Vivace Restaurant

Business Details

22 Years

experience

Experience Authentic Italian Cuisine at Vivace Restaurant

Established in 2004, Vivace Restaurant has become a cornerstone of Melbourne's Bayside dining scene. Our family-run establishment combines modern Italian cuisine with warm hospitality, using fresh Australian seafood, pasture-fed beef, and house-made pastas to create unforgettable culinary experiences. As one of Bayside's premier function venues, we offer four private dining rooms and exclusive hire options for events ranging from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations. Our striking interior, featuring crystal chandeliers and a Jarrah bar, provides a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere for lunch and dinner service.

Recognised as Victoria's best Italian restaurant through multiple awards, we maintain a commitment to exceptional service, extensive wine selections, and attention to detail that has earned us consistent five-star reviews. The owners, Chris & Sharee Favaloro, bring two decades of hospitality expertise to ensure every guest experiences the authenticity and vibrancy that defines our Italian-inspired establishment.

Services

Italian Fine Dining Private Function Rooms Corporate Events Wedding Receptions Gift Cards Wine Pairing Menus Group Bookings Chef's Table Experience Seasonal Tasting Menus Exclusive Venue Hire

Details

Year established: 2004

Highlights and features

Family-run establishment with 20+ years of hospitality expertise
Award-winning Italian restaurant consistently rated Victoria's best
Private dining rooms for events from 10 to 150 guests
Modern Italian menu featuring fresh Australian seafood and house-made pastas
Extensive wine list with European and local Australian selections

Associations and certifications

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019
Bayside Business Excellence Awards 2019

What people say

Divine food Stellar service Best seafood linguine Perfect venue Warm ambiance

Website

Update Listing

Services

Italian Fine Dining

Our award-winning Italian restaurant offers modern Mediterranean cuisine crafted from premium Australian ingredients. The menu features house-made pastas, fresh seafood, and Black Angus beef prepared with traditional Italian techniques. Guests enjoy an extensive wine list featuring European vintages and local Australian producers in a sophisticated setting with crystal chandeliers and polished timber floors.

Private Function Rooms

Four unique private dining rooms accommodate groups from 10 to 40 seated guests with cocktail-style events for up to 60 people. Each space offers tailored menus, dedicated service, and flexible configurations for birthdays, corporate events, and special celebrations. The rooms feature stylish decor with fireplace accents and bi-fold windows opening to Bay Street vistas.

Wedding Receptions

Exclusive venue hire options for weddings up to 90 seated guests or 150 standing. Our team specialises in creating memorable celebrations with custom Italian-inspired menus, professional event coordination, and elegant settings featuring crystal chandeliers and warm ambient lighting. Recent couples praised the exceptional service and food quality during their reception events.

Wine Pairing Menus

Curated wine lists featuring European classics and Australian boutique producers complement our seasonal menus. The knowledgeable front-of-house team provides expert wine recommendations and pairing suggestions. Regular wine events include the Wild Duck Creek Estate Winemakers Dinner and seasonal tasting experiences with featured Italian varietals.

Seasonal Tasting Menus

Special occasion menus showcase seasonal ingredients through multi-course culinary experiences. The 2/3 course lunch special offers curated selections Wednesday to Saturday, while limited-time events like the Christmas Eve Dinner and Mother's Day celebrations feature themed tasting menus. These rotating offerings highlight the chef's creativity through both traditional Italian and contemporary fusion dishes.

People

Chris Favaloro

Owner

Hospitality industry veteran with 20+ years experience, co-founding multiple successful Melbourne eateries. Focuses on exceptional customer service and quality products while maintaining Vivace's reputation as Bayside's premier Italian restaurant.

Sharee Favaloro

Co-Owner

Joint business and life partner to Chris Favaloro, bringing expertise in food & beverage, marketing, and customer relations. Works closely with the team to ensure consistent delivery of Vivace's warm Italian hospitality experience.

Davide Ferraro

Head Chef

Award-winning Italian-born chef with extensive European restaurant experience. Joined Vivace in 2009 as sous chef before becoming Head Chef, infusing traditional Italian techniques with Australian ingredients to create the restaurant's acclaimed modern Mediterranean cuisine.

Questions

What are Vivace's opening hours?

Lunch Wednesday-Saturday 12:00-14:30, Dinner Tuesday-Saturday 17:30-21:30.

Can I book a private function at Vivace?

Yes, we offer four private dining rooms for groups 10-40 and exclusive venue hire for up to 150 guests with tailored menu packages.

Do you have a dress code?

Smart casual attire is recommended to match our sophisticated dining environment.

Can I bring my own wine?

BYO wine is permitted with a $25 per bottle handling fee, except for private dining events.

How do I make a reservation?

Book online via our website for parties up to 6, or call 03 9596 9511 for larger groups or private dining bookings.

What awards has Vivace won?

Recognised with the Bayside Business Excellence Award 2019 and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019.

Reviews (6)

Write a Review

B. Collier

Dec 27, 2021 Report

Beautiful restaurant
The food was delicious. Waitress was very helpful and lovely. the saffron lemon risotto was amazing. We had private room with set menu. Only gripe would be took quite a while for our meals to come out but understandable as was a pre Xmas function.

Anita Holmes

Dec 22, 2021 Report

There was 8 people on our group. We had a private room upstairs and it was a beautiful setting. The good was absolutely beautiful. I would certainly go again it was well worth the hour to get there

Danielle Campbell

Nov 20, 2021 Report

Return customers to this beautiful restaurant. Fine dining and outstanding service set Vivace apart as a lovely experience whether it be for a large celebration or an intimate table for 2.

Mel Susler

Oct 24, 2021 Report

Vivace has always been one of our favourite
The standard of service the quality of food the atmosphere the hygiene the way that follow the rules I could not fault anything at all
Chris and Andrew are pleasant friendly and professional and any request you have they will do their best to meet the needs. Its great to see that over the lockdown you have not dropped an inch of your standards or services keep up the good work vivace team
Mel

John Broad

Oct 14, 2021 Report

Great to see the Vivace team back. Nice to sit in the restaurant. Food as always was great. Service great but relaxed even though they were working to strict guidelines. Call out to bayside, support local and make the close out to the year a great one for Chris and the team and our other fine restaurants.

Robyn Shiels

Jul 04, 2021 Report

Tonight my lockdown order hadnt gone through (my fault) yet Chris and Andrew managed to fill it in the busiest hour of their day. The oysters were the biggest and most succulent Ive had in ages- this is one place you can eat seafood with complete confidence. The rest of the meal was superb thanks to the quality of the ingredients and excellent cooking thereof. Worth the money. Were lucky to have a local restaurant of this reliably high calibre.