But when it comes to eating out in Melbourne, the non-alcoholic wine options are a little disappointing. Yes, things are definitely improving, but it’s still unusual to find a restaurant offering decent non-alcoholic wine or mocktails.
Thankfully, there is an easy fix. BYO restaurants mean that I can enjoy a nice meal with a bottle of non-alcoholic wine or even a non-alcoholic beer. BYO restaurants are a great option for non-drinkers, whether you’re committed to mindful drinking or just challenging yourself to an alcohol-free month.
There are probably hundreds of BYO restaurants Melbourne wide, and I’d love to visit them all. But to keep things simple for you, I’ve put together a guide to the best BYO restaurants Melbourne has to offer along with my top picks for the best non-alcoholic wine to take with you.
The Waiters Restaurant
An icon among BYO restaurants, The Waiters Restaurant, sometimes called the Waiters Club, has been owned by the Sabbadini family since the 70s. It’s simple and unpretentious with big hearty serves of traditional Italian food.
Eat
It’s got to be the Ricotta ravioli with freshly made tomato sauce.
Drink
Pasta and non-alcoholic wine make a great pairing. I suggest a non-alcoholic red wine with a full body such as Next Destination 2018 Barossa Valley Shiraz.
Good to know
BYO is wine only, so leave your non-alcoholic beer and RTD drinks at home. Corkage is free.
Location
20 Meyers Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000.
[product name="next-destination-non-alcoholic-barossa-valley-shiraz"]
Sosta Cucina
This is one of the BYO Italian restaurants Melbourne locals don’t want you to know about. Perfect for date night, it has a romantic atmosphere with crisp white tablecloths and plenty of candlelight. With a seasonal menu featuring both traditional and contemporary Italian food, Sosta Cucina is very much a fine dining experience.
Eat
Make a night of it with the five-course or seven-course degustation menu.
Drink
A special restaurant calls for a special wine — or two. A non-alcoholic red wine such as Two Hoots Non-Alc Cabernet Sauvignon and perhaps a non-alcoholic sparkling wine such as Next Destination 2021 Langhorne Creek Blanc de Blanc.
Good to know
Sosta Cucina gets busy, so it’s worth booking a table. Corkage is $20 per bottle.
Location
12 Errol St, North Melbourne VIC 3051.
[product name="next-destination-2021-langhorne-creek-blanc-de-blanc"]
Shanghai Village
Possibly the biggest dumping restaurant in Melbourne, Shanghai Village is a cheerful and bustling BYO restaurant perfect for a quick bite. It’s also great value with plates of 15 dumplings for under $10 making it one of the best value BYO restaurants in the CBD.
Eat
While there are lots of Shanghai-style Chinese dishes on offer, for me, it’s got to be dumplings. They come steamed or fried with a huge array of fillings.
Drink
Dumplings call for a non-alcoholic white wine with a full flavour such as a non-alcoholic chardonnay. My pick is the Next Destination 2018 McLaren Vale Chardonnay.
Good to know
Shanghai Village tends to get very busy, so it’s worth booking a table. There is a corkage fee of $6 per person
Location
112 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
[product name="next-destination-mclaren-vale-non-alcoholic-chardonnay"]
France-Soir
As far as Melbourne BYO restaurants go, this one is a well-kept secret. That’s not to say no one has heard of France-Soir, with its Parisian ambience and rustic French food, it's iconic. The secret is that it’s BYO for lunch.
Eat
The French Onion Soup which is served with thickly sliced French bread is a must.
Drink
A French restaurant calls for a European-style non-alcoholic wine. I suggest Next Destination 2018 King Valley Rosé, which is a premium non-alcoholic rosé.
Good to know
As this is one of the best BYO restaurants Melbourne has to offer, it’s usually busy. Booking is recommended. BYO is available with no corkage fee, but don’t forget that it’s limited to lunchtimes, excluding Fridays.
Location
11 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141.
