TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in Australia - Updated November 2024

Donovans

86/100 (1987 ratings)

Restaurants

Contemporary

Australian

Seafood

Gluten Free Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Vegan Options

Seafood

Contemporary

Gluten Free Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Vegan Options

Dinner

Lunch

Meringue

Pasta

Salad

Lamb

Crab

Pesto

Scallops

Fish

Duck

Pork

Oyster

Risotto

Mussels

Salmon

Shrimp

Fish & Chips

Beef

Prawns

Fish & chips

Sit down

Contemporary

Seafood

Australian

Full Bar

Free Wifi

Accepts Credit Cards

Accepts Mastercard

Accepts Visa

Reservations

Private Dining

Seating

Accepts American Express

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Waterfront

Serves Alcohol

Wine and Beer

Highchairs Available

Dinner

Lunch

Fine Dining

"Went here with my family. We all got a slab of meat and the quality was top. We also loved the bread so we asked for more and more. There were a few..."

Sej

"It has been a long time since I last visited Donovan's, however the experience did not disappoint me! The seafood for what this place was famous for..."

Foodiee

"It’s best if you book first..."

Linh Lờ

"We dine quite often at Donovans - it is always at a high standard with service many other places can only dream of offering. Food quality is first..."

Marshall Segan

"Donovans is an iconic Melbourne institution located in St. Kilda. Modern Australian cuisine done properly. 🍽 tempura fried oysters with..."

SouthEastEater

"I’ve been wanting to try Donovan’s since the worth it steak episode and finally made a booking. We ordered oysters, chicken liver pate, and two..."

Eat Good Melbourne

"A Melbourne institution which does fine dining exceptionally well. The chicken pie, the scallops, the salmon blini and the tempura oyster are real..."

Sarah O

"Donovan’s was a rather iconic restaurant located in the St Kilda beach area, serving modern Australian cuisine. The view of the beach was amazing..."

Angel Khong

"Can’t believe I’ve not done a review for Donovan’s, the on-St-Kilda-Beach stalwart that I’ve been coming to for years!!You know I..."

Carmilla5

"Excellent setting on StKilda beach in what feels like a warm, cosy hut in winter. The service is excellent as you’d expect and the food is fresh...."

Whats On The Grill?

"Dined for dinner on Sunday night, surprise from hubby as I've always wanted to dine here. Started with appetiser of snapper & dill croquette, entree..."

I Love Food

"What can one say about a restaurant that truly puts so much effort into their food and environment.Not to mention the views from the..."

Christopher & Marian

"Amazing service. It was my mums birthday and they even brought out a small treat. Food was delicious and definitely worth the price. This place..."

Foodserra

"Perfect day. Perfect view of St Kilda beach. Perfectly friendly service. Perfectly astonishing food. 43rd marriage anniversary to a guy who’s..."

Sue Tinworth

"Excellent food and atmosphere. Service was great too. Would come back to eat and enjoy the lovely view. Nice for a dinner date if you want to take a..."

Wonderwoman

"Came here to celebrate my fiance's birthday. Got a window seat which was a bonus. The staff were welcoming, friendly and attentive. Beautiful food..."

Adrian P

"Birthday Dinner PerfectionHouse smoked salmon & scallops for entree so fresh & understated. Always good bread with butter & fava bean dip with a..."

Chefosaurus

"Love this restaurant. The location beside the beach is stunning, especially around sunset, and the interior is gorgeous, very relaxed and homey. The..."

Nalia

"a warm and inviting atmosphere with the feint smell of an open fire and lush warm timber finishes (wouldn’t be out of place on the snowfields, but..."

Srslyfoods

"I’ve been there twice and can’t wait to go back again. Ambience of this establishment - particularly on a glorious summer evening - is sublime...."

Closey Le Connoisseur

"Saw this place on Buzzfeed's worth it series and decided to give it a try. Was not disappointed and I can say the comments on the steak by Buzzfeed's..."

Jason Goh

"4.5 A nice classic beach house restaurant, serving fresh seafood and delicious easy going dish with the highest quality ingredients. The mussels are..."

Ran Jap

"Donovans is truly the authentic Melbourne taste and always the go-to option among foodies for special occasion. Best to request the seat on window..."

Lancelthebard

"Delicious food and excellent customer service! Nestled along the shore line is an casual, yet fine dining restaurant, Donovan’s. The food is..."

Hazey

"I went to this restaurant to celebrate my birthday, this is a magic place, is just on front of the beach, so the view is amazing! The staff is very..."

