The best restaurants to visit during Melbourne Cup

Positioned just steps from the gates of Flemington Racecourse, this Malaysian institution has been woven into the fabric of the racing festival for as long as anyone can remember. Since opening in 1998, it has built a following of near-cult proportions, drawing diners from across the city who know exactly where to find Melbourne’s most celebrated bowl of laksa. The service operates at a deliberately rapid pace — regulars call it “the King’s efficiency” — keeping tables turning and the crowd satisfied. Order the seafood laksa, the assam laksa or the red duck curry, and build the table out with XO fried rice, fried chicken ribs and roti canai. The menu is built for sharing, the atmosphere is electric, and the food arrives at a pace that would make any jockey envious. Book early; this one fills fast on race day.

At the heart of Farmer’s Daughters’ Wine House lies one unwavering idea: that fine food and wine should always connect diners to the people and places behind them. Tucked off Little Collins Street in a sommelier-led wine bar, bottle shop and private dining room, this Gippsland-forward venue channels the region’s paddocks and produce into every pour and plate. The award-winning produce-first menu keeps things seasonal and shareable: rock oysters with house mignonette, Koonwarra duck croquette with chilli honey mayo, Noojee Alpine trout rillette on sourdough crouton, and a dry-aged bass strait bone-in club steak for something altogether more substantial. The by-the-glass list is guided by a sommelier who takes Victorian wine seriously. For Melbourne Cup 2026, this makes for a polished, relaxed afternoon of eating and drinking done exactly right. Book the private dining room to lock in something more memorable.

Concealed on the first floor of a building above Little Bourke Street, Kiss & Tell is the kind of bar that rewards those who find it. The space leans into moody glamour: velvet-lounge booths, exposed brick walls and intimate lighting that makes every evening feel like an occasion. The concept was born from the founders of Hochi Mama and Straight Outta Saigon, who fused their nightlife and entertainment backgrounds with a passion for Asian-inspired food and craft cocktails. The share-plate menu runs to crab betel leaf bites, duck bao, a pork belly salad with tangy dressing, a standout penang duck curry and steamed barramundi — all designed for sharing at the bar before the night takes its own direction. After the dinner service, the venue shifts into a late-night destination of live music and dancing — precisely what Melbourne Cup 2026 calls for when the race is run. Book ahead; Melbourne knows about this one.

Few settings in Melbourne make a post-race dinner feel as celebratory as the terrace at Waterfront Southgate. Right on the banks of the Yarra River in the Southbank precinct, the restaurant delivers sweeping views of the city skyline alongside a seafood-focused menu. The kitchen holds firmly to a sea-to-plate philosophy, with daily market visits ensuring that oysters, shellfish and the freshest local catches are always in prime condition. Standout dishes include chargrilled WA octopus with taramasalata and smoked paprika, Canadian scallops with skordalia and lemon dressing, and the signature hot seafood platter — a showstopper assembly of king prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, WA lobster mornay, clams and spiced calamari that is made for sharing over a long table. The wine list is extensive, the cocktails well-considered, and the Yarra views appropriately cinematic. For Melbourne Cup 2026, this is one of the city’s most naturally festive settings. Reserve a table by the water well in advance.

Housed on the ground level of the iconic Theatres Building at Arts Centre Melbourne, The Barre is one of the city’s most effortlessly composed spots for a post-race wind-down. The sleek, contemporary space sits at the cultural heart of Southbank, steps from Hamer Hall and the Yarra, blending sophistication with approachability in a setting that suits everything from a considered cocktail to a full shared dinner. The seasonal modern Australian menu is built around local produce — think sharing plates and carefully constructed drinks. A curated selection of classic and signature cocktails, local wines and craft beers keeps the drinks list interesting, while a premium alcohol-free range ensures every guest is well catered for. For a Cup Day that winds down with something refined and unhurried, this is the right table. 

Few pubs in Melbourne carry history the way The Old England Hotel does. Established in 1848 — before Victoria even became a separate colony — this heritage-listed landmark in Heidelberg has been feeding and welcoming locals for generations, building a reputation as one of the state’s most decorated metropolitan hotel bistros. The elegant dining room, dressed with linen-draped tables and regal chairs, creates a warm, old-world atmosphere. After dinner, the charming wine cellar and fireside Chesterfields offer a natural next chapter — a glass of cognac in a room lined with photographs that trace the hotel’s long and colourful history. The menu delivers contemporary gastro-pub fare prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients: generous mains, pub classics elevated by confident cooking, and a wine list that complements without fuss. Outdoor seating and private dining options make it adaptable for groups of all sizes. This is Melbourne Cup 2026 dining at a venue that has been doing it for longer than anyone else on this list. Book a dining room table and make an evening of it.

Prahran’s Mount Erica Hotel is the kind of neighbourhood gastro pub that punches comfortably above its pub-lunch weight. Positioned on High Street, it makes cup day accessible without any of the formality — a strong recommendation for those who want a relaxed, convivial afternoon rather than a ticketed event. The kitchen keeps things direct and seasonal, with crowd-pleasing weekly specials that have built a loyal local following: half a dozen oysters paired with a glass of fizz is the natural opening move, while the rotating Sunday roast — served until it’s gone — makes for a satisfying way to round out a long and eventful Melbourne Cup weekend. A warm, well-run pub where the racing naturally drives the conversation and the afternoon rolls at its own pace. 

