Indian Restaurant Toorak Elchi at 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD
Toorak Has Found Its Indian Restaurant
There are restaurants. And then there are places that quietly become part of a city's finest dining conversation — not through noise, but through the kind of consistent, considered excellence that discerning diners recognise immediately.
Elchi is that place for Indian cuisine. Located at 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD — twelve minutes from Toorak Village — it is the Indian restaurant Toorak residents have been travelling to since 2022. Not because there is nothing closer. Because nothing closer comes close.
Known for: 24-karat gold chicken mussalam, an invitation to experience the rich history, culture and exceptional cuisine of India, the Curry Queen Chef Manpreet Sekhon Best for: special occasion dining, private events for up to 50 guests, corporate entertaining, anniversary dinners and Indian catering across Toorak and Melbourne's inner south Located in: Melbourne CBD, 12 minutes from Toorak, Armadale and Malvern Signature experience: chef-driven Indian dining in the former Press Club building at 72 Flinders Street
The Curry Queen — Chef Manpreet Sekhon
The best restaurants are always built around a person.
At Elchi, that person is Chef Manpreet Sekhon — known across Australia as the Curry Queen. Born in Punjab, trained in India's finest five-star hotel kitchens, recognised by culinary legends Sanjeev Kapoor and Jiggs Kalra, and the driving force behind three celebrated Melbourne restaurants, Manpreet's approach to Indian cuisine is singular: to share the rich history, culture and exceptional cuisine of India with Melbourne in a way that demands to be taken seriously.
She spent two years searching for exactly the right address. When the former Press Club at 72 Flinders Street became available in 2022, she knew immediately. The room — gold ceilings, curved leather booths, glass-fronted kitchen, neoclassical heritage facade — matched her ambition precisely.
Elchi has since been recognised by Broadsheet, Time Out, Good Food, the Herald Sun and Urban List as one of Melbourne's finest Indian restaurants. Elchi is also the official catering partner of W Melbourne — a distinction that speaks for itself.
The Room
Toorak appreciates beautiful spaces. Elchi has one of the finest dining rooms in Melbourne.
The gold ceiling. The curved natural leather booths retained from the legendary Press Club era. The glass-fronted kitchen where the Curry Queen's team works with the kind of quiet precision that only reveals itself over the course of an evening. The neoclassical facade of the former Herald and Weekly Times building — one of Flinders Street's most distinguished addresses.
It is the kind of room that takes a moment to absorb. And then you settle in, and you realise you are in no hurry to leave.
The service is attentive without being intrusive. The cocktail list — Indian-inspired, Melbourne-crafted — includes all three premium Indian single malts: Rampur, Amrut and Indri. The wine list is chosen to complement the complexity of the food. Every element of the evening is considered.
Elchi welcomes guests aged 12 and above. Smart casual.
The Menu — An Invitation to Experience India
The menu at Elchi is an invitation to experience the rich history, culture and exceptional cuisine of India — and it moves at its own pace.
It might begin with golgappa shots — an ancient street food tradition reimagined with spiced tequila and avocado. Or freshly shucked oysters with garlic, curry leaf and chilli. Or the Maharani cocktail — tequila, cointreau, mango and lime — before the kitchen begins its work.
Chef Manpreet Sekhon's seasonal menu takes you across India's extraordinary culinary landscape. Pistachio lamb chops with saffron mash and pomegranate. The signature 24-karat gold chicken mussalam — slow-cooked, finished with real gold leaf, arriving at the table as a dish that has been talked about across Melbourne since Elchi opened. The classics — butter chicken, dal makhani, paneer — made properly, from scratch, without compromise.
For those who wish to surrender the evening entirely to the Curry Queen — the Leave It Up to the Curry Queen set menu is available at $95 per person, with optional wine pairing at $70.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are available throughout. Elchi's meat is halal certified.
As Seen In
Broadsheet — "Walks the line between classic and contemporary with extravagant dishes like fragrant chicken mussallam topped with 24-carat gold leaf."
Time Out Melbourne — "Where the line between traditional and modern Indian food is beautifully obscured."
Good Food — "Somewhere between a club room and a limousine — a swish space that is an entirely appropriate canvas for contemporary Indian food."
The Herald Sun — "Mind-blowingly good. A must-visit Melbourne restaurant."
Urban List — "A contemporary frontrunner for best Indian restaurant in Melbourne."
Private Dining and Catering for Toorak
Elchi's private dining room seats up to 50 guests in the former Press Club building at 72 Flinders Street — exclusively yours for the evening. Corporate dinners. Milestone celebrations. Engagement parties. Anniversary dinners. Diwali gatherings. Any occasion that deserves a room worthy of it.
As the official catering partner of W Melbourne, Elchi also brings the same standard of cuisine and service to private homes, estates and venues across Toorak, Armadale and Melbourne's inner south. The Curry Queen's team handles every detail.
Enquire about private dining or contact goodtimes@elchirestaurant.com.au
Getting Here from Toorak
72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD — twelve minutes from Toorak Village by car or Uber. The Number 58 tram along Toorak Road connects directly to Flinders Street Station, steps from Elchi's front door.
Address: 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD VIC 3000 Phone: 03 9654 6717 Email: goodtimes@elchirestaurant.com.au
Lunch: Tuesday to Thursday 12pm–2:30pm Dinner: Tuesday to Sunday 5pm–10pm
Indian Restaurant Near Toorak — Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a good Indian restaurant in or near Toorak?
Elchi at 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD is Melbourne's most celebrated Indian restaurant and the first choice for Toorak residents seeking an Indian dining experience of genuine distinction. Featured by Broadsheet, Time Out, Good Food and the Herald Sun. Twelve minutes from Toorak Village.
What is Elchi?
Elchi is a chef-driven Indian restaurant at 72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD — an invitation to experience the rich history, culture and exceptional cuisine of India in one of Melbourne's most extraordinary dining rooms. Led by Chef Manpreet Sekhon — the Curry Queen — with a seasonal menu, private dining for up to 50 guests and Indian catering across Toorak and all of Melbourne.
Is Elchi upscale or casual?
Upscale. Smart casual dress code. Guests aged 12 and above. Full dining policy here.
Does Elchi have vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes throughout — from small plates to signature dishes and desserts. Gluten free available. Please advise the team at booking.
Can I arrange private dining or catering near Toorak?
Yes. Elchi's private dining room seats up to 50 guests. As the official catering partner of W Melbourne, Elchi also caters off-site across Toorak, Armadale and all of Melbourne. Enquire at goodtimes@elchirestaurant.com.au
How far is Elchi from Toorak?
Twelve minutes by car or Uber. The Number 58 tram along Toorak Road runs directly to Flinders Street Station — steps from 72 Flinders Street.
Does Elchi take walk-ins?
Walk-ins are welcome. Reservations are recommended. Reserve here.
Is Elchi halal?
Elchi's meat is halal certified. Elchi is not a halal-certified restaurant.
Reserve Your Table
Toorak knows the difference between a good restaurant and one worth keeping. One that earns its place in a regular rotation not through novelty but through the kind of quiet, consistent excellence that reveals itself slowly — in the food, the room, the service, and the story behind all three.
Elchi is that restaurant. Twelve minutes from Toorak Village. An invitation to experience the rich history, culture and exceptional cuisine of India — in one of Melbourne's most extraordinary dining rooms.
72 Flinders Street Melbourne CBD VIC 3000 Phone: 03 9654 6717 Email: goodtimes@elchirestaurant.com.au
Reserve your table — View the menu — Private dining enquiries — Gallery — Press — Contact
Also serving diners from South Yarra, Albert Park, Prahran, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Brighton, South Melbourne, Malvern, Armadale and Richmond.