Late-night dining in Melbourne is a sacred practice. Rolling in a few drinks deep and ordering half the menu has become the new standard. If you're looking to dine outside of the conventional dinner sittings, you're in luck because there are a slew of options on offer for a nighttime fix.
Whether its a quick slice, a burger at one of the city's top restaurants or a Cantonese-style banquet at 1am, here are the best late-night restaurants Melbourne has for 2023:
Bar Margaux
CBD
Take the steps down into the subterranean space of Bar Margaux and you'll be met with a chic French bistro and bar that's open to the raucously late hour of 3am across Friday and Saturday nights. Slide into one of the booths and make sure you order the MGX burger, a double patty wonder with bacon, cheddar, BM's secret sauce, bordelaise and a side of fries. If that's not enough you can always tack on a Crème Brulee for good measure.
Gimlet
CBD
Not what you'd expect from one of Melbourne's preeminent fine diners but Gimlet, the award-winning Andrew McConnell restaurant at Cavendish House is one of the best late-night dinner options going around. The Supper menu is available from 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and includes their cult-favourite cheeseburger, strip steak from the grill, a full caviar service and even oysters.
France Soir
SOUTH YARRA
Beloved by young and old, France Soir just seems to get cooler year on year. The storied French diner on Toorak Road in South Yarra has been doing this since 86' so it's got the late-night restaurant Melbourne inclusion absolutely dialled. The menu is extensive and retains all the hits of a classic Parisian bistro, be it a steak tartare, duck À l'orange, or the creme caramel—they're all on the cards until 12am.
Bar Romantica
BRUNSWICK EAST
Romantica rings true to its name with at least several couples mid-date positioned comfortably in the dimly lit booths on any given night. Open till 12am on Fridays and Saturdays, the vibey Lygon Street haunt is one of the best late-night restaurants Melbourne has on rotation with various Italo-influenced plates from perfected pasta dishes, thick burrata and focaccia, pizza and even the showstopping tiramisu.
Supper Inn
CBD
Perhaps the best late-night eats Melbourne spot, Supper Inn's 2.30am closing time has been the saving grace of many a clocked-off hospo work, CBD reveller and general punter. The low-frills dining room has seen all walks of life venture in and sit down to their xo-sauce-drenched pippies, the signature sizzling quail as well as the roast duck. If that wasn't enough, it's also BYO.
Butcher's Diner
CBD
Butcher's Diner may be small in size but it looms large in stature, the hole-in-the-wall American-style diner once open 24 hours a day now operates till 12am on weekdays and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, which is plenty late. Perfect for balancing out a night on the town, grilled cheese, cheeseburgers, steaks, fried chicken and even charcoal-grilled Chinese sausages which are highly underrated.
Rising Embers
CBD
Ascend the stairs to the sister venue of the Dainty Sichuan team, Rising Embers is all about involved dining with a grill plate front and centre of every table. You are immediately served up with a motley collection of spice mixes, sauces and pickled condiments which pair effortlessly with every menu item that sizzles across the hot plate be it strips of A5 wagyu to whole-skewered squid, eggplant with minced chilli and the simply unforgettable fried rice.
LeBon Ton
COLLINGWOOD
Channelling the pit barbecues of New Orleans, Le Bon Ton is Melbourne's very own low and slow American-barbecue diner. Now located on Gipps Street in Collingwood this late-night haunt is perfect for a midnight banquet of brisket, pulled pork shoulder, mac n cheese and more with the kitchen open till 2am on Friday and Saturday.
Stalactites
CBD
Stalactites is a true treasure of the CBD and a front-runner for the best late-night dining in Melbourne. Perched on its high-traffic corner of Russell and Lonsdale street since 1978 the Greek dining hall serves a plethora of favourites from Giro, Souvlaki, grilled Saganaki, house-made dips, Spanikopita and more. What's more, it's also one of the most dietary-friendly spots with vegan, gluten-free and even Coeliac-friendly options. It's open until 12am on weekdays and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Sal’s Pizza
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Looking for a late-night slice? It doesn’t get much better than this one. Sal’s Pizza has been dishing up NY-style slices since 1975 and across Friday and Saturday they're on offer until 1am. You can score two 18-inch slices (cheese and pepperoni) for just $10, so, in essence, you could potentially get four for $20, that's some serious cheap eats Melbourne.
Leonard’s House of Love
SOUTH YARRA
A pillar of the late-night restaurants Melbourne has, Leonard’s celebrates all things simple and tasty—bourbon, charcoal chicken and open fires—all set within a 70s lounge-style log cabin venue. It's a serious vibe. Whether you’re in for a laid-back beer with friends or ready to knock back some delicious no-frills food (burgers, fried chicken and loaded fries, as well as salad and mash combos) it’s the spot for you.
Ling Nan
CBD
A late-night restaurant Melbourne institution, Ling Nan knows exactly what it is and its lo-fi simple interior provides the perfect blank canvas for the array of expertly crafted Cantonese cooking. Be it the clams with XO sauce or the deep-fried pork spare ribs with chilli and spicy salt, there’s always something that’ll you keep you coming back for more. This Cantonese restaurant is one of the best in Melbourne and for good reason.
Dragon Hot Pot
CBD
Dragon Hot Pot on Russell Street is one of the city's famous late-night restaurants. Open till 1am on weekdays and 2.30am on weekends there's always a queue of people waiting to bathe themselves in spicey noodle broth. It's the kind of soup that provides plenty of kick and the menu is pretty unique with a choose-your-adventure style of broth and spice. Pro tip: Dragon-level spice is only for the brave.
Pizza Pizza Pizza
CBD
If you're a sucker for late-night eats in Melbourne, you'll want to hot-foot it down to Meyers Place to check out Pizza Pizza Pizza. Inside the kitsch 70’s inspired pizza hatch, you’ll find classic toppings and cheese delights, including mushroom and truffle oil, margarita, triple cheese, pepperoni, and ham and pineapple. It's open till 11pm on weekdays and 1am across the weekend.
Check more of Melbourne's best over here:
Melbourne's best restaurants
Melbourne's best cafes
Melbourne's best bars
Melbourne's best breakfast
Image credit: Bar Margaux (supplied)