When midnight cravings hit, Melbourne’s late-night dining scene delivers. From steaming bowls of Cantonese noodles to New York-style pizza slices, these late-night restaurants in Melbourne keep the city fed long after dark.
Whether you’re a hospo worker finishing a shift, a night owl craving dumplings, or just drunk and hungry, here’s where to find the best late-night eats in Melbourne—now updated with hidden gems from St Kilda to the CBD.
Without further ado, these are Melbourne’s best late night restaurants for 2025:
Gin Palace
10 Russell Place, Melbourne
Gin Palace is Melbourne’s OG laneway cocktail bar. They’ve been serving up mouth-puckering gin cocktails way before it was cool to make your own boutique gin. Slingin’ more than 330 kinds of gin and six signature martinis, they’ve complemented that heavy booze with some late night snacks. Grab a prawn martini (read: cocktail), delicate little toasted chicken sandwiches (ask for some Tabasco for this bad boy) and cheese and other bits and bobs. Bonne dégustation.
Bar Ampere
16 Russell Place, Melbourne
Bar Ampere is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to city drinking (and dining in this case). The sister venue to Gin Palace there’s significantly more lights on here and an outdoor terrace that always seems to be packed with late night revellers. Take advantage of their Parisian-style bar menu charcuterie, tartare, and French cheeses until 1am.
Seven Star Pocha
Shop H/535 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
There’s two of these late-night Korean gems in Melbourne CBD, the Healeys Lane outpost open until 3.30am on weekends, and the Chinatown one open until 1am. Dive into all the good bites you would expect from a late night Korean spot like a bangin’ fried chicken with banana ketchup, sizzling pork belly, and cheesy corn dogs. Don’t miss their army stew (budae jjigae, Spam fixes all with a hangover)—a boozy, bubbling cure-all for 3am hunger pangs.
Falafel Place
264 Smith Street, Collingwood
Look, we’ve been pretty picky about late night falafel or kebab joints we’ve put on here, because let’s face it they’re a staple after a few drinks. But Falafel Place is special, their handmade falafels are perfect for any vegetarian or vegan revellers, but best of all they’re great any time of day, that’s how you can pick a good falafel. Our go-to order? Their straight Falafel Wrap with a bit of chilli.
Apollo Inn
165 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
You probably go to Apollo Inn for the martinis but if you’ve got a weather eye about you, you can track down some snacks there until quite late. There’s always something tasty on the menu like their duck liver parfait, oysters, a little anchovy snack, chips and dip and that ever-so-fluffy potato focaccia. Apollo Inn has also made our best bars list if you’re looking for a spot before your late night eats.
The Walrus
9 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
Image: The Walrus | Visit Victoria
The crew at The Walrus have just kicked off their supper menu and they’re doing it with a bang. You’ll be able to get rotating snacks and dishes after 10pm (perfect for after you’ve spent half your evening at The Barkly) and wash it all down with one of their signature Bloody Marys to get ahead of tomorrow.
Ling Nan
41 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Ling Nan is where chefs go to eat after work. This Cantonese stalwart (open until midnight) is famous for XO clams, chilli-salt pork ribs, and crispy-skinned duck. The no-frills dining room is a Chinatown late-night icon and best of all they’re pretty chill about any BYO situation and there’s always room for big groups. Just give them a courtesy call before you rock up.
Gimlet At Cavendish House
33 Russell Street, Melbourne
Image: Gimlet At Cavendish House | Visit Victoria
Andrew McConnell’s award-winning fine diner offers a 10pm Supper Menu (Fridays/Saturdays) for luxe late-night cravings. Think dry-aged cheeseburgers, caviar service, and grilled Cape Grim steak. The grand European dining room—complete with mahogany bar and white tablecloths—is Melbourne’s classiest after-hours spot. You’ll also find this high-end banger on our best restaurants list under Melbourne’s best fine diners. A late night haunt and a proper up-scale restaurant? Sign us up.
Food Hall
11 Gem Place, Melbourne
Food Hall is a blast from the past. Offering up a cavalcade of different options from late night Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese and Italian, you’re sure to get your late night Asian or pasta fix. Prices come straight out of the 2000s as well, with main dishes starting at around $15. This is the ultimate spot for when you’re stumbling up to Southern Cross and need a bite before you split home on that last (or, is that first?) train home.
Arlechin
Mornane Place, Melbourne CBD
Image: Arlechin | Visit Victoria
You’ll probably be familiar with Italian restaurateur Guy Grossi’s venues, he’s all over the top end of Bourke Street. He’s reopened his legendary Arlechin venue until 1am at the tail end of the week serving up spaghetti jaffles, a little puttanesca pasta and a few other treats until doors shut. Dive into an impressive whisky selection, or wine if that’s more your ticket and keep the party going.
