Marriage proposal stories from Melbourne restaurants (and tips from the pros)

Would you hide the ring, organise musicians or drop to one knee if you were proposing in a restaurant?

Marriage proposals have been a regular feature of Guy Grossi's career running three restaurants in the Florentino building in Melbourne's CBD, and he's seen it all.

"There's a big range of approaches, from the simplest where they say nothing and take care of it all, to eccentric, over-the-top things," he says.

There was the time a suitor hid the ring in a dessert at two-hatted Grossi Florentino and his partner couldn't find it. On another occasion, a violinist was asked to stand tableside and play a quick sonnet.

"We said yes to that," says Grossi. "As long as it doesn't interfere with other guests, we'll try and do whatever we can."

The late Sisto Malaspina of Pellegrini's Espresso Bar pulled out all the stops for Scott Campbell's proposal to partner Ash in 2010 at the venue.

Although Pellegrini's doesn't take bookings, Malaspina reserved two seats up the back, stashed a bottle of bubbles under the counter and dug out the poster that was hanging on the wall when the Campbells had their first date at the Bourke Street icon.

It was also his idea for Scott to pretend to go to the toilet and return with a tea towel over his shoulder like a waiter, carrying a plate with the ring box on it.

It was all a surprise to Ash. "She didn't notice that we came in the side door and there were two seats set aside while there was a queue of people out the front," says Scott.

After Ash said yes, Malaspina gave them the poster that had been an in-joke since their first date.

Today, son David Malaspina runs Pellegrini's and says that while he hasn't seen any proposals, there are lots of couples who had their first date there and return for anniversaries, sometimes with children or even grandchildren.

"Couples are literally coming back to the spot where they met, most likely sitting in a very similar position, on the same bar. You're a part of their story."

Valentine's Day might be the traditional day for love on the calendar but Lee Smith, restaurant manager at Stokehouse in St Kilda, advises against choosing that day for popping the question. "Everyone else wants to book and venues have less room to be flexible."

Surya Wirawan, venue manager at Fitzroy vegetarian favourite Transformer, says the most memorable proposal of his 15-year career happened on a very unromantic occasion: right before a snap lockdown in 2021.

After the would-be fiance had his plans scuppered several times by the pandemic, he decided to act quickly and snagged Transformer's last booking on a Sunday evening. Wirawan's team organised grower champagne, cake and flowers within 24 hours for the group of family and friends who were there for the occasion.

With its views over Port Phillip Bay, Stokehouse is the backdrop for about one proposal a month, giving Smith plenty of experience. His biggest piece of advice echoes a favourite motto of chefs: "We love a challenge but we don't like a surprise.

"Often I get a little note on the reservation that just says 'engagement' or 'proposal', but it's good to know if it's happening in-venue or beforehand. I don't want to say congratulations when they arrive if it hasn't happened yet."

Wirawan agrees that advance notice is critical for restaurants – even if you want to keep it private. The restaurant can put you in a quiet corner or offer you a later booking.

Guy Grossi has just one golden rule. "I always say to the crew, if the answer is yes, bring champagne and offer them a glass on us.

"And if they say no, bring champagne and offer our commiserations. They get champagne either way!"