How Expensive Is Christmas Day Lunch In Melbourne Restaurants?

Most people asking “How expensive is a Christmas Day lunch in restaurants in Melbourne?” are secretly worrying if they’ll go broke before Boxing Day even rolls around & have their Christmas feast blow the budget. Ive booked a few festive feeds myself – from hotels with live music and Christmas carols to riverside spots along the Yarra River offering up a great menu, some festive flair and the occasional visit from Santa. Prices can go either way – but once you know what to expect, you can plan & not get caught out with a massive bill.

And every year I swear to myself I’ll just cook at home… but then I remember that using the oven turns our house into a gas oven.

What You Actually Pay For Feast

Youve got heaps of options in Melbourne – from casual long lunch spots to luxury hotel buffets with loads of festive food stations stacked up as high as the Christmas tree at Federation Square. This breakdown gives you a genuine feel for what you’ll pay at Christmas lunch in Melbourne, whether youre booking a riverside banquet or a coastal hotel feast like the one at THE Brighton Savoy – theyre famous for their beachfront celebrations.

Average Price Ranges Across Melbourne

Pricing for Christmas Day keeps going up every year because venues have to pay penalty rates on public holidays, run limited sittings, and import all the seasonal seafood, which is as pricey as a second-hand cold one. Here’s the rough idea of what I’ve seen in the past few years across places like the Melbourne CBD, South Wharf Cargo Sheds, Crown Entertainment Complex, Collins Street hotels & your local favourite spots.

Venue Type	Typical Cost Per Adult	What You Usually Get
Casual pubs & neighbourhood hotels	$100–$160	Roast turkey breast, Yorkshire pudding, desserts, and limited drinks
Mid-range restaurants	$160–$250	Three-course Christmas menus, Seafood Platter upgrade options, seasonal cocktails
Upscale hotels & hatted venues	$250–$380	Seafood buffet, Queensland tiger prawns, Coffin Bay oysters, grazing stations
Luxury hotels & fine dining	$380–$550+	Multi-course degustation, butter-poached lobster tail, Slow-Roasted Beef Ribeye, Penfolds champagne

Source: stuff we’ve pored over from major Melbourne hotels & restaurants over the last 3 years. Prices may change from year to year – it’s all about supply and demand & those pesky public holiday wage increases.

When people ask me where all the cash goes on Christmas Day lunch, I tell them it all boils down to labour, limited tables, seafood, and not having to do the dishes yourself. And to be honest, that last one alone is worth every cent of an extra fifty bucks.

Why Costs Jump So High

There’s a lot more to Christmas Day prices than just looking pretty — labour, seafood, and demand all add up to make Christmas Day the priciest dining date of the year.

The Public Holiday Price Punch

You don’t have to sneak it out of a venue – Christmas Day is a real cash cow thanks to those public holiday wages. Staff get paid to work on Christmas Day, the kitchens run with fewer staff, and the suppliers tend to jack up the price for any pre-ordered produce. And the maths of it all is elementary – high wages + limited seats = us being slugged with higher prices.

I’ve actually worked a few Christmas shifts in the hospitality business – and let me tell you, staff earning those penalty rates is the norm. I’ve seen more silly crackers pulled apart in one hour than a whole footy season full of injuries on the field.

Seafood Inflation Hits Hard

Seafood is pretty much an Aussie Xmas tradition. The trouble is that loads of people all want the same thing at the same time — prawns, bugs, oysters, salmon. In December, the wholesale price of prawns often rises (often doubling between November and 24 December). And all the Brighton Savoy restaurants in Melbourne that buy out hundreds of kilos worth of the stuff get stung with the cost.

You’ll end up paying more for menus that are heavy on the high-end goodies like

• Lobster or Moreton Bay bugs
• High-grade sashimi
• Premium oysters
• Large tiger prawns

If seafood isn’t your thing, sticking with the cheaper roasts-and-pudding type places will probably leave you with a few bucks to spare.

Premium Venues Know They’re In Demand

You’d have to be blind not to know what’s going on. Put up a Christmas tree that’s taller than the average 6-foot-tall guy, chuck in a gelato cart and a pianist playing Mariah Carey, and suddenly your bill is going to be $400 without breaking a sweat. They sell out every year because mums and dads want to avoid all the hassle of cooking up a big feed themselves – no oven, no mess, no arguments about who gets to peel the spuds.

Where You Can Save A Few Bucks

If you can time it right and know where to look, you should be able to enjoy a proper festive feast without your bank account losing its mind.

Look Beyond The CBD Hype

City venues know Christmas Day is a captive audience, and with that comes higher prices. But if you’re willing to stroll 10–20 minutes into the surrounding suburbs, you’ll find places like South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Kew, Hawthorn, and Carlton, which often offer better value for money.

