Best cosy winter restaurants Melbourne

Brrr...it’s cold in here. Say hello to beanies, scarves, wooly socks, uggs, numerous cups of tea, and that feeling of never wanting to rip off the doona to get out of bed. To ease the pain of chilly winter days here are a bunch of cosy winter restaurants serving exceptionally comforting food that’s worth heading out of the house for. It’s time to get warm and toasty...

Image: Neighbourhood Wine, Fitzroy North

Cucinette, South Yarra

Cucinetta South Yarra takes its name literally, featuring a very small kitchen (cucinetta in Italian) in which a regularly changing, seasonal array of meals are cooked. The restaurant features cosy, bistro-like interiors and a largely Italian wine list.

The Hardware Club, CBD

The Hardware Club, upstairs in the CBD’s Hardware Lane, is an intimate 65-seat venue, situated in a 1920s social club. Inspired by the trattorias of Verona, where owners Andrew Ceriani and Nicola Dusi grew up, the restaurant features Italian fare, with regularly changing pasta, pizza, meat and fish dishes. 

Angus & Bon, Prahran

Situated in the former Prahran post office, Angus & Bon features dark timber interiors and banquette seating. Two separate menus are shared between the bar and restaurant, with food prepared over a wood-fired grill as the star attraction. The restaurant also has shared plates and a decadent cheese and dessert menu. 

Neighbourhood Wine, Fitzroy North

There’s just something about this place that makes you feel good inside. Walk upstairs into the dim and moody setting and settle in for French-Europen-style cuisine. This is one of Melbourne’s warmest and cosiest wine bars.

Northern Git, Thornbury

Although you've braved the cold and left your house, you’ll feel right at home in the relaxed and casual environment at Northern Git. This is no bollocks drinking and dining. What jumps out on the menu? For a winter’s night, it has to be pork schnitzel, eggplant parmigiana or the pepper steak pie.

Middle Park Hote, Middle Park

Settle in to this much-loved local pub and enjoy contemporary and robust food including steak, freshly baked pies, scotch eggs and offal.

Anada, Fiztroy

Experience a taste of Andalucia and Southern Spain right in the heart of Melbourne's Fitzroy. At this Gertrude St diner you can warm up your insides with the likes of chargrilled hanger steak, roasted lamb shoulder and confit pork belly.

Morris Jones, Prahran

Most of us think of MJ’s as the place to go for cocktails but this much-loved drinking destination is also home to a moody and dimly lit dining area, and a leafy courtyard out back. Warm up first with an Espresso Martini and then share dishes ‘From the Garden’, ‘From the Sea’ and ‘From the Land’.