Restaurant
Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
113 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Find Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
113 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
Tucked just off Chinatown, Seamstress sets contemporary Asian sharing banquets across three levels of a former textile workshop. The vertical layout shapes the evening: ground-floor cafe, middle-tier dining room under draped fabrics, and a dim top-floor cocktail den. Diners bypass menu deliberations with multi-course banquets that pace the night effortlessly—starting with delicate wontons and kingfish sashimi before building into crispy soft-shell crab, wok-tossed greens, braised beef short rib, and pork belly.
- Three-Level Heritage Setting: A multi-story former textile workshop housing a cafe on ground, dining room on the first floor, and a dim cocktail lounge up top.
- Kitchen-Led Banquets: Multi-course sharing flights take the decision-making out of dinner with wontons, crispy soft-shell crab, pork belly, and braised beef short rib.
- Tailored Cocktails: Bespoke cocktails and balanced mocktails mixed to suit diner preferences across both the dining floor and top-level cocktail lounge.
What's On at Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Guests Choose Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
From multi-course banquets to elevated pre-theatre cocktails across three heritage levels.
Kitchen-Guided Sharing Banquets
Multi-course sharing banquet menus progress naturally from delicate wontons to rich braised short rib, taking all the friction out of ordering.
It takes the pressure off choosing and lets the kitchen guide the experience.
Ananya Anand Paced Dining with Built-In Rhythm
Evenly paced multi-course menus and atmospheric jazz ensure dinners unfold smoothly into complete nights out without pause or rush.
Four courses, twelve dishes, all arriving at the perfect pace, full of bold flavours and little surprises that kept us excited for what was coming next.
Katie Goldberg Intimate Romance Without the Pretense
Tucked away across three distinct vertical levels, the venue delivers a secluded, dimly lit setting that fosters intimacy without high-end prices.
The atmosphere is intimate and stylish, perfect for couples.
Ouch Mei Effortless Table Hosting
Guests can fully unwind as dedicated staff orchestrate multi-course flights and cocktail pairings seamlessly from arrival to dessert.
It’s generous, fun, and ideal if you want to relax into the evening rather than stare at a menu.
Katie Goldberg Top-Floor Pre-Theatre Hideaway
Positioned just off Chinatown in the East End theatre precinct, the top-floor bar offers a convenient hideaway for drinks and light snacks before curtain call.
The top floor is ideal for pre-show light meals and drinks.
Leslie-Lou Seamless Multi-Level Destination
Three stacked levels allow an evening to move fluidly from early coffee and dining room sharing plates up to intimate cocktail rounds.
different spaces, shifting moods, and a pace that lets the night unfold naturally
Ananya Anand
Most popular items
Signature Asian fusion dishes crafted for shared dining and banquet flights
pork belly
By the mains, it’s rich and satisfying braised short rib, pork belly, wok-tossed vegetables, all made to share.
Ananya Anand braised beef short rib
The mains were filling, especially the braised beef short rib and the pork belly.
Haylee Trinh crispy soft-shell crab
My favourites were definitely the crispy soft-shell crab and the crispy Brussels sprouts; both were super flavourful and not too heavy.
Haylee Trinh kingfish sashimi
The starters were fresh and light — especially the kingfish sashimi and the wonton — which is a really nice way to open up the meal.
Haylee Trinh
Other favorites
Complementary sides, desserts, and signature cocktails from the bar
crispy Brussels sprouts
My favourites were definitely the crispy soft-shell crab and the crispy Brussels sprouts; both were super flavourful and not too heavy.
Haylee Trinh pumpkin and coconut custard
Standouts for us were the sweet potato and snake bean wontons, the vegetarian betel leaf with peanut, cashew, shallot, coconut and mango, the Penang vegetable red curry, and the pumpkin and coconut custard dessert though everything we tried was delicious.
Chasing Pastry Sunshine State of Mind
had the Sunshine State of Mind and Beyond the Sea cocktails, both were delicious.
Christina Hogya (christinah412) Espresso Martini
We had the Espresso Martini- one of the best in Melbourne.
Serena Kent
Beyond the menu
Thoughtful hospitality nuances that elevate date nights and group dinners
Dedicated Vegan Banquet Adaptation
The team seamlessly tailors multi-course sharing flights for vegan guests, delivering eight dedicated dishes plus rice including wontons, cauliflower, and curry.
Bespoke Mocktail Pairings
Bartenders design sophisticated, equally considered zero-proof mocktail versions matching the craft cocktail program so non-drinkers participate fully in beverage flights.
Heritage Textile & Sewing Decor
The dining room thoughtfully decorates the heritage space with draped fabrics, overhead hanging floral arrays, and vintage sewing machines celebrating the building's historical trade.
Detailed Menu & Preference Consultation
Front-of-house staff take time to explain multi-course banquet pacing and guide guests through dish portions and tailored vegetarian preferences.
Before you head over
Practical guidance on navigating levels, banquets, and pre-theatre timing
Navigating Entry and Stairs
Keep an eye out for minimal exterior street signage, and prepare for two flights of steep stairs leading up to the intimate top-floor cocktail lounge.
Selecting Banquet Formats
Choose between the lighter 3-course ($70pp) or generous 4-course ($85pp) sharing banquets to eliminate ordering friction and ensure kitchen-paced dining.
Timing Pre-Theatre Drinks
If heading out before a show or event, factor in time to visit the dim-lit top bar for pre-theatre craft drinks and light sharing plates.
Explore more places in Melbourne
Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.
Similar places
More places for the flavours and food you enjoy.
- Yum Sing House RestaurantMelbourne · Chinese, Restaurant, Bar, Cocktail Bar
- Sleepy's Cafe & Wine BarCarlton North · Chinese, Coffee, Restaurant, Wine Bar
- The Meat & Wine Co Hawthorn EastHawthorn East · Australian, Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Wine Bar
- Eazy Peazy RichmondRichmond · Japanese, Restaurant, Bar, Cocktail Bar, Takeaway, Wine Bar
- Comma Food & WineMoorabbin · Cocktail, European, Modern European, Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Wine Bar
- Black Kite CommuneMelbourne · Cocktail, Cocktail Bar, Wine Bar
Discover more in Melbourne
Explore another side of the city's food and drink.
- Yulongfu Steamed Buns RestaurantMelbourne · Restaurant
- Saltimbocca Italian RestaurantCheltenham · Italian, Restaurant
- Two Hands Rooftop Bar & Beer Garden EateryAbbotsford · Tapas, Restaurant, Bar
- MilkbarDocklands · Coffee, Modern Australian, Cafe
- Saffron On KellettsRowville · Indian, Restaurant
- Pipis Kiosk Take-AwayAlbert Park · Modern Australian, Seafood, Mediterranean, Restaurant, Wine Bar, Takeout
- Torquay LarderTorquay · Coffee, Cafe, Sandwich Shop
- El Santo de los TacosGeelong · Mexican, Restaurant
- YakamozBrunswick East · Greek, Turkish, Restaurant
- Du FermierTrentham · French, Restaurant
- Ferntree Thai RestaurantFerntree Gully · Thai, Restaurant, Takeaway
- Wee Jeanie cafeYarraville · Coffee, Cafe, Restaurant
