Best Date Night Restaurants in Essendon

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

Eastern SuburbsInner CityInner City NorthInner City WestInner EastInner South

Neighbourhoods

AbbotsfordAlbert ParkArmadaleBrunswickCarltonCarlton North

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral washroomWheelchair access

251 restaurants available nearby

1. Maven by Morgan

4.6

Exceptional(121)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • Fitzroy

Booked 20 times today

Step into Maven, Fitzroy's lively and stylish dining spot by Morgan Hipworth. Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired dishes designed for sharing, alongside innovative cocktails in a relaxed and buzzing atmosphere. Whether for a casual night out or a special occasion, Maven offers memorable moments over great food and drinks.

A photo of Johnny's Green Room restaurant

2. Johnny's Green Room

4.3

Awesome(94)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Carlton

Booked 24 times today

Situated on the rooftop of the iconic King & Godfree building in the heart of Lygon Street’s Little Italy, Johnny’s Green Room is a Tuscan-inspired terrace with dazzling city skyline views and an enthusiastic appreciation for la dolce vita.Conceived by award-winning designer Dion Hall, Johnny’s evokes the good times of an Italian summer with a semi-retractable roof enabling those summertime vibes to be enjoyed year-round. We have acclaimed chef Karen Martini on board as our Culinary Director, her relaxed menu of Italian-style sharing dishes beautifully complemented by Melbourne bar maestro Matt Bax’s delicious program of Italian-accented cocktails and wine and a rolling roster of the finest DJs in the land.Named after the classic Carlton nightspot that in the 70s and 80s attracted the bohemian and the notorious like moths to a neon-lit flame, Johnny’s has been reimagined for a whole new generation of Carlton habitués.

A photo of The Carlton Wine Room restaurant

3. The Carlton Wine Room

4.8

Exceptional(826)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• European • Carlton

Booked 24 times today

Carlton Wine Room is a neighbourhood restaurant offering a well-executed, fresh, seasonal food menu, and an ever changing, diverse wine list featuring the best of Italy, Australia and the rest of the World. We offer a bar space, an upstairs restaurant dining room and three unique spaces that are can be booked for private dining perfect for special events.RESERVATIONS: are for a two hour sitting. We do not accept bookings for drinks and snacks, however we accept walk-ins for this if space permits. A surcharge of up to 1.2% applies to credit card transactions. A surcharge of 10% applies on Sundays and 15% on Public Holidays. OUTSIDE SEATING: please note this is subject to the weather and we may not be able to move your reservation inside in the case of bad weather. CANCELLATION: A $50 per person no show fee is charged for failing to attend your reservation. Contact us on 9347 2626 to make changes or cancel your reservation.

4. Dexter

4.8

Exceptional(210)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Barbecue • Preston

Booked 14 times today

DEXTER is a no rules approach to American BBQ brought to you by Adam Goldblatt, Sam and Tom Peasnell. Our meatery features the best Australian produce which is treated the right way. Chefs Tom (Pitt Cue Co, London) and Adam (Homeslice, London) pay homage to the low and slow traditions of American BBQ utilising smoking, chargrill techniques and pair this with flavours from Mexico, China, France and alike. The philosophy is a meat first approach, where a dish is formulated from the unique characteristics of the meat (or vegetable) for a truly unique meat experience. Think salted caramel ribs, hot meat donuts and dry aged Ribeye's.

A photo of Leonardo's Pizza Palace restaurant

5. Leonardo's Pizza Palace

4.8

Exceptional(86)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Pizzeria • Carlton

Booked 26 times today

We are a neighbourhood-style American-Italian restaurant situated in the leafy backstreets of Carlton. Since 2018, we specialise in offering quality food, friendly service and natural wine.

6. TOTE Bar & Dining

4.6

Exceptional(241)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Australian • Moonee Ponds

Booked 2 times today

A contemporary bar and restaurant, serving modern-Australian dishes with seasonal eating in mind.Channelling the timeless allure of 1930's design, the interior boasts rich oak panelling, emerald hues, decadent leather and bronze finishes. The space offers three intimate dining areas, known as The Northern Terrace, The Dining Room and The Cellar - our Private Dining Room. The main feature of TOTE is casual dining with premium quality food from well sourced high quality and sustainable produce.It features a contemporary offering from coffee, craft beer and creative cocktails to carefully curated local & imported wines and spirits.The bar itself is modelled to the development’s quintessential roots – the racecourse – and is aptly shaped in an oval form to mirror it.

