When you’re driving down the road and you see a sign saying ‘Cheap Seafood’, you usually keep right on driving. Seafood is one of those things where cheaper isn’t necessarily better.
On the other hand, we’re suckers for a good oyster party. There are plenty of great venues in Melbourne—places whose seafood quality you can trust—that’ll shuck you salty rock oysters for $2 a pop. Fresh squeeze of lemon, little squirt of Tabasco, happy days. You can sit there for hours, pounding oysters like nobody’s watching. We’ve rounded up all the best places to find cheap oysters in Melbourne for 2023 . Intestinal happiness pretty much guaranteed.
Arbory Bar & Eatery | $2
CBD
Making its big-time return, Arbory is bringing its famed oyster cult back into the mix for summer and onwards. Every Thursday from 6pm (until sold out) the bounty of ocean treasure on wheels will be making the rounds through the platform bar with freshly-shucked Pacific Oysters at a staggering $2 a pop with the option of a thick wedge of lemon or a splash of Tabasco.
Hemingway’s Wine Room | $2
CBD
Hemingway’s was inspired by the 1920s brasseries of New York and Paris, so you know they take their oysters pretty seriously. The guys here run Oyster + Champagne every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30pm to 6:30pm; that’s $3 a shell, for those playing at home. You can also sit pretty with $15 glasses of Champagne Pol Roger, and we all know that there’s no better pairing than oysters and champers.
Otōto | $2
CBD
Forget happy hour, Otōto is hosting a weekday $2 oyster hour. You can head down to the Flinders Lane Izakaya-style restaurant between Tuesday to Thursday from 5pm until 6pm for fresh oysters topped off with a Chardonnay vinaigrette. Melbourne’s latest underground bar makes the perfect destination for knock-off drinks. Otōto will sling Asian-inspired cocktails and happy hour oysters your way to get you through the mid-week slump. Reserve a booth at the slick bar and eatery here.
Philippe | $3
CBD
An underrated French gem in the middle of the CBD. And they do cheap oysters. What’s not to like? Sit yourself up at the bar in Philippe (you’ll find it just off Collins St, near George Parade) and enjoy freshly shucked $3 oysters during day service. For an extra kick, order them Philippe Mouchel-style: with shallots, vinegar and a squeeze of lemon.
Melbourne Public | $2
SOUTH WHARF
What’s better than happy hour drinks? Happy hour drinks mixed with happy hour oysters. Melbourne Public is serving up $2 natural and Kilpatrick oysters on Friday afternoons. Now that's some serious TGIF energy.
The Bleakhouse Hotel | $2.50
ALBERT PARK
For over a century, The Bleakhouse Hotel has stood looking out over Port Phillip Bay. The venue, which was recently renovated, is now serving natural $2.50 oysters on Friday for that weekend fix. They're also flying the Kilpatrick flag, which are going for $5 a pop on Fridays, too.
Double down and check out Melbourne's best lobster rolls here.
Did we miss any? Send us your cheap oyster suggestions and we’ll update the list.
Image credit: Tommaso Cantelli