Inside Melbourne fine-dining restaurant Vue de monde

After a three-month closure, Australia’s most-awarded and internationally recognised fine-dining restaurant Vue de monde is back with a new dining room, an all-new menu, and a new look for sister bar Lui.

Shannon Bennett opened the restaurant in 2000, and it’s consistently remained at the pinnacle of Melbourne’s fine-dining scene—it most recently scored three hats (Good Food Guide) in 2022, and an award for Sommelier of the Year for 2024.

With executive chef Hugh Allen (2023 Gourmet Traveler chef of the year) at the helm, the restaurant’s French-bistro roots and luxury sensibilities remain, but there’s now a bolder 18-course tasting menu with a focus on local ingredients, seasonality, and sustainability.

Read on for why Vue de monde remains a Melbourne must-visit

Dark granite bar and tiles with hints of natural brass in the forefront and sweeping views over the bay in the background at Lui Bar in Melbourne. — Australian materials including granite, natural brass, sheepskin, and smoked glass feature in the complete redesign of Lui bar, which pairs a cocktail and snack with sweeping Melbourne views. Credit: Vue de monde

What to eat

Allen travelled to some of the best fine-dining destinations in the world, including London, Amsterdam, San Sebastián, and Singapore, while the restaurant was closed. Those experiences now inform the $360 per person tasting menu, but it’s still firmly rooted in Australia thanks to the restaurant’s continued collaboration with local farmers and suppliers.

A show-stopping avocado purée tart, a grilled West Australian marron tail, and a warm marron roe custard are among the highlights of the new menu. One favourite makes a return though: The restaurant’s iconic chocolate soufflé that Allen had been making since he was an apprentice at Vue de monde.

Meanwhile, Lui now has more snacks. Think Sydney Rock oysters, Blackmore Wagyu ribs, and caviar service for an even fancier night out.

A chocolate soufflé rises out of a dark ceramic ramekin atop a black marble table at the restaurant Vue de monde in Melbourne. — The chocolate souffle, an iconic Vue de monde dish, remains on the new menu. Credit: Vue de monde

What to drink

A 5,000-bottle wine cellar at the dining-room entrance gives a little taste of what’s to follow at dinner. Wine director Dorian Guillon is your go-to guy to help pick from the impressive selection of Australian wines as well as other bottles from around the world.  

Over at Lui, the new globally inspired drinks menu is informed by bar manager Elizabetta Luppi’s recent travels. Her favourite is the Margot, a signature spritz of Davidson plum, rhubarb, and lacto-fermented yellow tomato. There’s also a large selection of vintage spirits and rare cigars.

A mixologist pours out a cocktail from a shaker into a highball glass on the granite bar top of Lui Bar in Melbourne. — Cocktails have a strong focus on Australian native ingredients like sunrise limes, Geraldton wax, Tasmanian wasabi leaf, macadamias, and quandongs. Credit: Vue de monde

Where to sit

The sweeping Melbourne views remain the star of the show, and thanks to the redesign everyone can now get a peek at the skyline no matter where you sit.

The dining room is just as luxurious as the food: kangaroo-hide tops, Burnt-jarrah accents, and calibrated table lighting all reinforce why Vue de monde remains one of the most stylish tickets in town.

The open kitchen remains, but with a new pastry section—and that just means you get to see even more of Vue de monde’s culinary wizardry on display.

“We’ve been working on the changes to Vue de monde and Lui Bar for a few years now, and it is wonderful to see everything come together,” Allen says.

Earthy toned leather booths and chairs standout from the dark, muted tones of Lui Bar that shows views across Melbourne. — Ethically sourced local leather chairs in muted, earthy tones round out the renovations of Lui bar that lets more visitors soak in the sweeping city views. Credit: Vue de monde

When to go

Vue de monde is open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm to midnight and lunch on Friday and Saturday from midday to 4pm.  Lui Bar is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 pm to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 3 pm to 1am.  

Upcoming Events

Keep an eye on socials for information on a Christmas lunch at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Jardin Tan and a New Year’s Eve event at Vue de monde and Lui Bar.

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Catherine Fallon is a passionate food writer in Melbourne enjoying all the eats and drinks this wonderful city has to offer. Follow her on Instagram @forkingoutagain.