7. Bistra

4.9

Exceptional(112)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Australian • Carlton

Booked 15 times today

Bistra is an Australian bistro serving quality food and wine; our fare draws its influence predominantly from British, French and Italian cooking and technique, and yet it is quintessentially Australian. You can expect generous, memorable plates championing seasonal ingredients and an extensive list of wines.

8. North&COMMON

4.4

Awesome(310)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Modern Australian • Coburg

Booked 7 times today

North & Common is the perfect spot for a date night. With its modern Australian cuisine, it's praised for its unique and flavorful dishes. The varied and deep wine selection adds to the romantic ambiance. Reviewers consistently note it as perfect for special occasions, with one couple even using it as a surprise for a birthday. The refined yet approachable atmosphere provides the perfect blend of sophistication and comfort.

9. Yeonga Korean BBQ

4.9

Exceptional(616)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • North Melbourne

Booked 40 times today

Yeonga uses never been frozen fresh meat boasting highest quality.(However beef brisket and ox tongue are slightly frozen for slicing)Yeonga uses 100% genuine charcoal for extra juiciness of meats. Yeonga can cater any kind of functions with spacious 150 seats and free car park is located in front of restaurant for your convenience.(Any Function is available) In Korean, Yeonga means “Smoke House”. The colored roof in the logo represents the tiles (Giwa) commonly used in the construction of traditional Korean houses.The interior of this restaurant is built on the model of ‘Hanok’ which is the term used to describe houses built using traditional Korean architecture. Korean architecture lends consideration to the positioning of the house in relation to its surroundings, with thought given to the land and seasons. The structure of hanok is used tiled roofs (giwa) that not only enhanced its functional efficiency, but also possessed great artistic value.

A photo of Convoy Moonee Ponds restaurant

10. Convoy Moonee Ponds

4.8

Exceptional(3)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Café • Moonee Ponds

**We’re currently not accepting bookings for the months of December and January, however we are open for walk ins! Looking forward to seeing you soon.**Convoy Moonee Ponds is a vibrant and welcoming café in the heart of Moonee Ponds, known for its exceptional coffee and thoughtfully crafted dishes. Perfect for early mornings and relaxed afternoons, Convoy serves a menu that celebrates fresh, local produce, offering everything from hearty breakfast staples to innovative lunch creations. Signature dishes include their perfectly poached eggs with house-made hollandaise and unique, seasonal specials that keep locals coming back.The warm and stylish interior makes Convoy a standout for casual catch-ups or focused work sessions, complete with a community-driven atmosphere and outstanding customer service. Whether you're grabbing a coffee to go or indulging in a leisurely brunch, Convoy Moonee Ponds is a must-visit destination for food and coffee lovers alike.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

M
Mia
Melbourne •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
As soon as we got to the door the service started absolutely fantastic!! The atmosphere & vibe was unreal and amazing!! The food and wine was delicious, I could drool… The service was amazing , everything was done well and fast. Will definetly be coming back here !
More info
Leonardo's Pizza PalacePrice: Expensive• Pizzeria• Carlton
•
4.8
B
BillVIP
London •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
hands down my favourite restaurant in Melbourne. excellent service - warm and friendly. the food is superb from start to finish including the desserts (so often the weak spot of Melbourne restaurants). a good number of options and cooked beautifully. the wine list is off the charts. so many great bottles to choose from. could not recommend highly enough
More info
BistraPrice: Expensive• Australian• Carlton
•
4.9
T
Tane
Melbourne •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
The servers were attentive. And made some good recommendations when we asked. The pork was a fantastic recommendation, easily the best I've eaten in a restaurant. Nice night out
More info
North&COMMONPrice: Expensive• Modern Australian• Coburg
•
4.4
A
Adele
Melbourne •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Wonderful place to eat and dine with friends. The long lunch was amazing, and all the dishes were delicious. Our staff member who was serving our table was lovely, accomodating and so friendly. Would highly recommend to try!
More info
Maven by MorganPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• Fitzroy
•
4.6
B
Biio
Sydney •1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Hannah and Travis were super helpful throughout the night. Food was off the charts.
More info
The Carlton Wine RoomPrice: Expensive• European• Carlton
•
4.8

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