Diva Isabel Nebreda

"We recently had a nice lunch here. Small meals but quite nice flavour and super service. Lovely view on a nice day. Fancy bathrooms, worth a visit..."

Annika

"My husband and I just celebrated our wedding anniversary at Donovans and yes we had high expectations. We ordered two cocktails between us which took..."

Lozza MW

"Haven’t been here for years. Came by for a birthday dinner. It’s always a trustworthy crowd pleaser. Fresh seafood. Great service as usual...."

David Hewitt

"What a serene and unusually warm April day to try this St Kilda Institution. This was recommended by friends as a fine dining family friendly..."

Split The Bill

"One of our favourite dining spots, flexible menu and amazing service. Try their seafood marinara and risotto to die for. Love the warm breads and..."

Mi55Bee

"Best fish and chips I’ve had! The batter was so light and crispy, quality fish too. The in-house smoked salmon was also very good, not salty and..."

TD

"Donovans is our favourite special occasion restaurant in Melbourne for its combination of excellent food, atmosphere and service. Located on the..."

Explore.Melbourne

"Very pleasant dinning experience. All food tasted very nice, good potion size. Had the oyster, fresh and tasty.For starter, we shared the scallops..."

Sabrina Sha

"One of Melbourne’s best! Right in the water they have beautiful views and overly decking to enjoy a cocktail on a summer’s night. Make a booking..."

KnowingMelbourne

"I’ve been so excited to go to Donovans and finally went here last night for dinner on the 13/2. I booked a good 2-3 weeks earlier and asked if..."

Shaniyaprakash

"Always impeccable service, amazing food and always with a gorgeous view of the water. The butterflied prawns are a crowd fave and their eye fillet is..."

Melbourne To Mouth

"Growing up in Melbourne you walk past Donovan's on a hot day after a day at st kilda beach and wonder what's happening in this restaurant. I'm glad..."

Finger Lickin

"Came here for my partners birthday and we were both taken away by the food . I was really impressed with every dish that came out and the portions..."

Vivian

"We all know this restaurant has a great ocean view & the ambience is very comfortable. Their signature ice cream is a must order dish. The service..."

Sam

"A lovely iconic restaurant by the seaside (with an amazing view) with food that lives up to expectation. The staff are very friendly and..."

Marita Park

"Spent our anniversary night here. Had an amazing dinner with the T Bone steak and the Salmon dish. Both were cooked to perfection I was..."

Ashy Sheppard

"I had a work party here and the service was great. They were very thoughtful and also had a great laugh with us all night. Props to "Matt" being a..."

Andrew Mac

"Outstanding location with beautiful bayside views.Early week evening meal and friendly efficient service from all the staff attending to..."

Magpie

"Extremely pleased with the food here! Ordered the barramundi and it's cooked to perfection! My friend had the linguine and it's delectable yet..."

Chee Ching Low

"@Donovans I just can’t tell you how much joy I his place brings me, I want a beach house like this restaurants, it’s cosy, the decor is..."

Chronicles Of A Foodie

"Visited last week for birthday celebrations. It had been a number of years since our last visit. But these were milestone birthdays to celebrate. And..."

Peter W

"I went here for a friend's birthday dinner and had a great time! The service was great even though the place was packed, and the food was fantastic!..."

Komal Josan

"An incredible night. Wonderful food, fabulous wine recommendations and service that will take a lot of beating. Thank you Gail, Kevin and your..."

Ilona Way

"Donovans is located right by the beach and we had a lovely stroll before our meal. First impressions were the decor and coziness of the place; it was..."

Reuel

"We had dinner here last night and it was fantastic! Situated on the beach side of St Kilda, it is a very inviting place to have a meal. The service..."

Dills

"Cant beat Donovans - an institution.Great decor, great food, great location, know the owners well - great value for the overall..."

Dave B.

"Another fantastic meal, impeccable service a relaxed setting with friendly staff and a professionalism that keeps me coming back over the..."

James T.

"Awesome sunset view with great food! Enjoyed a really impressive birthday dinner there! Love the oyster! The old fashioned style chicken is..."

Jaime Eat&Fit

"Amazing beach views! A big space, good for all ages. Fun and 'beachy'. The service was friendly and the food was delicious, but not the best of the..."

Where'sTheFood

"I am not sure if there is a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than sitting at the window seat of Donovan's! Eye fillet was awesome and the bombe..."

MG

"St Kilda stalwart Donovans boasts a refined, seafood-focused menu and a knockout view of the bay. A pretty great place to celebrate your..."

