Melbourne's Best Indian Restaurant in the CBD
Melbourne’s Indian restaurant beneath the gold ceiling.
Indian fine dining by the Curry Queen at 72 Flinders Street, Melbourne CBD — one block from Flinders Lane.
$95 Set MenuÀ la carte Menu ScrollBroadsheet Walks the line between classic and contemporaryTime Out Excellent Indian eatsGood Food The feeling, the settingHerald Sun Mind-blowingly gooddelicious. Posh spiceUrban List Timeless Indian cuisine3AW Sofia Levin reviews ElchiBroadsheet Walks the line between classic and contemporaryTime Out Excellent Indian eatsGood Food The feeling, the settingHerald Sun Mind-blowingly gooddelicious. Posh spiceUrban List Timeless Indian cuisine3AW Sofia Levin reviews Elchi As featured inBroadsheetTime OutGood FoodHerald Sundelicious. Elchi reimagines the wonders of Indian cuisine in a room that evokes a bygone era of grand, elegant India, in the heart of Melbourne.
This is timeless India.
Your Evening
What are you celebrating?
Choose your evening — we'll show you the right table.
Your table
A curved leather booth for two
Tucked into the natural leather booths with a view of the open kitchen — the most intimate seats in the room.
- Start with a Maharani or Pink City cocktail
- Share the $95 Curry Queen set menu — or order à la carte from the full menu
- Ask for a booth in your booking notes
Your table
Centre of the room, beneath the gold ceiling
Celebrate under the dramatic gold ceiling lights, at the heart of the dining room's energy.
- Golgappa shots to start the party
- Bring your own cake — $25 cakeage
- Mention the birthday when you book
Your table
A quiet table with the wine pairing
An unhurried evening built for conversation, with wines chosen to match every course.
- Leave It Up to the Curry Queen — $95 — or order à la carte from the full menu
- Add the $70 wine pairing
- Finish with the Old Monk affogato
Your table
A CBD lunch table, steps from Flinders Street Station
Lunch Tuesday to Thursday, 12 – 2:30pm — close to Collins Street and the Flinders Street offices.
- Fast, polished service for working lunches
- Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options
- Groups over 9: add a note when you book
Your table
The whole restaurant, for up to 60
The full menu or the $95 set menu, exclusive hire for up to 60, and an events team that handles every detail — from team dinners to Christmas functions.
- Exclusive hire of the whole restaurant
- We can open especially for your event
- Banquet set menus for the whole table
- Official catering partner of W Melbourne
Enquire about Exclusive HireYour table
A seat at the glowing bar
Begin at the bar beneath backlit shelves — Indian-inspired cocktails, single malts and hand-picked wines.
- Indian single malts — Amrut and Rampur
- Cocktails crafted for spice
- Stay on for dinner in the dining room
Signature Dishes
Beneath the gold ceiling, every plate is a celebration.
Indian cooking from Kashmir to Kerala — from the tandoor, the sigdi and the smoker.
Not Your Average Chicken TikkaSmoked under glass, unveiled at the table Tandoori Lamb ChopsYogurt spice · open flame · mint Chicken MussalamThe gold chicken Sea PrawnsFinished with a pour at the table Old Monk FlambéSet alight at the table See the Full MenuThe Room
One of Melbourne's most beautiful dining rooms.
A canopy of gold — our signature ceiling creates an intimate warmth that sets the tone for the evening ahead. Natural leather banquettes imbue the space with a sense of luxury. The bar is a slick and glowing feature of the restaurant. Elchi sits behind the neoclassical facade of the old Herald and Weekly Times building. Booths from the Press Club era, facing the glass-fronted kitchen. Experience excellent Indian eats at Elchi, where the line between traditional and modern is obscured.
Time Out MelbourneThe Food
The best Indian food in Melbourne
Not the takeaway classics. Indian cooking from across India, Kashmir to Kerala and Hyderabad to Kolhapur, made the slow way — long marinades, hand-ground spice, the tandoor, the sigdi and the smoker.
From the fire
Not Your Average Chicken Tikka with tomato-chilli caramel, tandoori lamb chops and Sigdi Macchi — cooked over open flame in our all-electric kitchen.
Slow-cooked curries
Hyderabadi goat curry, Lamb Martbaan, a rich dal makhani and biryani — the dishes that bring Melbourne back to Flinders Street.
For every table
Our meat, chicken and seafood are halal, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes run right through the menu — from gunpowder gobhi to veg Kolhapuri.
“Brings posh spice” Delicious · “Mind-blowingly good samosa” Herald Sun
Explore the MenuThe Curry Queen
Executive Chef Manpreet Sekhon
Trained in Punjab's five-star hotel kitchens and recognised by Sanjeev Kapoor and Jiggs Kalra, she built Elchi to move beyond the standard butter chicken — to the real regional cooking of India.
A Global Cooksafe Coalition chef ambassador, she runs Elchi’s all-electric induction kitchen.
Groups, Corporate & Exclusive Hire
Bring everyone.
From group bookings to hiring the whole restaurant for up to 60 — with an events team that handles every detail.
Up to 60 guests, whole-venue hire $95 set menu or order à la carteW Melbourne official catering partner, for events off-site Christmas end-of-year functions — enquire early, December fills fast Functions & CateringThe Bar & Wine
Indian-inspired cocktails. Hand-picked wines.
Try the Maharani or the Pink City, a glass from our Australian and European list, or an Indian single malt — Amrut or Rampur.
Drinks & Wine ListThe Elchi Story
Modern Indian dining in Melbourne CBD
Elchi is Melbourne's best Indian restaurant and one of the most unique and beautiful dining destinations in all of Australia — offering the finest Indian restaurant experience in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. There is simply nothing else like it in Australia.
