Father’s Day in Melbourne falls on Sunday, 6 September 2026, and if your family tradition involves taking Dad out for lunch, this is one Sunday when leaving the restaurant booking until the last minute isn’t a particularly good strategy.
Melbourne restaurants are already announcing their Father’s Day lunch menus for 2026, with everything from $30 pub roasts and relaxed family lunches through to hotel buffets, Italian feasts and $145-plus winery experiences.
And perhaps that’s the best thing about Father’s Day dining in Melbourne. There really isn’t one type of Father’s Day lunch.
Dad might be happiest with a steak and a beer. Granddad might prefer a traditional Sunday roast. Another dad might regard three courses and a bottle of Yarra Valley pinot as a much more appropriate celebration.
So rather than simply compiling a list of expensive restaurants, we’ve looked for different experiences at different price points.
Information and pricing checked: 18 August 2026.
Restaurant menus, availability and prices can change, so always confirm the final price and conditions directly with the venue when booking.
Quick Guide to Father’s Day Lunch Melbourne 2026
| Restaurant | Location | Father’s Day 2026 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collins Kitchen | Melbourne CBD | BBQ lunch buffet | Check venue |
| Harry’s Restaurant, Stamford Plaza | Melbourne CBD | BBQ buffet + bottomless beer for Dad | $89 adult |
| Melba Restaurant | Southbank | Luxury buffet lunch | $169 adult |
| Cecconi’s | Toorak | Three-course Italian lunch | $150 adult |
| The Kingston Hotel | Richmond | Two-course family feast | $85 adult |
| Hophaus | Southbank | Sunday roast/lunch | À la carte |
| P.J. O’Brien’s | Southbank | Irish food & Sunday roast | Roast from $30 |
| A Cut Above | Berwick | 2, 3 or 6-course experience | $17–$135 |
| Coombe Yarra Valley | Coldstream | Three-course winery lunch | $135 adult |
| Balgownie Estate | Yarra Glen | Father’s Day lunch | $120 adult |
| Levantine Hill | Coldstream | Three-course lunch | $145 adult |
| De Bortoli Yarra Valley | Dixons Creek | Long lunch | 2026 event confirmed |
| 360Q | Queenscliff | Argentinian BBQ | From $40 |
Best Father’s Day Lunches in Melbourne 2026
Collins Kitchen – Melbourne CBD
Collins Kitchen
If Dad’s idea of celebrating involves meat coming straight from the grill, Collins Kitchen at Grand Hyatt Melbourne has gone straight to the point for 2026.
The restaurant is holding a Father’s Day BBQ Lunch Buffet on Sunday, 6 September from 12.30pm until 3pm.
The focus is on premium cuts from the grill together with seasonal dishes from the wood oven, deli and ice bowl, finishing with desserts.
This strikes us as a particularly good option for an extended family because a buffet solves one of the problems you sometimes encounter when taking three generations out for lunch: everybody wants something different.
Address: 123 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9653 4831
Father’s Day: Sunday 6 September 2026, 12.30pm–3pm
Style: Premium BBQ buffet
Collins Kitchen Father’s Day information
The 2026 Father’s Day BBQ buffet and session time are confirmed by Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
Harry’s Restaurant at Stamford Plaza – Melbourne CBD
For one of the better-value hotel Father’s Day buffets we’ve found so far, Stamford Plaza Melbourne deserves a look.
Harry’s Restaurant & Bar is holding a Father’s Day BBQ Buffet Lunch from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, priced at $89 for adults, $60 for children aged 4–12 and free for children three and under.
The menu is unapologetically Dad-friendly: slow-roasted meats, pork ribs, lamb, peri peri chicken wings, a make-your-own burger station, loaded potatoes and desserts including a chocolate fountain.
There’s another rather clever inclusion. Dads receive complimentary bottomless Carlton Draught and Four Pines Pacific Ale during lunch.
Compared with some of Melbourne’s premium Father’s Day packages, $89 represents relatively accessible hotel dining, particularly given what’s included.
Address: 111 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Father’s Day: 6 September 2026, 1.30pm–3.30pm
Adults: $89
Children 4–12: $60
3 and under: Free
Stamford Plaza Father’s Day Buffet
Dietary requirements can be catered for if advised when booking. An Eventbrite booking fee also applies.