Pasta Of Melbourne

"Came here around Dec (yes, a bit behind in reviews), with a bunch of friends. Nice environment. Food was nice. By this stage, I can't remember..."

Secret Taster

"Divine dining! This is definitely one of the greatest restaurants in Melbourne. Fantastic ambience, great setting, amazing food and excellent..."

Sharyn B

"Back in Melbourne after a four year break in London called for calling into an icon and a favourite. It was lunch on Sunday and we're surprised we..."

Gana

"This is my favorite restaurant! Its casual beachside boathouse decor makes you feel like your in someone's home, to quote a fellow patron I meet in..."

LifeExplorersClub

"Had the lamb shoulder for two, was delicious! Portion sizes were appropriate and staff attentive! Location is a stunner, right along the beach, view..."

Foodlover

"My husband had dinner here the other week and we had a wonderful experience.The Venue is so warm and inviting and the acoustics were great. We..."

Leanne Cassar

"I first heard of Donovans when the Bombe Alaska challenge was featured on Masterchef many years ago. I always wanted to come to try that dessert..."

Jolene Lim

"A company dinner bought me here. It was cold outside but warm and cosy inside with fireplace, not a bad date night venue. The white decor and wooden..."

Bun's Food Diaries

"Absolutely love the food at this famous Melbourne establishment. Positioned on the waterfront, my suggestion would actually be to book a late lunch..."

Caitlin White

"I think I've mentioned this before...I am a sucker for mussels. If it's on the menu, I'm all in. The mussels at Matteos did not disappoint. It was a..."

Fusspot Foodie

"This Place is a Must GO!Now this review and visit does take me back to the Second day that i was in Australia but a review worth writing..."

Just Jamie

"Having lived in StK for almost 20 years I FINALLY had my first meal at Donovans - yes it was expensive, but it was truly amazing. The pea soup is one..."

Matt Steadman

"By the ocean, Donovan's is a really relaxing place to go and have a great meal. The food was delicious and a very good wine selection make for a..."

Gursharan Chana

"Wow the food here is amazing and the view is spectacular! The bombe Alaska was fab! We have eaten here on a number of occasions and loved it every..."

Pinch Of Bacon

"Yum yum yum. Food was awesome, customer service by every single waiter and waitress was amazing, such a cozy beautiful, homey atmosphere by the..."

Mkoala

"Perfect dining experience. The linguine and king prawns are way beyond my expectation so is the price :) the whole lunch would be more enjoyable if..."

Chris Liu

"Located on the waterfront of St Kilda, spectacular views and very friendly service. However there was a long wait on food but it was well worth it as..."

Alana

"Fine dining, beautiful fresh seafood and views of St.Kilda beach. Can't go wrong with Donovans, deserts amazing, variety and friendly helpful..."

Rosie Raiti

"One of my favourite restaurants for all the right reasons.Firstly, a restaurant needs to be a dining experience and Donavans has the whole..."

Greg Foulds

"We live nearby so we had been meaning to come here for a while now. We decided to go last night for our anniversary and I have to say, from start the..."

Sztefani

"To me, a good restaurant not only for food and ambience, but also the quality.of the service. This restaurant obviously can offer you excellent..."

Margaret

"Love the atmosphere and mouth-watering fresh foods. I went to Donovans for business lunch and it was perfect choice. The service was excellent,..."

Pia Owen

"Haven't been here since the fire but all my previous times here have been awesome. Butterflied barbecued prawns are a big favourite but you could..."

Lachlan

"Service was sooo sooo sooo good!!!!Waiting time for dishes was not long,, it was just perfect !!! Waiter changed the plate after the..."

Cheryl Tam

"I've been in Donovans with friends, we were surprised in positive. The service is very kind and not invasive, the ambient is elegant but not too much..."

Simone Vignacci

"Incredible. Was expecting this to be more of your 'destination' restaurant where you go for the fame and the location but the food is nothing..."

Amy Fogs

"When you hear fine dining, you expect stiff staff members, freezing, museum-like restaurants with tiny portions and elevator music for 'ambiance'...."

Sammy Howarth

"Wonderful evening with my friends and their baby and little boy. This higher rating is because the food was delicious but also because the service..."

Some Like It Hot

"Went here for dinner on New Years Eve, service was 5 star as was the food. Even the potatoes were spectacular, every dish was a flavour bomb. Wine..."

Tiff & Co

"I love this place. My regular restaurant in st kilda. The food is lovely and the service is always good. Perfect for your anniversary dinner. Make..."