[product name="next-destination-2018-king-valley-rose"]
Mamak
The original Mamak is one of my favourite BYO restaurants in Sydney. So when I’m in Melbourne, the Lonsdale St restaurant is always a safe bet. With a reputation for the best Malaysian cuisine expect bold spicy flavours and traditional street food.
Eat
Mamak has become famous for sweet roti — in particular, the tall cones of crisp, sweet roti with a side of vanilla ice cream is my personal favourite.
Drink
Nothing beats a crisp, refreshing non-alcoholic beer with a spicy meal. I think a Heaps Normal Quiet XPA is the best non-alcoholic beer for this BYO restaurant.
Good to know
Mamak doesn’t take bookings, so be prepared to queue for a table. I guarantee it’s worth the wait. Corkage is $4 per person.
Location
366 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
[product name="heaps-normal-quiet-xpa"]
Cafe Southall
Cafe Southall has been serving cuisine in St Kilda since 2017, but chef and owner Ravnish Gandhi has a lifetime of experience, as he grew up helping his parents with their acclaimed Indian restaurant, Bombay by Night, in London. Cafe Southall is one of the best BYO Indian restaurants Melbourne has to offer.
Eat
I can’t go past a classic dish like Saag Paneer made with homemade cheese or a veggie curry like a Kadai Aloo Baingan or Gobi with eggplant or cauliflower and potato.
Drink
An aromatic non-alcoholic wine such as a non-alcoholic Pinot Grigio will pair well with spicy food. For me, it’s got to be the 1920 Wines Non-Alcoholic Pinot Grigio, which is made in Australia in the Italian style.
Good to know
BYO is limited to bottled table wine so leave your non-alcoholic beer and RTD drinks at home. A small corkage fee of $12 per bottle will be added to your bill.
Location
2/120-124 Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182.
[product name="1920-wines-non-alcoholic-pinot-grigio"]
Ling Nan
Although Chinese diner, Ling Nan, has recently opened a new restaurant, it has had a presence in Melbourne for decades and is considered a Chinatown institution. With a ‘no-frills’ reputation, the service at Ling Nan is a little brusque, but the food is sensational, making it one of the best BYO restaurants for Chinese food.
Eat
If you’re keen on fresh seafood, ask the staff for a recommendation — there are plenty of live tanks to choose from. Whatever you do, save room for a crispy Chinese doughnut.
Drink
I like a non-alcoholic white wine with my Chinese food, particularly something with cleansing acidity such as a non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc. My personal favourite is the 1920 Wines Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc.
Good to know
Ling Nan is a busy restaurant with a high turnover of customers, so don’t expect to linger at the end of your meal. They are open until 2 am though — so if you’re a night owl, it’s worth knowing about this place. A corkage fee of $3 per person applies.
Location
207 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
[product name="1920-wines-sauvignon-blanc-non-alcoholic"]
Sushi Hotaru
If you’re looking for BYO Japanese restaurants, Melbourne has a few. I love Sushi Hotaru because I really enjoy the sushi train experience. Sushi Hotaru is a cute little place with friendly staff and great service.
Eat
The beauty of a sushi train is being able to see what takes your fancy, but I usually reach for a seaweed salad and vegetable tempura.
Drink
A Japanese meal calls for a Japanese drink. I recommend a Naked Life Yuzu Sake Non-Alcoholic Cocktail. RTD drinks come in cans, so they are perfect for taking to BYO restaurants.
Good to know
Sushi Hotaru does not take bookings, so be prepared to queue for a place. There is a corkage fee of $4.50 per person.
Location
118/200 Midcity Arcade, Melbourne VIC 3000.
[product name="naked-life-yuzu-sake-non-alcoholic-cocktail"]
I hope that you’ll find this guide to Melbourne’s best BYO restaurants and the best non-alcoholic wine to take to them useful. If you’re wondering where to buy non-alcoholic wine, look no further — you can get all the non-alcoholic wine from this guide right here at Sans Drinks!
