun new bottomless affair. Featuring a share-style menu influenced by traditional Southeast Asian flavours, the experience is available for booking every Saturday. Though the menu's subject to change, expect crunchy kingfish crackers, suckling pig, steamed buns, crispy coconut cups and coconut snapper ceviche. There's a vegan option, too, for your plant-based friends and the menu looks just as delish. Is it just us or do bacon and eggs for brekky suddenly seem boring? Make a booking here.

Nitty Gritty: Every Saturday 12-2pm or 2:30pm-4:30pm, $79 per person.  

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  • Hotels
  • Boutique hotels
  • Ashburton

Housed on the 25th level of the upscale Hyatt Centric hotel in the CBD, this restaurant may not be the first one that comes to mind when you're searching for a new bottomless brunch destination, but stick with us. The venue has announced a new offering, which you can book now at the website. Packages range from $69 to $210 a head, so you can keep it simple or upgrade to a boozy one with free-flowing Champers. Each two-hour brunch package includes a selection of eight share-style dishes, drinks, plus a mighty slab of tiramisu to finish things on a sweet note.

Nitty Gritty: Bottomless brunch is available every Saturday from 12:30pm for two-hour sittings. Prices range from $69 to $210 a head.

  • Italian
  • South Yarra

Ali Mousavi's father owned Italian restaurants for more than 40 years, so it's no surprise that his new Chapel Street venture continues the family tradition. Found on the corner of Grosvenor Street and Chapel Street, Stella is a four-storey dining experience that delivers an Italian food philosophy with a modern Australian twist. The bottomless brunch here is a spectacular succession of some of the restaurant's best loved dishes, including mushroom arancini, spicy tuna brioche rolls, freshly made margherita pizzas and garlic prawns. There are two tiers you can choose from, explained in detail at the website.

Nitty Gritty: Every Saturday and Sunday over two 1.5-hour sittings: noon until 1:30pm and 1:30pm until 3pm, at $65 to $118 per person.

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Kickstart your Friday with one of the best bottomless brunches in town at Italian restaurant Flour Child. The feast features unlimited drinks and yummy pizzas and pasta, all set in the bustling beachside 'hood of St Kilda.

Nitty Gritty: Opt for the Brekky Session (10:30am-noon) for $59 a head or the Early Bird Session (12:30pm-2pm) for $69 a head. Additional sessions run later in the day, too, and also at Flour Child's Richmond location.

  • Windsor
  • price 2 of 4

Pork dumplings for brunch? Why not! If the words 'sushi' and 'taco' being in the same sentence didn't tip you off, Mr Miyagi is not your typical Japanese restaurant. In fact, it's not really typical anything. The now-institution hits somewhere between a bar and a restaurant – and similarly, ends up equal parts casual and fancy. The end product is just one thing: fun. Their bottomless 'loose lunch' is currently offering a 'feed me' menu of beloved Mr Miyagi classics, plus free-flowing rivers of locally sourced vino, Sapporo beer and specialty cocktails like lychee Highballs and passionfruit Spritzes. Find out more and make a booking at the website.

Nitty Gritty: Every Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4pm, at $69 per person.

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  • Barbecue
  • Coburg

How does a bottomless lunch of smoked chicken chops, pork and cheddar sausage, Cuban pork, chicken wings, French fries, fire-roasted red peppers, creole slaw and house pickles sound?And it gets even better. The drinks package features Bluestone’s signature cocktails, including the Apple Pie, made with Old Forester bourbon, poached apple, lemon, brown sugar and cinnamon rim, and the Caribbean Queen, made with Havana Cub Anejo, lime, coconut cream, goji berries and shaved coconut.

Nitty Gritty: Bluestone's bottomless weekend deal is available every Saturday from noon until 3pm, and Sunday all day at just $59 per person. 

  • Windsor
  • price 1 of 4

Hawker Hall is dishing up an epic boozy yum cha lunch every Saturday and Sunday arvo. Sleep in, roll in with your pals and prepare for a South-Asian lunch spread that will have you skipping dinner. Think funky new riffs on dim sum classics like roast duck and smoked eggplant wontons, beef rendang curry puffs and Malay-style spring rolls. Dishes hot off the wok will include XO egg-fried rice, fried noods and more. It's a 90-minute no-brainer with free-flowing cocktails and mocktails, wines and local froffs. Find out more and make a booking at the website.

Nitty Gritty: 90-minute sittings every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-4pm, at $66 per person. 

