HAVING YOUR CAKE AND ACCESS TOO
These are some of the best spots to dine in Melbourne where you can have your cake and access too.
From casual brunch spots to fine dining establishments, these places offer easy entry for people with disabilities, accessible toilets, and are inclusive to all.
HIGHER GROUND
Spanner crab eggs benedict. Blueberry hotcakes with seasonal berries and flowers. Wagyu beef with green papaya and peanuts. Higher Ground is brunch, reimagined.
Located at the western end of the city, the humble ramp entrance does not prepare you for the wonder of this cool industrial space. A former power station, it is intimate despite its oh-so-high ceilings. A series of levels, accessed by stairs with handrails, create elevated dining areas. Original brick walls and pipework, and concrete columns are exposed and raw. The many plants and muted colours soften the space.
Even the shared area on the ground floor for washing hands and checking make-up is beautiful to behold. There’s an accessible toilet there too. A mix of seating including couches, stools, and chairs with arms makes Higher Ground an inclusive space. Southern Cross Station is close as are platform super stops on Bourke Street.
YAKIMONO
Neon-lit sights. Delicious tastes. Loud, lively sounds. Yakimono is a sensory experience in which the senses are tantalised. Playfully referencing the rain-drenched streets of Tokyo, you’re transported into another world. Sit around the bustling open kitchen on high stools to get a front-row seat to all the action. Or find a spot along the window with tables a good height for wheelchairs. The upper-level bar, accessible by lift, has booths and stools. There’s an accessible toilet on that level too.
This dynamic Japanese-inspired restaurant celebrates food cooked over fire. You can’t go past flame-licked delights like the charred squid, or wagyu beef on sticks. Or try the weekday lunchtime bento, which has vegetarian, pescatarian, and gluten-free options available.
Enter via the colourfully lit staircase. Or there’s lift access via Society restaurant next door. Accessible platform super stops are right outside on Collins Street.
DI STASIO CITTA
The first thing you’ll see on approaching Di Stasio Citta is the mural on the restaurant’s exterior. Created by Aboriginal artist Reko Rennie, it is only a glimpse of the art inside.
Automatic glass doors invite you into the brutalist beauty of the restaurant. Large video installations play on a loop on the bare walls illuminating the space. Small paintings are dotted across a wall. Big windows frame views of the Treasury Gardens across the road.
The interiors are part of the theatre of the space but the food is the star of the show. Silky hand made pasta with crab, and grilled fennel sausage with mash is hard to resist. The ‘merenda’ after school sandwich is a fun treat too. And make sure you leave room for the fluffy ricotta kisses with cream.
A stunning Murano glass chandelier floats outside the bathrooms. Press button automatic doors open to the modern accessible toilets. There are several accessible car parking spots outside on Spring Street. Platform super stops are around the corner on Collins Street.
SUPERNORMAL
Picture this: Poached lobster tails. Soft, lightly toasted brioche buns. Japanese mayonnaise. This is Supernormal’s lobster roll and well worth its cult status. It’s also hard to have only one.
Influenced by the cuisine of Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Hong Kong there are more delectable delights here. How about the zucchini with whipped sesame and seaweed? Or the roasted flounder with burnt butter and lime dashi? And you won’t be able to resist the cotton-soft cheesecake with blueberries and passionfruit cream.
Bright neon cherries light the way to the wide step-free entry of the large, glass-fronted space. A bar with stools running the length of the room looks onto the bustling open kitchen. Cube-shaped lights above the red steel circular staircase with handrails point to the bathrooms downstairs. An accessible toilet is there too, accessed by lift with help from staff.
There are cosy booths, and tables that are a perfect height for wheelchairs. Close to accessible platform super stops on Swanston Street.
HERO ACMI
Ever thought of going to a restaurant just for its desserts? When chef Philippa Sibley, the ‘Queen of Desserts’ makes them, you do. Black forest semifreddo with cherries. Tiramisu. Crème caramel with raisins. If sweets aren’t your thing, Hero ACMI does delicious savoury meals too. The Greek bagel and tarama is the perfect snack or starter. And the swordfish with roasted bone sauce is also delicious.
The series of unique dining zones, both functional and beautiful, that make up Hero ACMI are an accessible ideal. Calm and spacious, there’s lots of room between tables. A range of seating whether at the bar, the dining area, or outside is available too. And there’s an accessible toilet in the ACMI foyer nearby. The space is flexible and perfect for a coffee, pre-film snack, or intimate dining.
