Looking for the best restaurants for Father’s Day in Melbourne? The right choice can turn a simple meal into a memorable day with Dad.
Melbourne has no shortage of restaurants for a Father’s Day lunch or dinner, from Italian restaurants and modern Australian venues to steak houses and family-friendly dining spots. But the best restaurant depends on what Dad enjoys, where you want to dine, and the kind of experience you want to create.
To make the decision easier, we’ve selected 7 restaurants in Melbourne that stand out for Father’s Day, considering their food, atmosphere, location, and overall dining experience. Whether you’re planning a relaxed family lunch or a special dinner, these options give you a good place to start.
7 Best Restaurants for Father’s Day in Melbourne
The eight restaurants below cover Latin American share plates, Italian cuisine, Argentinian fire cooking, Gippsland farm-to-table, Middle Eastern banquets, European bistro dining and New Nordic tasting menus. Sunday trading hours differ sharply between them, so check the right-hand column before you plan the day.
| Restaurant | Location | Style | Sunday 6 September |
| Onda Bar & Eatery | Richmond + Fitzroy | Latin American, 100% gluten-free | Richmond lunch 12–3 pm; Fitzroy 12 pm–10 pm |
| Sassy Italian | 1 Dryburgh St, West Melbourne | Italian | Lunch 12–3 pm & Dinner |
| Farmer’s Daughters | 95 Exhibition St, CBD | Gippsland farm-to-table | Deli 11:30 am; Rooftop 12–3 pm; Restaurant dinner 5:30 pm |
| NOMAD Melbourne | 187 Flinders Lane, CBD | Wood-fired Mediterranean | Lunch and dinner |
| Maha | 21 Bond St, CBD | Middle Eastern banquet | Lunch and dinner sittings |
| Gimlet | 33 Russell St, CBD | European bistro and cocktail bar | Lunch and dinner, seven days |
| Palermo | 401 Little Bourke St, CBD | Argentinian asado | Father’s Day bookings open |
| Vue de monde | Level 55, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, CBD | New Nordic / Modern Australian tasting menu | Lunch and dinner, single tasting menu, 10% Sunday surcharge |
Onda Bar & Eatery
Onda is a Latin American restaurant accredited by Coeliac Australia, running a kitchen with no gluten-containing ingredients in it at all. That distinction matters more than it sounds. At most restaurants, a coeliac guest gets a shortlist of “safe” dishes, a conversation with the waiter, and a lingering question about cross-contamination in the kitchen. At Onda, the entire menu is available, and the answer to “can I eat this?” is always yes. For a dad who’s spent years ordering around a dietary restriction, or a family that’s quietly stopped suggesting group dinners because it’s too complicated, that’s the whole point of the booking.
The food itself isn’t a compromise version of anything. The menu is bold, share-driven Latin American cooking, the kind of table where plates keep arriving, and everyone reaches across, paired with a Latin-inspired cocktail list.
The Richmond dining room leans into it, too, with mint-green walls, monstera murals, flamingo-pink accents, and vintage leadlight windows that give the room genuine energy rather than polite restraint. For a Father’s Day lunch or dinner meant to feel like a celebration instead of a formality, it lands well, and the $59pp Feed Me banquet takes the decision-making off your hands entirely.
Why Onda stands out:
- Melbourne’s Coeliac Australia-accredited Latin American restaurant, with a 100% gluten-free kitchen
- A $59pp Feed Me chef-selected banquet at Richmond, sent out share-style and finished with dessert
- Bold Latin share plates paired with a Latin-inspired cocktail list
- Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, dairy-free, halal-friendly and onion/garlic-free options on request
- Two dining rooms, Richmond and Fitzroy, both under 4km from the CBD
Onda suits families where dietary requirements usually decide where you can book. If Dad is coeliac, or anyone at the table is, this is the rare Father’s Day meal where nobody eats a modified version of what everyone else is having.
Contact Details:
- Richmond bookings: +61 3 9429 8589
- Fitzroy bookings: +61 410 131 339
- Email: info@ondamelbourne.com
Farmer’s Daughters
If your dad is the type who cares where his food comes from, Farmer’s Daughters is built for him. Developed by chef Alejandro Saravia, this three-level venue at the 80 Collins precinct is dedicated entirely to showcasing Gippsland’s regional produce, connecting the city to the farms, mountains, and coastline of Victoria’s east.
