Check Out Australia's First Dine-In Cinema

Australia’s first-ever dine-in cinema has opened in Melbourne.

What do you get when you combine good movies and great food? The answer is FoMo Cinemas , the latest venture from Barry Peak (Valhalla/Cinema Nova) and Natalie Miller AO (Longford Cinema/Cinema Nova).

Located within the recently opened East Brunswick Village precinct in Melbourne, FoMo is a film lover and foodie’s dream come true. And it’s the first of its kind to open on Australian shores.

MoFo Cinemas in Melbourne — Each theatre features state-of-the-art sound design technology. (Image: Tony Lee)

Already being compared to New York’s famous Nitehawk Cinema , FoMo invites guests to enjoy the latest blockbusters from around the world, with food from a comprehensive dining menu delivered mid-film. Did someone say the perfect date night?

Made up of six theatres with a total capacity of 392 seats, FoMo is set to serve up some of summer’s biggest films with a side of fresh flavour.

Each cinema is fitted with state-of-the-art sound design technology and high-quality projection for an immersive and exciting experience. Two of the cinemas even feature 3D capabilities, while the largest, a 114-seat auditorium, offers 4K laser resolution on a screen measuring more than 10 metres wide.

FoMo Cinemas in Melbourne — FoMo is Australia’s first dine-in cinema. (Image: Tony Lee)

FoMo opened its doors on 18 January and has screened new releases including The Holdovers, Ferrari, The Beekeeper, The Iron Claw, Priscilla and Mean Girls.

Barry Peak, co-founder with Natalie Miller AO, describes the project as “cinemas run for movie lovers by movie lovers. Like us." Adding, that “there’s no obligation to eat anything, but you’d be crazy to miss out."

So, what’s on the menu you ask? Well, head chef Darren Collier is hoping to spoil guests with his carefully curated menu. Think antipasto, cheese boards, New York-inspired sandwiches, burgers, pizza and a delectable dessert platter.

Classic cinema snacks will be on offer too, such as popcorn, choc tops, ethically sourced chocolate and chips from bespoke local companies. FoMo’s bar is also set to excite, with local beers on tap and specialty cocktails available.

Food can either be pre-ordered or bought during the film, with a cash-free interface located within each theatre chair, avoiding any distractions for other movie-goers. Orders are sent straight to the kitchen and delivered promptly and discreetly.

Guests can also say goodbye to those dreaded pre-movie ads. Rather, interactive quizzes and trivia will entertain, plus movie history and classic cinema moments.

East Brunswick Village was completed in October 2023 and opened in early 2024. Designed to be self-sustaining, the precinct features a number of apartment buildings surrounded by an apiary, kids cubbyhouse, veggie gardens and a private rooftop with CBD views.

An expansive pedestrian laneway acts as a community hub of retail and entertainment, which FoMo Cinemas now calls home. Other businesses popping up include Bridge Road Brewery, Rumi Restaurant, Taycoya Japanese Restaurant and Siconi Gelato, making for the perfect evening out.

Brunswick is also one of Melbourne’s most vibrant suburbs, with plenty of restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes dotted along its streets.

There’s no shortage of exceptional eateries in regional Victoria. From casual classics to finely tuned fine diners, here’s our pick of the plentiful bunch.

Le Foyer Brasserie, Bendigo

French plate at Le Foyer Brassiere, Bendigo — Le Foyer serves upscale French fare.

From the owners behind Bendigo’s beloved The Woodhouse comes this newly opened elegant French bistro. It’s all about welcoming warmth at this city fine diner, after all Le Foyer , translates to ‘the hearth’ in French. A place to linger in the chic, Parisian-style salon, the menu unfurls in the classics, from beef bourguignon to steak frites and mille-feuille.

Riverbank Moama, Murray River

If you’re journeying on or beside the Murray, it’s only fitting that you dine by its banks. This nature-nestled restaurant by the river is idyllic for a long, sun-filled lunch. The menu is an unfussy playlist of the hits served with a seasonal spin – and the mood is as gently flowing as the nearby water.

Felix, Geelong

Soft brown banquettes, walnut hues and a terrazzo bar welcomes with relaxed French bistro vibes at Geelong’s Felix . But really, it’s the collage of simple, seasonal flavours that make this restaurant an easy-going favourite. Come for brunch or dinner; vegans are welcomed with a dedicated menu.

The Perch, Lavers Hill

A laid-back classic of the Great Ocean Road, The Perch at Lavers Hill welcomes those taking a pause from the serpentine drive. Lunch in the warm-wood dining room is accompanied by vineyard vistas and fleeting cameos from native birds.

The Shared Table, Ballarat

If you go for the ‘Dine without Decision’ option at this beloved eatery , you’re free from the tyranny of food envy with a chef-selected procession of dishes that highlight the bounty of the Midwest region. Think mochi gnocchi with pumpkin and XO or Western Plains pork cotoletta.

Barragunda Dining, Mornington Peninsula

This fine diner , which opened in early 2025, has been lauded as one of the region’s most ambitious and significant openings in recent years. Set on a 400-hectare, cliffside Cape Schanck property that delivers the kitchen with a cornucopia of produce, it’s elegant and honest paddock-to-plate dining at its most refined.

Mount William Station, Grampians

Whether you’re staying at this luxe historic station or just swinging in for dinner with friends, the shared table vibe here is country hospitality at its most welcoming and elevated. Seasonal and local produce guides chef Dean Sibthorp’s hand for plates finessed with the mountain-fresh flavour of the Grampians.

Emerald City, Yarra Valley

You’re certainly not in Kansas anymore when you slip behind the emerald curtain from Cavanagh’s Whiskey and Alehouse to the diminutive Emerald City . Allusions to the fraudulent wizard and Dorothy aside, this acutely intimate four-seat diner is a curated experience worthy of a road trip. As you may imagine, bookings are essential.

du Fermier, Trentham

Annie Smithers’ intimate, farmhouse-y French fine diner is not at all new, but it is every bit iconic. It’s long attracted food-lovers to its charming dining room for a set menu that undulates with the seasons. If you’re a gourmand to your core, book into one of Annie’s delightfully informal masterclasses.

Messmates Dining, Gippsland

This Warragul diner’s menu is a well-arranged collection of delicious, farm-forward morsels crafted, quite simply, to delight. Dishes such as French onion dip scooped onto nigella seed crackers and fresh-made pasta tossed with a black pepper and butter emulsion are all about balanced, enjoyable flavours paired with good wine.

Check out Australia’s first dine-in cinema