Melba Restaurant – Southbank
Melba Restaurant
If you want to make Father’s Day into a proper occasion, Melba at The Langham is one of Melbourne’s classic buffet choices.
For Sunday, 6 September 2026, the Father’s Day lunch buffet runs from 12.30pm to 3pm and costs $169 per adult, including an arrival beverage.
Children aged 4–12 are $84.50.
There is also a 10% Sunday surcharge, which is worth remembering when calculating the total cost for a larger family.
The attraction here isn’t simply the food. Melba overlooks the Yarra and city skyline, so it works particularly well if you’re bringing parents or grandparents into the city and want lunch to feel like a special event.
The detailed 2026 Father’s Day menu was still listed as coming soon when we checked, so we wouldn’t speculate about individual dishes.
Address: 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank VIC 3006
Phone: 1800 641 107
Adults: $169
Children 4–12: $84.50
Sunday surcharge: 10%
The pricing, times and arrival beverage are confirmed for 2026.
Cecconi’s – Toorak
For the dad who would choose handmade pasta and a good Italian red over an all-you-can-eat buffet, Cecconi’s Toorak is offering something more refined.
Its Father’s Day 2026 three-course lunch costs $150 per adult.
Children aged 12 and under can order from the à la carte menu rather than having to pay the adult set-menu price.
A 10% Sunday surcharge applies.
There are a few booking conditions worth knowing. A credit card is required to secure the reservation and there’s a 72-hour cancellation policy, with a $50 per-person late cancellation fee.
Families with very young children should also note that the restaurant says high chairs aren’t provided, although you’re welcome to bring your own.
Address: 495–505 Toorak Road, Toorak VIC 3142
Phone: (03) 8663 0555
Adults: $150 for three courses
Children 12 and under: À la carte
Sunday surcharge: 10%
The 2026 Father’s Day experience and booking conditions are currently published through OpenTable.
The Kingston Hotel – Richmond
The Kingston has put together one of the more family-focused Father’s Day offers we’ve found.
Its Father’s Day Family Feast costs $85 per adult for two courses and includes a complimentary arrival drink for Dad.
Better still for parents, there’s a complimentary kids’ menu for children under 12.
Add live music and a relaxed pub environment and this could be a good middle ground between an everyday pub meal and a $150-plus special-occasion restaurant.
There’s also a separate Father’s Day charity lunch on Friday, 4 September supporting The Man Cave, but the family lunch itself takes place on Father’s Day, Sunday 6 September.
Father’s Day lunch: $85 per adult
Children under 12: Complimentary kids’ menu
Includes: Two courses + arrival drink for Dad + live music
The 2026 package is currently available as a prepaid Father’s Day experience.
Hophaus – Southbank
For a more casual Father’s Day beside the Yarra, Hophaus is promoting lunch, dinner and its Sunday roast on 6 September 2026.
It is the sort of venue we’d consider if Dad would rather have a beer and substantial meal than sit through a formal three-course lunch.
The Southgate location also gives you river and city views without necessarily paying luxury-hotel buffet prices.
Address: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank VIC 3006
Phone: (03) 9682 5900
Father’s Day service: 12pm–8pm
The venue has confirmed Father’s Day dining for 2026, but we haven’t found a dedicated fixed-price 2026 Father’s Day package. Treat it as an à la carte restaurant recommendation rather than a special set-menu offer.
P.J. O’Brien’s – Southbank
If Dad considers a pint of Guinness and Sunday roast a perfectly respectable Father’s Day celebration, P.J. O’Brien’s could be considerably more appealing than a fine-dining restaurant.
The Irish pub has confirmed Father’s Day lunch and dinner on 6 September from noon until 8pm, with live Irish music from 2pm.
Its regular Sunday Roast of the Day is currently advertised from $30, including roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy.
That’s an important inclusion in this guide because not every family wants to spend $100–$200 per person on Father’s Day.
Address: 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank VIC 3006
Phone: (03) 9686 5011
Father’s Day: 12pm–8pm
Regular Sunday roast: From $30
Father’s Day service and live music are confirmed for 2026.
