Finding restaurants near The Princess Theatre in Melbourne is easier than you'd think, but choosing between them is the hard part. The theatre sits on Spring Street, one of the city's most food-rich corridors, with options ranging from old-school European bistros to lively Asian precincts just a short walk away. Whether you're after a leisurely pre-theatre dinner or a quick bite before the curtain rises, this part of Melbourne has you covered.
Pre-theatre dinner near The Princess Theatre in Melbourne
Planning a sit-down dinner before a show takes a bit of coordination, so it helps to know which venues are set up for it. Vamos was long a favourite pre-theatre option for Melbourne diners, offering a $55 per person set menu with a 6-course chef selection that catered for any dietary requirement. A 5-course option at $45 per person was also available, alongside à la carte ordering. Happy hour from 5 to 7 pm added even more value, with $6 house wines (red, white, and sparkling) and house beers making it easy to start the evening right. Vamos has since relocated to 366 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, so it's no longer the walk-from-the-theatre option it once was, but it remains well worth a visit on a night when the show isn't the plan. If you're curious about the broader Latin dining scene, take a look at the best Spanish restaurants in Melbourne for more ideas in that direction.
For theatre nights specifically, the Spring Street strip and the blocks immediately surrounding it give you plenty of workable choices within a 10-minute walk of the venue.
Best restaurants near The Princess Theatre in Melbourne
The Imperial Hotel
The Imperial Hotel sits close enough to The Princess Theatre to make it a natural pre-show gathering point. It has a rooftop bar with views stretching over the city and across to Melbourne's Parliament House, which makes it one of the more atmospheric spots in the precinct. The Imperial is one of the oldest pubs in Melbourne, and that history draws visitors alongside locals. It's the kind of place where you can arrive early, have a drink upstairs, and still make the curtain with time to spare.
The European
The European sits at the top end of Spring Street, practically around the corner from The Princess Theatre. It works at almost any hour: breakfast eggs, a full dinner, or post-theatre snacks all land well here. The menu draws on traditions from rural Europe, and the cooking is confident without being fussy. The European also operates within a cluster of connected venues: The City Wine Shop sits next door, and The Melbourne Supper Club and Siglo are upstairs. That means you can move between spaces across the evening without going far at all.
Chinatown
Chinatown is a short walk from The Princess Theatre and worth serious consideration when you're after something vibrant and affordable. The precinct covers Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean restaurants across a dense stretch of Little Bourke Street. Variety is the point. You can eat a full yum cha spread, a bowl of pho, or a Japanese set meal, all within the same block. It's one of the most reliable parts of the city for feeding a group with mixed tastes before a show.
Melbourne's tapas scene is also worth factoring in for pre-theatre dining, especially if you're keen on lighter, shareable plates. A rundown of Melbourne's best tapas bars covers options that suit exactly this kind of evening.
Places to eat near The Princess Theatre in Melbourne
Melbourne is a city full of eateries that specialise in different types of cuisine: European, Asian, Spanish, Modern Australian, Latin American, South East Asian, and more. There are enough good restaurants near The Princess Theatre to suit every budget and appetite. The suburb of Carlton is also within walking distance of the CBD and carries a strong reputation as a food hub among Melburnians, particularly for Italian. If you're coming in from out of the city, it's worth building in 30 extra minutes just to explore.
The best approach is to decide on the type of cuisine first, then research specific restaurants. Spring Street itself takes care of European and modern Australian. Walk five minutes east toward Melbourne's Chinatown for Asian options. Head north toward Carlton for Italian. The neighbourhood around The Princess Theatre rewards a little pre-show exploration, and the hardest part is usually narrowing it down.
If you're planning a bigger night out and want something livelier before or after the show, the Boozy Brunch at Vasos is worth bookmarking for a weekend session that runs on bottomless drinks and Latin street food.