France-Soir
11 Toorak Road, South Yarra
A Parisian bistro since 1986, this South Yarra classic serves steak tartare, duck à l’orange, and crème caramel until midnight. It’s a Melbourne institution for all the right reasons, and best of all they’ve just opened a bar next door called Le Splendide with similar offerings, but a bit more snacky. Peep more of Melbourne’s best French restaurants here.
China Bar
Various Locations
If you haven’t been to China Bar and topped up (or off) your evening with a late night bowl of anything wok-fried and a Tsing Tao have you really lived in Melbourne? This late night institution has venues all over the city and they never fail to disappoint. The Elizabeth Street incarnation is open 24 hours and you can get yourself some piping-hot congee (let’s face it, it’s probably breakfast time if you’re at China Bar) and a whole other mess of barbequed, deep fried, noodle goodness.
Supper Inn
15 Celestial Avenue, Melbourne
A Chinatown institution since 1982, this no-frills Cantonese canteen is where hospo workers, club kids, and insomniacs converge under flickering fluorescent lights until 2:30am. The XO pippies (drenched in umami-spiked sauce) and sizzling quail (crispy-skinned and garlicky) are legendary, but it’s the roast duck—glossy, tender, and hacked into generous portions—that seals its status as Melbourne’s ultimate late-night refuge. BYO, cash-only, and always humming with post-midnight camaraderie. More of Melbourne’s best chinese over this way.
Butcher’s Diner
10 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Image: Butcher's Diner | Visit Victoria
This tiny, stainless-steel-clad diner (open till 1am) is a sanctuary for the hungry and slightly worse-for-wear. The double cheeseburger—oozing American cheese and secret sauce—is a masterclass in drunk food, while the charcoal-grilled Chinese sausages (smoky, sweet, and snappy) are a cult obsession. Vinyl seating, no-nonsense service, and a 24/7 legacy (now slightly shortened) make it a CBD rite of passage.
Le Bon Ton
51 Gipps Street, Collingwood
Le Bon Ton has been a late night staple in Melbourne drinking and dining since it opened where New Orleans’ soul collides with Collingwood grit. They’ve got stacks of deep fried treats to keep the party going until late, from their pit-smoked meats to chicken wings, you’ll sure to find something to hit the spot. And after you’re done head back to the bar for a whisky-heavy cocktail (try the Vieux Carré) in their taxidermy-lined den.
Stalactites
177 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Image: Stalactites | Visit Victoria
This 24-hour Greek stalwart (open since 1978) is where nightshift workers, post-club packs, and jet-lagged travelers unite over flaming saganaki, garlicky lamb gyros, and honey-drenched loukoumades. The gluten-free moussaka (yes, really) and crispy calamari prove it’s not just about the novelty of all-night hours—it’s about legacy. And speaking of legacy, we've also caught up with the restaurant group's CEO Nicole Konstandakopoulos about what it's like to run such a behemoth.
Sal’s Pizza
Multiple Locations
Born in NYC, adopted by Melbourne, Sal’s foldable slices cut from an 18-inch pie (until 1am weekends) are the holy grail of late-night carbs. The pepperoni (cupped and caramelized) and no-frills counters attract chefs, drunks, and Uber drivers in equal measure. At $10 for two slices, it’s a democratic feast—best eaten leaning against a wall, grease dripping down your wrists with a touch of chilli flakes sprinkled on top, just to wake you up for catching the tram.
Leonard’s House of Love
3 Wilson Street, South Yarra
A 1970s log cabin tucked behind Chapel Street, Leonard’s serves charcoal chicken (glazed in sticky, smoky BBQ sauce) and poutine-loaded fries until 1am. The 100-deep bourbon list and crackling fireplace make it South Yarra’s coziest late-night hideout. Also, don’t forget you can play Buck Hunter until your heart’s content (it’s free—and who says nothing in life is free).
Dragon Hot Pot
264 Russell Street, Melbourne
Chinatown’s fiery late-night beacon (open till 2.30am) is where spice addicts DIY their numbing Sichuan broths with wagyu slices, quail eggs, and hand-pulled noodles. The Dragon-level heat (a chilli-oil abyss) is not for the faint-hearted and hot tip, if you have any dietaries, this isn’t the place for you as staff will kindly tell you when you pop in. More bangin’ hot pots over this way.
Pizza Pizza Pizza
20 Meyers Place, Melbourne
This kitschy pizza hatch (open till 1am weekends) feels like eating in a ‘70s disco basement—neon lights, retro booths, and zero pretence. The truffle-oil-drizzled slices and controversial ham-pineapple are best consumed after midnight, ideally with a side of bad decisions. Greasy, glorious, and unapologetically Melbourne.
Contributors: Melinda MacFadyen
Main Image Credit: The Walrus | Supplied
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