The most romantic restaurants in Melbourne that couples will love

Moody lighting and tables for two? Tick. Sublime food and wine? Tick. Unique premise? Triple tick. Al Dente Enoteca is a sleek Italian restaurant in Carlton, but nothing at all like some of the tourist traps peppering parallel Lygon Street. Here, the dishes change with the seasons to focus on local produce and regionally inspired Italian flavours. Think panzerotti pomodoro with mozzarella and basil (aka the most epic take on a pizza pocket you’ll ever try) and juicy golden-fried olives stuffed with meat for starters. And, of course, the crowd favourite since Al Dente’s inception: the tortellini cacio e pepe. The desserts are just as fantastical, so make sure you save room.

Named ‘Julie’ after chef Julieanne Blum, who’s earned her stripes as the head chef at Cam’s Kiosk over the past six years, this restaurant situated in one of Melbourne's most idyllic locations aims to offer thoughtful produce-driven dishes in a warm, dinner party-like atmosphere. But as we found out one dusky summer's evening, it's also surprisingly romantic. Julie’s menu is designed to rotate frequently according to the seasons and the creative whims of the kitchen talent, with ingredients sourced largely from the Convent’s dedicated veggie garden. The space is nestled in the picturesque Abbotsford Convent surrounds, and seats 50 indoors and 30 at outdoor tables.

Look closely and you can see a twinkle in the eye of Di Stasio Pizzeria. It’s indiluted Latin sass and pure Italian swagger; a “this is how you do it” as it throws down the pizza gauntlet in Carlton, of all places. It marks a fitting new chapter in the 30-plus-year legacy of Rinaldo Di Stasio’s eponymous brand, from St Kilda’s Cafe Di Stasio and its next-door bar to Spring Street’s baby sibling Città. It’s also a triumphant end point, should the indefatigable Medici of Melbourne dining wish to stop at this point and rest on his laurels. Laurel resting at the Carlton outpost could mean taking a seat in the stunning piazza, gravel crunching underfoot, urns arrayed around the high brick walls and a 17th-century Roman fountain tinkling away merrily. Romantic? Sublimely so, especially if you're seated outside.

The opening of a restaurant from Chris Lucas, the svengali behind great Melbourne restaurants, is generally accompanied by the kind of media hoopla reserved for retiring members of the Royal Family, so here’s the deal: all you have heard about Kisumé, the Lucas Group’s three floors of Nipponesque dining power, is true, and then doubly so. Yes, there’s Nick Cave, rocking a blue wig and red lipstick thanks to Aussie photographer Polly Borland. Yes, there’s the omakase counter where slivers of jewel-coloured ocean flesh are laid out with all the ceremony of tea in Kyoto, some complete with judiciously placed ornaments of edible gold leaf. In short, is a place determined to bring the bling. So if your partner's all about that (and also happens to love fine Japanese food), you're onto a solid winner. 

This famous fine diner has just undergone a $3 million renovation, heralding a fresh new chapter and a great excuse to re-visit (or introduce yourself if you're a Vue virgin). Vue de Monde has more history than you can poke a stick at. The turn-of-the-century Carlton restaurant that announced Westmeadows wunderkind Shannon Bennett to the world. Its grand-statement, slightly awkward sophomore period at Normanby Chambers. And its past long reign perched at the top of the Rialto, where this Melbourne fine dining star has taken the mantra of evolution rather than revolution as it journeys from French-leaning neo-classical purist to a restaurant with its own Aussie-accented voice. This is dining that makes you feel on top of the world, and if the object of your affection hasn't fallen in love yet, this experience may just get them over the line.

When you first step into the stylish airlock entrance at Stokehouse, the transportation to another world is immediate. Suspended in the liminal space, the door behind you closes and the noisy buzz of St Kilda’s busy streets fades to a calming hum. A journey begins. Stokehouse is a bastion of traditional hospitality and serene comfort since the early 1990s. Engagements, declarations of love and transitions from situationships to relationships have all taken place here, and you can almost smell the romance floating in the air. Better yet, there are stunning ocean views. When it comes to the sustainable seafood-driven menu, Stokehouse’s historic acclaim is well-deserved, that much is for sure. Keep this one in the bookmarks for the most special of occasions. 