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  • Pubs
  • Richmond

Thought laid-back Harlow was just another spot on Church Street for beer, bands and a game of pool? Think again. Every Saturday and Sunday, the popular bar's rooftop transforms into an epic drag brunch party full of food, performances and endless bevvies. The two-hour package includes bottomless drinks (Greek-inspired cocktails, select tap beers, Moon Dog fizzers and vino), one brunch item of your choice and entertainment from a cheeky drag queen. Make a booking now.

Nitty Gritty: Every Saturday and Sunday over lunch, at $79 per person. 

  • South Melbourne

At one of the higher price points on this list, the bottomless brunch offering at Half Acre in South Melbourne boasts an elevated menu to match. The venue has recently revamped its bottomless brunch into "The Feast and Flow" experience, which you can separate out into just a "Feast" if you're off the bevvies. The brunch grants you two hours of access to a self-service buffet of both savouries and sweets, made-to-order hot dishes, plus a list of unlimited house and prosecco wines, beer, non-alcoholic options, and rotating cocktails. Designed to be reminiscent of a hotel buffet in New York or Paris, this is brunching but not as you know it. Anticipate an extravagant affair of coal-roasted meats and wood-fired vegetables – complete with a build-your-own pavlova section. Hungry yet? Make a booking here.

Nitty Gritty: Two-hour sessions are available on Saturday from 10.30am-5.30pm and Sunday from 11am-6pm, $69 per person for just "The Feast" and $98 per person for the full "Feast and Flow" experience.

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  • Mexican
  • price 1 of 4

Hotel Jesus' bottomless brunch is a no-frills social event perfect for summer. In and out in 90 minutes, the restaurant operates using the design principle KISS (keep it simple, stupid) – and you'd be stupid to miss this. Think street-style corn, tostadas and tacos complemented with frozen Margs, Micheladas, Mimosas and Sangrias to wet your whistle and prep you for a bar crawl down Smith Street. The food is unfussy but full of flavour, and there's a party atmosphere that will keep morale high so you can focus on the task ahead (eating your body weight in tacos). Head to the booking link at the website now.

Nitty Gritty: 90-minute Friday and Saturday lunch sessions from noon, at $79 per person.  

  • Japanese
  • Melbourne

Yakimono's Sip and Setto package is a boozy lunch that will delight Japanophiles and ravenous foodies alike. Taking place daily from 12pm, the menu features karaage chicken, yuzu prawn gyozas, pork tonkatsu and barbecue corn ribs. Seated in the swanky high-octane space at 80 Collins Street, you'll also have 90 minutes of free-flowing bevs, including craft beer, wine and specialty cocktails like Passionfruit Spritzes, Kiko Highballs and Yaki Espresso Martinis. It's available for tables of two or more, with bookings and walk-ins welcome. Make a booking at the website.

Nitty Gritty: Daily from noon until 4pm, starting at $88 per person.  

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  • Pizza
  • Richmond

Richmond hot spot Baby has just extended its brand new Free-Flowing Festa lunch deal to take place across every single day of the week. With bookings starting from noon, you can enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless sips and seasonal Italian share-style dishes – all for just an easy $66 a head. Think antipasti, handmade pasta and fun drinks like Aperol Spritzes, wines and local craft beer. 

Nitty Gritty: 90-minute sessions are available daily from noon until 3pm, at just $66 per person. Both bookings and walk-ins are welcome.

  • Melbourne
Pilgrim Bar
Pilgrim Bar

Variety is the spice of life, so why not spice up your life with Pilgrim Bar's high tea and gin-inspired bottomless brunch? For $75 per person you'll receive a multi-tiered stand of bite-sized delights and bottomless prosecco. Excite your taste buds by alternating through sweet and savoury nibbles, including chicken-stuffed croissants and frangipane tarts. Requisite scones with jam and cream (a stalwart on any high tea menu) make an elegant appearance in the form of a tonic scone with strawberry and hibiscus preserve served with Yarra Valley cream. Bubbles are bottomless, and you'll also get three gin cocktails infused with tea. Luxuriate on the terrace whilst watching boats lazily coast up the Yarra – pinkies up, darlings! Make a booking now.

Nitty Gritty: Two-hour sessions are available on Friday to Sunday at $85 per person. 

