In Good Taste: Best Restaurant Interior Design in Melbourne

It’s no secret that we’re a generation of Insta-addicts – we love scoping out new cafés, restaurants and bars based purely on the optics they deliver to our feed.

Whether it’s stylised dishes, beautiful interiors or stunning skyline views, any venue worth its weight knows that offering a feast for the lens is mandatory. Here’s our pick of venues with the best restaurant interior design in Melbourne - get the camera ready.

Poodle Bar & Bistro

A double-storey haunt filled to the brim with style and cosy nooks, Poodle Bar & Bistro is filled with great food, top-notch drinks and divine looks.

It's an art deco dreamscape, with moody dark wood panelling, cosy leather banquettes, checkered floors and glamorous appeal that's bound to impress your very best dinner guests. Poodle's fresh take on Euro bistro food and perennial good times atmosphere will make it hard to leave.

81-83 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

Rocco's Bologna Discoteca 

A new old-world trattoria of designer dreams, Rocco's Bologna Discoteca is like Nonna's house decked out in a modern mid-century fit that's as fun as it gets.

The attention to detail and level of nostalgia ensures you'll want to visit the Rocco's party time and time again, to share a glass of vino and a bowl of pasta while you take in the colours and happy atmosphere.

It's refreshingly unserious - and that's what makes this beautiful Italian restaurant one of Melbourne's most Instagrammable venues. 

15 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 

Untitled 

No name required, this neighbourhood institution in Richmond is Flack Studio designed - and feels like a place you could settle in for hours. Untitled is truly an artistic endeavour, sitting naturally at a crossroads between art, design and food.

Curves and organic forms create a fluidity to the space, while noble materials and a European sensibility add gravitas and sophistication to proceedings. Confident, textural and vibrant, it's one of the most beautiful restaurants in Melbourne to book a seat at. 

236 Swan Street, Cremorne 

Firebird 

Firebird is bold yet approachable, evocative in celebrating the theatre of Vietnamese BBQ while adding some retro elements and pop art throwbacks.

It's an eclectic mix of finishes, textures, patterns and colours that create a warm and inviting atmosphere, all burnished tiles and a coloured glass canopy, brickwork dividers, pendant lights and projections. It's a captivating restaurant set to overload all your senses, in the best way!

223 High Street, Prahran

Sebastian 

Want to visit the sunny shores of San Sebastian? Sebastian Beach Bar has a gorgeously revamped outdoor deck, and it's the ideal location to soak up the sun and snap for socials.

During the warmer months, DJs often play sunset sessions; keep up the Spanish holiday vibe with outdoor tables, sangria, croquetas, calamari and Basque cheesecakes, of course. 

26 Esplanade, Williamstown Beach 

Luci

The Hilton is home to Luci, a delectable dining destination that is just begging to be snapped. A nod to Melbourne’s proud, Italian-influenced dining heritage, Luci’s refined brand of old-world elegance is as photogenic as it gets - think crisp white linens, plush velvet seating and a striking wooden staircase that will shine on your feed. 

18 Little Queen Street, Melbourne 

Pinchy’s

After a bunch of successful pop-ups, the lobster roll-hawking Pinchy’s found a permanent home in Bourke Street’s Mid City Arcade. The awe-inspiring space is awash in neon and pink, with velvet-clad booths and disco ball-like lights, while two separate bars beckon - one serves cocktails and craft brews, and the other is devoted to bubbly be it Champagne, prosecco or local sparkling.

Level 1/200 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Entrecote 

French romance is alive and well in Melbourne within this dreamboat venue. This aesthetically pleasing Entrecote is made for all-day dining, be it in their provincial garden-inspired courtyard, relaxed brasserie or lavish main dining room.

Kick off proceedings in style with an ice-cold martini or champagne and caviar bumps, before moving onto their menu of fine French classics, all while being captivated by the quixotic scenes around you. 

142-144 Greville Street, Prahran 

Hopper Joint

From the creative dream team of restaurateur Jason Jones and interior designer Braham Perera (who together own French favourite, Entrecote, just across the street), it's all in the name at this lively, bustling, and oh so beautiful new restaurant. Hoppers take centre stage alongside traditional snacks like freshly shucked oysters, pan rolls (Sri Lanka's answer to the Chiko roll), and spanner crab paddu. 

