Where to Take Dad on Father’s Day 2026
There’s no ideal restaurant to celebrate Father’s Day. Your father figure could be a stereotypical steak-loving bloke, or a vegetarian. He could be a wine connoisseur or a guy who likes nothing better than to put away a pint and a parma at lunch. Whatever kind of dad you have, Father’s Day is uncomfortably close (Sunday September 6), which means it’s time to get booking.
We’ve assembled a diverse list of bookable restaurants. Stick to the top entries if you’re keen to splash out and make dad feel special. Look further down if you’re after a more relaxed, communal environment, such as a pizzeria, neighbourhood bistro or pub.
Words by Scott Renton
Updated on 3 September 2026
Restaurant
Stokehouse
It’s easy to push the boat out with dad at Stokehouse, with its stunning ocean views and high-quality seafood. Book some seats for its four-course Father’s Day banquet ($195pp). There’ll be caviar, Wagyu prime rib and a whisky caramel dessert.
Restaurant
Yugen Dining
If your Dad loves the finer things in life, look no further than this subterranean restaurant. Take the glass lift underground for dinner. Plus, he'll get a complimentary drink from Lark Distillery and a whisky glass to take home.
Restaurant
Grill Americano
Venetian elegance and New York energy collide at restaurateur Chris Lucas’s lavish brasserie and grill. Pull up a seat with dad in the grand dining room for one-off specials, including caramelle pasta with beef cheek; or a Wagyu Scotch fillet.
Restaurant
Askal
A team of seasoned hospo pros, including ex-Lume and Sunda chef John Rivera, are behind this unadulterated Filipino spot. Book a spot on Father’s Day and go for the chef’s tasting menu for $150pp.
Restaurant
Angus & Bon
This New York-style steakhouse is perfect for a steak-loving dad. There’s a three-course set menu running for $130 and live jazz throughout the day. A great combo for a special lunch or dinner.
Restaurant
Hopper Joint
Bring dad to Greville Street’s Sri Lankan spot from the duo behind Entrecote. Enjoy hoppers alongside sambals and curries, grilled scallops, spice-crusted lamb ribs and more. Both set menus have you covered.
Restaurant
San Telmo
For the steak-loving dad, San Telmo is hard to go past. You’ll find some of the city’s best steaks here, cooked Argentinian-style on the parrilla charcoal grill. Book a table here.
Restaurant
Kura
Tucked beneath an apartment block, an ex-Kisume and Nobu chef perfects the Japanese art of robatayaki using a charcoal-powered parrilla grill. Book some seats at the bar for a dinner of yakitori served every way.
Restaurant
Maha Restaurant
Bring dad to this moody spot for interesting takes on Middle Eastern classics. Pick one of the set menus to make things easy, or dine à la carte if dad prefers to pick and choose.
Restaurant
Lagoon Dining
Lagoon’s menu takes most of its influence from Chinese cuisine while drawing on Thai and Malaysian dishes and techniques. Book some seats for its Father’s Day feed me ($70pp), which includes four savoury dishes and a dessert.
Restaurant
Firebird
This Vietnamese-style diner is all about smoke and flames. But your old man’s off smoke alarm duty today. Dad jokes aside, there’s a fire-fuelled Sunday service here with two extensive set menu options priced at $90pp or $120pp.
Restaurant
Pastuso
Hit this Peruvian grill and ceviche spot in the CBD to treat dad to protein-heavy South American dishes and fresh seafood plates. Lunch and dinner bookings can be made here.
Restaurant
Marmont
Marmont brings Cali-cool to Crown. Take a seat for a long lunch accompanied with vinyl tunes and Yarra views. Then take a walk along the river with Dad afterwards.
Bar
Neighbourhood Wine
A long lunch at this north-side spot is still one of our favourite ways to spend a weekend arvo. Luckily for you and dad, it’s putting on a cracking four-course Sunday roast for $75pp.
