Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
113 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Bar
•Within the dark mauve façade of 113 Lonsdale Street lies Seamstress Restaurant and Bar. What was once a former textile factory, 1930s sweatshop, brothel and Buddhist monastery is now home to one of Melbourne’s much loved restaurants and cocktail bar.
Split over four distinct levels, each mirroring the theme of the building, with draping rolls of raw fabric, a multicoloured collection of yarns, scattered Singer sewing machines and silk cheongsams hung from the ceiling which adds a quirky touch to the building’s décor.
The levels consist of The Sweatshop Basement Bar and Yard, Drystore Espresso, Dining Room and Cocktail Bar, each level different to the other.
Located on the edge of Chinatown and in the heart of Melbourne's vibrant East End Theatre District, Seamstress has something for everyone. It’s a quintessential Melbourne haunt, with interiors and a history to match.
From team meetings, long lunches, birthday celebrations and everything in between Seamstress offers everything you need to make your next event truly memorable.
Our function spaces and dining options allow us to cater for a variety of events, with stand-up cocktail style events to intimate private dining experiences.
Both private and semi-private room options are available with AV capabilities on request.
Seamstress Restaurant and Bar Function Rooms
Sweatshop Basement Bar & Yard
Cocktail Bar
Reviews for Seamstress Restaurant and Bar
Chasing Pastry
What a delight! Seamstress is somewhat hidden restaurant situated upstairs above a basement bar and coffee shop on the Paris end of Lonsdale Street. Serving up modern Asian Fusion and a contemporary cocktail menu, it’s the perfect spot for a pre-dinner meal, date night, or after work drinks. They’ve leaned into the theme with the space decorated with draped fabrics and floral arrays hanging from the ceiling and vintage sewing machines scattered about giving it a really cool vibe inside. The menu is designed for sharing and features a range of creative dishes from small bites to more substantial offerings. Almost every dish comes in multiple sizes so you can customise your feast, or opt for a banquet and let the chef make all the hard decisions for you. The food was all immaculately presented and full of flavour. It tended towards the milder end on the spice spectrum (which suited me perfectly) but those who like it hot might need to request extra chilli. 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. The cocktails were also lovely with some very interesting combinations. Our faves were the Sunshine State of Mind and Rum Swizzle. Service was very friendly, and we appreciated the thorough explanation of how the menu worked and recommendations to suit our preferences (vegetarian). Dishes came out quickly and portions were on point. Overall a great spot I’d gladly come back to anytime.
foodbringshappiness
Dining in Melbourne CBD has just got more exciting with our discovery of Seamstress. The establishment hosts an amazing dining experience with an accompanying cocktail bar. Conveniently located on Lonsdale street and spanning three levels, it offers Asian fusion dishes with a flare. Each dish is inventive and artistically presented. Honestly, all the dishes we tried from their banquet menu (Four courses $85 add $10 for desserts) were super delicious; even the Brussels sprouts tasted amazing! The vibe was warm and lively, though a bit noisy when full. We would be keen to return to sample the other dishes on the menu!
Dilan PeREra
Loved the food and vibrant atmosphere at Seamstress. Every dish was full of flavour, perfect for sharing. Some magical cocktails served by the amazing bar staff. Big thanks to Mickey and Mandy for their amazing service — attentive, friendly, and made the night extra special. Highly recommend to everybody
Katie Goldberg
Seamstress feels like one of those places that already has a rhythm before you sit down - low lighting, jazz humming, cocktails clinking, and that unmistakable prohibition energy that makes the night feel like it’s going somewhere good. Hubby and I shared the $85pp banquet (they also have a $70 3-course option) and it was the best decision. 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. It’s generous, fun, and ideal if you want to relax into the evening rather than stare at a menu. The service struck that perfect balance of attentive but effortless, drinks were excellent, and the whole place had a buzz without feeling chaotic. One of those dinners that turns into a proper night out without you even realising. We’ll absolutely be back - especially for date night🍸✨
Haylee Trinh
I tried the $85 per person Four-Course Banquet at Seamstress, and overall I had a really enjoyable night. The dishes are beautifully presented, the flavours are balanced, and you get a good mix of seafood, crispy bites, and slow-cooked meats. The starters were fresh and light — especially the kingfish sashimi and the wonton — which is a really nice way to open up the meal. My favourites were definitely the crispy soft-shell crab and the crispy Brussels sprouts; both were super flavourful and not too heavy. The mains were filling, especially the braised beef short rib and the pork belly. If you come in hungry, the $85 banquet is worth it because you get plenty of variety and enough food to feel satisfied. But if you’re someone who doesn’t eat large portions or you’re not super hungry, the $70pp banquet would honestly be enough. The menu is quite similar and still gives you a great taste of everything without feeling too full. Service was friendly, the space has that cosy laneway-Melbourne vibe, and overall it’s a great spot for a nice dinner with friends or a date.
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