Where To Eat, Stay & Play During Melbourne Grand Prix
Southside
Ciao Cielo
115 Bay St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Located in a restored heritage courthouse, Ciao Cielo is a Port Melbourne institution, serving refined Italian cuisine in an elegant yet welcoming setting. The menu features house-made pasta, premium seafood, and wood-fired specialties, paired with a curated selection of Italian and local wines. Whether for a romantic dinner or a celebratory feast, Ciao Cielo offers a true taste of Italy.
Castlerose
67-69 Palmerston Cres, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Nestled underneath the din of the streets at 67 Palmerston Crescent, sits South Melbourne’s new Restaurant and Bar Castlerose. The grandiose, dark yet dignified den is a backdrop of elegance for all occasions. The arrival marks the second venue by Hospitality veteran Glen Bagnara (Hemingway’s Wine Room, Bar Bianco) and developer Fortis, with Clementine, a daytime cafe and diner, being the first.
Website: www.castlerose.com.au
Instagram: @castlerosewinebar
Officina Gastronomica Italiana (OGI)
532-534 Malvern Rd, Prahran, 3181
The beloved Italian restaurant specialises in Italian artisan wines and pasta made “fatta in casa”. With a heated outdoor courtyard, the restaurant terrace is the perfect place to imagine an escape to Italy, sit and sip on one of Claudio’s hand-selected aperitif wines from Emilia-Romagna. Showcasing some of the finest natural winemakers of his region, the curated wine list and vine-wefted space will transport diners to the quaint courtyards and bustling bars of Italy.
Bookings: via OGI
Firebird
223 High St, Windsor VIC 3181
Renowned for its daring Neo-Vietnamese cuisine, which reimagines traditional flavours with a modern twist. Led by Head Chef Tony Nguyen, with a menu by Executive Chef, Scott Lord, Firebird is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of taste and texture, Its menu serves up grill-driven Vietnamese with flavours intensified over charcoal and flames, and its drinks list features smokey spirits and burnt cocktail garnishes. A custom-built chargrill and woodfire oven takes pride of place in the restaurant’s open kitchen, and its 70s-inspired decor tells you Firebird is all about having a good time.
Website / menu: firebirdmelbourne.com.au/menu
Hanoi Hannah
Express Lane, 186 High St, Windsor VIC 3181
Vol. II, 306 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick VIC 3185
The OG Commune venue, Hanoi Hannah quickly becoming a Melbourne favourite, focusing on Vietnamese street eats with staple dishes like poached chicken or tender beef phở, vermicelli salads and a range of rice paper rolls. Hanoi Hannah has since grown to include a sibling restaurant Hanoi Hannah Vol.II in Elsternwick, and is available on Uber Eats and also offers catering.
Website: hanoihannah.com.au
Website: expresslane.hanoihannah.com.au/
Moonhouse
282 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183
Located on the prominent corner of Carlisle Street and Nelson Street, Moonhouse brings exciting Cantonese flavours to Balaclava. The kitchen team explores the intersection of flavours in contemporary ways, as well offering an unlimited yum cha offering on weekends. Perched above the main restaurant at the heritage-listed venue, sits:
Moonhouse Upstairs: A private dining and event space with a private entrance, toilets and a fully equipped bar. Moonhouse offers a curated set menu of its best dishes and can cater to dietary requirements. This space seats up to 28 guests for a sit-down event.
Website / menu: moonhouse.com.au/restaurant
Studio Amaro
168 Chapel Street, Windsor, VIC 3181
Chapel Street’s newest opening, Studio Amaro is a day-to-night Italian-inspired restaurant and basement bar from Commune Group (Firebird, Moonhouse, New Quarter, Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina). The multi-faceted venue, also Commune’s largest to date, champions the forgotten drink of Amaro, boasting an extensive list of the bittersweet liqueur remixed to ignite an Italian affair, served alongside a feast of Italian-style sharing dishes.Offering a menu ofThe menu of snacks, antipasti, pastas, and dishes from the woodfired grill. With a strong music focus, every Thursday to Saturday night, the underground DJ booth vibrates with the rhythmic beats of disco and soul, soundtracked by a rotating lineup of DJs selecting tunes, whilst conversation, laughter and shots will continue to spill well into the night.
Tokyo Tina
66A Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Situated on the vibrant Windsor-end of Chapel Street, Tokyo Tina serves up modern Japanese cuisine in a fun and energetic space. Another venue from the celebrated hospitality group Commune, Tokyo Tina invites guests to enjoy the good times, good vibes, and good food on offer.
Website / menu: tokyotina.com.au/menu
Omnia Bistro & Bar
625 Chapel St, South Yarra
Award-winning Omnia Bistro & Bar is a comfortable and elegant neighbourhood venue, located on the ground floor of Capitol Grand, in the heart of South Yarra. As you step off the bustling street corner, Omnia welcomes you into an impressive light-filled space, centred around a green marble bar, filled with hanging greenery, brass accents and a mirrored roof. Featuring a menu from award-winning Culinary Director Stephen Nairn, Omnia Bistro & Bar offers a beautiful selection of classic European dishes, bringing fine dining precision to bistro favourites. The menu changes seasonally – driven by a desire to support Australian growers, producers and farmers. The menu offering is complemented by an extensive wine list, featuring a selection of the finest drops from Australia and around the world, including an enticing collection of Champagnes. Omnia Bistro & Bar offers an array of versatile spaces for groups both small or large, from intimate, kitchen-side seating to the expansive front bistro area.
