The best restaurants for Mother's Day in Melbourne

You can't go wrong with French cuisine for any special occasion, and cosy Smith St Bistrot is among the places in Melbourne that do it best. The special Mother's Day menu this year will run you $120 per head and includes the bistro's characteristic spins on revered French classics. You'll woo mum with oysters, king dory fish, poule au pot, and finally, a chocolate sabayon tart for dessert. Head to the website to book a table now before they fill up.

Want to know what life is like for the upper crust? Treat your mother to a super luxe sky-high afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. The sumptuous three-course menu features sweet and savoury creations and free-flowing Love tea and Code Black barista coffee. It runs the whole weekend, accompanied by a live jazz band and mum gets to take home a beautiful gift courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton. Get the pricing and booking details here. 

Pure South focuses on all things Tasmanian, including King Island Beef, St Helens oysters, Bass Strait scallops, seafood and quality dairy products. This May 11, the luxurious Southbak restaurant will be putting on a stunning Mother's Day lunch with three courses, warm and welcoming service and relaxing views of the Yarra river. For more details and to book a table, visit the website.

Pincho Disco from the Kickon Group is an ode to new-age Latin American eats, extravagant cocktails and live entertainment. Expect a journey of flavours hailing from across the entire content – from Colombia, Peru and Chile to Mexico, Argentina and Brazil – in signature dishes thoughtfully prepared by head chef Diego Cardenas and his team. This Mother's Day, the restaurant is offering a gorgeous tasting menu – with plant-based and kids' menu options available, too. Get more details and make a booking here.

Dedicated high tea house Mary Eats Cake is excited to announce their 2025 Mother's Day package will be available for the entire month of May. From Thursday 1 May to Saturday 31 May, both the Brunswick and Montrose venues will be offering luxurious high tea experiences. Get all the information you need here.

Keen to escape the city and whisk mum away somewhere a bit more picturesque this Mother's Day? Out in West Gippsland (just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne), Brandy Creek Estate isn't just the perfect day to treat mum to a luxurious Turkish steam bath and spa treatment. The onsite restaurant is also throwing a beautiful May 11 lunch. Think cajun chicken with saffron parsnip purée and a yoghurt-drizzled haloumi salad, slow-braised beef short ribs and tiramisu cake with Brandy Creek liqueur-mixed berries. Make a booking here.

If mum doesn't go anywhere without her pooch, we have the Mother's Day dining offering for you. From 2pm until 5pm at College Lawn Hotel this May 11, there'll be live tunes and $45 bottles of prosecco to celebrate our mums, as well as a chance to win a spa weekend. Go here for all the details.

Dripping in old-world charm and the glamour of a bygone era, this grand dame is really something special. So what better venue for treating the mother figure in your life to a special celebration high tea she'll remember? The multitiered afternoon tea platters at Hotel Windsor are pretty legendary, and bonus points – free-flowing drinks are included in the Mother's Day package! Check it out here and make a booking.