Review Conservatory - Melbourne

It was great. Didn't expect much, just visited there for the special event, but I felt so grateful and happy. Food was great, having many range of food, seafood, meats, salad and even carefully set up for international food, the greatest part was desserts! Couldn't have chance to take pics for desserts but it had great range of cakes, ice cream! Booked in advance and mentioned about special event, thankfully, friendly staff decorated cake with candle, made my day. I will be happily coming back, recommendable

Well what can I say but Amazing/ Opulent/ Stunning Building!! Service Amazing!! Staff very Helpful & Accommodating Food to die for especially the Seafood & Deserts!! Beautiful tables & Service!! Compliments to the Chef's!! Will have to return in the Day to see the Spectacular views of Southbank & what it has to offer!! In the Evening the night lights of Melbourne & fire bursts along Southbank made it amazing!! If there was ever a Buffet of Food selections to try !! It is this one!!!

Came here on a weekday lunch and paid $75 pp with a complementary drink. It was such a great experience and pretty good value. We were all pretty happy. Wide selections of food and high quality ingredients. Seafood was so fresh and the hot food was pretty great. Love the cheese selection, especially the creamy blue cheese. If you want to try a buffet style restaurant and can only try 1 I suggest conservatory should be your first choice.

One of the higher quality buffet restaurants I’ve experienced. There was a large variety in high quality hot and cold foods. My favourite dishes would have to be the roast pork and tiger prawns. Make sure you save room for dessert. They have so many unique and amazing dessert options. I was absolutely blown away by their pear and hazelnut cake, and sesame and caramel shell. The service here is also top notch, the staff are friendly and efficient. Would definitely come back!

That is beautiful place in Melbourne to have buffet if you have good appetite. I personally didn’t like Asian foods which was main the course. However, Entrees and deserts are amazing. My suggestion is don’t go to this place for main course, just go for see foods and salads. Also, we ordered English breakfast tea which was too bitter as I think they used too much tea in tea pot. Staff are so friendly and helpful. Thanks 🙏

Amazing place to go for a really nice lunch or dinner. Food is delicious. Only thing that could make it better is if a few non alcoholic cold drinks were included. Dessert bar was to die for. Will definitely keep going back.

Loved the place and the food is not bad. Great selection. Chef was nice he found time to eplain which food did not contain egg and they even cooked esp fried rice without egg for my baby. Great ambience for family. Will definitely go back.

Went to the conservatory for my parents’ wedding anniversary mostly because of its ambience so we had little expectations for their food. The seafood was surprisingly fresh when we were there for lunch, especially the prawns. But other than the seafood, the other dishes were alright and didn’t really stand out. Service was great as well and the server that we had was extremely friendly and even gave us a complimentary plate of desserts that weren’t included in the buffet after knowing that it was my parents’ anniversary (my sister did the writing). 2 stars is probably for the service, 1 for seafood and 1 for ambience .

went for a special family occasion. conservatory didnt disappoint. my dads birthday went well.. so much variety

Food is meh, but the restaurant is beautiful!

Went during their lobster night, extremely worth it! Food were fresh as they were constantly replenished and everyone left happy.

As mentioned previously, I am not a great fan of buffets. To please a friend, we have a yearly pilgrimage to Melba at the Langham for our post Christmas outing, which is great once a year. This year we decided to make a change to the Conservatory at Crown. <br/>The space is nice with white marble, steel and green furnishings to soften it. The food stations were at one end of the dining area. We were seated at the opposite end of the room. This made for a long walk and careful navigation (especially while carrying plates) between chairs, tables & other diners. Our table was by the window which was pleasant. <br/>I started off with the seafood station which offered prawns, oysters, clams, smoked salmon, sushi & raw fish and a variety of salads. (Also my worst nightmare, tinned dolmades! They seem to feature at every buffet I’ve been to!) <br/>It always amazes me peoples behaviour at buffets - especially where there are prawns & oysters on offer. There seems to be an irrational fear that they will run out, so patrons grab as much as they can while they can. I stood behind a chap for minutes while he nearly cleaned up the prawn platter. He piled on a whole dinner size plate of them. Could he possibly eat them all? Graciously he left three behind for me. The prawns were plump & fresh. I found the oyster quite strong, tasting metallic. I enjoyed the clams & salmon though. Next I tried the Asian station - couple of insipid looking stir fries and steam baskets with dumplings & bao. Unfortunately the dumplings appeared to be commercial not house made. They were rubbery & the fillings mushy. The Indian section a couple of interesting curries & chicken tikka. This was rather dry & salty. After a long pause I tried the carvery / hot selection. Again peoples behaviour is appalling. There was a distinct queue formed but some diners came in from the other end or squeezed into gaps in the line. The woman behind me was so anxious to get to the food that she took the tongs directly from my hand rather than wait for me to put them down. At one stage she got so close to me my elbow ended up in her plate! I tried the roast lamb which was a bit overcooked & chewy, some roasted & steamed veggies which were fine. That was me done. After another long break I perused the dessert station. Lots of delicate little cream & chocolate cakes & slices, various puddings, chocolate fountain, ice cream & fresh fruit. I opted for a few slices of fruit & a scoop of a refreshing mango sorbet. Completely stuffed at this point I vowed never to do another buffet! Overall the food & selection good but nothing exceptional. At the weekday lunch price of $64pp including a complimentary wine (& offer of 4hrs parking) it represented good value. The service was friendly, prompt & efficient in clearing up plates & taking drinks orders.

