South Yarra’s restaurant scene runs deeper than the Chapel Street frontage suggests. Behind the boutiques and hair salons, there are kitchens doing serious work — from French bistros that have been open since the 1980s to a pizza joint that’s won Best Pizzeria in Australia multiple times.
We ate at every spot on this list at least twice, paid our own bills, and nobody knew we were writing about them.
The Sit-Down Restaurants
France-Soir — The Midnight Bistro
Address: 11 Toorak Road, South Yarra Hours: 12pm-12am, seven days Price: Mains $28-55 Style: Classic French bistro
Open since 1986. Nearly four decades of steak frites and duck a l’orange served to South Yarra residents who refuse to eat dinner at 6:30pm. The room still feels like a Parisian brasserie — banquettes, clinking glasses, waiters who move at a clip. Steak tartare, oysters shucked to order, entrecote with bearnaise. Full menu right up to 11pm, not a reduced late-night card.
The verdict: If South Yarra has one restaurant you need to eat at, it’s this one.
Entrecote — The Steak That Delivers
Address: 142 Greville Street, Prahran (right on the South Yarra border) Price: $52 per person set menu, wines from $55/bottle
You don’t choose what you eat. Steak with herb butter sauce, frites, green salad. That’s it. The dining room is narrow, candlelit, and arranged so you can actually talk. Expect $120-160 per person with wine. Book upstairs for more privacy.
Thirty Eight Chairs — Italian Without the Marketing Budget
Address: 4 Bond Street, South Yarra Hours: Tue-Sat 6pm-10pm Price: Mains $19-28
Short menu, small floor, legitimately good food. The pappardelle with slow-braised beef ragu ($28) is rich without being heavy. The burrata with heirloom tomatoes ($19) is seasonal perfection. Wine list leans Italian with local drops. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday.
48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar — Best Pizza in the Area
Address: 373 Malvern Road, South Yarra Hours: Tue-Sun from 5pm till late Price: Pizzas $22-32, gnocchi $24-28
Winner of Best Pizzeria in Australia multiple times (2021-2024). The dough ferments for a minimum of 48 hours, producing a crust that’s light and airy. Classic Neapolitan-style alongside creative options. Sits off the Chapel Street main drag on Malvern Road, so you can get a table at 10:30pm Saturday.
Omnia — The One With the Hats
Address: Chapel Street and Toorak Road corner, South Yarra Price: $80-130 per person
Two hats in the Good Food Guide. European bistro — properly executed seasonal dishes. The conservatory dining room gives natural light and street views. The barrel room downstairs is darker and more intimate. Bar snacks are worth ordering if you’re doing drinks first.
The Quick and Affordable
Lamb on Chapel — Post-Bar Souvlaki
Address: 394 Chapel Street, South Yarra Hours: Until 2am Fri-Sat Price: Souvlaki $12-18
The neon lamb sign is a Chapel Street landmark. Lamb or chicken souvlaki wrapped in pita with salad and sauce. Big enough to count as dinner, cheap enough that you won’t think twice at 1:30am.
The Yarra Indian — Late-Night Curry
Address: 4/180 Toorak Road, South Yarra Hours: Until 11pm most nights Price: Mains $18-28
Standard North Indian fare done well. Butter chicken is creamy without being cloying, naan is made fresh in a tandoor. The quality-to-price ratio makes it worth the mention.
What We Skipped
Chain restaurants on Chapel Street — the ones with neon signs and $28 burgers that taste committee-assembled. Overpriced steakhouses on Toorak Road — three that charge $60+ for a sirloin that doesn’t taste better than the $30 pub version. Degustation-only restaurants — being locked into eight courses and three hours is a lot, especially on a date.
The Verdict
South Yarra’s dining scene rewards the adventurous. France-Soir is the gold standard, 48h Pizza is the best pizza you’ll eat this side of the Yarra, and Thirty Eight Chairs proves that a short menu and small room can outperform restaurants with ten times the marketing budget.
Walk one block off Chapel Street in any direction. The side-street restaurants are almost always better value and less crowded.
FAQ
What’s the best restaurant in South Yarra? France-Soir for the full experience. 48h Pizza for the best single dish. Thirty Eight Chairs for the best value sit-down dinner.
Can you eat late in South Yarra? France-Soir serves full menu until 11pm. Chapelli’s on Chapel Street is open 24 hours. See our late night food guide for the full list.
How much does dinner cost in South Yarra? Budget $25-40 per person for a solid dinner with a drink at mid-range spots. Fine dining pushes to $80-130 per person.
More South Yarra: Best Cafes | Late Night Food | Cheap Eats
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