This intimate, traditional ristorante has romance written all over it, a place where the inspiration for Sunday lunch comes directly from their grandmother's recipe books from the old country. This is the restaurant to book for that slurp-spaghetti-until-you-kiss moment inspired by Lady and the Tramp. The soft, dim lighting and white tablecloths really up the ante, and if your lover is a bit old-fashioned, they're bound to be wooed by the ambience alone. But that doesn't mean the food here doesn't also serve to impress. Expect authentic silken pasta dishes, crowdpleasing antipasti and a dessert list that, of course, includes a delightful tiramisu. 

Midcity Arcade, known for its ground-floor budget restaurants like Mr Ramen-san and ShanDong MaMa, is not where you would expect to find a lobster-and-Champagne restaurant. But then again, Pinchy's is no stuffy, white-tablecloth joint. The décor is Millenial pink, with a giant neon claw on the wall. The vibe inside is much more fun hidden bar than French Champagne and expensive crustacean, and there is a sizeable terrace overlooking Bourke Street that seems like the place for bright young things to see and be seen. This is romance at its fun and most playful, a reliable CBD destination for date nights, after-work smooch sessions, shared bowls of truffle fries and taking cute pics to show off on the 'gram. Drinks are Veuve Cliquot brut, Veuve Cliquot rosé and French still and sparkling wine, as well as champagne cocktails. Pretty fancy stuff for a shopping arcade, eh?

Il Bacaro serves up a modern twist on classic Venetian fare in its intimate charmer of a restaurant. We're not talking foams or sands or molecular tech on the plate. The poached cod comes with a watermelon consommé, pickled cucumber, fennel, dill and elderflower, and the Limoncello baba comes with white chocolate and mascarpone semifreddo, lemon myrtle and meringue. Subtle creativity and high-end dining are the name of the game here. Not as new or trendy as some of the other restaurants on the list, Il Bacaro may not be the first name that crosses a millennial's lips, but ask anyone who's lived and breathed Melbourne for decades and you'll definitely hear a fond mention. 

Whatever iteration Marion’s menu is in, one can never go past the flatbread with fromage blanc, a staple so universally adored it’s never left. Salt-speckled, garlicky wedges of dough give way to the most pillowy interiors, which go a treat when dipped in fresh cheese so smooth and spreadable it’s akin to a yoghurt. Marion is plush and elegant, but it’s never too cool for school – fries can be ordered by the half-serve if you’re in a duo, wine can be ordered by the half-bottle, and all manner of questions (whether about wine or food) are welcomed by the accommodating staff. Like all good neighbourhood wine bars, the focus is on the customer and, above all, comfort. The result? A romantic experience in the most natural and sophisticated of ways.

Welcome to Poodle, yet another Art Deco-inspired multi-level venue that’s graced our fair city, where head chef Josh Fry (Marion, Cumulus Inc) takes kitschy dishes and gives them a signature Italian-inspired makeover. But this isn’t just another multi-level venue, this is more. The green, marbled and dark wooden veneered bones of the site designed by Melbourne studio Bergman and Co scream Italianesque grandeur, but the people within make you feel at home. Owner Zoë Rubino mans the door and partner Emilio Scalzo floats around, both providing service and smiles iterative of any ex-McConnell staff. Downstairs you'll find intimate booths, doodles by previous guests framed on the wall and a locked and loaded bistro menu. This is romance with an artsy touch, and dinner here may just turn into a loved-up bar crawl on Brunswick Street. 

France-Soir is truly a Melbourne institution. Established in 1986 by owner Jean-Paul Prunetti, the bistro was an instant success, and in the fickle world of hospitality, that success has endured. If you’ve been to Paris before, this ambience will not feel unfamiliar: high energy, a little bit brusque, but simultaneously fun and hedonistic. The menu is composed of France's finest fare, a guaranteed arrow into the heart of those who love a bit of old-school European romance. Oysters are shucked fresh to order and served on ice, with a puckery mignonette dressing. Thick slices of French bread automatically appear with the compulsory pat of butter. Entrées are rustic and unfussy. Steak tartare is ubiquitous in the Melbourne dining scene, however, this rendition is one of the best our reviewers have encountered. Though the food may be rustic and not as sophisticated as that of some of the finer diners on this list, France-Soir has that ineffable panache that makes you feel as though you’re in a romantic Parisian flick. 

