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The European, Melbourne, AU-VIC

The European

4.7
4.7
1323 Reviews
$41 to $100
European
159 Spring St, Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for fine wines
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, The European offers a welcoming ambience with warm, generous and knowledgeable hospitality - a beacon of Melbourne dining at its finest. Located on Spring Street near the Princess Theatre, we offer classic bistro fare with substance and character to perfectly complement our extensive collection of wines, old and new world, available to enjoy with your meal.

We also welcome you on a walk-in basis next door at The City Wine Shop any day of the week, where you may simply pop in for a seat at the bar or grab a spot outside overlooking Parliament House.

We take the best seasonal produce available, cooking simple, classic foods. Nose-to-tail offal dishes are centred within our menu, utilising every part of the animal products in our kitchen. Drawing on our own in-house butcher and farmhouse cheeses matured by our friends at Spring Street Cheese Cellar, there is always something new to try on the menu at The European and City Wine Shop.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $41 to $100
  • Cuisines
    European, Contemporary European, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
    (03) 9654 0811
  • Website
    https://www.theeuropean.com.au/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Peter Sheldon
  • Private party facilities
    Looking for an iconic space for your next event? Spring Street Events looks after all the events within the much-loved family of businesses, including the European, Melbourne Supper Club, Siglo, French Saloon, Kirk’s, the Spring Street Grocer & Cheese Cellar. Feel free to visit our website: https://springstreetevents.com.au/ for more information.
  • Private party contact
    Jess and Sara: (03) 9654 0811
  • Location
    159 Spring St, Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000
  • Neighborhood
    Melbourne CBD
  • Cross street
    Bourke Street
  • Parking details
    Limited metered street parking along Spring Street and Lonsdale Street
  • Public transit
    35, 86, 96 Tram - Parliament Stations
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine

Private dining

Menu

The European's menu was last updated 2024-06-14.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,323 people are saying

The European reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • City Centre

    Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The European offers "excellent food and professional service" in a sophisticated environment. Known for its "charming ambiance" and "superb" dishes, it's a top choice for pre-theatre meals. The "extensive wine list" and "attentive staff" enhance the dining experience, making it a "highly recommended" Melbourne institution.

1,323 Reviews

  1. Mauro

    Melbourne4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Pre theatre dinner was a great experience. Food awesome, attentiveness and knowledgeable of very polite staff added to experience. The only criticism (if any) it was a little noisy.

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  2. Ross

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and wonderful professional service. Great advice on a suitable wine which was excellent. Highly recommend for a sophisticated meal and environment.

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  3. Mana

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Incredible food, excellent service (thanks Olivia!) One of the best dining experiences I've ever had in Melbourne. We'll definitely be back.

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  4. Stephen

    Melbourne1 review

    4.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    A favourite when I visit Melbourne from interstate. I got to know it some years ago when I made a point of having breakfast there. A restaurant with a long tradition and interesting fare.

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  5. Jennifer

    Melbourne2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spot for pre-theatre meal. Opens at 5pm Service, wine selection and food were brilliant!

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  6. Fionam

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious food, well presented and attentive staff.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Mark

    Melbourne2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent pre show venue with delicious classic dishes.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Lisa VIP

    Victoria22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was friendly, my dietary requirements were confirmed and I was advised which menu items I should avoid and which meals could be adapted. My husband and I shared the Beef Tartare - one of the nicest we've had. I had the "Blue eye, smoked mussels, sauce grenobloise", which was cooked to perfection and a perfect portion size. My husband had the "Whole roast market fish, confit garlic, guindillas", which was a whole flathead, this was again perfectly cooked and a very generous portion size. We had the "Herb and green leaf salad, pickled shallots" a tasty side, although it did have a bit too much dressing so got soggy towards the end. Overall the meal was fantastic. The European is usually our first choice for a meal before going to the theatre.

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  9. Rachael

    Melbourne2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It's always the best place to have breakfast, lunch, tea and coffee. Staff are amazing, food is insanely good and best coffee and wine in Melbourne (except next door at the City Wine Shop!)

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Melbourne1 review

    2.0

    Dined on March 27, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was expensive and poor. The pasta was packet. The Marinara sauce had no flavour except garlic and the four pieces of seafood were not enough to compensate. The lamb and pork bolognaise was lumpy but otherwise OK, though very ordinary. On the other hand the service was excellent and the new room layout is good. The whipped cod is also as good as ever. However, despite coming here regularly for years we won’t be back. For the price there are many places with much better food.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The European is rated 4.7 stars by 1323 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. Australia
  3. Melbourne
  4. City Centre
  5. Melbourne CBD

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
Google Map for The European

159 Spring St, Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Bourke Street
  • Neighborhood
    Melbourne CBD
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Price
    $41 to $100
  • Cuisines
    European, Contemporary European, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Limited metered street parking along Spring Street and Lonsdale Street
  • Public transit
    35, 86, 96 Tram - Parliament Stations
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Peter Sheldon
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.theeuropean.com.au/
  • Phone number
    (03) 9654 0811
  • Private party facilities
    Looking for an iconic space for your next event? Spring Street Events looks after all the events within the much-loved family of businesses, including the European, Melbourne Supper Club, Siglo, French Saloon, Kirk’s, the Spring Street Grocer & Cheese Cellar. Feel free to visit our website: https://springstreetevents.com.au/ for more information.
  • Private party contact
    Jess and Sara: (03) 9654 0811
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