25 Midweek Specials For a Cheap Lunch in Melbourne CBD
The city’s best value lunch deals, updated for 2026.
A good midweek lunch in the city shouldn’t cost a fortune — and it doesn’t have to. Melbourne’s CBD has a surprisingly strong line-up of lunch specials that go well beyond a basic counter meal. Whether you’re in town for a gallery visit, a medical appointment, or just a pleasant day out, we’ve tracked down the best deals worth planning your day around. Most sit between $15 and $45, many include a drink, and several are in spots worth visiting for the atmosphere alone.
Related reading: 19 Best Seniors Meals & Discounts on Dining in Melbourne
Best Midweek Lunch Deals Melbourne CBD
1. Robata – Japanese Bento and Sandwiches from $19
If you enjoy Japanese food and don’t mind spending a little more for quality, Robata on Exhibition Street is excellent. The Bento Box at $26 is genuinely good value — you get sashimi, a robatayaki dish of the day, yaki onigiri, housemade pickles, and miso soup. It feels considered rather than rushed, which suits a leisurely lunch.
For something lighter, both the Chicken Katsu Sandwich and Crispy Tofu Sandwich come on housemade shokupan bread for $19 each. The Iced Matcha Latte is worth ordering if you haven’t tried one.
Robata, 2 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 9989 3575
2. BKK $15 Noodles
This one is genuinely hard to beat on price. BKK offers a $15 weekday noodles special with proper Thai flavours — nothing watered down. The restaurant is on Level 3, and there’s a rooftop bar above it with lift access if you want to linger after lunch with a drink.
Available Monday to Friday, 11.30am – 3pm.
Read about our visit to Her Melbourne.
BKK, Her Melbourne, Level 3/270 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
3. Tazio – Express Lunch
Tazio is one of those Flinders Lane spots that feels a bit more special than its price suggests. The $25 lunch special includes your choice from a range of 10-inch stone-baked pizzas or pasta dishes, plus a drink — house wine, soft drink, or their own ‘Tazio’ draught beer by Deeds. It’s a proper sit-down lunch without the bill creep.
Gluten-free bases are available for both pizza and pasta for $5 extra, prepared under strict food safety conditions.
Read about our lunch experience at Tazio Melbourne.
Tazio Melbourne, 91 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, (03) 9654 9119
Related reading: 35 Best Gluten-Free Melbourne CBD Lunch Spots 2026
4. Brunetti Oro – Pizza & Peroni Special
Brunetti Oro’s newer Swanston Street location makes a good mid-morning or lunch stop when you’re passing through the city. The deal is simple: a slice of Pizza al Taglio or Focaccia Romana with a Peroni on tap for $19.90. It’s casual, reliably good, and open daily for both lunch and dinner.
Useful if you’re walking between the State Library and Federation Square end of the city.
Read our review of Brunetti Oro here.
Brunetti Oro Swanston, 140 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD
5. Chocolate Buddha – Midweek Lunch Special
Right in Federation Square, Chocolate Buddha offers a Wednesday to Friday lunch special that’s hard to find fault with. Choose from four bento box options and receive a complimentary glass of wine, pot of beer, tea, or coffee — all for $20.
Mention Seniors in Melbourne and show your Seniors Card at the door for an additional 10% off your total bill.
Read our review of Chocolate Buddha.
Chocolate Buddha, Federation Square, Melbourne CBD, (03) 9654 5688
Find more discounts: Victorian Seniors Card Discount Guide: Your Passport to Savings
6. Midweek Mingle at Lollo
This one sits at the more indulgent end of the list, but it’s worth knowing about for a special lunch. Lollo is inside W Melbourne on Flinders Lane, and the open kitchen theatre makes it a more interesting dining experience than most. The food is Italian-influenced with an Australian twist.
Monday to Friday: two courses for $45 or three for $65. Better suited to catching up with friends than a quick solo bite.
Lollo, 408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD, (03) 9113 8860
7. Riverland Bar
For a classic pub-style lunch, Riverland Bar sits in the federation wharf vaults beneath Princes Bridge. The $22 weekday special covers steak, chicken schnitzel, or cauliflower steak. Seating is outdoors, so it works best on fine days — worth checking the forecast before you go.
It’s a short walk from ACMI, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and Koorie Heritage Trust inside Federation Square, which makes it a natural lunch stop mid-gallery day.
Read our review of Riverland Bar.
Riverland Bar, Vaults 1-9 Federation Wharf Melbourne, (under Princes Bridge), (03) 9662 1771
8. Cookie Melbourne
Cookie on Swanston Street offers a $25 weekday lunch with four rotating options — Chicken Pad Thai, Salmon and Avocado Salad, Vegetable and Tofu Red Curry, or a Pork Hot Pot. The food arrives fast and the flavours are strong without being overwhelming.
Available Monday to Thursday, 12–3pm.
Read our review of Cookie here.