Perera's luxe and thoughtful interiors encourage diners to embrace the tactile experience of eating with their hands, fostering a communal atmosphere with low-lying fans, greenery, and personal touches that evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia.

It's a bold statement of cultural pride and an invitation for one and all to partake in the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan life through its flavours, sounds, and stories. All paired perfectly with Pimm's jugs aplenty and a lush array of refreshing cocktails, this is truly the dining experience on everyone's lips right now.

It's a sparkling new jewel on Greville Street's crown - and you need to pay it a visit ASAP.

Sitchu Tip: We recommend going at sunset hour, when the sun dapples across the golden and brown hues of the dining room. 

157 Greville Street, Prahran

Via Porta

Part eatery, part wine bar, part deli and provedore, Via Porta is very much a family affair. While going into business with siblings is not always the easiest, when you have two chefs, an experienced host and an interior designer on the team - the outcome is inspired interiors and a killer menu.

It's not every day a humble deli makes it into a design publication, but with such meticulous attention to detail and refined finishes, it's easy to see why this one did. 

677 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert 

The Kettle Black

Few cafes can lay claim to being featured in Vogue Living, but The Kettle Black can. The space is a designer’s dream – sophisticated, light-filled and warm, soft oak furniture is contrasted with brass accents and a stunning marble bar.

Their famed ricotta hotcake, scattered with a rainbow of berries, petals, seeds and nuts, is one of Melbourne’s most Instagrammed dishes.

50 Albert Road, South Melbourne

Di Stasio Citta 

If there’s anyone that knows how to take style to the next level, it’s the Italians. Di Stasio’s no-expense-spared CBD outpost offers not only impeccable food but a big-hitting wine list, personality-driven service and high art meets brutalist décor.

Twirl your fork around slippery prawn linguine and pillowy four cheese gnocchi, and before you know it you’ll be saying “Why not, let’s go for a whole bottle”. Proprio bello!

45 Spring Street, Melbourne

Hope St Radio

At Hope St Radio, you can enjoy a view of the leafy green courtyard while dining on pasta and vinos. It's a welcoming retreat and a celebration of good food and great music with charming retro vibes to match.

The generous, light-filled space has been beautifully designed by Peter Frederick Cole design services. The colour palette is filled with warm browns and plays with the existing structure of the space. There's a refreshing, whimsical charm too, thanks to the series of bespoke, almost crayon-like murals by local Melbourne artist Alice McIntosh that adorn the walls.

Shouting mod-retro in all the right places, there's a reason why Hope St is such a popular destination.

35 Johnston Street, Collingwood 

Higher Ground

With three levels of dining space, 15-metre high ceilings, and a one-of-a-kind location in the CBD, Higher Ground remains at the top for best restaurant interior design in Melbourne.

The former power station balances rich, tactile finishes of terrazzo, steel, stone and timber with touches of greenery, creating a light-filled space that is as warm as it is grand.

Inspired by New York's all-day dining spots, the award-winning menu is as impressive as the fit-out. 

650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Lune Croissanterie

Lune has over 300,000 followers, and it’s easy to see why. Their croissants and cruffins are delicious works of art, with posts showing off glossy shells, mesmerising layers and creative garnishes.

Plus, given they’re one of the hottest foodie tickets in town, it’s a case of “if you didn’t ‘gram it, did you even get one”? Their stores is equally as mesmerising, with moody, industrial vibes aplenty. 

Fitzroy, Melbourne & Armadale

The Everleigh

The Everleigh deals in picture perfection, from the elegant cocktails to the lush, inviting interior. Every corner has photo potential – there’s the long marble bar, the vintage piano, a glittering backlit liquor cabinet, chandeliers and even curious taxidermy that’ll take your feed to a bygone era.

150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Grab a coffee or a bite and get your Insta feed thriving with our line-up of the best restaurant interior design venues in Melbourne. Looking for other cool places to explore? Round up the crew for a boozy brunch, or explore these CBD cafes!