A Cut Above Bar & Grill – Berwick
A Cut Above Bar and Grill
For families in Melbourne’s south-east who don’t particularly want to travel into the CBD, A Cut Above in Berwick has developed a dedicated 2026 Father’s Day offering.
You can choose between a two-course or three-course set menu or go considerably further with a six-course tasting menu and optional mixology pairing.
Current Father’s Day pricing ranges between $17 and $135 per person, depending on the menu selected.
This is a good example of why looking outside central Melbourne can pay off. You still get a special-event menu without spending Father’s Day travelling into and out of the city.
The restaurant has published dedicated Father’s Day menus for 6 September 2026.
Father’s Day Lunch in the Yarra Valley
If you’re happy to drive, Father’s Day is a particularly good excuse to turn lunch into a day in the Yarra Valley.
And in 2026, several major estates have already announced dedicated events.
Coombe Yarra Valley – Coldstream
Coombe has one of the most comprehensive Father’s Day programs we’ve found.
Its main lunch is a three-course table d’hôte menu for $135 per adult and $50 per child aged 12 and under.
Adults receive a glass of Coombe Estate wine on arrival.
There’s also something different: a High Cheese experience for $90 per adult, combining artisan cheeses, Welsh rarebit, sweets, scones and a glass of Shiraz.
You can even add a guided garden tour for $15 or a cottage tour for $45.
For the dad who enjoys wine, gardens and a long afternoon rather than simply going somewhere for lunch, this is a very attractive option.
Adults: $135
Children: $50
High Cheese: $90 adult / $50 child
Coombe Yarra Valley restaurant
The estate has confirmed these offers for Sunday, 6 September 2026.
Balgownie Estate – Yarra Glen
Balgownie gives families both breakfast and lunch options for Father’s Day.
The 2026 Father’s Day lunch costs $120 per adult and $45 per child, while breakfast is $50 for adults and $25 for children.
That flexibility is useful if lunch sessions elsewhere have filled up or if you’re planning other activities in the Yarra Valley during the afternoon.
Address: 1309 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen VIC 3775
Phone: (03) 9730 0700
Lunch: $120 adult / $45 child
Breakfast: $50 adult / $25 child
The event is confirmed for 6 September 2026.
Levantine Hill – Coldstream
For a premium Father’s Day winery experience, Levantine Hill is offering three courses for adults at $145 per person.
Children under 12 receive a two-course meal for $45, including a soft drink.
This is one we’d put in the “make a day of it” category rather than simply heading out for a quick Sunday lunch.
Address: 882 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream VIC 3770
Adults: $145
Children under 12: $45
The 2026 Father’s Day event and pricing are confirmed by the official Victorian tourism listing.
De Bortoli Yarra Valley – Dixons Creek
De Bortoli is also holding a dedicated Father’s Day event at Locale Restaurant on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
The concept is a relaxed long lunch overlooking the vineyards.
Address: 58 Pinnacle Lane, Dixons Creek VIC 3775
Phone: (03) 5911 6900
At the time we checked, the official Victorian tourism listing confirmed the 2026 event and booking link but didn’t publish pricing in the information available to us, so we’re not going to substitute an old price from a previous year.
Father’s Day on the Bellarine Peninsula
360Q – Queenscliff
If you want to get right out of Melbourne, 360Q is doing something quite different.
Its Father’s Day Argentinian Barbeque Lunch takes place overlooking Queenscliff Harbour on 6 September.
The focus is South American-style barbecue, and Dad receives a complimentary beer or glass of bubbles on arrival. There’s also live entertainment.
Pricing is advertised from $40, although we’d check the exact adult and child ticket categories before booking.
This could be a great option if you’re thinking about combining Father’s Day with a weekend in Queenscliff or the Bellarine Peninsula.
The 2026 event is confirmed by Victoria’s official tourism listings.
Where Should You Take Dad?
Rather than choosing by suburb, sometimes the easiest way to narrow the list is to think about what Dad actually enjoys.
For the dad who loves steak and BBQ: Collins Kitchen, Stamford Plaza and A Cut Above are strong starting points.