Cookie Melbourne, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne, (03) 9663 7660
9. Maha Express Lunch
Maha is a Melbourne institution for modern Middle Eastern cuisine, and their express lunch is a good way to experience it without the full dinner price tag. At $65 per person for an entrée and shared main, it’s firmly at the treat end of the spectrum — but worth it for a birthday lunch or special occasion.
Maha, 21 Bond Street, Melbourne, admin@maharestaurant.com.au, 03 9629 5900
10. Juni Melbourne – Lucky Cat Express Lunch
Juni does a smart share-style lunch deal: four plates plus a glass of beer or wine for $42, with the menu rotating weekly. It’s available Monday to Friday, 12–3pm, for groups of one to seven. Bookings are recommended here.
Juni Melbourne, 136 Exhibition St, Melbourne , (03) 8663 3422
11. Brick Lane Market Upstairs
At Brick Lane Market Upstairs, there’s a lunch deal for every day of the week.
- Tuesday: Sher Wagyu Burger and chips — $20
- Wednesday: Beef and Ale Pie with chips and salad — $25
- Thursday: O’Connor 12-Hour Braised Short Rib — $28
- Friday: Schnitzel — $22
- Sunday: Beer Can Chicken Roast with $2.50 oysters and $9 pints — $28
The location near Queen Victoria Market makes it a natural choice if you’re already planning a market morning.
Brick Lane Market Upstairs, 466 Queen Street, Melbourne
12. State of Grace
State of Grace on King Street is a pleasant spot for lunch — good-looking room, attentive service, and a $25 special that includes one of four dishes plus a glass of wine, Furphy, or soft drink. Worth knowing: there’s a rooftop bar accessible by lift if you want to extend the afternoon.
State of Grace, 27 King Street, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 8563 0020
Related reading: 17 Best Melbourne Rooftop Restaurants with Lift Access
13. Tippy-Tay, Garden State Hotel
Tippy-Tay sits within Garden State Hotel on Flinders Lane and offers a two-course lunch with a glass of house wine for $39. Available Monday to Friday, 12–3pm. The room is lively but the service moves efficiently and the food is reliable.
Tippy-Tay, Garden State Hotel, 101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 8396 5777, info@gardenstatehotel.com.au
14. Melbourne Dae Jang Geum Korean BBQ
Located in Midtown Plaza on Little Bourke Street, Dae Jang Geum offers a genuine table-grill Korean BBQ experience, which is something you don’t often find at this price point. Lunch specials run $15–$19 and include dishes like katsu curry. It works well for two people who enjoy a more interactive meal — the table grills do produce a bit of smoke, so take that into account.
Melbourne Dae Jang Geum Korean BBQ, 1/235 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Ph: (03) 9662 9445
15. Mister Munro
On Little Collins Street, Mister Munro offers fish and chips or chicken schnitzel and chips with a glass of house wine or a pint of beer for $18. Available weekdays 12–2pm. Straightforward, good value, and the room is comfortable enough for a relaxed hour.
Mister Munro
215 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Ph: (03) 9669 0026
mistermunro@evt.com
16. Magic Mountain Saloon
Magic Mountain Saloon on Little Collins Street runs a three-option $25 lunch special: Chicken Pad Thai, Vegetable Massaman Curry with rice, or Thai Beef Salad with Nahm Yum dressing. Add a beer or wine for $5 extra.
From 3–5pm, $5 dumplings with any drink purchase — a nice reason to linger if your afternoon is free.
Magic Mountain Saloon, 62 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
17. Hophaus
Hophaus at Southbank has the kind of art deco interior that makes lunch feel a bit more occasion-like, and the terrace overlooking the Yarra is one of the better outdoor dining spots in the precinct. Their daily specials are good value:
- Monday: Chicken Schnitzel — $22
- Tuesday: Steak — $25
- Wednesday: Burgers — $22
- Sunday: Rotisserie Roast — $30
The Southgate tram stop is close by, and there’s seating inside if the weather isn’t cooperating.
Read our review of Hophaus here.
Hophaus, 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank VIC 3006, (03) 9682 5900
18. Chloe’s Dining Room – Young & Jackson
The dining room upstairs at Young and Jackson is one of those Melbourne spots that gets overlooked because most people only know the ground-floor pub. For $40 on weekdays, you get crusty bread with balsamic and oil, a choice of four mains, dessert, a glass of wine, and tea or coffee to finish. The views across Flinders Street Station from the first-floor windows are genuinely lovely.
It’s also a good excuse to see the famous Chloé painting, which hangs in the bar area and is well worth a look for those who haven’t seen it in person.
Young & Jackson, 1 Swanston St (corner of Flinders).
19. Father’s Office
Father’s Office runs a $25 express lunch available daily from 12–4pm, which is a more generous window than most. The deal includes a choice from over ten dishes plus a schooner of house beer, a glass of wine, or a soft drink. Two locations to choose from — Flinders Lane or Little Lonsdale Street.
