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Updated: August 31st, 2018

So you swiped right and got a match. The next step is harder: finding the right place to impress your date.

These aren't places for quiet, white-tableclothed romance. They're fun, energetic restaurants and bars packed with atmosphere, where there's rarely a chance for an awkward silence. Good luck.

Related pages:
Best Restaurants in Melbourne
Best Wine Bars in Melbourne
Best Cocktail Bars in Melbourne
Best Neighbourhood Bars in Melbourne

The Mayfair

Caviar, crab crumpets and dry-aged duck at a New York-style supper club.

The Sofitel 45 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Book a Table

Thirty Eight Chairs South Yarra

Small, intimate and delicious.

4a Bond Street
South Yarra VIC 3141
Book a Table

Cumulus Up Wine Bar

The slimmer version of Andrew McConnell's Cumulus Inc. has the same elegant charm.

Level 1 45 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
Book a Table

Neptune Food & Wine

Canned seafood, wine and a moody, low-lit ambience. Perfect.

212 High Street
Windsor VIC 3181
Book a Table

Bomba

Tapas on a rooftop, with vermouth on tap.

103 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC
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Lay Low Bar

The lights are low and the cocktails are good.

93 Buckley Street
Seddon VIC 3011

Shadowboxer Bar & Kitchen

Wine, nibbles and plenty of tables for two.

302 Toorak Road
South Yarra VIC 3141
Book a Table

Etta

Sit in the front bar for a short date, or up the back if you're more confident the evening has legs.

60 Lygon Street
Brunswick East VIC 3057
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Park Street Pasta & Wine

A modern osteria on a pretty corner.

268 Park Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205
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Ramblr

Food worth discussing, courtesy of the Leonard's House of Love team. Bonus: hit the Jam Factory or Cinema Como for a movie after.

363 Chapel Street
South Yarra VIC 3141
Book a Table

Marion

Utterly cool, and the meal can last as little or as long as you like.

53 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065
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Archie’s All Day

Turn a quick afternoon date into an entire evening.

189 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065
Book a Table

Prohibition Food and Wine

A restaurant and bar that's as classy or as casual as you need.

1395 Toorak Road
Camberwell VIC 3124
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Bellota Wine Bar

For the wine-lover: there are 3500 bottles, with charcuterie to match.

181 Bank Street
South Melbourne VIC
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Radio Mexico

Make it a Monday-night date, when the Margaritas are two-for-one.

11-13 Carlisle Street
St Kilda VIC 3182
Order Delivery

Copper Pot

Take a Euro trip together.

105 Victoria Street
Seddon VIC 3011
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Luxsmith

Order a "lucky dip" wine and have fun guessing what it is.

5 Gamon Street
Seddon VIC 3011
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Order Delivery

Amarillo

Pairs a mid-century European fit-out with modern, effortless cool. Try toasties and coffee in the morning; and oysters and wine at night.

149 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Bar Josephine

Comfortable, kitsch and affordable.

295 Barkly Street
Footscray VIC 3011

Hotel Jesus

Fun, informal and always vibing.

174 Smith Street
Collingwood VIC 3066

Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria

Tacos, tequila and a party atmosphere.

339 Victoria Street
Brunswick VIC

Joe's Shoe Store

The most comfortable bar in Northcote.

233 High Street
Northcote VIC

City Wine Shop

A bottle shop and bar that hasn't forgotten the Europe of yesteryear.

159 Spring Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tipo 00

Relive Lady and the Tramp over some of the city's best handmade pasta.

361 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

The Valley Cellar Door

Get to know each other over one of 230 bottles of wine.

18 18-20 Hall Street
Moonee Ponds VIC

Uncle Joe's

Cosy booths, great drinks and genuine service to set the mood.

325 Lygon Street
Brunswick East VIC 3057

Sun Moth Canteen & Bar

Share a drink in the evening. If it goes well, come back for a coffee the next day.

28 Niagara Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000

Ombra Salumi

Share a crisp wine over some aged meats.

76 Bourke St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Book a Table

Izakaya Den

The best seats are at the bar in this subterranean Japanese restaurant.

Basement 114 Russell Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

The Everleigh

Skip dinner and head straight to the cocktails.

1 150-156 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Black Pearl

Order cocktails; have them delivered to your plush seats.

304 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Gerald's Bar

For a quieter, less flashy date that's more about comfort.

386 Rathdowne St
Carlton North VIC

LongPlay

Two-parts Danish minimalist furniture store, one-part Italian wine and cocktail bar.

318 St Georges Rd
Fitzroy North VIC

Joanie's Baretto

A bar that's all about Italian aperitifs and salumi boards.

832A High Street
Thornbury VIC 3071

Heartattack and Vine

Eat cicchetti (Italian tapas) then head to a movie at Cinema Nova.

329 Lygon Street
Carlton VIC 3052

Rita's Cafeteria

A down-to-earth pizzeria that's rarely quiet.

239 Johnston Street
Abbotsford VIC 3067
Order Delivery

Bar None

A speakeasy-style bar that's all about cocktails.

72 Auburn Parade
Camberwell VIC 3124

The Ugly Duckling

Choose between this wine bar's moody and intimate front, or the sun-drenched back.

238 Swan Street
Richmond VIC 3121
Book a Table

The Woods of Windsor

Get to know each other over a couple of Negronis.

108 Chapel Street
Windsor VIC
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