Located in Fed Square, you can enter through ACMI from Flinders Street or from the outdoor terrace in Fed Square. Flinders Street Station and accessible platform super stops are on St Kilda Road.
DAME
As the song goes, there is nothing like a dame. And there is nothing like Dame at the Paris end of Collins Street. This elegant all-day dining venue is a peaceful oasis nestled in the expanse of the Collins Place atrium.
Pale pink marble, muted tones, and sheer curtains set the sophisticated scene. There’s a range of seating from stools and banquettes, to chairs with arms. Big windows offer views out to the atrium, or sit in the atrium plaza itself and watch the world go by. Light and airy, it has three wide entrances and space between tables.
And then there’s the food. For lunch there’s crisp zucchini flowers with whipped coats curd. Gin and tonic olives are perfect for a lounge snack. And Dame’s signature ‘muffuletta’ sandwich of local cured meats and cheeses is a must-try at anytime.
An accessible bathroom is in the nearby foyer of the adjoining building and accessible platform super stops are just outside on Collins Street. Open Monday to Friday from 7am, you’ll want to take the day off to eat here.
MR TULK
Like going to a cafe to study or work from? Mr Tulk, part of the State Library Victoria, may be the perfect spot. A central communal table with mounted lights is great for catching up on emails. And arch windows that flood the space with natural light make reading a book with a coffee easy to do.
Meeting up with mates works well too, with a mix of seating and tables that are a good height for wheelchairs. A generous alfresco area is inspiring year-round with its view of Melbourne’s modern and old architecture. Serving classic fare, it has all-day breakfast, toasties, juices and smoothies.
Entry is by ramp or steps with a handrail via La Trobe Street. You can also come in through the Library on the right of the main entrance through Hansen Hall. There’s an accessible toilet too. Close to Melbourne Central Station and Swanston Street platform super stops.
ARBORY AFLOAT
Melbourne’s seasonal floating bar and restaurant, Arbory Afloat, is where the Yarra meets the Med. Channelling a Euro beach club vibe, this fun spot is right on the river, and it’s fully accessible.
A ramp with a railing from Flinders Walk leads you to the main deck. There’s a range of seating from stools, chairs and couches too. There are seats in the shade or the sun, and there’s also an accessible toilet.
Taking its inspiration from Spain, there are seafood platters and wood-fired pizzas on the menu. Octopus with paprika and lemon, and savoury churros with cheesy dipping sauce are the perfect snacks. And there are cocktails served in jugs to share like the rose sangria and the Pimm’s with seasonal fruit. Non-alcoholic cocktails are available too.
Right next to Flinders Street Station, there are also accessible platform super stops on St Kilda Road nearby.
RIVERLAND BAR
Tucked away on the banks of the Yarra, lies Riverland, Melbourne’s urban beer garden. Situated in the historic Federation Wharf vaults just below Fed Square, this is a secret spot worth discovering.
The classic and signature cocktails are perfect for after-work drinks. Delicious sharing plates include leek arancini and lamb skewers. For lunch or dinner, the range of burgers is the go-to, and the pizzas are perfect too.
A glass lift from Fed Square takes you there. There are shady spots in summer, and outdoor heaters keep you warm in winter. And a grassy undercover area has ramp access. There’s a mix of seating and an accessible toilet is located in the beautiful bluestone vault.
Getting there is easy with Flinders Street Station and accessible platform stops on nearby St Kilda Road.
ROBATA
Inspired by the 1982 sci-fi classic film, ‘Bladerunner’, Robata is equal parts futuristic and retro; energetic and relaxing; cool and sophisticated. Light boxes with vintage brands and signs cover the ceiling. Big windows offer views of Flinders Street and beyond. And a mix of seating including booths, chairs, and stools overlooking the open kitchen offers a lot of options.
Using a traditional Japanese charcoal grilling technique, barbecued treats abound. The yakitori chicken skewers are irresistible as is the chargrilled miso marinated swordfish. The tofu steak is divine too. And it’s hard choosing between the yuzu meringue tart or the black sesame and green tea parfait for dessert.
Entry is via an automatic opening door. A gently sloping floor leads you into the restaurant, which has lots of space between tables. The Bladerunner theme continues to the toilets including an accessible one. Flinders Street accessible platform super stops are right outside.