The 23 Best Places for Late-Night Eats in Melbourne
Here’s where to find minimally regrettable (and actually good) nosh that you can get on the other side of midnight.
The 23 Best Places for Late-Night Eats in Melbourne
Here’s where to find minimally regrettable (and actually good) nosh that you can get on the other side of midnight.
Your brain knows it as well as your stomach: food tastes a certain way after midnight. And that way is generally very good. Something happens to your tastebuds (and appreciation for food) after a night out. One minute, you're happily wandering up Swanston Street on your way to get a tram home, and the next, you're hit with a craving for noodles or dumplings. Or you're suddenly incapacitated in the middle of Lygon Street with a need for pizza or pasta.
Instead of doing a futile (and probably ineffective) search through Google Maps when you're after the best Melbourne restaurants and bars for late-night eats, bookmark this page to come back to when hunger strikes. We see you and your late-night food cravings — and give you the best late-night eats in Melbourne.
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The Best Bars in Melbourne
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The Best Cheap Eats in Melbourne
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The team behind The Everleigh and Heartbreaker has also created this chic but still laidback French underground bar and restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD. At Bar Margaux, the fun kicks on till midnight Monday through Wednesday, 1am Thursday and Friday and 3am on Saturdays (a rarity with venues of this sort in the CBD), with a substantial supper menu of classic French fare on offer right through to close.
So, if your late-night munchies tend to sway closer to caviar than kebabs, this is the place to go. Order some champagne or a cocktail and pair it all with oysters, steak frites or an excellent hamburger. This is one for those feeling fancy after midnight.
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If you’ve ever fancied a freshly cut and grilled steak at midnight on a Tuesday, Butchers Diner is one to add to your late-night list. The Bourke Street haunt once served up a full menu 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it is now only open until 1am, Tuesday–Saturday. Despite it closing a lot earlier (or simply, at all), it is still one of our favourite late-night restaurants in the CBD.
The menu is made up of diner classics heavy on the meat, both because of the diner’s initial purpose and the fact that both chefs are also butchers — take, for example, the long list of burgers, the daily steak or its house-made blood sausage and devilled egg roll.
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As one of Melbourne’s top hot pots, Dragon Hot Pot has saved many a Melburnian after a big night out — it’s serving folks up until 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 1.30am every other night.
There are over 100 ingredients to choose from at this DIY malatang chain, which allows diners to create endless combinations of personalised late-night eats. The experience involves getting a bowl, picking your own ingredients from the open fridge, and weighing your choices before choosing a broth and spice level. These legends have even created a vegan version of their original malatang soup base so nobody has to miss out.
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What Shujinko might be lacking in floor space it more than makes up for with its oversized bowls of ramen. There’s a fair chance you may be waiting for a table for a little while no matter what time you go, but believe us when we tell you it’ll be worth it.
Pick of the bunch is the original shujinko ramen with chargrilled pork belly, bok choy and half an egg bobbing away in there — you’ll be slurping to the very bottom of that big bowl. If you’re feeling brave spice-wise, try the karakuchi ramen. It’s got two chillies next to it on the menu, which may be what you need to wake you up late at night. Last orders are taken at 10.30pm on Flinders Street, and until 12.30am on Elizabeth Street, every day of the week.
Image: Visit Victoria.
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This late-night offering from the Grossi family (of Grossi Florentino fame) is another solid option when it comes to both late-night dining and drinking in Melbourne.
You might have snuck in for a nightcap on your way home, but peruse the menu and you’ll forget about leaving because damn it, you have a lot of delicious food options to get through first. You can pair your bev with salumi boards and generous bowls of pasta (including Grossi’s beloved midnight spaghetti), as well as fun bites like bolognese jaffles and crumpets topped with whipped baccala.
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This CBD taqueria should be on your list for a number of reasons. First, it’s affordable, with tacos coming in at two for $13–16. Second, it will meet all dietary requirements as the whole menu is gluten-free and there are heaps of vegan options. Third, it’s home to one of Melborune’s best bottomless brunches. And fourth — and more importantly for our purposes — its open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until midnight every other night of the week.
The black bean, mushroom and sweet potato tacos all come with vegan cream, while the chorizo, fish and birria options will satiate meat eaters. You can also opt to add on chilaquiles (chicken or vegan), mole-covered pumpkin, prawn tostadas or spicy fried potatoes — and we recommend that you do.
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Moon Dog’s Footscray site is a new addition to the city, but it is already one of Melbourne’s best and most fun spots to eat and drink until late. If the weather is behaving, head to the cactus-studded rooftop for drinks and eats paired with city views.