Food wasn't bad. Service was good. Selection of food was limited - the lychee dessert was awesome. It was good to try once because it was somewhere I had always wanted to take my family but I would not come back again. + The view isn't as amazing as I had thought it would be. You can get better value for your money somewhere else. Went on a weekday for dinner.

Nice place for a special Occasion with a great view but they should be more generous with the oysters xD

Honestly, it was very disappointing. Have had Buffett breakfasts all over the world and this one was just... average.<br/>The restaurant itself is beautiful, gorgeous setting, attentive staff and nice coffee.<br/>The array and selection of food is perfect, not as varied as overseas, but more than enough. All pretty standard stuff. The food itself though is tasteless and lack lustre. The only thing Thant ‘wowed’ me we’re the delicious pastries.<br/><br/>Not the experience I was looking forward to, but not unenjoyable either.

Loved the experience. It was very crowded when I went which slowed the service of tea and coffee. Otherwise fantastic and I’ll come again!

Good food and quality food! Freshness is number one, seafood mainly oyster and other seafood are nice but others are just okay, if you’re a fan of fresh seafood, this is a good place to go, otherwise it’s not really worth the price

Ambience and food was excellent. The service, however, could be better. Booked a table for 6 people for my 21st and they incorrectly charged us extra for wine when we only ordered sparkling water. Staff have not apologised and in fact gave us an attitude for it which made no sense to me.

I went to crown today for my best friend’s birthday to do the lunch-time buffet and it exceeded my expectations. I was asked straight away if I had any dietary requirements (which I am vegan) and so (I think it was) the head chef who took me around and showed me everything that was vegan... and there was several options. (Curries, sushi, noodles, gyozas, salads, roast veggies, vegan desserts, bread). He also made me my own vegan pasta and more vegan desserts which were both equally incredible and much appreciated. The service was fast, the space was clean and the food options were extensive and very good for vegans and non-vegans (my friend). I will definitely be coming back!

Love a good high tea with friends! The cakes were the best! I highly recommend here for a lovely experience.

Doesn’t stand up to its reputation imo. Not much variety to choose from, and lots only decent at best. <br/>Seafood seemed pretty fresh and was good quality however I don’t eat seafood which is a shame. Wish they added a few more non-seafood dishes to accomodate different people. <br/>The steak? was a bit tough. <br/><br/>Nice atmosphere though. <br/>Some of the desserts were good. Would recommend trying out the desserts.

We’ve always wanted to go to Conservatory for a special occasion and finally we were able to come here to celebrate our 2nd year anniversary on a Sunday night for dinner. It was $109 pp. The atmosphere was quite lovely and staff were attentive when we finished our food to clear the plates. There was not much food variety. Our favourite section was the seafood. We had many plates of mussels, oysters, crab, clams and tiger prawns. Other sections were alright. The dessert section was quite disappointing as the dessert cups looked good however upon giving them a taste, it was not good. We did however enjoy the fondue with different types of chocolate. Overall the buffet was just an average experience. We could probably have a better AYCE at another place for a cheaper price.

You would think that paying over a 100 a head would get you better than the average buffet. Unfortunately, this isn't the case here at Conservatory. In saying that, the prawns and oysters were nice and fresh. But the roast pork left a lot to be desired. It. Was. So. Dry. Everything else was just average. I tried the majority of the desserts and the stand-outs were the cheesecake and sorbets<br/><br/>Would I came back? Probably not

Conservatory is the most beautiful buffet restaurant I ever been in Melbourne. The restaurant ambience was amazing follow by the food is Yum and the service is outstanding. There are many type of foods to choose from including range of dietary requirements. Always feel satisfied after walk out from here.

A delicious experience with a buffet of the highest quality. The food is outstanding. An amazing range of foods including Indian, chinese, Italian, middle eastern etc. There is something for everyone here. The seafood range is fantastic too. The desserts and cakes are excellent too. Pace yourself and take plenty of time. Highly recommended.

Beautiful restaurant located in Crown that attracts a large diverse crowd, hungry for not only the food but the lovely experience this buffet provides. The service was impeccable, with wait staff constantly patrolling between the tables - there was not an empty dish that wasn't cleared or a half-empty glass that wasn't filled. The food was of above average quality, nothing exemplary, but the variety was vast and the quantity was immeasurable - the true definition of a good buffet. Beautiful place with beautiful food, who can complain?

