Best rooftop restaurants in Melbourne

Santoni

634 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 3122

Set on the corner of bustling intersection in Hawthorn, Santoni is a three level Italian restaurant slinging pizza and other Italian dishes focused on seasonal produce from both local and international suppliers. 

The rooftop itself is like a garden oasis, allowing you to relax into the night as you dine on Truffle cream and mozzarella, or share a salumi board of cured meats and garlic focaccia, not to mention some of the most authentic Italian pizza you’ll find in all of Melbourne. 

Don’t forget the wine, though – with reds and whites from Italy, Spain, France and Australia, as well as cocktails like a Torino Bambino or Limoncello Sour, Santoni is the perfect rooftop to make you feel like you’re holidaying in Europe. 

Sojourn 

501 Bourke Street, New Chancery Ln, Melbourne, 3000

Perch yourself above Little Collins Street at Sojourn, a two-level outdoor dining space made of shipping crates in the most striking royal blue colour, where you can sit under the warmth of heaters as you dine on shared plates of fresh Victorian produce.

The menu changes in accordance with local supplier variety, meaning local really is the name of the game at Sojourn, something that adds a totally unique element to the rooftop restaurant. 

Plus, from 9 September to 9 December 2023, Sojourn is partnering with Four Pillars to run So Good Saturdays. For just $99 per person*, guests can indulge in a bottomless lunch featuring two hours of flowing Four Pillars gin cocktails, Victorian wine and beer, alongside a shared feasting menu for the senses. 

Book in to So Good Saturdays now. 

Captain Baxter 

10/10-18 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda, 3182 

 A St Kilda gem, Captain Baxter is the beachside rooftop destination for everything coastal, from delicious seafood and cocktails to breathtaking views of the surrounding bay at sunset. 

Open Thursday through Friday for dinner, and weekends, Captain Baxter features an Asian-infused seafood menu, from the hiramasa kingfish with yuzu kosho and pickled fennel, to the prawn and ginger dumplings with Szechuan chilli oil. Many non-seafood dishes, gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available. 

Bombabar

103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

The retractable roof means that even Melbourne’s unpredictable weather won’t dampen your night on the rooftop at Bombabar.

This Spanish tapas and rooftop restaurant right in the heart of Melbourne CBD serves up everything from spiced pumpkin with labneh and seafood paella with sangria on tap, to a huge selection of vermouths every day of the week – and although it’s in one of the busiest parts of the city, it still offers a sense of calm among the chaos. 

Hobson’s Bay Hotel

28 Ferguson St, Williamstown VIC 3016

A spectacular find in Melbourne’s south west is Hobson’s Bay Hotel, a three-story pub  in the bustling heart of Williamstown. At this pub, there’s not only old-school charm, but a modern rooftop with stunning views of Melbourne's city and coastal skylines. 

Those panoramic views won’t be spoiled by the cooler months either, with heaters to keep you warm on the rooftop. 

Head up to the rooftop on a weekend and soak in the summer rays on the west side of the city. 

Naked in the Sky 

285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 3065

Located above Fitzroy's popular bar Naked for Satan lies Naked in the Sky, a rooftop restaurant with some of the best views of the entire city. 

The menu features a selection of share plates, from tapas like baked camembert and chickpea chips to larger items like pumpkin ravioli and wild mushroom risotto. 

There’s also an extensive drinks menu featuring craft and imported beers, a mixture of wines and global rums, or have a try of their ‘gin experiences’ where you can choose from six variations of a gin & tonic, all with unique infusions and ingredients.  

Fable

13/168 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, 3000

No list of Melbourne’s best rooftop restaurants is complete without Fable. Perched high on the 13th floor of Lonsdale Street's Greek Community Building, it is one of the highest rooftop restaurants in the city.

At Fable, enjoy views of Melbourne’s city skyline, Eureka Skydeck, Arts Centre and Bolte Bridge as you dine on Mediterranean-style share plates like calamari with ouzo mayonnaise, harissa chicken croquettes with Truffle aioli, and local haloumi with fig, lemon and thyme. 

Round out the night out in the open skies with bespoke cocktails.

Madame Brussels

Level 3, 59 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

A Melbourne staple, one cannot visit the city without a visit to this rooftop time machine. 

Styled like a 1950s patio with staff serving you in sporting outfits from the golden era, enjoy country-club inspired nibbles like croque monsier and a trio of macaroons before indulging in a shared charcuterie platter of artisanal cheeses and cured meats. 

Pull up a pew on astroturf with a pitcher of Summer Negroni or white sangria before indulging in your very own rooftop garden party. 

Honourable mentions: State of Grace, Morris Moor, Goldilocks, Palmz at Carlton Club, Loop Roof, Farmer's Daughters, Imperial Hotel, Her, Dom's Rooftop, Heroes, The Provincial, Full Moon Fever.