We’ve braved the cold to dish you up a hearty list, fit for a toasty feast this winter. These restaurants have private rooms, exclusive event spaces, crackling fires and serve great heartwarming food.
The hip North Fitzroy restaurant and bar has a cosy private room complete with open fire for up to 40 guests or a smaller intimate dining space for 12 guests. Alternatively, an additional space can accommodate up to 70 guests for Cocktail events. Party to old-style vinyl tunes, simple seasonal food, and an ever-evolving lo-fi practice wine list.
The elegant private room at the award-winning Fitzroy restaurant can host up to 40 guests for a seated event and up to 50 guests for a cocktail celebration. Menus on offer reflect the season and translate from the philosophy of the Cutler & Co. dining room through a selection of group dining options. A stunning French cheminée fireplace is at the heart of the stunningly designed space, which is the perfect setting for a private dinner, corporate event, networking lunch or sizeable family birthday celebration.
This iconic St Kilda Hotel offers a unique and exclusive dining room experience for up to 40 guests. Central to the stylish space is a heart-warming fireplace with retro light fittings, exposed brickwork, and floor to ceiling windows complete with great pub food to match. A flexible floor plan allows the option for all styles of events including cocktail groups of up to 60 guests ideal for birthday party dinners. There is also a large upstairs private function room available for groups up to 150 guests.
Upstairs at this charming historic Fitzroy pub is the first of 2 exclusive dining room options, which accommodates up to 20-seated guests. This ambient space comes complete with its own private bar and crackling fireplace. Hidden away in the basement is the second private space known as “The Cellar” recently refurbished and with seating for 14 guests. No fireplace here however though still a warm and cosy spot to enjoy chef Donovan’s rustic gastropub fare. For bigger size groups wanting canapé or cocktail style events, try The Atrium or the private Function Room for (60 guests & 90 guests).
One of Melbourne most exclusive private-dining locations is The Botanical’s Archer Room. This stunning setting features a beautiful vertical garden, it’s own private bar, a fireplace and accommodates 40 guests seated. For family birthdays, corporate events or cocktail parties, this space is also available for hire for up to 70 guests standing.
For groups of all sizes looking to plan an event at Southbank, Ludlow Bar & Dining Room has a space to suit any style of party or function. The Internal Dining Room accommodates up to 70 guests and lends itself effortlessly to host breakfasts, corporate lunches, dinners, social events and Christmas parties. On offer is a wireless microphone that can also be used for speeches. A ‘semi-private’ area of the Internal Dining space is also ideal for smaller group bookings. This area can seat up to 36 over two tables and features a fireplace and great views of the Yarra. It is separated from other diners with a curtain for further privacy.
For those planning a smaller cocktail party gathering, there is the option of a space, which also has a stunning fireplace central to it’s setting. The Terrace Room accommodates 25 guests standing and is Ideally suited to intimate, informal stand up functions and the Terrace Room comes with a private bar, amazing views and allows for easy access to a riverside Terrace.
This charming iconic South Melbourne pub has a long award-winning pedigree for serving great food and has multiple private spaces. In keeping with O’Connel’s foodie past the exclusive dining rooms are named in honour of Head Chefs, Greg Malouf, Cath Kalka and Adrian Richardson. Known as the Front Room this private function room is on the ground floor of the hotel, has large windows facing out towards the Coventry Street courtyard and features a cosy fireplace. The perfect warm winter feasting place for you and up to 28 guests seated away from the crowd. Be sure to check out what’s coming up with O’Connell’s wine dinners.
Architecturally designed, this breathtaking Prahran pub has two exclusive dining rooms on offer individually or combined, creating 3 unique capacity options for 10-32 guests. Room 1 seats 11 guests, Room 2 seats 20 guests or combined, the rooms seat 32 guests. Both rooms come complete with banquette seating, have
disabled access, air-conditioning, feature lighting, a decorative fireplace, TV & full table service. 17 concrete pipes double as an external façade and internal semi private-dining spaces, lined with leather banquette seating that can be reserved for small groups of two, six or 10 diners. For bigger parties, head to the Garden Bar, which has the ideal indoor & outdoor space and can be hired for groups of 100-200 guests. With a private bar, courtyard and a dance floor it’s the perfect cocktail party venue.
Surrounded by sporting memorabilia and all the nostalgia from yesteryear this meticulously refurbished Middle Park private-dining room, is one of Melbourne bayside’s best. With a members club-like feel, an inviting fireplace, timber paneling, grand timber table, leather chairs and MPH emblem carpet, it’s the ideal setting for a business lunch, family birthday dinner or special occasion. Seating in the PDR is up to 14 guests with larger groups accommodated in the dining room up to 44.
The “Vino De Mesa” at the Robert Burns Hotel will have your guest believing they’ve private-dined in Spain for the evening. One long banquet table positioned warmly in front of the fireplace provides plenty of room to dine with seating for up to 14 guests. Adjoining tables allow groups to extend up to 20 guests seated. This space is versatile enough to accommodate a wide range of events including cocktail parties for 30 guests standing. What could be more Spanish than a party in a wine bar?
