The upstairs ballroom at this fun Italian spot – with its chequerboard floors, fireplace and views of Gertrude Street – can be booked whole or divided by a heavy curtain for smaller groups. Vince’s Bar on the outdoor patio comes with a private bartender for spritz-loving crews of 20.

This neighbourhood Italian joint has two private dining spaces: one is for larger groups, with a terrazzo-tiled balcony and an old-timey Edwardian fireplace. Then there's the hidden, members-only Rosarno room, with a self-serve drinks cart, record player, card table and movie streaming.

One of the city’s best wine bars has a 12-seat dining space that’s primed for private, European-influenced diners. There’s also a second, bigger space (The Sunset Room) where you can really dial up the romance at golden hour with a few glasses from the extensive house cellar.

Aru's secluded 12-seat dining room, Banda, is perfect for smaller celebrations. But the adjoining terrace can be booked out for groups of up to 30.

For intimate groups of up to 12, the private space inside this exemplary wine bar has you covered. It’s a quiet place to get across the menu of modern Australian dishes, ferried to your table by personal waitstaff.

The private dining rooms at Bottega can accommodate any kind of event, ranging from small gatherings to 60-person soirées. And no matter which space you choose, each has a beautiful view overlooking leafy Bourke Street.

If you’ve got the budget, Society’s 20-seat Green Room is a private dining experience usually reserved for presidents and movie stars. By that, we mean a private chef, kitchen and sommelier pouring drops from the restaurant’s peerless wine cellar. Timber, stone and grandeur abound. There’s even a private entrance so you don’t get papped.

There are three, private, eight-seat dining rooms at Melbourne's best Japanese restaurant. The incredible food is undoubtedly the star here, and the only menu option is a degustation. If that's the kind of private dining experience you're looking for, you won't find better.

This spot just off St Kilda Beach is one of Melbourne's original Mexican restaurants, and it's still one of its best. Head upstairs to find its bright dining room for up to 20 guests. Enjoy a long lunch or dinner with share-friendly Mexican favourites. Or book the room for a guided chocolate and tequila pairing.

This is one of Melbourne's best Japanese restaurants. It's certainly its most ambitious. There's two intimate dining rooms at lower ground level for intimate kaiseki-style meals and an upstairs 56-seat dining room – Kuro – for more bustling affairs.

Enter the cyberpunk facade to find Chris Lucas’s two-level Japanese diner. Take your pick from two dining rooms which can accommodate up to 14 or 70 guests. Sip on imported sake, slurp your noodles and call it good manners (it is in Japan), and drink cocktails named after Tokyo’s neighbourhoods.

Feast on celebrity chef Shane Delia’s creative, high-definition Middle Eastern food across four event spaces. The Sultan Room seats up to 18 and is decked out in velvet seating and brass finishes, almost fit for royalty.

The sprawling four-level Saint Hotel has private and semi-private dining rooms to get you away from the din. A private dining area seats up to 16 people and has views onto Fitzroy Street, while a second semi-private area seats up to 10. Settle in for canapés, meats cooked in the Josper grill and cocktails that celebrate native Australian ingredients.

Head to Chin Chin’s upstairs dining hall for executive chef Benjamin Cooper’s uncompromising Thai fare. Choose from two dining areas (up to 50 seated, 60 standing) or book out the entire space to party in private at this Melbourne institution.

This St Kilda fine diner has peerless views out over the bay, which you can also enjoy in the Palm Room – a bright and private space for up to 40 guests. The more intimate Cellar Room seats up to 14 guests around a round table, and lets you glimpse Stokehouse’s wine collection in the neighbouring cellar.

The downstairs sibling to Stokehouse also has private dining in The Bay Room, an up to 40-seat space with deck access and waterfront views. As the name suggests, the easy-breezy menu is centred around pasta.

Find Jayda right next to Maha Restaurant, where you can dine in the semi-private, moody lounge room or book the whole venue and party under the glow of red, orb-like lamps. The former suits up to 30 seated people, while the latter can accommodate up to 120 standing guests.

This cosy Italian diner specialises in serving home-style Sicilian food with generosity and heart. Upstairs, its dining room can seat up to 30 people for your next celebration. The decor is simple, the wine is served in carafes or tumblers and the service is friendly, creating an intimate and welcoming environment.

Everything is made from scratch at this wine bar from a young owner-chef with experience at Michelin star restaurants. The menu changes each week (but retains a nostalgic, familiar slant) and the walls are covered with Australian art.

This south-side restaurant nods to Saint Lucia, with earthy hues and large-scale works by a Melbourne collage artist. Stop by for crab linguini and European-inspired cocktails – like Bellinis and “two-sip” Negronis.