Best Restaurants in Surrey Hills Melbourne 2026
Eating out in Surrey Hills has changed a lot in the past few years. New spots keep opening, old favourites keep raising their game, and the overall standard has quietly become one of the better dining strips in inner east Melbourne.
The Dining Scene
You are paying more here, but you are getting it. White tablecloth dining sits next to smart-casual bistros, and the wine lists tend to be serious. Expect European-leaning menus with quality Australian produce.
Price Guide
Dining in Surrey Hills will not leave you broke if you pick wisely. Casual spots serve solid mains for $18 to $28. The more polished places charge $32 to $45 for a main. A couple having dinner with drinks can expect to spend $90 to $160 depending on where they land. Lunch is almost always cheaper — often by 30 percent.
Cuisine Focus
French and Italian influence runs deep in Surrey Hills’s restaurant scene. Modern Australian with European technique is the default style. Japanese and contemporary Asian places have made inroads in recent years. Most menus lean heavily on local Victorian produce — Gippsland beef, Mornington Peninsula greens, seasonal seafood.
Tips from Locals
- Go early: The 5:30pm to 6pm slot gets you better service and sometimes early-bird pricing.
- Check Google Maps reviews: Anything above 4.3 with 200+ reviews is legitimately good in Surrey Hills.
- Lunch is underrated: Plenty of restaurants run a lunch menu that is 30 percent cheaper for near-identical food.
- Follow the locals: If a place is full on a Tuesday night, it is good.
More on Surrey Hills: Neighbourhood Guide | Living in Surrey Hills | History