For the dad who loves Italian: Cecconi’s offers the more sophisticated option, while De Bortoli’s vineyard setting makes the meal part of a Yarra Valley day out.
For the dad who loves beer: Stamford Plaza’s complimentary bottomless beer for Dad is hard to ignore. For something much more casual, try Hophaus or P.J. O’Brien’s.
For the dad who loves wine: Coombe, Balgownie, De Bortoli and Levantine Hill all turn Father’s Day into a destination lunch.
For the foodie dad: Cecconi’s, Levantine Hill and Coombe would be high on our shortlist.
For Granddad: We’d lean towards somewhere comfortable where the whole family can settle in, such as Melba, Collins Kitchen, The Kingston or one of the Yarra Valley estates. Check accessibility before booking.
For families with young children: The Kingston deserves particular attention because its 2026 package includes a complimentary children’s menu for under-12s. Stamford Plaza also clearly publishes children’s pricing and children three and under dine free.
Father’s Day Buffets Melbourne 2026
Two particularly clear choices have emerged so far.
Melba Father’s Day Buffet
$169 adults / $84.50 children aged 4–12
Melba is the premium choice, combining its buffet with Southbank and Yarra views.
Remember to add the 10% Sunday surcharge when calculating the actual family cost.
Stamford Plaza Father’s Day BBQ Buffet
$89 adults / $60 children 4–12 / free under 4
For value, Stamford is difficult to overlook.
It’s nearly half the headline adult price of Melba, and Dad’s complimentary bottomless tap beer is included.
For two adults and two children aged 4–12, the advertised food price works out at approximately $458 at Melba before its Sunday surcharge, compared with $298 at Stamford before its Eventbrite booking fee.
That’s why we recommend looking at the total family cost rather than simply comparing adult prices.
Father’s Day Lunch Under $50 Per Person
Finding a special Father’s Day set menu under $50 isn’t easy, but you don’t actually need a dedicated Father’s Day package.
P.J. O’Brien’s regular Sunday roast starts from around $30, and the pub has specifically confirmed Father’s Day service and live music.
For families watching the budget, we’d also consider a regular pub, pizza restaurant, burger restaurant or local Italian rather than assuming Father’s Day needs to involve a set menu.
The point is spending lunch with Dad, not proving how much you’re prepared to spend on him.
Father’s Day Lunch Under $100 Per Person
This is where the choices become considerably broader.
The $89 Stamford Plaza BBQ buffet is one of the strongest confirmed 2026 offers in this price bracket.
The $85 Kingston Hotel Family Feast is another, particularly for families with children under 12 because of the complimentary kids’ menu.
Coombe’s $90 High Cheese experience is another unusual alternative if Dad likes wine and cheese more than a conventional three-course lunch.
Premium Father’s Day Lunches
If budget isn’t the main consideration, several Father’s Day experiences sit above $100 per adult:
- Balgownie Estate: $120
- Coombe Yarra Valley: $135
- Levantine Hill: $145
- Cecconi’s Toorak: $150
- Melba Restaurant: $169 plus Sunday surcharge.
At this price level we’d look beyond the food.
Consider the location, wine, views, service, length of the sitting and whether the restaurant gives Dad an experience he wouldn’t ordinarily have.
Don’t Forget Granddad
Father’s Day is often a three-generation event.
If Granddad is joining you, restaurant selection becomes a little more practical.
Before booking, ask about wheelchair access, stairs, accessible bathrooms, nearby parking and how far the table is from the entrance.
Noise matters too. A fashionable restaurant with loud music and hard surfaces might be great on Saturday night but terrible for an 85-year-old trying to hear his grandchildren across the table.
Early lunch sittings can work particularly well for older family members.
And if you’re organising ten or more people, don’t assume the ordinary menu applies. Some restaurants move larger groups onto set menus or impose minimum spends.
Booking Tips for Father’s Day 2026
Before entering your credit-card details, check the details carefully.
In particular, look for Sunday surcharges, booking fees, cancellation conditions, prepaid menus, seating durations, children’s prices and whether drinks are included.
Cecconi’s, for example, has a 72-hour cancellation policy and late-cancellation fee for its Father’s Day experience. Stamford states that cancellations within 14 days can incur the entire booking cost.
