There are few cities that bloom with culture quite like Melbourne and with this comes a litany of unforgettable restaurants.

Nestled on the ground floor of many gorgeous inner-city hotels, these spots make the hotel the reason to visit as much as the meeting, incentive or conference itself. 

But the dilemma arrives when you have to make a choice. So, we’re here to help with the definitive list of eight hotel restaurants to keep on your event planning radar, as curated by the Melbourne Convention Bureau.

Sunda, The Windsor

Sophisticated and modern, Sunda offers a gorgeous Australian dining experience at The Windsor Hotel with unique cuisine that is influenced by South-East Asian flavours and native Australian ingredients.

A three-minute walk from the heart of Melbourne’s theatre district, Sunda is internationally renowned and was awarded One Chef Hat by the Australian Good Food Guide in 2023.

It’s perfect for conference dinners or can be tied in with a cultural incentive program that includes a post-dinner theatre experience and features a private dining space across two levels that can each host 28 and 36 guests respectively. Find out more about Sunda and The Windsor here.

Sunda, The Windsor (Credit – Ari Hatzis)

Conservatory, Crown Melbourne

On top of the iconic Crown Melbourne on the banks of the Yarra River, Conservatory offers luxury for private dining from 13 to 225 guests.

A sophisticated array of international cuisines sit alongside a decadent dessert bar with an opulent chocolate fountain. Conservatory caters to breakfast, lunch and dinner and is well-known for its signature high tea experience. Learn more about Crown Melbourne and Conservatory here.

Salted Egg, The Quincy Hotel

A culinary adventure awaits at Salted Egg with a menu overloaded with Southeast Asian influences. Catering to 90 seated guests or 100 standing, large groups can feel intimate at Salted Egg while small groups feel bustling and energetic.

It’s conveniently located less than 600 metres from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and is ideal for small to medium-sized conference groups. Learn more about The Quincy Hotel and Salted Egg here.

Salted Egg, The Quincy Hotel

Strato, Oakwood Premier Melbourne Hotel

This pumping rooftop bar and supper club on the 40th floor of Oakwood Premier Melbourne Hotel has towering seven-metre glass windows that provide unparalleled views of Melbourne.

Strato features locally sourced and seasonally grown produce that shines on its modern Australian menu. This is elevated by creative cooking techniques that promise elements of theatre with smoke, vapour, embers, levitation and nitrogen gracing the plates.

For the event planner in you, Strato offers versatile spaces over two floors. One has a statement illuminated marble bar, chef-curated menus and all the tech needs to cater to the city’s most elite.

What’s more, is that this cool spot is located just 15 minutes walk from the MCEC. Find out more about the Oakwood Premier Melbourne Hotel and Strato here.

Strato, Oakwood Premier Hotel Melbourne

Warabi, W Melbourne

Warabi is a highly acclaimed  2023 Australian Good Food Guide Two Chef Hat award winner with outstanding Japanese cuisine that honours traditional culture through its ever-evolving, nine-course degustation menu in an Omakase setting.

While steeped in tradition, Warabi offers a contemporary Japanese dining experience that emphasises seasonal ingredients and elevated beverage pairings. The restaurant’s multi-course menu is guided by the chef, where the energy of dishes reflects the seasons and the highest quality of ingredients available.

Round out the unforgettable meal with pre or post-dinner drinks at W’s famed Curious Bar. Find out more about W Melbourne and Warabi here.

Warabi, W Melbourne

La Madonna Restaurant and Bar, Next Hotel

La Madonna Restaurant and Bar sits on Little Collins Street to shake up what event-goers think of as a typical hotel restaurant with its dining and drinking enclave. Acclaimed local chefs wow guests with the Melbourne-born Sicilian-blooded Daniel Natoli and street food supremo Adrian Li united to bring their culinary influences and passion for artisan produce with food and drink that’s both challenging and comforting.

This is a great destination bar and restaurant in its own right, having earned a Chef Hat in the 2023 Good Food Guide Awards. Learn more about Next Hotel and La Madonna Restaurant here.

Miss Mi Restaurant and Bar, Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer

For those craving modern Asian cuisine, Miss Mi has you sorted. This Australian Good Food Guide Hat-awarded restaurant takes diners on a journey with incredible food and an open showcase kitchen that has it all right in the action.

Event attendees can enjoy a drink at the bar – the central hub of Miss Mi – which offers a selection of crafted, colourful and curated cocktails using unique spices, herbs, cordials and flavours sourced from all corners of the Asian Continent. Find out more about Miss Mi Restaurant and Bar and Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer here.

Atria, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne 

The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne’s signature restaurant offers inspired dining alongside breath-taking views of the city skyline from the 80th floor.

Their executive chef honours the detail of every ingredient, designing hyper-seasonal, innovative menus, with produce sourced from small-scale growers and artisan producers.

Delegates can enjoy a relaxed yet refined setting at Atria, which shares the floor with the glamourous bar Cameo. Learn more about Atria and The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne here.

If you’re looking for more advice on Melbourne’s top hotel restaurants that you’d like to weave into your next program or to make supplier introductions, arrange site inspections and help tailor your program to perfection, find out how the team at the Melbourne Convention Bureau can help you here.

Featured Image: Conservatory, Crown Melbourne