Middle Eastern cooking,
served late on Elizabeth St.

Everything was just perfect. The musakhan was absolutely delicious, with tender chicken beautifully flavored with onions and served on fresh bread. The mansaf was also excellent. The meat was perfectly cooked and the jameed added a rich and authentic flavor. The falafel, served with fresh bread and a flavorful salad inside, had a really nice tangy taste. Overall, everything was amazing and I would definitely come back again.

Always my go-to spot for Middle Eastern food. We’ve been coming here for a while now, and every visit has been fantastic. The gentleman at the front, who I believe is the owner, is incredibly welcoming and always goes above and beyond to make sure we have a great experience.

The food is consistently outstanding, full of flavour, generous in portion. Service is always quick, even when they’re busy.

Honestly, I can’t fault this place. It’s one of those rare restaurants that delivers every single time. Highly recommend to anyone looking for great food and even better hospitality ⭐️

This Restaurant with its middle eastern cuisine was an amazing experience from start to finish. The dining area was nice and clean, and the open kitchen really stood out, everything looked very organised and spotless, which was great to see through the window.

The drinks were incredible, especially the fresh fruit juices. The portions were generous, very icy, and absolutely perfect for the hot weather we visited in, super refreshing. The starters were excellent, full of fresh flavours and beautifully prepared.

The main dishes were outstanding. The meat was tender, juicy, and cooked perfectly, and the sauces were next level — rich, exotic flavours that I honestly haven’t tasted anywhere else before. Every bite was delicious.

I ended up coming to Arabesque based on few reviews that I had seen online. Visited this place for an early dinner. The ambience is simple and they have sufficient seating space on the ground floor( first floor you have the sheesha lounge). As soon as we entered our eyes went on the Turkish delight and baklavas on display at the counter so we ended up ordering a round of baklavas which were not too sweet. Next up- we ordered the Turkish coffee along with the falafels ( the coffee was strong along with a good hint of cardamom. I honestly didn't expect the falafels to be that fresh- definitely getting them again the next time). For the main course we wanted to try the musakhan, which we hear is the national dish of Palestine. It had soft bread as the base and topped with caramelized onions, nuts and slow cooked chicken ( 2 of us shared this dish. It's simple, flavourful and has decent amount of protein). This place is definitely worth trying and isn't too harsh on the pockets. 2 of us ended up spending a total of 54$.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I recently visited Arabesque Restaurant & Lounge and only tried the food, and I must say—it was outstanding. The flavors were incredibly authentic, with every dish tasting homemade and true to Middle Eastern tradition. The seasoning, freshness, and presentation showed real attention to detail.

The menu offered a wide variety, and everything we ordered was both delicious and satisfying. It’s rare to find a place where the food alone can create such a memorable experience, but Arabesque delivers exactly that.

If you’re looking for genuine, flavorful, and authentic cuisine, this is the spot. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates quality food.

We had an amazing dining experience at Arabesque Restaurant in Melbourne. The food was outstanding, fresh, and full of authentic Middle Eastern flavours.

We ordered the hummus, qabsa, and shawarma, and every dish was absolutely delicious. The hummus was smooth and flavourful, the qabsa was perfectly cooked with wonderful spices, and the shawarma was tender, juicy, and one of the best we’ve had.

The staff were friendly, welcoming, and provided excellent service throughout our visit. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, making it a perfect place for a family meal.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for authentic Middle Eastern food in Melbourne. We’ll definitely be back!

Absolutely wonderful spot for Middle-eastern food. The food we had was top notch A to Z. The meat was very well made, juicy and tender, the bread used for the wrap was very soft and fresh. The fries were a highlight of the night. The seating arrangement was very nice with a very nice middle-eastern ambience. The staff was nice and the location was very easy to find with ample parking around, at least when we went there. Will have to go there in Ramadan and try there buffet.

Went here for a work dinner and honestly loved the vibe. The food was very flavourful, especially the meats, and the place has a cozy Middle-Eastern lounge feel. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was perfect for going with friends. Would definitely go back.