Step through Cha Ching’s distinctive palace doors on Flinders Lane and the Melbourne Cup chaos immediately feels like someone else’s problem. This Asian fusion concept restaurant in the CBD is designed entirely around the pleasure of sharing: a sweeping menu of Asian-inspired dishes paired with Asian-spiced drinks and cocktails crafted by Melbourne’s own Sean McMahon. Weekend yum cha brings Peking duck pancakes and a rotating spread of dim sum to the table, while the bottomless package — featuring 90 minutes of unlimited beverages alongside a set menu — makes cup day celebrations feel effortlessly festive. For a Melbourne Cup 2026 group lunch or dinner that goes beyond the predictable, Cha Ching has the room, the cocktails and the energy to keep things moving long after the last race is run. Group bookings are warmly welcome.

Since 1969, Salona has been Richmond’s anchor for Greek dining — a Swan Street institution that has outlasted trends and restaurant waves by doing what it does with conviction. The setting is warm and communal, built around the Greek tradition of sharing food as an expression of care and hospitality. The chef’s banquet — a shared four-course experience designed for groups of eight or more — makes Salona a natural choice for group gatherings where the table wants to eat well and linger. The meze Sunday spread offers diners a full panorama of the kitchen’s capabilities in a single sitting, while the Tuesday brizola night puts a rotating cut off the grill at the centre of the table. With Swan Street buzzing with Melbourne Cup 2026 energy, Salona provides a reliable and characterful landing spot for anyone seeking the kind of robust, fire-grilled Greek cooking. Book the banquet, pull the group together, and let the kitchen do the rest.

There’s an origin story behind Hochi Mama that sets the tone for the whole experience. Named for a fictional Vietnamese grandmother who hosted underground art shows and rap battles for the rejects of the early nineties — always welcoming, always generous — the CBD venue on Little Bourke Street carries that same spirit of bold, boundary-pushing hospitality into every service. The space is vibrant by design: street art on the walls, a buzzing crowd and cocktails that lean into the venue’s cheeky, energetic character. The kitchen focuses on Vietnamese fusion built for sharing: chicken bao, spicy tempura prawns, crispy fried dumplings, whole barramundi and the signature chicken southside curry are perennial favourites. The Feed Me Now banquet, which cycles through small and large plates at excellent value, is a reliable crowd-pleaser for groups. For Melbourne Cup 2026, the private Up to Mama upstairs events space offers a dedicated room for celebrations away from the main floor. 

Some places are hard to explain and easier to experience. Goldy’s! Tavern in Collingwood has built something rare: a local that feels like it belongs to everyone who walks through the door. The sun through the front windows, the orange bar, the sound of laughter and the particular magic of a favourite song arriving at just the right moment — this is a place where community and conviviality are the entire point. As a gastro pub, it delivers on the food and drinks without pretension, making it an approachable Melbourne Cup 2026 destination for groups who want atmosphere without the event-package formality. Local legend Matthew O’Brien described it as the pub where new friendships are forged and long ones are deepened — and that spirit runs through every visit. Whether arriving from the track or settling in for the afternoon on race day, Goldy’s! has the warmth, the character and the energy to make cup day worth remembering. Turn up, find the bar, and let it take care of the rest.

Carlton’s strongest argument for a Mexican Cup Day comes from a bar on Drummond Street that makes every single tortilla by hand. Taquito is a seasonal Mexican bar and eatery that stakes its entire reputation on that founding principle: fresh ingredients, handmade tortillas and a drinks list that takes tequila, mezcal and raicilla as seriously as the food. The Taco Flight and Feed Me menus are the ideal way to explore the kitchen’s range, taking in the best of whatever the season dictates, while the bar team works through an impressive selection of craft cervezas on tap, seasonal cocktails and agave spirits from across Mexico. A bottle shop and takeaway service extend the offer for those who want the goods to go. For Melbourne Cup 2026, Taquito offers a relaxed, convivial alternative to the CBD’s more expected celebrations — lower-key, higher craft, and very easy to spend an afternoon in. Book your table early; this one gets busy when the city is celebrating.

At the back of a small Japanese garden in Collingwood, diners at Wabi Sabi Salon remove their shoes and settle around low tables in a teahouse structure that could have been lifted directly from a Kyoto side street. The contrast with the surrounding neighbourhood is part of the appeal: the interior moves from the eclectic warmth of the main dining room — traditional Japanese signs, paper lanterns and handcrafted ceramic dishes — to the quiet of the garden teahouse, which opens in warmer months. The menu shifts between traditional and contemporary Japanese with ease: sashimi and teishoku sets anchor the offering, while dishes such as eggplant with tempeh and ankake sauce, grilled prawns with shiitake mushroom and sukiyaki-style wagyu beef meatballs with mozzarella reward those who order more adventurously. A broad sake selection and cocktails such as the yuzu margarita keep the drinks thoughtful throughout the evening. For a Melbourne Cup 2026 that ends with something considered and quiet, Wabi Sabi Salon is the right destination. Reserve a table in the garden.

Named for the Italian phrase at the heart of its whole philosophy — dimmi quando tu verrai, meaning “tell me when you will come” — Quando Quando Cucina and Bar in the Melbourne CBD operates on the belief that Italian food is, at its finest, an act of welcome. The space is colourful and warm, the menu rooted in traditional Italian dishes that celebrate shared meals, long tables and the pleasure of arriving somewhere that has been expecting you. The kitchen approaches its craft with passion and care, delivering regional Italian cooking that holds flavour and technique in equal regard — each dish a connection to the culture of love and gathering that the restaurant was founded upon. Conveniently positioned near Little Collins Street and within easy reach of the CBD’s Melbourne Cup 2026 action, it offers a beautifully timed alternative for those seeking something considered and convivial, whether arriving early for a pre-race lunch or late for a restorative dinner.