Correction (10 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 9 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
This is a short list, and we would rather say so. Three places in and around Mckinnon passed our checks for a date out: a pizzeria and wine bar, a pub, and a club with a bar. We verified no cocktail bars, so there are none here.
Two of the three are on McKinnon Rd in Mckinnon. The third, Bentleigh RSL, is on Centre Rd in Bentleigh, next to Mckinnon. A date does not have to involve alcohol, so pick on the format and the hours.
Each entry gives a stage and what the venue publishes about noise and space, with a plan B where the sources allow one.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A sit-down date with a food menu and evening hours | Tutto Bene Woodfired Pizzeria & Wine Bar | Parmiggiano and Rosemary Focaccia (V) | $12.00 |
| A casual afternoon or evening drink, with live music listed | Mckinnon Hotel | see below | not printed here |
| A late finish, with open hours to 3am | Bentleigh RSL | see below | not printed here |
Tutto Bene Woodfired Pizzeria & Wine Bar — 135 McKinnon Rd, Mckinnon VIC 3204
Tutto Bene’s own site lists evening hours only: it opens at 5pm every day. It closes at 9pm Sunday to Wednesday and at 9:30pm Thursday to Saturday, so this is a dinner date, not a late one.
The Australian Good Food Guide lists it as “Alfresco Dining”, “Vegan Options”, “Child Friendly” and “Takeaway”. The alfresco tag points to outdoor seating. If the weather turns, takeaway is plan B.
On price, the menu we copied has the Parmiggiano and Rosemary Focaccia (V) at $12.00, which is a low-stakes way to start. The Pizza Margherita (V) is $24.00 on a San Marzano tomato sugo with fiore de latte and fresh basil.
On the menu (copied from tuttobenepizza.com.au on 9 October 2026):
- Parmiggiano and Rosemary Focaccia (V): $12.00
- Mozzarella Focaccia (V): $12.00
- Pizza Margherita (V): $24.00
- Insalata Rucola (V): $14.00
Stage: a first or second date, with a short evening and a clear finish time.
Mckinnon Hotel — 251 McKinnon Rd, Mckinnon VIC 3204
The hotel’s own site says it is open “Daily from 12 pm”, so it works for an afternoon meet as well as an evening one. The site is undated, so check the hours before you go.
AGFG lists it with “Live Music”, “Alfresco Dining” and “Child Friendly”. Live music listed means the room may be louder, so talking could be harder on a night with a band. The alfresco tag points to an outdoor option. We could not read a menu or drinks prices.
Talk-ability: AGFG lists live music, so ask about the music before you book a quiet first date.
Bentleigh RSL — 538 Centre Rd, Bentleigh VIC 3204
Bentleigh RSL is in Bentleigh, not Mckinnon. Its site gives the hours as “Open Daily From 10am - 3am”, the longest listed window on this page.
The site says reservations are encouraged, “especially on weekends”, and that families are “always welcome to enjoy our on-site playground”. The playground suggests kids may be around. The site calls the venue “a welcome respite from the busy Centre Road of Bentleigh”. We could not read a menu or any prices.
Exit plan: the listed hours run to 3am, so a late finish is possible, but check the day before you go.
Quick answers
Are there cocktail bars near Mckinnon?
We verified none. The three places here are a pizzeria and wine bar, a pub and a club with a bar. We left out anything we could not confirm at two sources.
Which place is open latest?
Bentleigh RSL, whose site says “Open Daily From 10am - 3am”. Tutto Bene’s site lists closing at 9pm or 9:30pm.
Which place lists live music?
AGFG lists live music for the Mckinnon Hotel. We found no gig dates, so check the venue.
Is a date here a drinks-only plan?
It does not have to be. Tutto Bene publishes a food menu with prices, and the other two list opening hours and facilities. We could not read any drinks prices.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 9 October 2026: the places’ own websites, the Australian Good Food Guide and OpenStreetMap. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 9 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Tutto Bene Woodfired Pizzeria & Wine Bar: tuttobenepizza.com.au, agfg.com.au/tutto-bene-woodfired-pizzeria-wine-bar
- Mckinnon Hotel: openstreetmap.org/1249268903, mckinnonhotel.com.au, agfg.com.au/mckinnon-hotel-73839
- Bentleigh RSL: openstreetmap.org/38225265, bentleighrsl.com.au, bentleighrsl.com.au/dining