Vivian Tr

"Great customer service. Not much space between tables, the restaurant was full and very noisy during our meal. Food was good but I was expecting..."

Chan Christine

"Was there with my soul sister on Saturday night 11th June, food was great, ambience was classy yet warm, and we have met the best waitress ever her..."

Kim Sin

"First class modern Australian cuisine leaning towards and keeping representing (Italian) melbourne food heritage; highlighting fresh seafood treated..."

E L

"Food was tasty but for the price you pay I was expecting it to be exceptional. The restaurant was cool, staff could be more welcoming, overall was..."

MBelle Greg

Stokehouse

82/100 (1780 ratings)

Restaurants

Australian

Gluten Free Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Australian

Vegan Options

Gluten Free Options

Vegetarian Friendly

After-hours

Dinner

Lunch

Crab

Octopus

Scallops

Ceviche

Duck

Oyster

Meringue

Calamari

Caviar

Risotto

Tuna

Calamares

Lamb

Pesto

Fish

Pork

Fish & Chips

Tapas

Beef

Tacos

Fish & chips

Seafood Platters

Prawns

Pasta

Salad

Sit down

Australian

Wheelchair Accessible

Serves Alcohol

Full Bar

Accepts Credit Cards

Private Dining

Waterfront

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Lunch

After-hours

Dinner

Fine Dining

"We had dinner here for the first time in years and it was absolutely sensational. Every dish that we had was excellent and tasty. The place looks..."

Dills

"Wonderful food which we were easily able to share between two of us. Whilst seated we had a great view of the ocean. Staff were absolutely..."

Maddi Sheils

"One of our favourite places in Melbourne. We always come here for special occasions or simply to have a drink at the bar and watch the sunset over..."

Martin

"A fine surprise when your partner decides to spoil you with something that you have always been fascinated to go to dine.Stokehouse has a..."

Ozzy Kunnu

"We came here just a few weeks after it reopened and were not very impressed. In it's old guise it had been a favourite and we finally decided to give..."

Richard

"Nice view and cozy environment. The seafood dishes really stood out. Got a variety of drinks to choose from. We ordered wines, cocktails and..."

5ilverr

"Last minute booking on Monday night.. great ambience, food as always. More importantly the service was on point! Fairly priced for the quality served..."

Manoj

"We finally visited the new Stokehouse on Valentines day for lunch. The staff were friendly, the coffee was great and the cocktails were original..."

Eat Play Live Melbourne

"The service is wonderful - professional and relaxed at the same time. The food is sublime, with two of us delighting in our different meal choices...."

Srslyfoods

"My partner and I just had a near perfect experience at Stokehouse during what is clearly a busy time of year. Every single staff member we had an..."

EK Has

"I cannot understand how the Stokehouse has a rating of 3.8. Just came back from a Christmas party and thought it was sensational. The tuna tartar and..."

Svenja Grabo

"I had been meaning to visit for years and only recently made the trip, After driving past once accidentally, I managed to sneak my Mazda in between..."

Sauce

"Had a beautiful Mother’s Day luncheon. The atmosphere was so positive, and staff friendly and very quick with their service. The set menu offered..."

Olivia B

"This was one of the most amazing restaurants I have been to - the view of the beach, the ambience and surroundings are stunning and the food was..."

AllThingsFood&Wine

"Old review from Feb 17. Our first time back since reopening, great food & wine, staff were friendly & knew their menu & enthusiastically offered..."

Sara Carroll

"Light, bright beach feel to the upstairs dining room, with the best views of the beach, that is forever packed. Seafood here is absolutely..."

HH24

"Brilliant meal by this fine establishment owned by master restauranter Frank Van Haandel. We started the meal with a section of raw bar delights. I..."

FoodieGuru_770

"Had a great evening at Stokehouse last night. We had an 8:30pm booking, but arrived a little early to grab a drink. I would absolutely recommend..."

Mitch Barker

"Great dining experience and impeccable service. I had the fish of the day and it was beautifully done. The gazpacho as a starter wasn't much but the..."

Tk

"Such a great view! Great food! Friendly waiter. Quick serve. Recommend as a nice dating or catch up place. Chess strip is delicious! Like to come..."

Amandada_li

"DO: The Bar upstairs. Great venue, view and drinks. DON’T: Just come here for drinks like us, they have an extensive food menu. Must come..."

David Food Leasing

"It's hard to be angry at the stoke with the Amazing water views and sunshine.Had a drink in the bar to start service is very very slow indeed..."