I’d love to follow your culinary adventures, so if you’re visiting any Melbourne BYO restaurants with a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, please tag me on Instagram. Likewise, if you know any good BYO restaurants Melbourne locals have been keeping on the down low, please let me in on the secret!
But when it comes to eating out in Melbourne, the non-alcoholic wine options are a little disappointing. Yes, things are definitely improving, but it’s still unusual to find a restaurant offering decent non-alcoholic wine or mocktails.
Thankfully, there is an easy fix. BYO restaurants mean that I can enjoy a nice meal with a bottle of non-alcoholic wine or even a non-alcoholic beer. BYO restaurants are a great option for non-drinkers, whether you’re committed to mindful drinking or just challenging yourself to an alcohol-free month.
There are probably hundreds of BYO restaurants Melbourne wide, and I’d love to visit them all. But to keep things simple for you, I’ve put together a guide to the best BYO restaurants Melbourne has to offer along with my top picks for the best non-alcoholic wine to take with you.
The Waiters Restaurant
An icon among BYO restaurants, The Waiters Restaurant, sometimes called the Waiters Club, has been owned by the Sabbadini family since the 70s. It’s simple and unpretentious with big hearty serves of traditional Italian food.
Eat
It’s got to be the Ricotta ravioli with freshly made tomato sauce.
Drink
Pasta and non-alcoholic wine make a great pairing. I suggest a non-alcoholic red wine with a full body such as Next Destination 2018 Barossa Valley Shiraz.
Good to know
BYO is wine only, so leave your non-alcoholic beer and RTD drinks at home. Corkage is free.
Location
20 Meyers Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Sosta Cucina
This is one of the BYO Italian restaurants Melbourne locals don’t want you to know about. Perfect for date night, it has a romantic atmosphere with crisp white tablecloths and plenty of candlelight. With a seasonal menu featuring both traditional and contemporary Italian food, Sosta Cucina is very much a fine dining experience.
Eat
Make a night of it with the five-course or seven-course degustation menu.
Drink
A special restaurant calls for a special wine — or two. A non-alcoholic red wine such as Two Hoots Non-Alc Cabernet Sauvignon and perhaps a non-alcoholic sparkling wine such as Next Destination 2021 Langhorne Creek Blanc de Blanc.
Good to know
Sosta Cucina gets busy, so it’s worth booking a table. Corkage is $20 per bottle.
Location
12 Errol St, North Melbourne VIC 3051.
Shanghai Village
Possibly the biggest dumping restaurant in Melbourne, Shanghai Village is a cheerful and bustling BYO restaurant perfect for a quick bite. It’s also great value with plates of 15 dumplings for under $10 making it one of the best value BYO restaurants in the CBD.
Eat
While there are lots of Shanghai-style Chinese dishes on offer, for me, it’s got to be dumplings. They come steamed or fried with a huge array of fillings.
Drink
Dumplings call for a non-alcoholic white wine with a full flavour such as a non-alcoholic chardonnay. My pick is the Next Destination 2018 McLaren Vale Chardonnay.
Good to know
Shanghai Village tends to get very busy, so it’s worth booking a table. There is a corkage fee of $6 per person
Location
112 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
France-Soir
As far as Melbourne BYO restaurants go, this one is a well-kept secret. That’s not to say no one has heard of France-Soir, with its Parisian ambience and rustic French food, it's iconic. The secret is that it’s BYO for lunch.
Eat
The French Onion Soup which is served with thickly sliced French bread is a must.
Drink
A French restaurant calls for a European-style non-alcoholic wine. I suggest Next Destination 2018 King Valley Rosé, which is a premium non-alcoholic rosé.
Good to know
As this is one of the best BYO restaurants Melbourne has to offer, it’s usually busy. Booking is recommended. BYO is available with no corkage fee, but don’t forget that it’s limited to lunchtimes, excluding Fridays.