4.5<br/>Such a beautiful surrounding at The Conservatory. The staff on the day were so attentive and service was top notch. We went on a Wednesday lunch so $64 a head including a drink was great value. The drink was ok but not great. This comes with free parking 4 hours but if you have the dough to spend get the valet parking at the Atrium entrance especially if you have elderly guests. Anyways we splashed on a bottle of Yarra Valley Chandon Brut that I think was $70. Fabulous choice it tasted wonderful.  <br/><br/>Food wise you have a good choice but I love oysters and ate a stack of them. The staff do very well keeping the food stocked at all times and the plates cleared. The cheeses, anchovies and smoked salmon were my next choices but the cheese might be better left to late in your meal so they warm a little then their flavours really come out. There were prawns and mussels and plenty of varieties of cold cuts of meat. I sampled some curries and asian cuisines all fine but not spectacular. What was spectacular was the carvery. Wow the beef they served was as soft juicy and flavourful as the best Ive had. I went back for more and my friend agreed that it was sublime. Then on to desserts. I was pretty disappointed with all the little desserts but head straight to the chocolate fountain it was brilliant and they also had icecream cones if thats your fancy. Such a lovely way to spend lunch and the setting and the staff really make it special.

I'm usually not a fan of buffets. I'd much rather a joint that's specializing in their own cuisine but there's something about conservatory that's just so WOW.<br/><br/>Went for the Thursday dinner ($95.00) for adult pricing.<br/><br/>Incredibly expensive but such an interesting array of food. There's an indian cuisine section with papadum (my weakness), next to a little but of asian dimsum. For some reason, the chicken dimsim really hit home for me 🥢.<br/><br/>The ceilings and atmosphere was incredibly high, both in feature and standards, and it was just a really nice dining experience. Would definitely come back for a special occasion!<br/><br/>Can I just say - the crab. Holy heckin moly. They season it somehow where the meat inside the crab is SEASONED to perfection. Fresh tasting, with an insane hunger to have more. Me and my family were big fans!

Food glorious food!<br/>The conservatory brings out a great spread. I'd never been but was always keen to go. Finally got a chance for my birthday.<br/><br/>The room is beautiful and ornate with chandeliers, mirrors and the backdrop of the murky yarra is hidden at night amongst the city lights.<br/><br/>The food is a mix of Western and Asian flavours- seafood, curry, pasta, dumplings, soup... I also appreciated that there were made up salads and the separate ingredients too for those with dietary requirements.<br/><br/>I overcompensated with the food so I didnt try much dessert. The chocolate fondue fountains however are enchanting and brought out the child in me.<br/><br/>I'd probably go back but save it for special occasions.

Truly enjoyable service! <br/>Booked on open table and requested a window seat and had such a lovely view of the city.<br/>Food was delicious and for the type of buffet, there were enough options to choose from. Loved the truffle mash, glazed carrots and pasta options. Will be back !

We decided to pretend we were tourists in our own city and try the buffet breakfast at Crown Conservatory! For $45 this was a great price for all the inclusions and I didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day! They’ve got everything covered, Coffee, tea, Asian Station (dumplings etc), Hot food (omelettes to order, baked beans), muesli with all the trimmings, breads and pastries and of course chocolate, waffles and pancakes - yum!!

One of the best buffet in Melbourne. A very good price with such great variety of food<br/><br/>Tasty food:<br/>Prawn salad and other salad<br/>Ginseng Chicken soup<br/>Roast beef<br/>Great ice cream <br/><br/>Need to improve<br/>Cured kingfish is very dry <br/>Sushi quality is bad <br/>Very average dessert <br/>

Probably one of the most beautiful buffet I have ever been. I was kind of hoping for the space to be larger and more variety of food but received none. But the space was big and fitted many tables. The interior was very beautiful, even the tables and chairs felt glamorous.<br/><br/>My rating is mostly determined by the scenery. I love the window view of the city, especially at night. The food was definitely good and good quality. Many things to choose from. I think it changes daily. There were seafood, meats, sushi, sashimi, cheese, bread, dim sums, rice dishes, noodles, soups and desserts. Definitely a long list.<br/><br/>The buffet highlight a couple of cuisines, noticeably Asian, such as Indian and Chinese. There was a separate dessert section, with a chocolate fountain, both white and milk chocolate. This section also included lollies, macaroons, cakes and ice cream. The desserts were too sweet for me and I didn’t enjoy the cakes as much. However, I loved the ice cream.<br/><br/>The food and service overall was good. Weirdly, my favourite food there was the truffle and mushroom soup. It was rich and flavourful. I enjoyed the buffet, scenery and experience with my family.<br/><br/>Although it can be pricey, it was a nice one in awhile experience.

I came to the Conservatory with one of my best friends for her birthday. The food was amazing, there was lots to choose from. <br/><br/>My friend is quite a sugar addict so when it came to dessert we went a little crazy. The little desserts were delicious and beautifully presented. The atmosphere was beautiful and everywhere looked very clean and fancy. <br/><br/>Would definitely recommend coming to the Conservatory, I absolutely loved my experience!

