Chancery Lane

Overview

Opened by renowned chef Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda, Pastore and Longrain), Chancery Lane resides in the historic Normanby Chambers site at 430 Collins Street. The space is kitted out with moodily lit dining zones, curved banquettes and arched windows framed in dapper black steel, while the Euro-accented bistro serves up fare that's at once timeless and unafraid of modern technique.

The expansive seafood selection features a range of caviar served by the gram or the tin, alongside bites like prawn cocktails with apple and cantaloupe. A rich chicken liver parfait with pineapple on brioche makes for a decadent snack, as does the king dory with Cafe de Paris — surely a cult favourite in the making.

Deeper in, you might find yourself tucking into a local snapper with turnip and sauce bois boudran or a Westholme wagyu flank. And while the cheese selection features an impressive, global lineup, prepare to be more than little swayed by lush desserts like the lemon and rum baba.

A grand, globe-trotting wine cellar rounds out the fun at Melbourne's Chancery Lane, including a pick of top-shelf wines displayed artfully in a former safe within one of the dining room walls.

Images: Tania Bahr Vollrath

Appears in:

The Best French Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023