Ted Mac Gregor

"Dropped in with a reservation for lunch on a beautiful but windy Saturday afternoon. Not so busy due to the grandfinal being on which was perfect for..."

Our Foodie Finds

"Beautiful view and food that compliments it. Lamb tartare was my favourite. A nice Aussie twist on food too. Good wine recommendations by our wine..."

Sarah Langford

"Packed on a Wednesday night. It was my first trip back to the Stokehouse after they reopened on the old site.The mussels snacks came with..."

Ilovefood13

"Came here without a reservation midweek.. staff were excellent. Our waitress, Sarah, was particularly good. The wine by the glass was nice..."

Flowerbutton

"The revamped Stokehouse in a word? Exceptional. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the best food I've ever had - but when you pair quite delicious food..."

The New Fave

" Came here for dinner with friends. Instead of ordering individual starters we ordered adequate for sharing and then ordered individual mains. This..."

Mahendra Perera

"Great architecture , delicious food and and amazing staff . Value for money and you won't go home hungry . Would recommend and will defiantly be back..."

Natalie

"Exquisite long lunch at stokehouse today. Beautiful views, professional service and exceptional menu. For entree i ordered the octopus win tamarillo..."

Kate Dougherty

"Went here for a girls catch up and it was delightful. We had all different tastes and requirements (so many bottles of wine opened as ordered..."

Mobwife

"After the rather disastrous demise of the original Stokehouse and three years later the restaurant has re-emerged, after a total rebuild, on the same..."

Foodinfocusz

"I've been looking forward to Friday night drinks and dinner at the new Stokehouse and it did not disappoint! We were downstairs at Pontoon for a few..."

Lily

"There are a host of reasons we love to go out to eat. In a relative sense, there are not many restaurants that create more than the experience..."

Ben Lee Kong

"Bring back the original Stokehouse :(Beautiful setting, fresh food and lovely delicate flavours. Service was at times slow.They wouldn't..."

Ayby Baby

"My husband managed to snag a reservation here for our 1 year wedding anniversary, and I certainly had high expectations of our night. They were met,..."

Kylie Angelika

"Potentially one of the best restaurants Melbourne has to offer. The food is divine and utilises only the best Australian grown produce. The wait..."

Ellyse Mal

"Fantastic experience. Wonderful staff that are incredibly attentive. The food was absolutely delicious and showcased local produce. The bar had a..."

Vmalioris

"Great service, the waitstaff are extremely attentive and accommodating. The atmosphere and views are sensational. The food is of the finest quality..."

Leigh Malioris

"The view from the lower bar Pontoon is amazing, particularly at sunset in St Kilda. My wife and I ate outside and shared both a plate of seared tuna..."

Michael Campbell

"THE MOST AMAZING steak. 15 year old vintage wagyu. Absolute blown away.Service spot on, every dish a winner. Will definitely be..."

James Madden

"The bar downstairs is amazing great aspect, with a DJ area, and casual food. The place to be again on a hot day and night. Upstairs I thought was..."

Adam Garvey

"I thought the Stokehouse was fabulous. Wonderful room. Great outlook to the beach. Good bar area.Friendly, efficient and helpful waiters...."

Felicity StKW

"We couldn't wait to try the new Stokehouse as we enjoyed the old one and obviously love the location and view. After reading some of the reviews, we..."

Li-La

"Had to try the new stokehouse out as Melbourne has been waiting for years to see what we will be served at this iconic establishment. We dined with a..."

JDP79

"Rarely give 5 stars but I can’t really fault the meal. Setting is stunning and decor is simple, tasteful and perfect. Everything was considered..."

Ben Maudlin

"Had late lunch/early dinner for special occasion. Would definitely recommend if you haven't been before. Note. There are two restaurants in the..."

theunionjack

"Beautiful location, very friendly staff and delicious food. Seafood platter was really fresh, we especially couldn't get enough of the browned..."

N

"We celebrated a bday here and we loved every moment here. From the entrance, the design, the table’s stunning view looking at the beaches, nice..."

Hanh Nguyen

"Melbourne has endured an awful 2 years under Covid restrictions. Yesterday was a day that proved how wonderful Melbourne can be with dining. We went..."

Richard Catchlove

"The view from Stokehouse is diiivine - on a sunny day this is one of my top picks for lunch in Melbourne. We had such an enjoyable visit, the..."

Annie B

"🌊 relaxed fine dining st kilda 🦀 crab vol-au-vent 🦆 roast duck special 🦐 premium seafood platter 🐟 pan seared cod 🐠 hapuka..."

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