Would recommend ! Decent price for seafood night, had a lot of lobster crayfish so was worth it. Would recommend if you were dining with family and friends. Not really a date night type of place

This was my first time here; I came here for my best friend&#039;s 21st.&nbsp;<br/><br/>Walking in, we were greeted by a lovely staff member who showed us the food options and showed us to our table which was along the window side overlooking the city. Nice view.&nbsp;<br/><br/>I ate an array of meats and vegetables. The Indian and Asian sections were very nice but the dessert section was a 10/10. There was a lot to choose from including chocolate fountains, ice cream, cakes and fruit. My friend and I ate quite a lot and were very pleased. The price was $99 which I found a little bit expensive however I may be back possibly for lunch as it is cheaper at that time of the day.

Loved the interior here!! The food however was not as good as I had anticipated. The highlight for me was that they had movenpick ice cream and a chocolate fountain- other than that, the desserts looked better than they tasted. Not really worth the price but it was a nice experience.

Went on the last day for Paul Thiéblemont's Afternoon Tea In London. He is Executive Pastry Chef visiting from the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.<br/><br/>Overall both savoury and sweets are delicious. Took a star out for non attentive service from the waiters. Have to ask a couple of times to refill tea.<br/><br/>Here are the menu items:<br/><br/>Tonka: Pain de Genes chocolate, raspberry jam, tonka crémeux, Li Chu mousse<br/>Underground: Flourless sponge (GF), rice crispy praline, orange crémeux, caramel chocolate mousse<br/><br/>Yorkshire Tart: sweet vanilla paste, lemon frangipane, raspberry & rhubarb jelly, vanilla crémeux, almond streusel<br/><br/>Battenberg cake: two-by-two check patterned sponge cake, strawberry gel, strawberry buttercream<br/><br/>Pistachio & cherry cake: pistachio sponge, cherry jam<br/><br/>Raspberry and crème fraiche: fresh raspberries, raspberry jam, sable breton, Aneo mousse<br/><br/>Apricot & almond tarte: frangipane, apricot jam, vanilla Chantilly crème<br/><br/>Oryola & pear – vanilla sable, pear mousse, Oryola ganache, milk chocolate & almond glaze<br/><br/>Espresso dome: chocolate sable, tiramisu mousse, coffee, milk chocolate glaze<br/>Braeburns finger: hazelnut sable, caramelized apple, vanilla Chantilly, fresh granny smith apple<br/><br/>Yuzu & hazelnut gateaux: hazelnut sable, yuzu crémeux, hazelnut mousse, milk chocolate glaze<br/><br/>Peach & verbena: biscuit, peach & verbena jelly, verbena mousse, white chocolate coating<br/><br/>Bakewell tart: gingerbread biscuit, plum jelly, orange drizzle<br/><br/>Eton Mess Verrine: Vegan recipe<br/><br/>

Would definitely recommend coming here for breakfast at least once. Selection is varied and good service.<br/><br/>The space itself is beautiful. Go treat yourself

Enjoyed lunch with the cousins and wanted to enjoy a bit of a fancy fare. The conservatory was certainly a great place to enjoy a great range of asian cuisine as well as roasts and the great seafood offer too. The Indian fare was a little lacklustre though. But with the dessert station and the chocolate fountain this made up for it.<br/>Lack of photos as I totally forgot to take them oops.

There's not much to add to what has already been said about this iconic buffet at the Crown casino. It was actually reasonably priced for a weekday lunch and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and range of food available. <br/><br/>There were prawns, fresh oysters, mussels and a multitude of cheeses plus crackers with cold meats and beautiful salads...and that was just the entree section of the buffet! The Indian offerings were excellent in particular the garlic naan and chicken tikka. There were mini pulled beef burgers, roast lamb, pasta and spicy prawns. I loved the DIY curry chicken noodle station. <br/><br/>The dessert station was overwhelming. The movenpick ice creams were creamy. There was a wide range of cakes and slices. <br/><br/>Service was top notch. Plates were cleared quickly and our water glasses were never empty. What a lovely experience!

Went for breakfast today and WOW what options !! I haven’t had breakfast at the conservatory for years we normally eat in the crystal club but the selection today was amazing and the service was very good as well . I will be back

It’s been a while since I’ve dined at Conservatory and I must say that the renovations were lovely. Can imagine doing the High Tea here.<br/><br/>However on this night, we had their buffet dinner. Pretty good selection of savoury, cold, seafood and desserts. Would have liked it if there was more variety in the curry selection and for there to be fresh sashimi like salmon. And though the Peking duck appeared to be wrapped on the spot, the duck was not what I’d expect as the duck skin wasn’t crisp, the whole ensemble was at times soggy and loose and the wrap itself tasted hard. <br/><br/>The table staff were very efficient and polite.

If you’re not a fan of buffets you will be surprised by the Crown’s Conservatory. Recently renovated decor provides an elegant and sophisticated place to hold a simple gathering or special occasion. The choice of seafood, western, asian and dishes are of international standard. If you are a Crown card hold don’t forget to ask for your birthday surprise! Reservations always recommended!

really nice! loved the look of the restaurant, and the staff were always extremely helpful too 😊 the food was so delicious! so many different cuisines and so much to choose from, i really wanted to try everything but my stomach was sooooo full!! downside is that it's obviously a bit pricey, but it's definitely worth it and you get what you pay for.