Our cuisine is proudly inspired by India, with a distinctly Melbourne touch, served nightly in a space as beautiful as it is alive with energy.
ELCHI is not just a restaurant; it is a culinary masterpiece nestled in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. Led by the talented Curry Queen Manpreet Sekhon, ELCHI is a rediscovery of the cuisine of India from Kashmir to Kerala and it aims to move away from the standard Butter Chicken to bring a wider gamut of local flavours to the fore. There are no gimmicks, just high-quality and well-plated flavourful dishes that are true to their roots.
With its name meaning “Ambassador” or “Talented,” ELCHI truly lives up to its reputation.
As you walk in through the grand gold doors of the Elchi restaurant at Melbourne, you immediately encounter a shifting aroma of masalas and roasting kebabs. The glass-fronted kitchen allows you to see the chefs at work. It is abuzz with smokers, sigdis and big pots bubbling on the stove, highlighting the five time-tested ways of cooking that the restaurant uses to make all its food. At the heart of our kitchen lies the tandoor, where we create dishes that are a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
Elchi is a refined dining experience designed for those who value great food, unhurried conversation, and an atmosphere that never rushes you. We have carefully crafted an ambiance that is serene, sophisticated, and conducive to relaxation and meaningful conversations. We welcome diners aged 12 and above, and look forward to making your visit truly memorable.
Our bar and wine list are crafted with the same care as the kitchen — Indian-inspired cocktails, wines from hand-picked producers worldwide, and a drinks list designed to complement every spice on the menu. Every sip enhances the flavour of your meal, creating a harmonious symphony for your senses.
Step into Elchi and be captivated by an atmosphere that is bold, warm, and entirely its own — where sleek gold accents, plush leather booths, and an open kitchen combine to create one of Melbourne's most beautiful dining spaces. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a romantic evening, or simply treating yourself to something extraordinary, Elchi delivers an experience that stays with you long after the last bite.
At Elchi, every dish tells a story — rooted in the culinary traditions of India and brought to life by Chef Manpreet Sekhon's decades of expertise. This is modern Indian cuisine at its finest, served in a space that matches its ambition. Book your table now and discover why Elchi is Melbourne's most talked-about Indian restaurant. We look forward to welcoming you.
Elchi offers Melbourne's finest modern Indian dining experience — a destination where authentic flavours meet an exceptional CBD setting. From romantic dinners to celebratory gatherings, every visit is crafted with care. Located on Flinders Street, we are open for lunch and dinner, steps from the heart of the city, welcoming guests who expect nothing less than the best.
Find us at 72 Flinders Street — in the heart of Melbourne CBD, steps from the iconic Flinders Lane dining precinct, behind the grand neoclassical facade of the former Herald and Weekly Times building. Easy to reach by tram, train, or car, Elchi is Melbourne's most iconic Indian restaurant address. Come for the food. Stay for the experience.
Good to know
Questions, answered
What is the best Indian restaurant in Melbourne CBD?
Elchi at 72 Flinders Street is a modern Indian fine dining restaurant led by Chef Manpreet Sekhon, the Curry Queen, and reviewed by Broadsheet, Good Food, Time Out, the Herald Sun and Urban List.
Does Elchi have private dining?
Yes. The whole restaurant can be hired exclusively for up to 60 guests, for corporate dinners, birthdays, engagements and Christmas functions. Explore functions
Is Elchi halal?
All our meat, chicken and seafood are halal.
What are Elchi's opening hours?
Lunch Tuesday to Thursday 12pm to 2:30pm. Dinner Tuesday 5:30pm to 9:30pm, Wednesday and Thursday 5pm to 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday 5pm to 10pm, and Sunday 5pm to 9:30pm. Closed Monday.
Who is the chef at Elchi?
Chef Manpreet Sekhon, the Curry Queen, is Elchi's executive chef and owner. She trained in five-star hotel kitchens in Punjab, was recognised by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor and the late Jiggs Kalra, the Czar of Indian Cuisine, and also runs Masti in Fitzroy and Eastern Spice in Geelong. She is also a Global Cooksafe Coalition chef ambassador.
Does Elchi do catering?
Yes. Elchi is the official catering partner of W Melbourne, and caters corporate events, Diwali celebrations and private functions across Melbourne. Indian catering
Where is Elchi located?
72 Flinders Street, Melbourne CBD, VIC 3000, one block from Flinders Lane and steps from Flinders Street Station. Call us on 03 9654 6717.
What should I order at Elchi?
Start with Not Your Average Chicken Tikka, smoked under glass at the table, then the tandoori lamb chops and the Chicken Mussalam, our gold chicken. Or let the kitchen choose with the $95 Curry Queen set menu.
Can I bring children to Elchi?
Elchi is an intimate dining room for guests aged 12 and above. Children under 12 are not admitted.
Find Us
72 Flinders Street, Melbourne
One block from Flinders Lane, steps from Flinders Street Station. Parking at Wilson Parking, 11 Exhibition Street.
Lunch · Tuesday – Thursday12 – 2:30pm Dinner · Tuesday5:30 – 9:30pm Dinner · Wednesday – Thursday5 – 9:30pm Dinner · Friday – Saturday5 – 10pm Dinner · Sunday5 – 9:30pm MondayClosed 03 9654 6717Elchi is Melbourne's best Indian restaurant for Indian dining in the CBD — a modern Indian restaurant at 72 Flinders Street, one block from Flinders Lane. Chef Manpreet Sekhon's seasonal Indian menu, the $95 Curry Queen set menu, exclusive hire for up to 60 and Indian-inspired cocktails. Guests aged 12 and above.
Groups of up to 60Hire the whole of Elchi for your celebration. For groups, we can open especially for you, lunch included.
Exclusive hire
