Aru

At Aru, wood fire connects Australian ingredients with Asian influences. The Little Collins Street dining room pairs a visible hearth with screened seating and warm timber finishes. Choose the Signature or Chef’s Menu for a meal built around the kitchen’s current seasonal dishes.

A small-party reservation lasts two hours. That makes a Tuesday or Wednesday dinner straightforward to place after a city afternoon; lunch runs Tuesday to Saturday and dinner Monday to Saturday. Sunday is closed, so Aru does not suit a post-race Sunday celebration.

The Signature Menu currently costs A$125 per person and the Chef’s Menu A$155 before drinks and optional upgrades. Online bookings take up to seven guests; groups of eight or more need to contact the restaurant and use a set menu. Tell the team about allergies and dietary needs while reserving, and confirm what can be adapted before committing to a menu.