BREAKFAST REVIEW:<br/><br/>If you're after a buffet of champions, breakfast at Conservatory is where you need to be. With a selection of breakfast choices including hot stuff (eggs made to your request, sausages, bacon) and sweets including pancakes, waffles and a chocolate fountain! You can also grab fresh juices and fruit as well as bircher muesli, fresh pastries, porridge and a selection of cheeses. Don't forget to go for gold on the coffee and tea!<br/><br/>Basically, this place lets you feel like a queen in your own city! The restaurant looks out over the Yarra river and the CBD so there's no need to complain about your view! <br/><br/>The staff often seem preoccupied and are quite tardy from experience of the multiple times I've dined here for breakfast!<br/><br/>All in all, get ready to eat your heart out... you'll probably need to visit the hotel gym after you are finished!

Came here for their high tea buffet, and whilst the surrounds and restaurant itself was gorgeous, the selection of food was severely lacking and the various dishes were pretty safe and lacking in flavour. Hard to recommend given the high price, and not sure how much better a lunch or dinner buffet would be.

Went there for lunch on the 12th of May (Mother’s Day on a Sunday). I have never been before, but decided to treat my whole family for a nice lunch. Prices were set to $190pp, but I’ve seen so many pictures online and reviews that I decided to give it a shot. <br/><br/>The overall food selection was horrible. There were not a whole variety of hot dishes, but a whole section on salads and cheese. (I’m paying basically $200pp, so I wasn’t going to be filling myself up on salads). The food was just average, nothing special. <br/><br/>Along with the Mother’s Day package, each guest were given a box of 6 macaroons, which was nice. However, the due date was 5 days later... so the 17th. I’m not sure how often you can keep macaroons for... but surely more than 5 days right? <br/><br/>There were also no self serve on drinks. All beverages were ordered separately at the bar. <br/><br/>I spent $950 for 5 people on that day. It was definitely NOT worth it and will be my first and last time going there.

Been the to the Conservatory many times over the years but probs won’t be back after last night. The staff are polite and accommodating and the surrounds are beautiful. My issue is that the quality of the food has gone down hill. The seafood my partner was eating was not fresh and the choices of hot food were of ok quality. The desserts have always been a bit different so no change there. The salads were also looking a bit tired.

The restaurant is nice and the staff are also nice and polite. However I believe over the years the quality of food has gone down, the variety isn’t as good and the seafood not as fresh.

generally nice but the variety of dishes is a little bit less...very good service and a nice environment. I hope to been there again. But for lunch menu, it seems no salmon sashimi?

Elegant, stylish, classy and luxurious. Crown’s Conservatory sets the standard in high end hotel buffets.<br/><br/>My family and I went to the first session on Saturday night and were eager to get stuck into a big session of seafood. There was a great array of options, from prawns, mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, sushi and sashimi. All were well cooked and prepared. The prawns were memorable. The small(er) prawns were so sweet and juicy you could eat trays of it. <br/><br/>However the biggest disappointment was the spanner crabs. When you go to a high end buffet and pay over $120 per person the seafood needs to be the star. Especially the crabs. Unfortunately what a let down. The crabs were tasteless! And the meat was watery! Not good! It had seemed these crabs were supplied frozen from a factory, thawed, rinsed, cooked and probably rinsed in water again. I may as well had been eating air because the highlight was non existent. <br/><br/>The hot food was of a good quality. They had Indian, Chinese, roasts, pastas, baked salmon and others that you would normally find. There was nothing wow about this section but certainly enough variety to be full if cold seafood was not your go. <br/><br/>The desserts section was also well catered, however they only had about 3 ice cream flavours, they probably could’ve done a bit better there.<br/><br/>The service was professional, attentive and had enough staff there to ensure your needs were met. We definitely had a good time and left feeling very very full, but the crabs being disappointing definitely made me feel mission unaccomplished - as I was looking forward to it the most! <br/><br/>I give my dining experience 4 stars, if they improved on a few areas then 5 stars would be achievable. I would however go back, only for special occasions and I would hope the disappointing crabs were just a one off.

I went to conservatory for birthday meal. I booked the seat 2 days before and received the confirmation. But the manager didn’t find my booking information. They let us stand at the entrance waiting for long time. It really ruins my mood! Even they add a seat later, but the seat is kind of in the corridor!<br/>For the food, not much. You can try everything after two rounds. <br/><br/>🔸食物方面，大概走两圈就可以都吃一遍了😂食物品种不多，并且都没有生鱼片‼️只有熏的三文鱼。个人最喜欢的是生蚝，并且真的很新鲜～其他食物普普通通，虽然东西不多，但还有一点饮茶点心（3种而已）和印度咖喱什么（感觉是硬要添的两种菜系）甜点相对来说还是比较多的。总体来说，就是来体验一下吧，价格一半都是为了环境付的，食物的话，喜欢海鲜的还是去china bar吧，吃的更爽。<br/><br/>

Came here for birthday dinner.<br/><br/>Lovely food with beautiful views. A great place to celebrate a special occasion.<br/><br/>A large variety of food. Great service.<br/><br/>Will definitely be back to try their lunch and hightea menu.