Great hospitality and such friendly and professional staff.

Excellent choice for hosting gatherings and events.

Went there by someone else recommendation. I surprised to see on menu they make mansaf and maqluba which I have not not came across anywhere so far and I had to order maqluba which I really enjoyed every bit of the food. I do definitely go back and try other items on menu. I do recommend them.

Went there after a long time and tried Mashawi. It was delicious and lemon mint drink is very refreshing.

Great shawarma and salad. Really friendly staff. make sure you save space for the smashed baklava

Absolutely amazing food! Price is really decent too. Best tabouleh I have ever had

Compliments to the chef — everything was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented 😊

Passed this place a few times before finally trying it and never realised how large it actually is! The downstairs dining area is massive with an open kitchen and there’s a whole second level dedicated to shisha.

The musakhan (the Palestinian national dish) was a highlight of the food offering, made from perfectly seasoned, tender chicken, onions and almonds served on a base of taboon. I also loved the ara’yes, made with lamb in flaky pastry pocket, and the falafel platter with haloumi, vine leaves, tabouli and dips. It was a bit pricey at $37 but you can add unlimited free bread and tahini to bulk it out.

The shisha is also pretty affordable for a giant tower with your choice of one to three flavours. Bonus that you can track the playlist on a massive projector while you eat.

One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in CBD. Been there atleast 7 times and it never disappointed. Good variety of food, awesome tastes and service. Never had a complain. Our goto restaurant if we want to have good Middle Eastern food.

If someone complains the food here is not good, they are trolling you. Authentic flavours that taste and smell so good. It blew our minds away. A perfect 10/10. Confidently and definitely recommending them.

PS - Looking for the perfect dessert… Just ask for their Knafeh.

The ambience is elite and soothing. Loved the customer service, very attentive and friendly staff members. I and my partner had the most amazing dishes and desserts experience on this restaurant. One of the best dine in experience in Melbourne.

Awesome restaurant to visit when you are looking for good Middle Eastern food. The staff are friendly and very accommodating and it's got a cool calm atmosphere whether you want to go for dinner by yourself, a date, friends and family dinner or even dinner with work. This restaurant is a must return for me.

Being a shawarma fanatic I must say it feels authentic. I'm sure I'd visit this place again soon and probably take all my friends there along with me. Worth every penny too.

Great food and atmosphere. Friendly staff. Great platters of food and drinks.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Arabesque, and let me tell you, it was an experience that left me utterly captivated! This hidden gem of a restaurant offers a tantalizing array of Middle Eastern delights, but it was their Mandi Rice that truly stole the show and earned my heart.

From the moment I stepped into Arabesque, the warm and inviting ambiance made me feel right at home. The décor was a perfect blend of traditional and modern elements, creating an atmosphere that exudes comfort and sophistication simultaneously. The attentive staff greeted me with genuine smiles, and their passion for the cuisine was evident as they described the Mandi Rice with enthusiasm.

Had the best shisha experience ever❤️😍😋

Above and beyond, loved the authentic flavours of the food and looking forward to try the other dishes.

Most important was the exceptional customer services delivered by Sadiq, very nice person and very welcoming ..

Looking forward to my next visit to Melbourne to visit the place again.

Thank you ☺️

Authentic, value for money and delicious food. We ordered a variety including Mansaf, Haneeth, Musakhan and shawarma and everything was great.

Lamb haneeth and musakhan were absolutely delightful! The lamb was incredibly tender, with perfectly balanced spices that elevated its flavor, while the rice complemented it beautifully. The musakhan was equally impressive, with the tangy sumac and sweet caramelized onions blending harmoniously over soft, crispy bread. Both dishes were a treat, leaving me fully satisfied and craving more.

Had the best time at Arabesque! The food and drink are absolutely outstanding! They have great vegan options too. Then to finish the night in their nice lounge upstairs. Its easy to have a relaxing fun time with friends. Definitely will be coming back!

The place was busy, food was nice, meat was tender and tasty! staff were friendly! We ordered Mashawi, big portion!