Otherwise, book a table on one of the other two floors to sample Tex-Mex dishes, barrels of cocktails (literally) and a heap of wild-west fun. You shouldn’t leave without trying the bucking bull in the ground-floor salon bar — just make sure you do it before you eat and drink too much.
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16
You don’t have to overthink late-night eats in Melbourne. A lot of the time, a great kebab or souvlaki will do the trick, and is easy on the wallet to boot. Among all the best souvlaki joints in Melbourne, the longstanding Lamb on Chapel remains one of our favourites.
Instead of being heated by electric grills, the giant gyros of lamb and chicken are cooked over coals, elevating the whole experience. Either get a classic souvlaki or opt for the beloved halal snack pack with chips. Small bites, including dolmades, spicy grilled sausages, grilled calamari and traditional Greek dips are also available for those needing late-night food on Chapel Street — it’s open until 2am on Friday and 4am on Saturday.
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Le Bon Ton is a barbecue restaurant, saloon and cocktail bar, and an all-around great place for late nights out — it’s rowdy, has heaps of nooks and crannies, and it’s one of the best Melbourne restaurants for group bookings.
The restaurant is also open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, so even without a booking, you can rock up with your crew for a proper feast in the early hours. We love the late-night cheeseburger — it’s one of our picks of the best burgers in Melbourne — while the house-made key lime pie with scorched meringue and a zingy lime sherbert will send you off to bed in the best way possible.
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Brunswick East has been historically blessed with late-night joints, and there was much sadness when institution Café Romantica closed in 2017 after 30 years of serving pizzas basically 24/7. Big shoes to fill. But the new owners have redone the interior, crafted an exceptional menu and drinks list, and filled the new space with bar seating, booths and a pool table.
And even though the new incarnation isn’t serving up dishes 24/7, you can still score pizza, pasta and bar snacks until late on weekends. You’ll find sophisticated snacks like oysters and burrata and, in a nod to the venue’s history, the classic Pizza Romantica — but somewhat elevated a little with a Napoli crust.
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Stalactites is a late-night Melbourne institution that’s been owned and operated by the same Greek family since 1978. It’s the number one place to head to in the CBD when you’re after a 2am gyros, but it is a whole lot more than its gyros. After all, this is all-round one of Melbourne’s best Greek restaurants.
Its mixed grilled meat platters (and those from the spit) are as big as they are delicious, the moussaka will rival your yiayia’s and the traditional Greek soups are perfect for cold winter nights. It’s a favourite Melbourne CBD restaurant for so many people — especially gluten-free folks who can order off Stalactite’s extensive coeliac-friendly menu.
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After a late-night spot for dancing and dining southside? Duck into Chapel Street stalwart Lucky Coq for a cheap and cheerful pizza. With its dim lighting, electronic tunes and kitsch furniture, it’s been a go-to venue to stop and recharge the batteries by hoeing into some greasy tucker. And with $5 pizza — with options ranging from classics like margherita and capricciosa to less orthodox Caesar salad- or banh mi-inspired pies — available all day and night from Wednesday through to Sunday, you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
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Alasya sits in the heart of Sydney Road Brunswick, as it has been since the 1978. Owned and operated still by the same family, it does good, solid Turkish food until the early morning. The menu reduces late night though, so you might be out of luck for dips or salads, but if it’s a plate of meat you’re dreaming of, Alasya’s got you.
There’s no reinventing the wheel here, just classics done well – you can take your pick from the likes of chicken doner, a lamb sis kebab, or let your go all out with a mixed meat situation. While the dine-in finishes up at 10pm, you can still get takeaway till 1.30am, seven days a week.
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Heartbreaker knows what it’s good for — recreating a red-neon hued, New York-style late-night dive bar, complete with a jukebox and booths. Pull up at the bar with a pick from the impressive beer menu, put a coin in the juke and play a Bruce Springsteen song and talk about love and life with your bartender.
They’ll probably distract you from your woes by suggesting pizza — which you should take them up on — by way of resident Connie’s Pizza, which churns out cheesy goodness in the form of New York-style pizza every eve until late. Heal your heart with an $8 slice, or grab a full 18-inch pie ($39) if you really need to eat your feelings. Stop in after midnight to take advantage of the $15 slice and pint deal, available every night of the week.
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If you’re in need of a Cantonese feast, look no further than Supper Inn — true to its name, it’s got a late-night inn feeling about it and is invariably busy and buzzy right up until its 2.30am closing time.
BYO bottle of grog and feast on Cantonese classics from its extensive menu like wok-fried noodles, claypot rice or signature crispy roast pork. Also good is the rice congee — basically a bowl of tastier porridge for you to say good morning to the world with, before you go straight to bed.
