Victorian Restaurants Will Be Allowed to Reopen Next Month

In a statement this morning, Premier Daniel Andrews announced Victoria’s restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen on June 1, with a blanket limit of up to 20 customers – double NSW’s current limit of 10 – allowed into any venue at a time.

Restaurants inside pubs, bars, RSLs and other licensed venues will be allowed to reopen, but public bar areas will not. Standalone bars will not be permitted to reopen. Unlike in South Australia, pubs and restaurants will be able to serve alcohol to patrons, provided the patrons are eating a meal.

“The continuing low numbers of community transmission and high rates of testing give us confidence that cafes, restaurants, pubs and other hospitality businesses can begin planning for a phased reopening from the beginning of June,” Andrews said.

Customers will need to give their first name, surname and phone number to enter, in order to assist tracing efforts should another visitor be infected with coronavirus. Tables will need to be spaced at least 1.5 metres apart, as per current physical distancing guidelines.

From June 22, the customer limit could increase to 50, but this is subject to review. And by the end of July, the limit may again be increased, to 100.

“The timelines we’re announcing today are reliant on Victorians continuing to get tested when they show even mild symptoms and on those tests continuing to show low numbers of positive cases around the state,” Andrews said.

Follow our Live List of Melbourne Restaurant Reopenings to find out which venues choose to open – and when – following this announcement.

We’re also maintaining a live list of restaurants now offering takeaway.

This story was updated on May 20, to clarify that restaurants and pubs may serve alcohol to patrons there for a meal.