Take the stress out of Christmas and let someone else do the cooking for you. Melbourne’s dining scene is world famous, and many restaurants are putting on Christmas Day lunches. With everything from traditional roasts to fancy-schmancy spreads, there’s something for all budgets.
Here are my personal picks for the best places to eat Christmas lunch in Melbourne this year.
My expert tip: Book well in advance as these restaurants tend to fill up quickly during the Christmas season!
If you’re a restaurant with a Christmas Day offering, please reach out to us to be added to this listing.
Where to eat in Melbourne on Christmas Day
Afloat
Celebrate Christmas on the water at Afloat, Melbourne’s floating bar and restaurant on the Yarra, right next to Flinders Street Station. This summer it’s been turned into a Greek Islands beach club called Yamas Greece, so expect gyros, a giant mezze platter, ouzo frozen cola and sangria made with Greek wine.
You can book a table and order à la carte from the regular all-day menu, choose the Premium Banquet menu or book a club package in a riverside cabana or lounge. Tables have a minimum spend of $95 per person ($45 for kids).
There’s a 15% holiday surcharge on all purchases, and bookings have a maximum seating time of 2.5 hours.
Arbory Bar & Eatery
Grab a table by the river and celebrate Christmas at Arbory Bar & Eatery. You can book tables for 1-20 people with a minimum spend of $85 per person on food and beverages from the a la carte menu ($45 for kids under 17).
There’s also banquet option available for groups of 10-40 people. You’ll set the menu for a shared, three-course meal for $60 per person (+15% surcharge).
There is a 15% holiday surcharge for all purchases, and bookings have a maximum seating time of 2.5 hours. All tables are covered by umbrellas – so you’ll be protected no matter what Melbourne’s unpredictable weather brings!
Melbourne River Cruises
Float down the river in style and enjoy an extensive hot and cold buffet. There’s the usual roast meats and veggies, along with salads, fresh prawns and Tasmanian smoked salmon, as well as a selection of desserts.
Oh, and free-flowing drinks over the three-hour dining experience!
The cruise runs from 12pm to 3pm.
Adults: $350 per person
Children: 13-17 years – $195 per person, 2-12 years – $175 per person
See the full menu and book online.
Chancery Lane
Feast on Sydney rock oysters, salmon and striploin at Scott Pickett’s Chancery Lane this Christmas. There’s even a special menu for the little ones. Feeling fancy? You can even add Champagne and caviar bump or half a WA crayfish to your table.
There are two sittings: 11.30am, 2.15pm.
Adults: $220 per person
Kids 12 and under: $65 per person
See the full menu and book a table online.
Hotel Esplanade
The Espy has a few ways to celebrate Christmas in St Kilda.
The Christmas lunch is a modern take on the classic Aussie Christmas feast, served from the signature Christmas menu, with tap beers, house sparkling, wine and soft drinks included. There’s live music from 11am to 8pm too. Lunch is a 2-hour seating and the sitting times depend on where you’re seated:
- Main Bar: 11am or 2.30pm
- Balcony: 11.30am or 3.30pm
- Sunroom: 12pm or 3.30pm
Adults: $205 per person
Children (6-17): $205
Kids (5 & under): Free
For something different, Mya Tiger and the Green Room are serving a festive Cantonese banquet with fresh seafood, honey-glazed char siu pork, roasted duck and jasmine rice. Two hours of selected sparkling, wines, beers and soft drinks are included. Sittings are at 11am and 1.30pm in Mya Tiger, and 12pm and 3.30pm in the Green Room.
Adults: $200 per person
Children (6-17): $200
Kids (5 & under): Free
Prefer to keep it casual? The Public Bar, Basement and outdoor areas are walk-in only, with a limited à la carte menu. When dinner is done, the DJs take over from 8pm.
See the menus and book online.
The Hotel Windsor
Celebrate Christmas in style at The Windsor with a delicious summer feast highlighting the best quality ingredients and a particular focus on Australian seafood. This year’s menu includes Sydney rock and Pacific oysters, scallops from Shark Bay, spanner crab empanada, roast pork with crackling and a selection of desserts – which includes the Windsor chocolate fountain.
Accompanying the delicious food are free-flowing beverages.
Adults: $475
Children: $230
See the full menu and book online.
The Duke of Wellington
Share a 3-course Christmas feast with family and friends at The Duke. The menu looks delectable: roasted prawns, Wagyu beef bresaola, scallops, pancetta-wrapped turkey and two kinds of pudding for dessert.
There’s also a vegan menu available.
Book one of the two sittings: 11am and 2.30pm.
Adults/teenagers: $180 per person
Kids 12 and under: $49 per person
Conservatory
Celebrate Christmas in the elegant surroundings of Conservatory at Crown Melbourne. Christmas lunch includes Conservatory’s famous buffet, with everything from seafood, hot meats, salads, Asian food and soups.
Finish your meal off with egg nog crème brûlée, blueberry coconut pavlova and chocolate peppermint choux bun – and just try to stay away from the cascading chocolate fountain.
Live entertainment will accompany the meal.
Adults: Lunch – $545; Dinner – from $365
Child: Lunch – $272.50; Dinner – from $182.50
See the full buffet menu and book online.
Bistro Gillaume
Indulge in French luxury, with a four-course menu at Bistro Gillaume. Included in the menu are smoked salmon with whipped cod roe and briochue, scallops with Cafe de Paris butter, Wagyu beef and a pistachio and raspberry trifle.
Choose from lunch (11.30am-3.30pm) or dinner (5.30pm-10pm). There’s live entertainment to accompany lunch.
Price: $249 per person or $275 with a Moet & Chandon champagne upgrade
$59.90 for two hours of free flowing house wine
Prices include the public holiday surcharge.
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Read next
Before you go… you might like these other Melbourne blogs:
- The ultimate guide to Christmas in Melbourne
- The best Melbourne Christmas markets
- Melbourne Christmas gift guide: Gift ideas to support local
Best Melbourne resources
- Check out my Melbourne travel guide for everything you need to know about planning a trip to Melbourne
- Look for flights to Melbourne on Skyscanner.
- Book accommodation on Booking.com or Expedia for your Melbourne trip. The Ovolo Laneways Hotel is a good choice in the CBD.
- You won’t really need a car in Melbourne, but if you do want to get out of the city, then rent a car through DiscoverCars.
- Pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet Pocket Melbourne to help plan your trip.