Bar
Builders Arms Hotel
At Andrew McConnell’s classy Gertrude Street bar and bistro, the food is just that bit better than dad might expect from a trip to the pub. The wood fire rotisserie will be firing our smoky mains in the courtyard.
Restaurant
Kolkata Cricket Club
Mischa Tropp’s Crown diner takes its cues from India’s historic members clubs. Bring dad for regional Bengali dishes, combined with pan-Indian crowd-pleasers, including tandoor-baked barramundi and woodfired prawns.
Bar
Marion Wine Bar
Marion is pulling some wines from the cellar and pouring Crawford River cab savs from 2010 and 2022. They're paired with a 28-day dry-aged O’Connor club steak cooked over coal. Book here.
Restaurant
Robata
This vibing restaurant serves skewered meats cooked over coals, sashimi and Japanese drinks. Take a seat at the bar with dad and watch the chefs get to work – he might even get some grill tips. Book here.
Restaurant
Supernormal
Spot red neon cherries at the entrance and you'll know you're at Andrew McConnell’s slick Japanese hotspot. It’s the perfect balance between refined and casual.
Restaurant
Stokehouse Pasta & Bar
Take a seat at Stokehouse’s more casual, downstairs spot for a one-off Father’s Day menu ($100pp) featuring tuna crudo, lamb ragu, roast beef with leek salsa and more.
Restaurant
Poodle Bar & Bistro
This double-decker haunt is full of cosy nooks. This Father’s Day, sink into a leather banquette or gold velvet couch and order zhooshed-up hotel classics. Plus, there’s plenty of bars nearby to take Dad for a drink afterwards.
Shop
Pidapipo Laboratorio
The cult gelateria is bringing back its Papamisu ($32), a tub featuring layers of mascarpone gelato, Savoiardi biscuits soaked in espresso and sweet sherry syrup, and gianduja ganache, topped with chocolate shavings.
Restaurant
Three Blue Ducks
There’s loads of fun to carve up at this surf-ready suburban spot. Catch waves with dad at Urbnsurf, then settle in for a feed at the on-site restaurant. Book your spot here for breakfast, Sunday roast or dinner.
Bar
The Royal Oak Hotel Fitzroy North
Roll up to this big burgundy boozer for its mix of crowd-pleasing pub classics and bistro-style fare, courtesy of the Marquis of Lorne team.
Cafe
Ophelia
Hit this casual Northcote diner for a roast porchetta lunch. From 4pm, a $55 set menu is also available. A great option for something easy and laidback – and you’ll get a great feed. Book here.
Bar
Pirate Life
A Sunday roast? Sign us up. Bring dad for a beef brisket lunch at this South Melbourne brewery. There’ll be a raffle with prizes and footy on TV. Book your spot here.
Bar
The Bay Hotel Mornington
Take a road trip down to a Mornington pub with dad for this Sunday roast. Beef sirloin, duck fat potatoes, caramelised Brussels sprouts and roast pumpkin are all on the plate.
Restaurant
Maison Batard
This lavish four-level French dining destination is putting on one-off specials for Father's Day, including a Chauvel Wagyu t-bone, or Black Opal Wagyu hanger alongside its classics.
Restaurant
New Quarter
This Vietnamese diner is plating two special Sunday menus for $90pp or $120pp. Both have seafood, protein-leaning mains and a dessert.
Bar
Jetty Road Brewery
The Dromana brewery is hosting live music, beer paddles, free pool and a dad joke challenge alongside a Sunday roast. Every dad also goes into a raffle to wine a round of golf at Moonah Links. Book here.
Restaurant
Añada
Añada is putting on a two-course Sunday lunch with a glass of wine included ($49pp). Two other set menus will also be available, showcasing plates from the south of Spain. Plus, plenty of bars nearby.
Restaurant
Mr Miyagi
Hit this Chapel Street favourite and Dad can grab a complimentary can of Sapporo on entry and follow it up with Wagyu steaks, or barramundi cooked in a burnt miso butter, nashi pear and yuzu.