Tried the authentic Palestinian 🇵🇸 dish and just wow!! So well made, wonderful flavour and definitely will be back to have this again.

Highly recommend. The ambiance and team are fabulous too! 🙌

Great food,shisha and drinks. what more could you ask for?

Highly recommend Arabesque Melbourne for such a fantastic experience! The staff there are very welcoming!

Love the food, atmosphere and everything about this place. Had the lamb zarb (bedouin grill) and it was heavenly. Simple but mouth watering! We also tried the Palestinian Musakhan and that was great too. Definitely more variety than expected. Pretty much everything we tried tasted good, the breads, dips and meals. A family favourite for sure

Amazing food, service and hospitality 10/10 . Family friemdly environment. Great value for money.

Our share platter took a while to come out but when it did, it all made sense. This was a heaping pile of deliciously seasoned fluffy turmeric rice with bits of onion, and pepper, piles of superrr tender perfectly seasoned lamb racks that fall off the bone and I would eat over and over again, as well as juicy grilled tomatoes all piled on top of chewy pita bread. This was absolutely worth the 130 dollars and fed all 6 of us to capacity.

Amazing food, would highly recommend to anyone looking for a Middle Eastern experience. Very great service. The staff are super friendly. And ontop of that the shisha is to die for 👌

Truly amazing food and really lovely staff. Highly recommend. Try the chicken fatteh!

The meals are unique and indescribably delicious. Don't hesitate to visit it more than once. It's worth a try 👍🏻

A big shout out to the man in reception for his welcoming and friendly customer service. I forgot to ask his good name. Four years in Melbourne, it was by far the best customer service I ever had. He was so respectful and mindful about greetings, service and everything.

For food, I and my family tried Mansaf and Mashawi and both tasted great. I will definitely come again for shisa with friends

It's a delightful Arabic restaurant that I highly recommend. The food is packed with amazing flavors that will transport you right to the Middle East.

They have a great shisha in the second floor.

A very good place, that is a cafe, restro and lounge.

It has got some really delicious Arabic food. Should definitely try Kabsa, Shisha is good. Good service by the team.

Absolutely love going there. Great service. Great food. Great decor and the hygiene! OMG! The cleanest restaurant in Victoria. The hygiene of this restaurant is commendable. From food to seating to toilets, everything is super clean and sanitised. The staff is friendly. Service is 100%. You wont regret going there. I strongly recommend this place.

10/10

Food, service and vibes, everything was pretty good.

It was the first decent Shawrma we’ve had in Melbourne.

Beautiful place and very tasty food. Loved Magluba Kabsa and Farouj. Definitely a place in my frequent visit list. Oh and awesome coffee as well.

Great place, awesome tasty food, and huge servings so go with an appetite. Staff where friendly to. I highly recommend.

Delicious food 😍 we ordered Mansaf and Maqloba. They were amazing 😍🍲😋 …

Food was great tried mansaf and shawarma and lemon juice was refreshing fast service

Came across this place while walking by on Elizabeth Street. Tried the Falafel wrap. Tasted great. Good pricing, good taste. They have a wide range of Vegetarian options as well. The guy on the front desk was kind enough to offer recommendations. As a newbie in town, that helps. They also have a website which you can scan and access via QR code and it shows what your food will look like, before you purchase. That definitely helps in the decision making process. Kudos on that ! Would definitely go there again to try more stuff on the menu. They also have a shisha place. Options look good and decently priced.

Delicious food and friendly staff. It is highly recommended to try middle eastern food. Our order was Quzi, Vegie trio and Shawarma sandwich.

Awsome food, if you are from Middle East & missing authentic arab food, this is the place to be ! 👍👌

Food was amazing, great taste, quality and good value. Meals were big. Venue is gorgeous and customer service was fantastic, the man who served us was so kind

Nice place, great service and food was delicious.

Love the semi open kitchen.

Very good and fresh food, with plenty of parking in the back street.

Great atmosphere. Family friendly. Excellent customer service