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The European, Melbourne, AU-VIC

The European

4.7
4.7
1284 Reviews
$41 to $100
European

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 18 times today
  • 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.
Private dining

Private dining

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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
  • Area
    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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,284 people are saying

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

  • Melbourne

    Great for fine wines

  • City Centre

    Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The European is a Melbourne institution known for its "wonderful food," "excellent service," and "European atmosphere." Guests rave about the "generous menu" and "amazing wine list," perfect for pre-theatre dining. While some mention noise levels, the restaurant's charm, attentive staff, and delightful dishes make it a must-visit.

1,284 Reviews

  1. Elizabeth

    VIP

    London

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Have loved this place for years. Consistently excellent food and wine and exemplary service

    Is this helpful?

  2. Lee

    Melbourne

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My friend and I had the most delightful lunch today. The service was impeccable and warm. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming

    Is this helpful?

  3. Andrew

    Melbourne

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food. Service was good. It wasn’t too noisy so we could talk. Always enjoy going to the European.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Fiona

    Melbourne

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We enjoyed our dinner. Food was old school exquisite and hearty. Service was good. However, the jalapeño in the ox tongue dish was too spicy hot that it burnt my tongue, literally.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Joseph

    VIP

    Victoria

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on 6 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent location to meet a good friend and remember those who are no longer with us with a glass of bubbles. European has lots of greet meet up memories.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Chris

    Melbourne

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 3 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Extensive wine list. Good menu choices. Great spot for a leisurely lunch.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Peter

    Melbourne

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were off to the Princess theatre which is next door to The European and so time was important and our lovely meals were served promptly and the service was flawless and done with some humour. Wonderful experience and food.

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  8. Charmaine

    Melbourne

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great service and food. It is very noisy when the restaurant fills up.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Peter

    Victoria

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love going out to European/ Winecellar for dining

    Is this helpful?

  10. Gregory

    Perth

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 22 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Delightful wait staff - well curated wines - fine food served promptly -

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The European is rated 4.7 stars by 1284 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 18 times today
Google Map for The European

159 Spring St, Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Bourke Street
  • Area
    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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