Where to Go for a Long Lunch in Melbourne When You Want to a Stretch Out a Summer Day
These warmer months are made for taking extended work breaks and soaking up the afternoon sun on a weekend with mates.
Where to Go for a Long Lunch in Melbourne When You Want to a Stretch Out a Summer Day
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These warmer months are made for taking extended work breaks and soaking up the afternoon sun on a weekend with mates.
It's hard to beat a long lunch on a hot summer's day. This glorious time of year is made for taking extended work breaks and soaking up the weekend's afternoon sun with mates.
But, not all lunch spots were made equally. So, together with Aperol — the brightly hued liquid behind the reigning champ of spritzes, the long-lunch bev of choice — we've compiled this list of Melbourne's top spots to head to when your lunch has the potential to go on and on.
Some of these haunts come with sun-soaked outdoor spaces and others with plush indoor dining rooms (where the aircon is blasting). But, most importantly, each has a bloody good lunch menu and a great selection of summery cocktails — did someone mention a round of spritzes for the table?
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Crown Melbourne’s newest addition, Pétanque Social, has joined the casino’s riverside precinct perched right by the Yarra on the riverwalk. The bar is inspired by the beach clubs of St Tropez. As well as sipping drinks and grabbing a bite to eat (including via picnic boxes or tucking into oysters on weekends), you’ll hang out on day beds and lounge chairs beneath striped pastel blue umbrellas. The whole idea is to make you feel like you’ve been whisked far from home, which is a sensation we could all use this year. And, entertainment-wise, there are live DJs, a big screen playing sports all summer and room for the game that gives the venue its name — so get ready to sit at Pétanque Social and play pétanque.
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Most nights, Daughter in Law is packed — getting a seat ain’t easy. This is the reason why we’re such big fans of heading to this beloved modern Indian restaurant at lunchtime. Hide away from the heat by grabbing a table inside where you can sip on spritzes while sampling modern, flavour-packed Indian dishes. And if you have the time, we highly recommend the chef’s selection banquet. At a leisurely pace, eat and drink your way through a seemingly endless amount of food without being weighed down by the stress of having to decide what to order. It’s an ideal way to stretch out a summer day in the city.
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If you’re on the hunt for a glam lunchtime spot — we’re thinking buzzy daytime party vibes — Left Bank Melbourne is perfect. Dress up a little, find a spot by the river and then start your lengthy meal with a platter of fresh oysters, a bottle of bubbles and an Aperol Spritz. As the day stretches on, you can opt for a series of small and large plates of modern Australian food as well as some classic pizzas and burgers.
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We’re calling it: you’ll struggle to find a Melbourne lunch spot with a better view. This relaxed fine-dining destination is set right on St Kilda Beach, with the option to sit inside at the restaurant (and marvel at the view through floor-to-ceiling windows) or out on the bar’s deck. Wherever you sit, locally sourced seafood is the name of the game, with the restaurant being somewhat more formal than the bar — simply choose the spot that best suits the vibe you’re after and settle in for an indulgent afternoon spent by the sea.
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This epic barbecue joint is made for any never-ending days of dining that you have a hunch will eventually transform into a big night of drinking and eating. Start off in the large 100-seat dining room, feasting on pulled pork, smoky beef brisket, glazed baby back pork ribs and all the sides your barbecue-loving self could dream of — adding blooming onions, buffalo wings and mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes to the order for more greasy goodness. Following your feast, just take a trip upstairs to the rooftop bar, Good Heavens, and get back into it. Our rec? Watch the sunset over the city with an Aperol Spritz in hand before heading elsewhere for a merry night out on the town.
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Johnny di Francesco’s award-winning food empire has expanded to Mornington with a two-level restaurant that serves up renowned pizzas alongside a series of seafood-centric dishes. If you’re looking for a (really) long lunch, start downstairs in the casual wine and snack bar before scaling the stairs to the restaurant — which has its own bar, al fresco terrace and balcony with sea views. Once here, you’re in for all styles of dining and drinking within one stylish, award-winning pizzeria.
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Think of Pepe’s as a glammed-up version of Pellegrini’s — Melbourne’s famous Italian espresso bar and restaurant. Taking its cues from 1930s and 1940s New York City, the lush restaurant marries checkerboard flooring and red leather seating just like Pellegrini’s, but it’s significantly more polished and formal. During the week, suits descend upon the eatery for long business lunches, while weekends see a crowd of Melbourne foodies take over — ordering big plates of pasta, woodfired pizzas and spritzes for days. It’s Italian-American dining at its finest.
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When most people think of Melbourne’s Docklands and South Wharf, they imagine nothing but a concrete jungle by the water. But that’s not fair. The area is home to stacks of culinary and cultural offerings — one of our favourites being The Boatbuilders Yard. Right on the harbour at South Wharf, this local treasure is the place to go if you like your brunch and lunch served with an extraordinary view. It also has a huge drinks list (with Aperol Spritzes available throughout summer), making it just as perfect for after-work beverages as it is for long boozy lunches.
For more ways to elevate your summer with Aperol, head to the website.
Top image: Stokehouse