Step into the opulent surrounds of Conservatory, Melbourne's finest and most indulgent buffet destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Southbank, Conservatory offers a diverse and exciting spread of international cuisine to inspire and delight every palate. With it's stunning Yarra views, marble floors and lavish décor, Conservatory is as much a feast for the eyes as it is the stomach. No bookings available for breakfast, walk-in only. Afternoon tea, lunch and dinner reservations are essential.

Visited March 2019<br/><br/>Buffet style Restaurant.. Booking place are recommended<br/><br/>Location : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Table/Space : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Room Decorations : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Foods Variety : ⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Dessert : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Hospitality : ⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Fast Service : ⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/><br/>Price : for Lunch Service<br/>Adult $59.00<br/>Child $29.50

Came here to celebrate my recent birthday on the premises it had high expectations from other reviews. I was not disappointed with the outcome, the food was fresh, warm and was exactly what I was looking for. The overall selection of food wasn’t huge but there is more than enough to satisfy even picky eaters. The cold food was super impressive with lots to choose from such as salads, cheeses, prawns, salmon which as stated above was beyond fresh. The warm food was good but didn’t blow me off my feet but this was redeemed with their famous dessert bar which boasts lots of different cakes , ice cream and a chocolate fountain. Overall a great experience the only downfall was the wait on cocktails which sometimes took over 15-20 minutes which didn’t match the fast pace of a buffet making it hard to line up your drink with your meal. Would recommend to anyone who wants to experience an upper market buffet.

How this place is managing to maintain such a high rating is very surprising. Very average buffet food which is not suitable for the $109 per head price tag. Coffee after the meal was also bitter and lukewarm. Vastly overrated and overpriced, suggest a menu overhaul to keep up with the level of quality currently attainable at higher end Melbourne restaurants. Will not be back.

We were here our Work lunch, buffet lunch here we come ... what an amazing variety and beautiful decoration.. they also gave us free parking for dining with them. It was so busy that time however service never lacked at all ... my favourite was there desserts! Such a beautiful place with amazing food and fantastic service.

The interior of this place is so nice 😍 <br/><br/>I loved all their buffet options !! Everything was so fresh, flavourful and TASTY!! The oysters in particular are super creamy , I just kept having more.<br/><br/>Also the desserts are super delicate. I’d recommend the matcha red bean tart 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Great selection of seafood and Asian staples such as roast duck and crispy pork belly. <br/>Also offering a wide range of desserts, you are sure to find something to your liking.

Came here to celebrate my anniversary with my partner. The ambiance is really nice. Service is great and they kindly to provide us “happy anniversary card” which is a nice touch from them. Food is pretty good and has lots of selection. <br/><br/>Will I be back? Mybe future anniversary?

One of my favourite place to eat in melbounre<br/>Meat is so tender and nice<br/><br/>I have eaten here a fair bit and Everytime it's a good atmosphere staff are very friendly and helpful.<br/>I'll never forget the experience where I cut meat with a sooon. Worth the price in every way

Selection may not be as broad as some buffets but the quality was really impressive. Lovely ambiance and service. Price is on the higher end but still pretty worth it.

I came here for Saturday lunch with my partner. Service was good but the food selection was lacklustre and nothing really stood out. Seafood wasn’t fresh - oysters were small and gritty, crab wasn’t very flavourful but prawns were good though. Dessert variety was good but they didn’t do enough to keep the ice cream cold enough. Overall, too expensive for the quality and variety of food.

Upper class high tea at its finest 👌🏻 legit best high tea we’ve ever experienced, it is pricey but it is so worth it! They top up frequently with tea refills and sangas/scones. Highly recommend if you’re ever visiting melbourne!

Definitely one of the beautifully designed buffet I've ever been to. It is always lovely to come back and to be seated on their white comfy chairs.<br/><br/>There may be a fair variety of food served but when it comes down to you actually eat... it always seems like there is very limited variety. I suppose it may be because of personal preference?<br/><br/>Favourite: Their dessert bar is always very beautifully set up.<br/><br/>The chocolate fountain is very fun and entertaining because you rarely see fountains like that anymore.<br/><br/>Food: 3.5/5<br/>Service: 3.5/5<br/>Ambiance: 4/5

Where all you can eat buffet is concerned, this one is top notch, a good variety of food, all fresh and tasty, my favourite by far.<br/>The look and feel of the place is very elegant, the service was also very good.<br/>I was also surprises to learn that the baby high chairs were the same as the one we use at home (steelcraft) and not your cheapo $20 kmart ones.

Paid $95 pp weekday dinner. My partner and I had to make a reservation booking 3 hours before dinning. Beware, cancellation payment would be required.<br/><br/>WORTH IT. Do not even hesitate to eat here. The food was at the highest quality from fresh seafood, sushi, salads, cheese, European, Chinese, Indian and dessert was FAB. Considering the restaurant was under Crown Towers, it’s costumer service was also 5 stars. The waiters fill your water before it ever finishes, your table and plates tidied before you get back after each plate rounds. <br/><br/>You would be mistaken to skip this dinning experience.