Father’s Office x 2 locations
121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
249 Lt Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Ph: 03 9825 8999
20. Bistro Guillaume – French Favourites
For a proper bistro lunch, Guillaume at Crown Melbourne does two weekday specials that are genuinely good value. Mondays bring a Bavette Steak with fries or salad for $25, and Tuesdays feature a Coq au Vin for $25 — available for both lunch and dinner. The room is comfortable, the service is professional, and it doesn’t feel overwhelming despite being inside Crown.
Bookings available online via Crown Melbourne.
Bistro Guillaume: Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006, (03) 9292 5777
21. Melbourne Winery – Express Lane Lunch (Flinders Lane)
Melbourne Winery on Flinders Lane does a well-priced express lunch from Monday to Friday, 12–3pm.
From $19, you get any lunch dish plus a glass of wine, beer, or soft drink. The menu rotates but tends to include things like a Wagyu beef burger with fries, beef short rib toastie, spaghetti aglio e olio, gnocchi gorgonzola, chicken Caesar cutlet, or dry-aged sirloin steak.
No bookings required, which makes it a reliable option if you’re in the area without a plan.
Melbourne Winery: 167 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, (03) 9967 6655
Related reading: Melbourne’s Neighbourhood Wine Bars
22. Commune Wine – $29 Lunch Express
Commune Wine at Southgate offers a Tuesday to Friday lunch special for $29 that includes a main and coffee. The menu rotates through Italian-inspired dishes: pork and veal bolognese with gnocchi, prawn, chilli and garlic linguini, chicken cacciatore, and a tomato and mascarpone risotto.
The riverside setting at Southgate makes it an easy stop before or after a visit to the Arts Centre or any of the Southbank theatres.
Commune Wine Upper Level, UR1 Southgate, 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank VIC 3006
23. Ludlow Bar – Riverside Lunch from $20
Ludlow Bar sits right on the Yarra, which makes it one of the more pleasant spots for a relaxed lunch when the weather is on your side. Rather than a fixed set menu, they run a list of lunch favourites available Monday to Saturday — so you can order what you actually feel like rather than choosing from a limited special.
Options run from a Lemon Pepper Calamari at $20 through to a Buttermilk Chicken Burger ($26), Classic Chicken Parma ($29), and a Minute Steak ($32). The Caesar Salad at $22 is worth knowing about if you want something lighter — add chicken for $6 extra.
It pairs well with a walk along the Southbank promenade before or after.
Ludlow Bar, 6 Riverside Quay Southbank, Melbourne, 3006, (03) 9699 1676
24. Beerbrass – Daily Specials from $20, Monday to Friday
Beerbrass is another Southbank option with a river outlook, and their weekday lunch special is one of the more flexible deals on this list. Available from 10am to 3pm, the kitchen puts together a rotating selection of daily specials from $20 — which might mean a pizza, a pasta, a risotto, a salad, or a burger depending on the day.
The variety makes it hard to know exactly what you’ll find, but that’s also part of the appeal if you’re a regular. It’s a reliable spot when you’re in the Southbank precinct and want something straightforward without booking ahead.
Beerbrass, Shop G3A On the River, Southgate Precinct, Southbank 3006, (03) 9682 3799
25. Pearl Diver Co Oyster Happy Hour
Strictly speaking this is a late-afternoon option rather than lunch, but it’s too good to leave off the list.
Pearl Diver Co on Little Bourke Street offers $2 oysters from 5–6pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, paired with $12 Sea and Shell Martinis. If your city day runs long, it’s a very pleasant way to wrap it up.
Pearl Diver Co, 56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, (03) 7006 5144
Planning Your Midweek Lunch in Melbourne CBD
A few practical things worth knowing before you head in:
Getting there by public transport: Most of these restaurants sit within a short walk of Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Central, or a Swanston Street tram stop. For Southbank venues like Hophaus, Guillaume, and Commune Wine, trams along St Kilda Road or Flinders Street will drop you nearby.
Parking: If you’re driving in, the Wilson Parking on Batman Avenue near Federation Square and the Crown car park for Southbank venues are two of the more straightforward options.
When to book: For Lollo, Maha, and Juni, a booking is advisable — especially Wednesday to Friday. Most of the others are walk-in friendly, but ringing ahead during busy weeks is always sensible.
Noise and pace: If a quieter atmosphere matters to you, Tuesday and Wednesday lunches tend to be less crowded than Friday. Spots like Chloe’s Dining Room, Bistro Guillaume, and Commune Wine tend to attract a more relaxed lunchtime crowd.
If you visit somewhere from this guide, let them know Seniors in Melbourne sent you — it helps us keep supporting local favourites.
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Excellent information. Thanks Amy 😊
Thanks so much, Maureen! I’m glad you found it useful. If you end up trying any of the lunch specials, I’d love to hear what you think.
I cannot get the downloadable version to work. When I click on the “printable pdf version” statement at the top the page, it just seems to go to further down the page to a lunch place. But it is a great lot of suggestions to have at hand.
Hi Jen, further down in the post it takes you to a box that says again ‘Download as PDF’ and it has a box to enter your name and email address to be sent the document. Let me know if you can’t find. Glad you like our list!
Amy