When i had christmas lunch in North Melbourne a few years ago i paid $165 for a spread that could’ve fed a small army – prawns, roast lamb, pavlova mountain. My mate in the city spent $340 for what he called artistic portioning – let’s just say it was a bit steep in my books.

Choose Two Courses Over Three

Some restaurants will quietly offer a cheaper two-course option if you ask, but you need to ask – they don’t always advertise it because they want you to go for the whole banquet. If you’re not that fussed on dessert or entree, it’s an easy way to save $30-$50 per head.

Ditch The Drinks Package

Drink packages can be a good idea, but only if you’re planning on getting stuck into them. If you just want a quiet glass of wine, you’ll probably be better off paying for drinks as you go. That’s because the $45-$90 drinks upgrade sounds tempting, but I’ve seen families end up spending more on soft drinks than alcohol.

Tip from experience: order a bottle of sparkling water and have it on the table – keeps everyone hydrated and stops the bill creeping up on you.

The Hidden Costs People Forget

The menu price is just the beginning – there are always a few small fees and logistical surprises that can turn a well-earned splurge into a shock.

Booking Fees

Some fancy venues will charge you a 1-2% booking fee on top of the meal – doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re a big family, you can get stung for $30. That’s for the privilege of pressing the ‘reserve’ button.

Kids’ Pricing

Kids’ pricing is all over the place – it’s a bit like trying to get a straight answer from a politician. Some places halve the price while others only knock off $20.

Parking & Transport

Parking in the city on Christmas Day is like trying to find a free campsite at Easter – it’s possible, but you’ll probably end up getting ripped off. Trams run on a public holiday schedule, and some routes finish early.

Cancellation Clauses

Every venue I’ve looked at demands full payment ASAP and has no refund policy. So choose wisely or have a good health insurance policy handy.

What You Get At Different Price Points

Each price bracket comes with totally different expectations, so it’s worth checking out what’s included to avoid ending up with a big disappointment – or a bigger-than-expected bill.

$120–$180 Range: The Honest, No-Frills Feast

Think traditional roasts, some lovely salads, a pavlova, and maybe a glass of bubbly to kick things off. You won’t get any premium seafood or fancy dessert walls – but you will get a decent feed and some friendly staff who are running on Christmas cheer and (no doubt) copious amounts of coffee.

$200–$300 Range: The “Nice But Not Ridiculous” Bracket

This is where most people in Melbourne tend to land. Expect:

• A plate of prawns or oysters
• A few choices of mains to choose from
• Decent wine lists
• Some desserts that look like they came from a proper bakery – not some frozen supermarket abomination

It’s the sweet spot – festive without blowing the budget.

$350–$550+: The “We’re Treating Ourselves” Crowd

This is where hotels really start to shine – think over-the-top buffet spreads, carving stations, seafood towers, bottomless premium drinks, live music, and yes, sometimes even a visit from Santa.

It’s not cheap, fair dinkum. But for some families, it’s the one day of the year when they want everything sorted out so they don’t have to lift a finger.

Quick Checklist

• Decide on a budget before you start looking
• Ask if seafood is included in the price – or if it’s an extra cost
• Check if drinks are included, or if you’re on the hook for them
• Confirm if they can cater for any dietary requirements
• Check out the cancellation rules
• Ask about kids’ prices – if any apply
• Double-check the arrival times (some places only have one sitting)
• Look at last year’s menu if this year’s isn’t up yet
• Get in early – October is ideal, November is stretching it, December is just plain lucky

Before You Lock It In

Booking Christmas Day lunch in Melbourne is a bit like navigating a dodgy website – you’ve got to watch out for the fine print, pay attention to the site owner’s rules, and ignore any weird security messages about dodgy data. Once you know the real cost ranges, the whole thing becomes a lot less intimidating.

If you found a great holiday feast somewhere – or a venue that promised festive fun but delivered soggy Yorkshire pudding – drop a line. I update my notes every year.

FAQ

Is Christmas Day lunch in Melbourne worth shelling out for?

If you value not having to do the dishes, getting to enjoy some top-notch local produce, some festive atmosphere and a bloody good Christmas feast – then yes, it’s definitely worth splurging a bit – especially if you can get in on a venue with some great seafood or a fancy food station.

Do Christmas lunches sell out early?

Yeah, they do. Popular places in the CBD, Crown, and along the river often book out by late October.

Do you have to buy a drinks package?

Some places make you feel special, especially if it’s a fancy hotel. Others let you order drinks à la carte.

What’s the cheapest Christmas Day option?

Suburban pubs and neighbourhood restaurants with a simple menu are your best bet. They usually do a roast turkey breast, some Yorkshire pudding and traditional desserts without breaking the bank on premium seafood.

Do venues cater for dietary requirements?

Most have got veggie options, gluten-free dishes and allergy-friendly stuff – but always give them a call to confirm.