This place was to die for. The food was amazing, loads of choice from seafood to salads or Asian to Indian and western foods, we were spoilt for choice. The deserts were simply yet delicious, I would rather a small selection of amazing sweets over a large selection of mediocre deserts and the conservatory definitely delivered with simple yet tasty treats. Service was immaculate, decor was beautiful and the views spectacular. Highly recommend for a night out with the friends. Big thumbs up

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Ambiance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/>Value: ⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/><br/>Fantastic service as soon as you walk in. We were ushered to our seat and was offered the drink menu straight away. The waiter cleared our plates and folded our cloth napkins as soon as we walked away from our table. Very meticulous service from the waitering staff. <br/><br/>The food was very high quality with a selection from different cuisines like Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese and Western. A fantastic selection of seafood, salads, cheese and desserts were also available. I particularly enjoyed the Salmon and Lamb Shank. <br/><br/>Overall, an excellent place for special occasions, or even just a fancy night out.

I was stunned with the décor of the resrtaurant.<br/>When we walked in, there is a choc fountain on the left, then the hot food starting indian food, Asian, western. Price is a little on high side.<br/>plenty of food to try.

Wouldn’t recommend if you’re not a seafood fan because the other dishes aren’t that great. Wouldn’t really say it’s worth the price but the decor is lovely and the desserts are to die for. Staff are very attentive and regularly clear your tables.

If I feel like having buffet, this is the place to go.<br/>They have great selection of cold starter, wide selection of cuisine from sushi to cured meats.<br/>Main course with different cuisine, i really enjoy the seafood night om Ffiday night!!

If you’re looking for that special something, this is the place. This beautiful Art Deco dining hall offers a beautiful dining experience coated in Tiffany Blue! We went to there Summer High Tea which was absolutely incredible. The food quality was to a high standard, and there was such an array of delectable treats! Check out my images to see my wonderful experience!!

The ambience created by the interior is amazing. We went for dinner on a Saturday night so it was very busy. The prawns were extremely fresh but very salty, and the lines were very long to have fresh oysters. Overall, the seafood was nice, however, given the price tag attached to the buffet, we will likely not go again.

I have been here for several times, service is professional, sea foods are fresh. <br/>Haven’t found anything special. <br/>The decoration is good though. <br/>

There are such a big variety of food to choose from as well as it was many different types of cuisine to suit just about everyone . There was Western to Asian food the wide spread give more options which is what a buffet is all about. The food was amazing everything was cooked to perfection. It is worth the price tag and would definitely come back.

This buffet is probably the best buffet in Melbourne. I loved their food as there were rich flavours from three main cuisines. I enjoyed the different bars and they had a AMAZING dessert bar perfect for anyone at any age. The staff were extremely friendly and the interior of the restaurant were beautiful.<br/><br/>I would definitely come here again!

the food really wasn’t that good, had to pay extra for drinks after the hefty price tag for abysmal food, wouldn’t have been an issue had the food have been better.

Ambience was good, a big upgrade from the old Smorgys!  Middle class clientele meant that you didn't see anyone inappropriately sticking their fingers in the food (aside from little kids).  Good range I guess, although there was nothing that I ate that was particularly exciting.  Very limited range of sushi, none that was made with my favourite filling salmon.  Desserts ok, would have liked a little fruit topped custard tart, creme brulee.  Tried a mini lemon meringue pie and was very disappointed as it had chocolate in it and didn't taste very lemony.   We were in and out in an hour so a very expensive dinner at $95 per head (plus drinks).  Something to try once but I wouldn't go again at that price as we really didn't get anything special to eat for that price.  Fascinating watching the guy sitting next to us spend at least 30 minutes eating prawns and more prawns - guess he was trying to get his moneys worth!

I absolutely love this place and will be definitely coming next time for a good quality food satisfaction. My absolute favourites were the dessert, it was amazingly good felt like i was in heaven haha quite exaggerated but it’s the only words i could discribed it! absolutely worth the money :)

Update: Conservatory no longer serves lobster in their Friday night buffet. You can still purchase lobster, but pre-ordered at $35 per serve. Unfortunately, this makes the price difficult to justify.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Honestly, it's difficult to get your money's worth when buffet dining in Melbourne compared to other cities like Singapore or Hong Kong. But Conservatory's Friday night seafood buffet comes close if you're wise about what you fill your stomach with.<br/><br/>This is mostly due to the grilled half lobsters that come out nice and quickly throughout the night, enough to cater to the demand of hoards of eyeing patrons. And the lobster wasn't dry or overcooked either; it was pretty silky and plump. They weren't huge lobsters but you can always go back for more. And because of how quickly they are being refilled, there's a very good chance you can eat as much as you want by the end of the night and there's never a long queue.<br/><br/>Other good selections to binge on are the smoked salmon, scallop ceviche, king prawns, and crab legs. No soft shelled crab, sashimi or whole scallops though. There's also a decent selection of salads, hot foods, Asian dishes and of course desserts. I tend to avoid 'filler' foods like carbs but I guess part of the fun of a buffet is being able to try all sorts of food, so whatever floats your boat.<br/><br/>Ambience is nice and classy, but not stuffy, and staff are reasonably attentive and friendly (not that there's much reason for them to attend to you here other than clear your plates).<br/><br/>Last I checked the seafood buffet cost just over $100 per person, there are 2 shifts and only available on Friday evenings. One of the better places for a worthwhile buffet in Melbourne.