Each floor tells its own story. The ground floor houses a deli and coffee window, the second level is the formal restaurant with an open “campfire kitchen,” and the rooftop bar offers a more relaxed setting for drinks with a view. The seasonal menu changes with what local farmers deliver that week, and dishes like the Wattlebank Farm mushroom parfait or the Galiciana eye fillet with radicchio purée reflect a genuine farm-to-table philosophy. The restaurant has also earned One Hat at the Good Food Guide Awards in both 2023 and 2024, a mark of consistent quality.
- Three distinct spaces: Deli, Restaurant, and Rooftop
- Gippsland Getaway degustation menu available for a full five-course experience
- Best for: dads who appreciate provenance, seasonal cooking, and a proper long lunch
Contact Details:
- Phone: +61 3 9116 8682
- Email: info@farmersdaughters.com.au
- Address: 95 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Sassy Italian
If Dad enjoys a meal that feels more like a family gathering than a formal occasion, Sassy Italian is worth putting on the Father’s Day list.
Located in Docklands, the restaurant brings together the things that make an easy family celebration work: generous Italian food, a relaxed setting, and plenty of options for different tastes.
And this Father’s Day, there’s an added reason to stay for dinner. The Melbourne Star’s new LED lighting comes alive from 5:30 pm each evening, creating an illuminated backdrop that can be seen from the restaurant. It adds a little extra atmosphere to an already enjoyable night out.
What makes it a good Father’s Day pick?
- Fresh handmade pasta: Traditional Italian techniques and fresh preparation make the pasta a highlight of the menu.
- Wood-fired pizza: A mix of familiar classics and specialty toppings means there’s something for both adventurous and picky eaters.
- Italian wines: The wine selection brings together bottles from different Italian regions to complement the food.
- Relaxed family setting: It’s comfortable enough for a family lunch or dinner without feeling overly formal.
- Something for everyone: From Dad to younger family members, the menu offers plenty of approachable choices.
The appeal of Sassy Italian is that it doesn’t try to make Father’s Day complicated. Good Italian food, a comfortable table, and the people Dad actually wants to spend the day with are more than enough.
Add the Melbourne Star lighting in the background, and a simple Father’s Day dinner can turn into a memorable evening in Docklands.
Contact Detail
- Address: 1 Dryburgh St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia
- Phone Number: +61 3 4420 9785
- Email: info@sassyitalianrestaurant.com.au
NOMAD Melbourne
For a dad who loves bold, smoky flavours, NOMAD delivers a wood-fired feast inspired by Spain, Morocco, and the Middle East. Tucked into a subterranean space on Flinders Lane, the restaurant is built around a roaring wood-fired oven that anchors the open kitchen, giving the whole dining room a warm, communal energy.
The food philosophy centres on local Australian produce cooked with fire and smoke, and the menu is genuinely built for sharing. Standouts include wood-roasted Skull Island tiger prawns with charcuterie XO sauce, smoked beef cheek with pickled green tomato, and a wood-fired flatbread with house-made za’atar that regularly gets singled out by diners. For dessert, the olive oil ice cream sandwich, layered with halva and pistachio, is a distinctive way to finish the meal.
- Feast-style set menus available, including an Express option for time-pressed diners
- Strong focus on Australian wine, including small and sustainable producers
- Best for: dads who enjoy communal, fire-cooked feasting with a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern edge
Contact Details:
- Phone: +02 9280 3395
- Email: eat@nomad.melbourne
Maha
Maha has been one of Melbourne’s most awarded Middle Eastern restaurants since chef Shane Delia opened it, winning a Chef’s Hat in The Age Good Food Guide every year since 2009. Set below street level on Bond Street, the room has a dark, romantic feel with mirrored walls and suede banquette seating, making it a fitting choice for a dad who appreciates a proper occasion.
The restaurant recently introduced more flexible dining options after 18 years of set menus, with à la carte now available Sunday to Wednesday, while Thursday to Saturday guests can choose between the Seasonal Menu and the signature Soufra Menu. Expect dishes like smoked eel parfait, torched scampi with harissa, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder, all reflecting Maha’s modern take on unrestricted Middle Eastern cooking.
- Choice of à la carte or set menus depending on the day
- Groups of eight or more require a set menu for dinner
- Best for: dads who enjoy rich, spice-forward cooking in an intimate, dressed-up setting
Contact Details:
- Phone: 03 9629 5900
- Email: admin@maharestaurant.com.au
- Address: 21 Bond St, Melbourne 3000
Gimlet
Gimlet, from acclaimed restaurateur Andrew McConnell, sits inside the heritage-listed Cavendish House on the corner of Flinders Lane and Russell Street. The building’s 1920s bones give the room genuine old-world glamour, with tinkling chandeliers, art deco columns, and plush burgundy booths that recall the grand hotels of London and New York.