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  • American
  • Fitzroy

The 80s never ended at Evie's, a 1980s and disco-inspired diner that opened early 2018 on Fitzroy's Gertrude Street. Come here for a feed during the day or a boogie at night – the venue's menu has American-diner vibes so expect plenty of chicken and waffles, burgers, loaded fries and old-fashioned shakes topped with whipped cream and a glacé cherry. But this is Fitzroy, so unlike your traditional American diner many of the dishes at Evie's can be made vegan. There's also a strong focus on locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients, from the mince in the burgers to the syrups in the sodas. They've got several fun bottomless options (including drag bingo!), which you can check out at the website.

Nitty Gritty: Check out the current packages here.

  • Vietnamese
  • Prahran

From the team that brought you Hanoi Hannah and Tokyo Tina, Firebird in Prahran slings Vietnamese-inspired food and bottomless drinks at its endless lunch. For $59 per person, the Endless Lunch menu lets you revel in as many grilled oysters and frites as your heart desires. Other dishes (included but not bottomless) showcase beef carpaccio with finger lime, charcoal chook with burnt chili nuoc mam and yummy squid noods. If you've chosen the booze package, you'll be hailed with two hours of limitless French sparkling, house beers and house Spritzes at only an extra $42 a head. Firebird is all about the wood-fired oven, so expect charred dishes with smokiness permeating throughout. Music is often pumping, perfect to prime you for a post-lunch visit to Revs which is just around the corner, if you can stomach it. Make a booking at the website.

Nitty Gritty: Sessions are available on Saturday and Sunday, from just $59 per person. 

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  • Prahran

Bottomless brunches are remarkable enough, but the Smith in Prahran is taking it to a new level with its gospel bottomless brunch. Linger over house wines, sparkling, select cocktails and tap beers while being serenaded by a roaming gospel choir. The menu is quintessential brunch, so say goodbye to your house deposit with avo on toast, or indulge your sweet tooth with some fluffy hotcakes. The Smith offers feel-good vibes and 'gram-worthy decor with indoor and outdoor seating and lush foliage throughout – hallelujah! Make a booking here.

Nitty Gritty: Every Saturday from noon-2pm or 3-5pm, at $70 per person. 

  • Cafés
  • Essendon

With a bottomless brunch menu that includes lobster rolls, chilli scramble, zucchini fritters, French toast and jam doughnut hotcakes, Assembly Ground gets a big thumbs up from us. The Essendon café offers 1.5 hour sittings, and there are two options to choose from: the Classic, which comes with your choice of one dish from a limited menu and free-flowing Mimosas, Aperol Spritzes, beer, wine or bubbles, or the Make It Boujee, which includes any dish from the entire menu and unlimited cocktails from the full drinks list. Call the eatery on 03 9370 4438 to make a booking now.

Nitty Gritty: Friday to Sunday, $59 or $79 per person.

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  • Italian
  • Brunswick

If your idea of the best breakfast in the world starts at 3:00pm after a long sleep-in and includes endless rounds of Spritzes and pizzas with friends, make a beeline for 400 Gradi this weekend. The award-winning restaurant known for its world-class Italian fare has launched a two-hour "All You Can Sprittza" session across both Saturdays and Sundays, from 3-5pm. Here's your chance to enjoy as many slices of 400 Gradi's globally renowned margherita, marinara and diavola pizzas as you can fit into your tum, plus an enticing range of free-flowing Spritzes to keep the good times a'flowing: Aperol, Limoncello, Blue and Tropical. We know where we'll be this weekend! Find out more and make a booking at the website now.

Nitty Gritty: Two-hour sittings every Saturday to Sunday, at $59 per person.

  • Cocktail bars

Just a stone's throw from South Melbourne Market, Mirror Mirror Rooftop Lounge is an ideal spot to gather your mates for a cheeky cocktail and enjoy the panoramic city views, or you can unwind from the busy work week every Saturday and Sunday with the Fairest of Them All boozy brunch session. The rooftop bar snacks menu is headed up by a Michelin-starred chef and an incredible kitchen team cooking most of the food on the barbecue on the roof.

Nitty Gritty: For $80 per person, you can enjoy two hours of free-flowing beer, cider, wine and select cocktails alongside your brunch from 12pm to 3pm. It's held every Saturday and Sunday. 

Eat your way through the day at the best restaurants in Melbourne

Unless you have the metabolism of a nine-year-old and the finances of a Kardashian, you never stand a chance against Melbourne's ferocious dining machine. The openings just don't stop and ain't nobody got time to keep on top of what's what. Except us, that is. So behold, our eat-and-destroy list – a guide to Melbourne's 50 best restaurants.

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