Also tell the restaurant about dietary requirements when booking rather than arriving on Father’s Day and assuming every dish can be modified.
What If Father’s Day Lunch Is Booked Out?
Don’t panic.
Breakfast is probably the most obvious alternative.
Melba has a Father’s Day breakfast buffet for $75 per person, while Balgownie Estate is offering Father’s Day breakfast for $50 per adult and $25 per child.
You could also celebrate on Saturday night. Melba, for example, has a Father’s Day Eve buffet dinner on Saturday 5 September for $165 per adult and $82.50 for children aged 4–12.
Or forget the special menus entirely.
Book Dad’s favourite local restaurant, organise a barbecue at home, head to a brewery, have a picnic if Melbourne’s September weather cooperates, or take him somewhere he has been talking about visiting.
Father’s Day doesn’t cease to count because lunch wasn’t served at 12.30pm on Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Father’s Day in Melbourne in 2026?
Father’s Day is Sunday, 6 September 2026.
What are the best restaurants for Father’s Day lunch in Melbourne?
There isn’t one restaurant that will suit every dad. For a premium buffet consider Melba; for a more affordable BBQ buffet look at Stamford Plaza; for Italian consider Cecconi’s; for a family-friendly pub meal consider The Kingston; and for a winery lunch look at Coombe, Balgownie, De Bortoli or Levantine Hill.
Which Melbourne restaurants have Father’s Day buffets in 2026?
Confirmed options include Melba Restaurant at The Langham, Collins Kitchen at Grand Hyatt Melbourne and Harry’s Restaurant at Stamford Plaza Melbourne.
Where can I take Dad for steak or BBQ on Father’s Day?
Collins Kitchen’s BBQ buffet and Stamford Plaza’s BBQ feast are obvious 2026 choices. A Cut Above in Berwick is another option for families wanting a meat-focused restaurant outside the CBD.
Are Melbourne restaurants open on Father’s Day?
Many are, and numerous venues run special menus because Father’s Day is such a popular dining occasion. However, don’t assume normal Sunday trading hours or normal menus apply. Check directly before visiting.
Do restaurants charge a Sunday surcharge on Father’s Day?
Some do. Melba and Cecconi’s both publish a 10% Sunday surcharge for their 2026 Father’s Day offerings.
Always check whether the surcharge is already incorporated into an advertised package price.
Should I book Father’s Day lunch in advance?
Absolutely.
For popular restaurants, large groups and winery lunches, we’d book as early as possible.
Where can we have a cheap Father’s Day lunch in Melbourne?
A traditional pub is often your best bet. P.J. O’Brien’s in Southbank, for example, advertises its regular Sunday roast from $30 and has confirmed Father’s Day dining for 2026.
What are good Father’s Day restaurants for large families?
Buffets such as Collins Kitchen, Melba and Stamford Plaza can work well because different generations can choose what they want. The Kingston is another interesting 2026 option because children under 12 receive a complimentary kids’ menu as part of its Father’s Day Family Feast.
Always contact the venue directly for a large group because group-booking conditions may differ.
Where can I take Dad for Father’s Day outside Melbourne?
The Yarra Valley is particularly strong in 2026, with confirmed Father’s Day events at Coombe, Balgownie Estate, De Bortoli and Levantine Hill.
Alternatively, head towards Queenscliff, where 360Q is holding its Father’s Day Argentinian Barbeque Lunch overlooking the harbour.
Where Will You Take Dad This Father’s Day?
Father’s Day is Sunday, 6 September 2026, and there are already some excellent Melbourne lunches available to book.
But our advice is not to automatically choose the most expensive one.
Think about Dad.
Would he genuinely prefer a $169 hotel buffet, or would he be much happier with a $30 roast and a pint?
Would he enjoy dressing up and going into Melbourne, or would a long lunch at a Yarra Valley winery be more his style?
And if you’re bringing Granddad and the grandchildren along, sometimes the restaurant that makes everybody comfortable is a better choice than the restaurant with the most impressive menu.
Whichever you choose, book early, check the cancellation conditions and confirm the final price directly with the restaurant.
Then all that’s left is deciding who’s paying for Dad.