The menu leans European, with a strong seafood focus, and dishes are built around premium wood-fired meats, oysters opened to order, and a caviar service for those who want to push the occasion further. It’s the kind of restaurant that suits a proper, unhurried celebration, whether at the cocktail bar with a Gimlet in hand or seated in one of the private booths.
- Semi-private Palm Room available for groups of up to 12
- Recognised on the World’s Top 100 Restaurant longlist
- Best for: dads who want a polished, classic dining room with a serious wine and cocktail list
Contact Details:
- Phone: (03) 9277 9777
- Email: frontdesk@gimlet.melbourne
- Address: 33 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Palermo
Palermo brings the fire and theatre of Buenos Aires to Little Bourke Street, built around Melbourne’s first Asado fire pit alongside a traditional Argentinian parrilla charcoal grill. For a dad who measures a good meal by the quality of the steak, this is one of the strongest arguments in the city.
The menu is unapologetically carnivore-focused, with premium pasture-fed Hereford and Angus beef cooked over open coals, alongside starters like beef empanadas and ceviche. There’s also a noticeable Italian thread running through the menu, including house-made fresh pasta, a nod to the Sicilian immigration that shaped Argentina’s culinary identity. Palermo has actively promoted Father’s Day bookings in past years, making it a well-established choice for the occasion.
- Address: 401 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
- Centrepiece Asado fire pit plus a classic Parrilla grill
- Sharing-style steak menu with Italian-Argentinian influences
- Best for: dads who want a serious, fire-cooked steak experience with a festive, sociable atmosphere
Contact Details:
- Phone: (03) 9002 1600
- Address: 401 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Vue de monde
For a Father’s Day that feels genuinely once-in-a-lifetime, Vue de Monde is Melbourne’s benchmark for fine dining theatre. Perched on level 55 of the Rialto Towers, the restaurant offers a 360-degree view stretching from the Docklands to the Dandenongs, making it one of the most dramatic dining rooms in the city. Founded by Shannon Bennett over two decades ago, it has grown from a small Carlton bistro into a nationally recognised destination.
Under executive chef Hugh Allen, the kitchen has moved away from its French roots toward a menu built around native Australian ingredients, think marron with desert lime, saltbush-fed lamb, and inventive use of local botanicals. Vue de Monde serves a single chef’s tasting menu that all guests share, with vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and coeliac versions available on request. The room itself, with its kangaroo-leather chairs, corrugated iron walls, and basalt stone bar, turns the meal into a full sensory experience, and the adjoining Lui Bar is a fitting spot for a celebratory drink afterward.
- Single chef’s tasting menu, with dietary variations available on request
- 360-degree skyline views from the 55th floor
- Best for: dads celebrating a milestone Father’s Day who want a true special-occasion, fine dining experience
Contact Details:
- Phone: (03) 9650 8688
- Email: INFO@SUPERNORMAL.NET.AU
- Address: 180 FLINDERS LANE, MELBOURNE 3000
How to Choose the Best Father’s Day Restaurant in Melbourne
Choosing well comes down to four questions, answered in order.
1. What does Dad actually eat? Match the cuisine to his habits, not to the restaurant’s reputation. A steak-first dad is happier at Gimlet or Palermo than at a tasting menu. A dad who grazes is better served by share plates at Onda or NOMAD.
2. Who else is at the table? Count dietary requirements before you count seats. A coeliac guest, a vegan sibling and a fussy eight-year-old will each shape the shortlist. Venues with adaptable menus remove the negotiation entirely.
3. Lunch or dinner? Lunch sittings run shorter and cost less at most venues. Dinner gives a longer table but competes with school nights. Check the venue’s Sunday hours, several Melbourne restaurants serve only one of the two on 6 September.
4. How far is the trip? Richmond and Fitzroy sit under 4 km from the CBD and offer easier parking than Collins or Flinders Lane. For grandparents, that distance matters more than the menu.
Get those four factors right, and you’ll choose a Melbourne restaurant that feels thoughtful, comfortable, and genuinely suited to your Father’s Day celebration.
Father’s Day Dining Tips for Melbourne Families
A little planning can make Father’s Day dining in Melbourne far more relaxed, especially when restaurants are busy and family needs vary.
- Book now, not next week. Father’s Day is one of the busiest restaurant dates in the Melbourne calendar. Sittings released in August are typically filled well before the first Sunday in September.