I honestly expected way more choices for the price. The food was pretty good. Some of it was really good, some of it was ok.<br/><br/>It was nice to finally tick it off the list though. And if you love seafood, then you will love it.<br/><br/>Staff were lovely and plenty of table space, even on a two seat table. So excellent for people like me who grab two big plates instead of one.<br/>Would I go again? Yes, if someone else pays.

Went to the Conservatory on Tuesday night for dinner. <br/>Beautiful decor and perfect position overlooking the Yarra River. <br/>Adult buffet was $95 each plus drinks so you expect it to be pretty good for those dollars. Overall it was fairly good. Cold seafood buffet included oysters, crabs and prawns. There was hot Indian food and also some other dishes including fish and salads.<br/>The dessert bar had a good range including the white and dark chocolate fountain.<br/>There is another establishment not far away who also do an upmarket buffet as well and I think it is only slightly better than this one in that it has a slightly bigger variety of food.<br/>Service was good and overall pretty impressed.

The spread was decent, <br/>Super busy and delicious Oysters and the chocolate fountain was a winner.<br/>Nice Chef on the buffet with friendly advice

Lunch at Conservatory was an excellent buffet spread, which reminded me of the buffets we used to enjoy with our relatives in Hong Kong. There was a wide range of dishes to suit all kinds of tastebuds and a big appetite for Asian, Western, Eastern and Indian cuisines. The dessert bar featured a chocolate fountain and many sweet delights. The food were presented nicely and prepared with high quality produce, and everything was delicious. The main attraction of the buffet for me would be the seafood bar - the natural oysters in particular were delectable, and very popular so I wasn't the only one who thought so. At $109 per person for the lunch buffet, it was expensive, so it's definitely a special occasion treat.

White or milk chocolate fountain? Both please! Great fondue for strawberries, marshmallows and fruits! <br/><br/>I've been to this place for lunch and dinner. They have an ok variety of food and selection. Their desserts are very nicely made. Hot food is so so.

Family visited Saturday for lunch. Very pleasant atmosphere and comfortable table layout & seating. Good selection of food from cold dishes including seafood throughly to hot dishes of traditional roasts, Italian, Asian and Indian. <br/>The quality of choice and food is excellent for a buffet. The best I have experienced and the rest of our table agreed. Highlight for me was the beautiful seafood including sashimi & the Peking duck. I’m not a desert person but really enjoyed the selection and varied flavors. <br/>2 of our party had dietary requirements. Vegetarian and nut allergies. The staff spent time showing what could be eaten and what to avoid and even produced a selection plate of deserts for each.<br/>I would have rated it higher except for the following. It’s expensive. I know you get what you pay for but it’s up there. Made me think maybe would it have been better down stairs in another one of the high class restaurants. Alcohol was expensive so we drank water and went for a drink in one of the many bars later. There was also an accident with a full glass of soft drink tipped over one of our party. Very apologetic. Got the jacket dry cleaned while we ate and got a discount. But it did taint the experience.

Price was step but the food selection was well above great , staff a bit snobby , a touch rude , but hay that’s this industry one or the other right . We all have a rough night . All up enjoyable dinner . I will return

went to this place for my 21st birthday dinner with friends and I completely fell in love with this place. The ambience is just perfect. I believe I am short in words to express how great this place is. The dinner was amazing. The range and variety in food just over satisfy everyone’s taste buds. The staff members are on toes and just gives an ultimate experience. <br/>Would definitely recommend it to everyone I know<br/>And would be going there more often now.

This place has such a lovely ambiance, I loved the chocolate fountain. Didn’t eat any but it was lovely to watch and mesmerizing (weird I know)! Food was great quality and service was equally great! You really get what you pay for!

Really excellent breakfast eatery.  Incredible selection from the buffet, with attentive and polite service and a great vibe.  Definitely worth a weekend brunch visit, or excellent for an upscale corporate meeting.

My daughter brought me here for the new Circus themed High Tea and it was amazing! At first, I thought the $70 price seemed overly expensive but it was all-you-can-eat and there are SO many desserts to choose from! I couldn't believe how diverse the buffet was! We had everything from chocolates to crepes, ice cream, scones (not to mention, unlimited savoury options like mini pies and finger sandwiches)<br/><br/>The venue was accommodating for wheelchair access and the staff were friendly. The venue is gorgeous as well, very spacious, light and clean. Service for tea/coffee was a little slow and they forgot to bring my daughter a mug for her tea, twice, but otherwise it was a faultless experience!