Yugen
605 Chapel St, South Yarra
Arriving on the Melbourne dining scene with a bang at the end of 2022, award winning Yugen Dining is located in the heart of South Yarra, on the bustling corner of Chapel Street and Toorak Road. The restaurant’s hidden subterranean location opens up to reveal an exquisite, two-level multi-faceted drinking and dining experience – the space comprises an 85-seat restaurant, sweeping bar, private dining spaces, specialised six-seat Omakase bar, and a VIP dining Golden Orb, suspended high in the air that can accommodate eight diners for a unique experience. Headed by Culinary Director Stephen Nairn, the talented team has created a contemporary Asian menu, blending innovative techniques with traditional flavours to deliver a refined and immersive culinary experience.
CBD
Mill Street Merchants
2 Mill Place, Melbourne VIC 3000Mill Place Merchants is a new speakeasy-style bar in Melbourne’s central business district. Housed in a historic, heritage-listed building dating back to the 1840s, Mill Place Merchants occupies a space that once buzzed with the industry of hat, soap, and candle factories. Tucked away within the timeworn walls of Mill Place, Mill Place Merchants emerges from the pages of history, creating an ambience that is both evocative and eclectic, offering patrons a selection of cocktails and tasty morsels, the perfect spot to enjoy a pre dinner tipple or a post meal nightcap.
Website: www.millplacemerchants.bar
Instagram: @millplacemerchants
The Douglas Club
472 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
The Douglas Club, an Art Deco-inspired cocktail bar nestled within Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, exudes timeless elegance and old-world charm. Designed to transport guests to a bygone era of sophistication, this moody and intimate space is a hidden gem in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. With its plush velvet seating, rich timber accents, and an ambience reminiscent of a 1930s speakeasy, The Douglas Club invites guests to indulge in expertly crafted cocktails, fine spirits, and a curated selection of wines.
Website: thedouglasclub.com.au
Instagram: @thedouglasclub
Hours:
- Tuesday – Saturday: 4 pm – 12 am
- Sunday – Monday: 4 pm – 10 pm
Luci
472 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000Luci is a contemporary Australian restaurant, set inside the grand hall of Melbourne’s historic Equity Chambers building in Melbourne’s CBD. Its Art Deco-styled dining room – designed by award-winning architect Bates Smart – provides a sophisticated backdrop to a contemporary Australian menu with Italian accents. Luci is housed within the Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street Hotel and adjoins sister venue, The Douglas Club, on the ground floor.
Website/menu: https://lucimelbourne.com.au/menu/Hours: 6 pm & 8:30 pm
Bookings via Luci’s website
STAY
The StandardX, Melbourne
62 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
The StandardX, Melbourne opened in Fitzroy in August 2024 and marks the Australian debut for global hotel group, Standard International. The StandardX brand is The Standard Hotels’ younger-sister; an iteration of the hotel which caters for the practical, modern traveller – fully equipped and minimalist but staying true to The Standard’s DNA, known for igniting cultural shifts and providing unforgettable experiences.
The StandardX Melbourne offers 125 guest rooms across eight floors, all with king-sized beds and ensuites. The hotel’s in-house restaurant, BANG, serves Thai-inspired menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner whilst food, beverage and retail products can be purchased at The StandardX, Melbourne’s concept retail store, ‘The Box’.
Google Drive media image gallery link: here.
Website: www.standardx.com/melbourne
Instagram: @thestandardxmelbourne
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street
18 Little Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Taking up residency in the historically significant Equity Chambers building – originally built in 1930 – Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street features 244 stylish guest rooms, including five spacious suites, Luci Melbourne restaurant and The Douglas Club bar, a fully equipped gym, and seven meeting and event spaces. Its central location is well situated for both business and leisure travellers with its proximity to Melbourne’s key business districts and vibrant art, theatre and dining precincts.
Instagram: @HiltonMelbourneLQS
PLAY
Yum Sing House
22 Sutherland Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Yum Sing House is a multifaceted venue that promises a vibrant evening that goes beyond expectation. Tucked within the bustling laneways of Melbourne’s CBD, the ground-level houses a stylish 90-seat restaurant where Chef Aiven Lee seamlessly blends refined Asian cuisine, authentic flavours with contemporary flair. An extensive drinks list features signature cocktails, an array of spirits, including over 60 whiskies, local drops and international wines to match. Upstairs, the beautifully appointed LKF Bar and private karaoke rooms invite guests to continue their night with a kitchen that remains open until 3am.
Hofbräuhaus
18-28 Market Ln, Melbourne, VIC 300
Hofbräuhaus Melbourne has been an iconic institution in Melbourne’s culinary landscape since 1968. It is famous for its authentic German cuisine, imported German premium Bier and live entertainment on the weekend. As the oldest Hofbrauhaus outside Germany, it’s one of the only non-Asian eateries in the heart of Chinatown and showcases how diverse Melbourne city is.
Hours: 12 – 11 pm
Bookings: Here
Image credit: Marcel Aucar