A Melbourne take on a New York version of a Parisian bistro, Bar Margaux ticks all the right design tropes – chequerboard floor, shiny white subway tiles, booths, wired glass dividers, golden back bar lighting – and deftly assembles them so that the space sidesteps cliché and becomes very much right place, right time. There’s also been serious thought put into the food. Like the fitout, the menu is a roll call of classics, offering the kind of French bistro dishes you’d expect in a place that looks like this. What you might not expect in a watering hole where the kitchen’s open until 3am (and beyond on weekends) is that you’re going to get such a good French onion soup or credible steak frites or such a ridiculously rich lobster croque monsieur. That means your date night can go as late and lazily long into the night as you like.

Lagoon Dining takes foods from across the world and transforms them into contemporary, Chinese-inspired dishes, all the while drawing upon Japanese and Korean influences too. The venue is clad in black and white tones, with whitewashed brick walls, a black wrap-around bar and a grid pattern that dominates the sides of the walls and greaseproof paper sheets. The food, however, is far from the angular, monochrome interior. Chefs Keat Lee and Ned Trumble are both ex-Ezard and Longsong, and have added a few new dishes to the menu’s usual repertoire. One of the newer dishes is their take on kingfish ceviche. The raw fish is saturated in a yuzu kosho vinaigrette and topped with layers of pickled celery, puffed buckwheat and sesame oil. It’s a delicate, textural delight that fans out on the plate. Plenty of reason enough to expand your horizons and book a table for your next dinnertime rendezvous. 

Did you really think we'd curate a list of romantic restaurants and not mention oysters? The OG aphrodisiac since Venus herself emerged from one, oysters make the perfect snackage for romantic nights out – especially when paired with good drinks. And both are what you can expect at this tried-and-tested oyster and cocktail bar, that we love for its understated glamour as much as its fastidious kitchen smarts. Pearl diving is hard work. It takes a good eye, patience, and a passion for oysters. Coincidentally, these are three traits shared by Alex Boon and Pez Collier, the lauded Brisbane bartenders who spent two years gently buffing their idea for a shucking great oyster bar into a polished pearl. 

Marameo is not a place for people still practising their restaurant manners, but the phrase “cheeky Italian”, found somewhat alarmingly on the website, ought to shine some light on the new regime. The food pitch here is contemporary, fun and progressive, albeit with the same rollcall of showy ingredients at the heart of good Italian dining. Think smashable pasta bowls, lavish cakes and young bar talent (and even the occasional spaghetti-slurping DJ on the decks), which all makes for a disarmingly romantic night out that's less snobbish and more just plain, rollicking, good ol' fun.

Literally meaning ‘dark’ or ‘obscure’, Yugen is an important word in the history of Japanese aesthetics. It describes a depth of beauty not fully seen, but felt, and it’s something the restaurant Yugen manages to evoke as soon as you walk in. Though moody dark pockets may catch your eye, the restaurant’s shimmering opulence will seduce each one of your senses from the outset. A rich, woody signature fragrance hangs in the air and in a swish glass elevator, down you'll descend to discover what may just be the most graceful and effortlessly cool subterranean dining space in Melbourne. There's an exceptional omakase offering here, share plates, lip-smacking cocktails and plenty more to play with in choosing your own romantic adventure. 

To question Gimlet’s beauty is like pondering out loud whether the sky is blue. One foot through the door into the Trader House team’s almighty fine diner and you’re swept into an era of astonishingly impressive 1920s glamour. The handsome, plush curved booths invite you to settle in and share a bottle of Champers with someone, uniformed staff skate around the floor with ease, and warm light dances off the grand chandeliers overhead. It’s undeniably fabulous, but also cosy at the same time – less ostentatious ‘razzle-dazzle’ and more hearth-y and heartwarming somehow, even in all its magnificence. You can, of course, go all out at Gimlet and dine on lobster, caviar service and exxy bottles of wine all night, but you can also have just a taste of a few dishes here and that's also a lovely way to experience the restaurant, which tends to feel welcoming and adaptive no matter how much you’re willing to splurge.  It’s an indulgence (with a price tag to match), but you’ll float away afterwards on cloud nine.