- Confirm the sitting length. Many venues run two sittings and hold tables to 90 or 120 minutes. Ask when booking so nobody is rushed through dessert.
- Declare dietary requirements at the booking stage. Kitchens can prepare properly with notice. Raising it on arrival, during the busiest service of the month, gives the team less room to help.
- Choose a midday booking over 1pm. Earlier sittings are quieter, and they leave the afternoon free for a walk, a gallery or the footy.
- Check accessibility before you commit. Heritage buildings and basement dining rooms are common in the CBD, and step-free access is not guaranteed. Most venues list access details on their contact page.
- Ask about surcharges. Sunday and public holiday surcharges are standard across Victoria, and card surcharges apply at many venues.
Book early, communicate dietary and accessibility needs, confirm sitting times, and check surcharges so the day stays enjoyable from arrival to dessert.
Why Onda Bar & Eatery Is Perfect for Father’s Day
Onda solves the problem that ends most Father’s Day group bookings: one guest with a dietary requirement that nobody wants to build the day around.
Because the kitchen is fully gluten-free and accredited by Coeliac Australia, a coeliac dad, grandparent or child orders from the same menu as everyone else. There is no separate list, no cross-contamination conversation with the waitstaff, and no dish arriving stripped of half its components.
The Latin American share-plate format also suits a mixed table. Plates land in the middle, everyone tries a bit of everything, and the meal stretches out the way a celebration should. Menus adapt for vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, onion-free and garlic-free diners, and halal options are available.
For 6 September, the Fitzroy room at 312 Brunswick Street trades 12 pm to 10 pm, covering both a long lunch and an evening booking. Richmond, at 280 Bridge Road, serves lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm.
Final Thoughts
Father’s Day 2026 lands on Sunday 6 September, and the difference between a good booking and a stressful one usually comes down to two things: checking Sunday trading hours, and flagging dietary needs early. Melbourne’s CBD delivers occasion dining at Gimlet, Farmer’s Daughters and Maha, while Richmond and Fitzroy offer a shorter trip and an easier parking run. Whichever direction suits your family, book while sittings remain, and confirm the details directly with the venue.
FAQs
When Is Father’s Day 2026 In Australia?
Father’s Day 2026 falls on Sunday 6 September. Australia observes Father’s Day on the first Sunday in September, unlike the United States and United Kingdom, which mark it in June.
How Far In Advance Should I Book A Father’s Day Restaurant In Melbourne?
Book three to four weeks ahead for popular CBD venues. Prime sittings between 12 pm and 1:30 pm generally go first, and many restaurants release Father’s Day bookings in early to mid August.
Which Melbourne Restaurants Are Open For Father’s Day Dinner?
Onda Fitzroy trades until 10 pm, Farmer’s Daughters serves dinner from 5:30 pm, and Gimlet runs lunch and dinner seven days. Freyja is closed on Sundays, so it cannot host a Father’s Day booking.
Where Can I Take A Coeliac Dad For Father’s Day In Melbourne?
Onda Bar & Eatery operates a fully gluten-free kitchen accredited by Coeliac Australia, in Richmond and Fitzroy. Every menu item is gluten-free, which removes cross-contamination risk from the meal.
Are These Restaurants Suitable For Children?
Most accept families, though formal dining rooms suit older children better. Onda and Palermo handle mixed-age groups comfortably. Confirm high chairs and children’s portions when you book.
What Does A Father’s Day Lunch Cost In Melbourne?
Published 2026 set menus around the city range from roughly $85 to $169 per person, with hotel buffets at the higher end. À la carte dining at the venues above will vary by what your table orders.
Is Lunch Or Dinner Better On Father’s Day?
Lunch suits families with young children and older relatives, and sittings tend to be shorter and better value. Dinner works for adult tables wanting a longer, slower meal.
Which Melbourne Restaurant Is Best For A Steak-Loving Dad?
Gimlet chars T-bone and tomahawk steaks over coals in its open kitchen. Palermo slow-roasts whole cuts on an asado fire pit and sells them in 250-gram and 450-gram portions.
Do Melbourne Restaurants Run Set Menus On Father’s Day?
Many do, particularly hotel restaurants and larger venues. Others keep their standard à la carte menu. Check the venue’s website directly, since set menus are usually published in the fortnight before the date.
What If I Cannot Get A Booking On 6 September?
Consider the Saturday before, 5 September, which opens up venues that close on Sundays, including Freyja. Alternatively, ask about walk-in availability, Gimlet welcomes walk-ins, or book a weeknight in the following week.
