Image credit: Gemini. Venues listed in no particular order.
Melbourne’s dining scene has romance down to an art.
From moody underground speakeasies to stunning heritage spaces that, these six Now Book It spots deliver everything you need to turn dinner into a memorable date.
1. Platform 28
Housed in a former railway goods shed at Docklands, Platform 28 brings together history and modern Australian dining in a way that feels both grand and welcoming.
This heritage-listed venue scales across two levels with exposed brickwork, warm lighting and a rustic charm that makes even a Tuesday night feel like an occasion. The sprawling space might surprise you with its intimacy—find the right corner, and suddenly it’s just the two of you.
The scotch fillet steak is a standout, chargrilled to perfection and best served with the creamy peppercorn sauce. The seafood chowder is generous enough to share, while the salmon fillet salad keeps things fresh and light. Pair your meal with a bottle from their impressive wine selection, settle into the cosy ambience, and let the evening unfold.
Location: 82 Village Street, Docklands
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12 – 10pm
2. Gemini
Tucked into a 135-year-old building on Sydney Road in Coburg, Gemini feels like a secret worth sharing. This neighbourhood wine bar marries heritage architecture with European-inspired finesse, creating a warm, intimate space that invites you to linger over every course.
The open kitchen adds a touch of theatre, while the menu celebrates seasonal produce with house-made touches at every turn. The buttermilk ricotta is a creamy dream, while the Skull Island prawns on toast is indulgence.
For the avid, the chef’s menu is a journey through Chef Adi’s best work, showcasing impeccable flavour and technique through six courses. The wine list is Victorian-leaning with some delightful pet nats thrown in for good measure, and the cocktails are reasonably priced and expertly crafted.
Location: 158 Sydney Road, Coburg
Hours: Monday 8am – 2pm; Tuesday 8am – 12pm, Wednesday & Thursday 8am – 10pm,
Friday & Saturday 8am – 11pm, and Sunday 9am – 5pm
3. Juni
This bold Southeast Asian restaurant in Melbourne’s theatre district wraps you in moody, neon-lit glamour. Rich reds, pinks and greens create a lush, warm atmosphere, while the open kitchen keeps the energy alive.
Chef Michael Lambie’s menu is designed for sharing, which means more chances to lean in and steal a taste from each other’s plates. The seared tuna tataki with ginger and wasabi dressing is delicate and vibrant, while the dry-aged Chinese duck with cucumber, pickled daikon and spicy hoisin is an absolute showstopper. Don’t skip the half-shell scallops with spicy tom yum brown butter—they’re rich, savoury and utterly addictive.
The cocktail menu riffs on Southeast Asian desserts, making for sweet, playful endings to the perfect dinner date.
Location: 136 Exhibition Street, Melbourne CBD
Hours: Daily 12pm – 12am; kitchen closes at 9:30pm
4. Marbl Steakhouse
Sometimes romance is as simple as a perfectly cooked steak, dim lighting and someone across the table who makes you smile.
Marbl Steakhouse in Port Melbourne nails that brief with cosy, intimate interiors that feel bigger on the inside than they look from the street. The atmosphere strikes a balance between casual comfort and date-night elegance, with warm lighting and comfortable seating that makes you want to settle in for hours.
Whether you go for the ribeye, or the fillet, steak here is juicy, flavourful and cooked exactly how you want it, while the eye fillet is so tender it practically melts. The peppercorn sauce is rich and creamy with just the right sharpness, and the French fries are crispy, fluffy perfection. Start with the sardines and duck pâté on toasted bread—it’s simple but punchy, setting the tone for a meal that prioritises quality and flavour above all else.
Location: 79 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 6 – 9:30pm; Sunday 6 – 9pm
5. Chiara Wine Bar
Step into Chiara Wine Bar and you’re transported to somewhere far more refined than the Docklands bustle suggests. This intimate European-inspired venue wraps you in soft woods, hazy copper tones and white marble elegance. It’s dressed up without being stuffy, where aperitivo hour flows seamlessly into a long, luxurious dinner.
The menu celebrates traditional European flavours with a modern Australian edge. House-made pastas steal the show—think conchiglie, casarecce and rigatoni all made fresh daily. The half shell scallop with cauliflower, caper, golden raisin and beurre noisette is a delight and comes in twos for the perfect date night portion. The wine list leans Italian with a few local heroes, and the aperitivo-style cocktails are worth lingering over.
Location: 705a Collins Street, Docklands
Hours: Monday & Tuesday 12 – 3pm;
Wednesday to Friday 12 – 3pm, 4 – 9pm
6. Castlerose
There’s something impossibly romantic about descending a spiral staircase behind a velvet curtain to find a moody, candlelit world waiting below.
We’re talking about Castlerose, hidden beneath South Melbourne’s Clementine cafe—a 1940s art deco-inspired supper club where dark timber, marble and Italian terrazzo create an atmosphere of old-world luxury. With just 40 seats across intimate leather banquettes, dining here will feel like you’re in on a delicious secret.
The menu is inspired by 20th-century English dining with playful, theatrical touches. The confit duck cigars arrive in a wooden cigar box with an ashtray of olive dust, while the duck rillettes come sealed in a tin, ready to be peeled open and spread on toasted baguette with fig jam and cornichons. The roast chicken with black garlic and lemon gravy is fall-off-the-bone tender, and the lobster rolls on toasted milk buns are pure indulgence. Don’t miss the roaming vintage cheese trolley—it’s an event in itself.
Location: 67 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 4pm – late
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