Location
11 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141.
Mamak
The original Mamak is one of my favourite BYO restaurants in Sydney. So when I’m in Melbourne, the Lonsdale St restaurant is always a safe bet. With a reputation for the best Malaysian cuisine expect bold spicy flavours and traditional street food.
Eat
Mamak has become famous for sweet roti — in particular, the tall cones of crisp, sweet roti with a side of vanilla ice cream is my personal favourite.
Drink
Nothing beats a crisp, refreshing non-alcoholic beer with a spicy meal. I think a Heaps Normal Quiet XPA is the best non-alcoholic beer for this BYO restaurant.
Good to know
Mamak doesn’t take bookings, so be prepared to queue for a table. I guarantee it’s worth the wait. Corkage is $4 per person.
Location
366 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Cafe Southall
Cafe Southall has been serving cuisine in St Kilda since 2017, but chef and owner Ravnish Gandhi has a lifetime of experience, as he grew up helping his parents with their acclaimed Indian restaurant, Bombay by Night, in London. Cafe Southall is one of the best BYO Indian restaurants Melbourne has to offer.
Eat
I can’t go past a classic dish like Saag Paneer made with homemade cheese or a veggie curry like a Kadai Aloo Baingan or Gobi with eggplant or cauliflower and potato.
Drink
An aromatic non-alcoholic wine such as a non-alcoholic Pinot Grigio will pair well with spicy food. For me, it’s got to be the 1920 Wines Non-Alcoholic Pinot Grigio, which is made in Australia in the Italian style.
Good to know
BYO is limited to bottled table wine so leave your non-alcoholic beer and RTD drinks at home. A small corkage fee of $12 per bottle will be added to your bill.
Location
2/120-124 Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182.
Ling Nan
Although Chinese diner, Ling Nan, has recently opened a new restaurant, it has had a presence in Melbourne for decades and is considered a Chinatown institution. With a ‘no-frills’ reputation, the service at Ling Nan is a little brusque, but the food is sensational, making it one of the best BYO restaurants for Chinese food.
Eat
If you’re keen on fresh seafood, ask the staff for a recommendation — there are plenty of live tanks to choose from. Whatever you do, save room for a crispy Chinese doughnut.
Drink
I like a non-alcoholic white wine with my Chinese food, particularly something with cleansing acidity such as a non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc. My personal favourite is the 1920 Wines Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc.
Good to know
Ling Nan is a busy restaurant with a high turnover of customers, so don’t expect to linger at the end of your meal. They are open until 2 am though — so if you’re a night owl, it’s worth knowing about this place. A corkage fee of $3 per person applies.
Location
207 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Sushi Hotaru
If you’re looking for BYO Japanese restaurants, Melbourne has a few. I love Sushi Hotaru because I really enjoy the sushi train experience. Sushi Hotaru is a cute little place with friendly staff and great service.
Eat
The beauty of a sushi train is being able to see what takes your fancy, but I usually reach for a seaweed salad and vegetable tempura.
Drink
A Japanese meal calls for a Japanese drink. I recommend a Naked Life Yuzu Sake Non-Alcoholic Cocktail. RTD drinks come in cans, so they are perfect for taking to BYO restaurants.
Good to know
Sushi Hotaru does not take bookings, so be prepared to queue for a place. There is a corkage fee of $4.50 per person.
Location
118/200 Midcity Arcade, Melbourne VIC 3000.
I hope that you’ll find this guide to Melbourne’s best BYO restaurants and the best non-alcoholic wine to take to them useful. If you’re wondering where to buy non-alcoholic wine, look no further — you can get all the non-alcoholic wine from this guide right here at Sans Drinks!
I’d love to follow your culinary adventures, so if you’re visiting any Melbourne BYO restaurants with a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, please tag me on Instagram. Likewise, if you know any good BYO restaurants Melbourne locals have been keeping on the down low, please let me in on the secret!