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There are strong Parisian vibes at Bar Ampere, with alcoves overlooking the narrow alleyway it calls home as well as many a French aperitif on the menu. Bring a little magic back into the dark depths of your night with Gothic touches and fairy lights, and snack on French-themed bites until 3am, seven days a week.
Steak tartare, chicken liver parfait, raclette and croquettes all feature on the menu here, and there’s a whole cheese menu for those who wish to partake (because it’s never too late for cheese). For times of greater hunger, try one of the hefty burgers. For even more daring times, make a selection from the excellent absinthe menu.
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Best known for its viral Barbie dolls draped in slices of wagyu beef, this Chinatown hot pot venue is one a chain that totals more than 500 stores internationally. Unlike most hot pot joints though, the menu allows guests to choose their own single-serve individual pots instead of the usual shared soup in the centre of the table. And you can savour these bad boys right until they kick you out at midnight.
Personalised service is at the forefront of the Spice World business model, so you can expect bibs and complimentary hair ties to be offered as you tuck into a range of premium hot pot ingredients, cooked to your exact specifications — you’re in charge of cooking, after all.
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Yet another hit from legendary chef Andrew McConnell (Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Marion) Gimlet is a suave Flinders Lane restaurant and cocktail bar located in the 1920s-built Cavendish House. A dapper fitout by Acme features soaring ceilings, geometric tiles and honeycomb chandeliers, while the food and drink offering is that of a very chic French bistro.
The menu boasts lots of European influence deftly mixing old-world elements with a touch of modern flair. But the late-night supper menu is a little simpler. Expect oysters, caviar, a cult-favourite cheeseburger or a strip steak from 10pm until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Image: Sharyn Cairns
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You’d be forgiven for thinking that Chapel Street was a rather long way away while spending some time in Leonard’s House of Love. Its vibe is log cabin-meets-house party, and even though there’s a fair serving of timber in the decor, it’s more saloon than sauna, so plonk yourself down at a table (inside or out in the courtyard) and peruse the drinks list.
And while each part of the bar has its own charm, we always head straight to the pool room out back in winter. Here, there’s an open fireplace that heats up the whole space, and is one of the best places to shoot pool in Melbourne. Pair it with a burger, loaded fries and pickleback shots to make a proper night of it — the venue is open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays and till 1am every other night, while the kitchen is open until 11pm.
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There are few bad moods that a big ol’ slice of New York-style pizza won’t fix. So, just imagine what four of them could do. Out of a tiny shopfront in Meyers Place, Pizza Pizza Pizza is slinging a range of hefty 18-inch pies, available as whole pies as well as by the slice.
And at just $5 a pop, these cheesy triangles are a steal. Choose from classics like margherita, pepperoni, mushroom, and ham and pineapple, or opt for a vegan or vegetarian slice. Come Friday and Saturday nights, you can score these pies up until the venue shuts its doors at 1am.
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This two-part venue offers a bit of something for everyone. Located on the second floor of Swanston Street’s Curtin House, The Toff has been a long-time and well-known staple in the life of Melbourne’s midweek party set.
Both sides of the venue — the live music bar Stage Side and restaurant The Carriage — are open Tuesday to Saturday, from 5pm until late. Stage Side hosts a regular lineup of events, including live music, comedy, cabaret and DJs to keep you entertained. The other side is where you can order Thai food from the downstairs Cookie, which you can enjoy in a private train carriage-like booth until the kitchen closes at 11pm.
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Beneath Driver Lane has a tonne of atmosphere, even before you get inside: there’s a velvet rope ushering you in, and a door that opens automatically. That’s a whole lot of fanfare that will make you feel pretty special.
The CBD basement bar pulls its influence from New Orleans — think blues and rum, moody lighting and black and white photos on the walls. There’s a raclette sourdough toastie, which, obviously, would be worth trekking across town for, along with jamon and comte croquettes and dijon chicken wings with spicy aioli — all served until close. Pair it all with some late-night live bands and laissez les bons temps rouler.
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There’s a lot to like about modern Cantonese diner Yum Sing House, tucked away down a quieter part of the city on Sutherland Street. Part-restaurant, part-bar, part-private karaoke venue, this is a late-night dining and party spot that keeps good times rolling until the early hours of the morning — that’s until 5am on Friday and Saturday nights.
To help you experience the whole offering here, the team has created a brilliant set menu that includes one hour of karaoke on Wednesday and Thursday nights. For $60, you get three entrees and a main, plus a go at singing along to some of your fave tunes in one of the private rooms with your mates. And if you go on Wednesday (when it is still open until 1am), you can even add on $2 freshly shucked oysters throughout the night. Winner!
Top image: Leonard’s House of Love.
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