10 of the best Melbourne restaurants to visit pre-theatre or post-show

Wall-to-wall cultural events in Melbourne right now, from musicals to comedy, have revived a genre of dining that may once have seemed passe: the pre-theatre menu.

“We haven’t invented anything new,” says Alejandro Saravia of Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters, which last month introduced pre-theatre dining. “But there was a gap in the market.”

Contemporary musicals such as & Juliet, the return of live music and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are bringing diners of all ages to CBD restaurants for early sittings that will get them to the show on time.

Punch Lane, in the heart of the theatre district, has offered pre-theatre dining for more than 20 years and has no plans to change that.

“It’s that extra sitting you can get,” says manager Jane Tschappeller. “On Friday and Saturday nights, you can do three sittings.”

She says the city has become more lively midweek, with the restaurant extremely busy between 5.30pm and 5.45pm due to a mix of pre-theatre crowds and after-work drinkers.

Saravia agrees. “[Events] are bringing a lot of people early into the city. Affluent customers are looking for good restaurants to offer a good dining experience.”

His original Exhibition Street venue Farmer’s Daughtersis now open throughout the afternoon. Previously it closed between lunch and dinner. Later at night, it attracts younger guests after shows at the nearby theatres, whereas the Victoria outpost in Federation Square is convenient for those attending Arts Centre plays and concerts, he says.

More events are on the way for Melbourne, including Rising, Melbourne Writers Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival, plus musicals such as Moulin Rouge!

Where to dine pre-show and post-show

Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters

Location, location, location: this Federation Square restaurant should be on your radar if you’re going to events at any of Melbourne’s major attractions. Its newly launched pre-theatre menu ($79, includes one drink) gets you four plates from the restaurant’s Victorian-centric menu. A snack (perhaps smoked mussels with chickpeas), a main course that’s likely to be touched by the grill, plus sides and something sweet to see you off into the night.

Close to: Arts Centre, MCG, Forum, ACMI, Swanston Street venues, NGV (Federation Square and St Kilda Road), Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Available Wed to Sat 5pm-6.30pm. Federation Square, corner Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. victoriarestaurant.com.au

Punch Lane

Don’t waste precious minutes on decisions: make a beeline for the two-course pre-theatre menu ($55, available until 7.30pm) at this Melbourne mainstay. Right now, it’s a snack of eggplant and dukkah with panisse (chickpea fritter), followed by sauteed gnocchi with flavours of cacio e pepe, paired with pumpkin and smoked ricotta. Night owls can order off a supper menu between 10pm and midnight.

Close to: Princess Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Basement Comedy Club

Open Tues & Wed 5pm-late, Thu & Fri noon-late, Sat 3pm-late. 43 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. punchlane.com.au.

Dolly

Of course a restaurant in the former Palace Theatre does pre-show menus, daah-ling. Tucked beneath the new Le Meridien hotel on Bourke Street, Dolly is heavily influenced by the glamour days of old Hollywood and serves dishes to match.

A pre-theatre dinner might consist of beef Wellington, starring O’Connor tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto, mushrooms and silverbeet, with sides to share ($60). Intermission Bar at street level is the destination for supper, dessert and nightcaps.

Close to: Princess Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Basement Comedy Club

Open Tue to Sun, 5pm-10pm. 20 Bourke Street, Melbourne. dollymelbourne.com

Lulu’s Char Koay Teow

This is the well-oiled machine you’re looking for when you need to be somewhere on time. Being a one-dish wonder, Lulu’s magics up plates of wok-tossed char kwai teow and sibling noodle dishes with incredible speed, while the no-frills dining room keeps tables turning over quickly. Lines can form, but arriving at a pre-theatre time slot means you should beat the dinner rush.

Close to: Marvel Stadium, Swanston Street venues, theatre district

Open Mon to Thu 11am-8pm, Fri & Sat 11am-8.30pm, Sun 10am-3.30pm. 27-31 Hardware Lane, Melbourne. instagram.com/luluckt

Hero

Just a scramble across the road from The Forum, Karen Martini’s ultra-smart spot has a whole wall of portraits of movie greats that will add to your cultured state of mind. Head here for classics like vitello tonnato, roast chook and bombe Alaska done right. Reservations are available throughout the afternoon and early evening.

Close to: Forum, NGV (Federation Square and St Kilda Road), MCG, Basement Comedy Club and, obviously, ACMI

Open Wed to Sat 12pm-late, Sun 12pm-4pm. Level 1, ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne. heroacmi.com.au.

Myrtle

This hidden gem, with its heritage brickwork, mezzanine level and plentiful greenery, feels like hanging out in a loft. Named after lemon myrtle, the wine bar scatters native Australian ingredients throughout its menu, whether in a Desert Lime Gimlet or a Tasmanian pepperberry sauce that accompanies steak. Retro touches like potato cakes or prawn cocktails balance out the bush foods, and everything is highly shareable. A solid option for pre- and post-gig visits by solos, pairs and bigger groups.

Close to: Marvel Stadium, Swanston Street venues, theatre district

Open Tue, Wed & Sat 3pm-11.30pm, Thu & Fri 12pm-11.30pm. 15 Warburton Lane, Melbourne. myrtlewinebar.com.au

Five Guys

Have you met Five Guys? Here’s the drill: it’s an American burger chain that lets you build your own burger, with as many or as few toppings as you want.

That means a lot of decisions (or indecision) when ordering, so it may not be as fast as other fast-food experiences. It’s also not going to match the prices of other chains. But if you’re curious about the Five Guys hype and want to see if its freshness claims (including hand-cut fries and no freezers in the store) are worth it, swing past.

Close to: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Arts Centre, Melbourne Recital Centre, Marvel Stadium, NGV (St Kilda Road)

Open daily 11am-10pm, 3 Freshwater Place, Southbank. fiveguys.com.au

Bar Lourinha

Crunchy baccala fritters that channel Portugal, grilled calamari on ink-blackened couscous or perhaps just some house lardo and green olives: Bar Lourinha serves our favourite kind of fast food in a handy pocket of the city that still somehow feels like a secret find.

Close to: Forum, MCG, Basement Comedy Club, theatre district

Open Tue 4pm-11pm, Wed to Sat 12pm-late. 37 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. barlourinha.com.au

Lucy Liu

It’s fitting that a restaurant with the same name as an actor loves pre-theatre dining. Happily taking bookings throughout the afternoon, Lucy Liu can also accommodate walk-ins. And it’s open until 11pm for all your late-night prawn dumpling, chicken rib and short-rib rendang needs.

Close to: MCG, Federation Square, Arts Centre, Princess Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Basement Comedy Club

Open every day, 12pm-late. 23 Oliver Lane, Melbourne. lucylius.com.au.

Fancy Hank’s

Don’t be fooled by the low-and-slow barbecue that’s the mainstay at Fancy Hank’s. The crew has perfected the art of getting smoked meat onto tables quickly, and they offer an array of platters to suit different appetites and group sizes. Mention pre-theatre when booking for speedy treatment.

Close to: Princess Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Basement Comedy Club

Open every day, 12pm-late. 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne. fancyhanks.com.au.