Restaurant Interior Design: Melbourne’s Most Instagrammable Venues

It’s no secret that we’re a generation of Insta-addicts – we love scoping out new cafés, restaurants and bars based purely on the optics they deliver to our feed. Whether it’s stylised dishes, beautiful interiors or stunning skyline views, any venue worth their weight knows that offering a feast for the lens is mandatory. Here’s our pick of Melbourne’s best restaurant interior design venues.

Via Porta

Part eatery, part wine bar, part deli and provedore, Via Porta is very much a family affair. While going into business with siblings is not always the easiest, when you have two chefs, an experienced host and an interior designer on the team  - the outcome is an inspired restaurant interior design and a menu that nonna would be proud of. It's not every day a humble deli makes it into a design publication, but with such meticulous attention to detail and refined finishes, it's easy to see why this one did. 

677 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert 

The Kettle Black

Few cafés can lay claim to being featured in Vogue Living, but Kettle Black can. The space is a designer’s dream – sophisticated, light-filled and warm, soft oak furniture is contrasted with brass accents and a stunning marble bar. Their famed ricotta hotcake, scattered with a rainbow of berries, petals, seeds and nuts, is one of Melbourne’s most Instagrammed dishes.

50 Albert Road, South Melbourne

Higher Ground

With three levels of dining space, 15-metre high ceilings, and a one-of-a-kind location in the CBD, Higher Ground remains at the top of restaurant interior design in Melbourne. The former power station balances rich, tactile finishes of terrazzo, steel, stone and timber with touches of greenery, creating a light-filled space that is as warm as it is grand. Inspired by New York's all-day dining spots, the award-winning menu is as impressive as the fit-out. Start your day with the heavenly Spanner Crab benedict or end it on a high with the 12-hour cooked lamb for two. 

650 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Lune Croissanterie

Lune’s own account has 90,000 followers, and it’s easy to see why. Their croissants and cruffins are delicious works of art, with posts showing off glossy shells, mesmerising layers and creative garnishes. Plus, given they’re one of the hottest foodie tickets in town, it’s a case of “if you didn’t ‘gram it, did you really get one”?

119 Rose Street, Fitzroy

There

Located in a former wool factory in Footscray, the interior is as inspiring as it gets. The grandeur of There really comes down to its insanely high ceilings with windows to match. Pair that with the bespoke finishes curated to perfection and you have industrial chic at its finest. The menu is designed to hero local seasonal produce like house-made granola with stewed rhubarb and smoked butter scrambled eggs. 

S02/90-96 Maribyrnong Street, Footscray

AU79

This Abbotsford cafe is a visual feast both on and off the plate, by way of restaurant interior design magic that’s turned an old mechanic’s garage into a lush indoor garden. Brass detailing stands out against soft pinks and greens, while plants hang from every corner of the bright, airy space. Beautifully plated dishes like the French toast with whipped cream cheese, strawberries and peanut brittle are easy on the lens too.

27/29 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford

Naked for Satan

After you finish snacking on pintxos, take the lift to Naked for Satan’s rooftop terrace for some prime Insty material. From up there, you’ll get stunning vistas of the city skyline – the perfect backdrop for photos – and if you pick your timing wisely, you’ll catch the sun setting as they switch on their fairy globes.

285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Aqua S

This tiny soft serve parlour is easily swirling up the most photogenic desserts in town. Their original sea salt flavour arrives in an adorable shade of pastel blue, which you can adorn with caramel popcorn, popping candy, toasted marshmallows, and best of all, a big cloud of fairy floss. They’ve even got colourful, decorated walls for you to take pics up against.

16 Red Cape Lane, Melbourne

Workshop Brothers

Glamorous and chic, this bright and bubbly all-day diner comes decked out in blush pinks paired with sleek gold accents and a glam mirror backed bar. Their cocktails and brunch dishes are just as pretty. Their smoked coconut panna cotta adorned with berries and edible flowers is more than worthy of an Insta-story.

97 Kingsway, Glen Waverley

Lui Bar

With ambient lighting, dark seductive interiors and sky-high views that stretch out all over Melbourne, Lui Bar is an Instagrammer’s dream. Sip Champagne underneath their dreamlike ‘cloud’ chandelier – the bar’s crowning glory – and work your way through a decadent bar menu of spiced chicken wings, fresh oysters and Wagyu brisket sliders. This has date night written all over it. 

Rialto Towers, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne

Abacus Bar + Kitchen

It feels like an urban jungle inside Abacus, where you’ll eat among verdant subtropical plants and a large fig tree rising out from polished concrete and marbled tables. All the greenery, matched with smooth wooden benches, glowing spherical lights and brown leather banquettes make for a beautiful, zen-filled backdrop for your #instaeats.

383 Chapel Street, South Yarra

The Everleigh

The Everleigh deals in picture perfection, from the elegant cocktails to the lush, inviting interior. Every corner has photo potential – there’s the long marble bar, the vintage piano, a glittering backlit liquor cabinet, chandeliers and even curious taxidermy that’ll take your feed to a bygone era.

150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy