Private dining & events
Two private rooms, one very good dining room, and a team who have run several hundred of these — from twelve-person birthdays to a full-venue launch for a hundred and forty.
How it works
Every function at Orlo is handled by one person from first email to final invoice. You will not be handed between departments, because we do not have any.
Groups of nine or more dine from a feasting menu, chosen at least seven days ahead. Beverages can run on consumption, on a package, or on a bar tab with a set limit — whichever suits how you would rather not think about it on the night.
The spaces
All three are yours entirely for the booking — no shared walls, no other party three metres away.
The old loading dock, now a private room behind timber doors with its own bar, sound system and screen. Warm, loud when you want it to be, and completely separate from the main floor.
Best for milestone birthdays, work dinners, end-of-year lunches.
Downstairs among the bottles at a single twelve-seat table. Low light, close conversation, and the sommelier a few steps away for tasting flights poured between courses.
Best for anniversaries, board dinners, wine-led evenings.
The whole venue — dining room, marble bar, both private rooms and the footpath tables. Roving plates and a bar that runs as late as the licence allows.
Best for weddings, launches, Christmas parties, very good excuses.
Feasting menus
Served family-style down the middle of the table. Dietaries handled individually — tell us in advance and nobody has a lesser night.
$75 per person
Three stuzzichini, one antipasto, two pastas, a contorno and dolci to share. Around 90 minutes at the table.
$95 per person
Snacks, two antipasti, two pastas, a secondo from the coals, two contorni, dolci and coffee. Our most-booked menu by a distance.
$135 per person
Seafood, three pastas, bistecca and porchetta, cheese, dolci and the amaro trolley. Two and a half hours, minimum six guests.
Classic covers sparkling, two whites, two reds, tap beer and soft drinks. Premium opens the full Australian list and cocktails on arrival.
What we host
Our most common booking. Long table, feasting menu, cake brought out without you having to signal for it.
Invoiced to the business, dietaries collected ahead, and a defined bar limit so nobody has to make a call at 11pm.
Intimate ceremonies of up to 90 seated. We are not a wedding venue and that is precisely why people book us.
Sienna builds a flight around whatever you are curious about — Heathcote sangiovese, Tasmanian chardonnay, or the shelf of skin contact.
★★★★★
“We took over La Sala for my father’s seventieth. Thirty people, one long table, and not a single thing I had to worry about all night. Tom had the cake out before I’d thought to ask.”
Daniel R. La Sala · 30 guests
★★★★★
“Booked the full venue for our end-of-year party with three weeks’ notice and eleven dietaries. Everything arrived on time, everyone ate properly, and the invoice matched the quote to the dollar.”
Meera S. Exclusive hire · 120 guests
★★★★★
“The Cellar for our tenth anniversary, twelve of us, a flight of Victorian reds between courses. Easily the best dinner we’ve hosted for anyone.”
James & Aroha T. The Cellar · 12 guests
Enquire
Send the shape of it — date, numbers, what the occasion is — and we’ll come back within one business day with availability, a room recommendation and a quote.
Thank you — Tom will be in touch within one business day with availability and a quote.
Demonstration form — nothing was actually sent.
Good to know
Yes, and it varies by room and night. La Sala starts at $1,800 Sunday to Thursday and $3,200 on Friday and Saturday. The Cellar starts at $1,200. Exclusive hire is quoted individually. Minimum spend includes food and beverage, not the deposit, and in practice most groups clear it without trying.
Comfortably. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, shellfish and nut allergies are all routine. Send us the list seven days ahead and each guest gets their own version of every course rather than a single substitute plate. Our kitchen does handle gluten, nuts, dairy and shellfish, so we cannot guarantee zero trace for severe allergies — tell us and we will talk it through honestly.
La Sala and the main room run to 1am on Friday and Saturday and 11pm midweek. The Cellar finishes at midnight. Exclusive hire can extend to 2am with prior arrangement and an extended-licence fee.
The 25% deposit is fully refundable up to 14 days before your date, and 50% refundable up to 7 days. Inside 7 days it is retained, though we will always try to move you to another date first. Final numbers are locked 72 hours out.
Yes — place cards, menus, flowers and small table pieces are all welcome, and you can access the room from 4pm on the day. No confetti, no anything adhesive on the brick, and open flame only in the hurricane candles we provide. Our florist can handle the whole thing if you would rather not.
The main dining room, La Sala and the ground-floor accessible bathroom are all step-free from Lygon Street. The Cellar is reached by stairs only — for guests who need step-free access we will always move a Cellar booking upstairs at no cost. Assistance animals are welcome everywhere.
Let’s plan it
Send an enquiry and we’ll come back within a business day. Or call and speak to Tom, who has almost certainly done your night before.
