The opening of a restaurant from Chris Lucas, the svengali behind great Melbourne restaurants, is generally accompanied by the kind of media hoopla reserved for retiring members of the Royal Family, so here’s the deal: all you have heard about Kisumé, the Lucas Group’s three floors of Nipponesque dining power, is true, and then doubly so. Yes, there’s Nick Cave, rocking a blue wig and red lipstick thanks to Aussie photographer Polly Borland. Yes, there’s the omakase counter where slivers of jewel-coloured ocean flesh are laid out with all the ceremony of tea in Kyoto, some complete with judiciously placed ornaments of edible gold leaf.

Lucas Group’s most famous restaurant may still be Chin Chin, but it’s Kisumé that’s often the well-dressed, studious scene-stealer. Thanks to a a strictly high-standard approach to fine Japanese dining, this luxurious sushi kingdom has risen over the years to become one of the best Japanese restaurants in the country, giving Minamishima (also on this list) some very good company. There are several different ways you can enjoy the contemporary approach to Japanese cooking at Kisumé — from the private dining room to the New York-style sushi bar — but an experience you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the city is the “The Chablis Bar” that pairs your choice of 80 different chardonnays with seafood.

Kisume offers a variety of eating options in one location, all of which are bound together by an elegant, subdued simplicity that perfectly encapsulates the no-fuss approach to good food and even finer wine. The magnificent 18-course Chef’s Table experience is at the heart of this offering, which is constantly evolving but always intensely focused on expressing Japanese perfection through the use of the finest Australian seafood accessible. A street-level sushi bar, an izakaya-style basement, and an upstairs private dining room – Kuro – for intimate kaiseki-style meals are all available.

No one could ever accuse Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Grill Americano, Baby Pizza) of thinking small, and Kisume is proof. This three-level Japanese powerhouse offers something for every mood—a buzzing basement kitchen, a sleek street-level sushi bar, and the 12-seat omakase on the top floor, where traditional mastery meets modern ingenuity. Expect a stunning procession of nigiri and seasonal plates, each a precise, artful expression of Japan’s finest techniques—and some of Melbourne’s freshest seafood.

The VibeBrought to you by the Lucas Group, this three-storey restaurant on Flinders Lane oozes class with its minimalist design, clean lines, and subtle hints of Japanese flair. You’ve got a few dining options here: sit at the buzzing sushi counter, book a private room in Kuro Kisumé for a more intimate vibe, or head upstairs to the Chablis Bar for a glass of wine and a more chilled setting. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a night out in Melbourne CBD, Kisumé has an undeniable wow factor.

Kisumé, meaning ‘pure obsession with beauty,’ embodies this philosophy from the moment you step into its Flinders Lane establishment. The venue is a multifaceted marvel, featuring a kitchen in the basement, a sushi restaurant on the ground floor for a la carte dining, and a bar/omakase space upstairs, complete with a sleek chef’s table. With Yonge Kim as head chef and a talented team behind him, each dish reflects the rich expertise in the kitchen.

Kisumé, Melbourne CBD The Kisume experience is ever-evolving, and with every visit, you can feel the food getting better and better. You can pull a chair at the sushi counter to observe the chefs working wonders and hear from them about the finest food in Australia. You’ll be enchanted by the purity and integrity of the Japanese cuisine blended with Australian sensibility to provide you with an experience that highlights the best of both worlds!.

Nestled along Flinders Lane is where you’ll find Kisumé, another restaurant that stands out as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. Utilising fresh Australian produce, this three-levelled restaurant specialises in familiar and traditional Japanese cuisine, as well as their own unique interpretations. Upon walking through their doors, you’ll instantly be immersed in their fusion of fine dining, art and design.

5pm-10pm Monday, 12pm-2:30pm and 5pm-10pm Tuesday to Friday, 12pm-2:30pm and 5pm-11pm Saturday and Sunday. Kisumé is a Japanese-style fine dining establishment with just the right amount of spunk and charm in everything they do. The wine list here complements the wagyu, sushi, sashimi, and all other foods on it well, but why not explore the whisky menu for a moody evening at one of Melbourne’s most romantic restaurants?

Chris Lucas's three storeys of Japanese grandeur in the heart of Melbourne. The simplest way to describe Kisumé may be this: three storeys of considered grandeur. Its design is impressive — a Chablis bar, a Kisumé Winewall, avant-garde art — and the attention to detail travels throughout this CBD restaurant, from the menu down to the nifty coin-sized refreshment towels that entertainingly expand when you open them.

During this exquisite omakase experience for just 12 diners, Shinya Nakano, a talented and creative Kyoto-born sushi chef, presents 18 or so morsels in a choreographed showcase of Australian seafood. The menu is a spirited reinterpretation of sushi traditions. Raw tuna belly is laid over rice, seared tuna is placed on top of it, and this radical double is then topped with old-school Kyoto-style pickles.

The glamorous new kid on the block, Chris Lucas’s Kisumé is a multi-tiered Japanese wonderland crowned by a Chablis bar and a $220-a head sushi counter known as “The Table”. Book one of the 12 seats to be treated to a deluxe kaiseki experience. If you’ve ever itched to taste picked mud crab bound with uni, served in the sea urchin’s carapace, and crisp-skinned alfonsino in nori broth, this is the place.

Part chablis bar, sushi counter, basement restaurant, exclusive private dining room and intimate 12-seat kaiseki, this New York-style Japanese restaurant sets a high bar in Melbourne’s dining scene. For something truly special, put yourself in the hands of the Master Chef and taste the likes of tuna belly sashimi, kingfish topped with Tassie black truffle, and tiger prawns encased in light tempura.

Kisumé provides an upgraded Japanese dining experience with an emphasis on precision and elegance in each dish. Kisumé’s chefs are known for their attention to detail and creative presentation, resulting in visually attractive and delectable dishes. The restaurant’s sleek, modern decor and sharp aesthetic help to solidify its status as one of Melbourne’s finest Japanese dining locations.

One of Australia’s best contemporary Japanese restaurants, Kisume will keep its sushi bar open for takeaway. Pre-order is available at two locations at Kisumé Melbourne CBD (175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne) and Baby Pizza Richmond (631-633 Church Street, Richmond). The CBD menu will include delicately prepared sushi feature boxes as well as hot dishes such as Donburi bowls, gyoza and more.

The menu features three types of oysters, salmon sashimi with marinated fennel, and Wagyu tartare with quail egg yolk on top. A sushi master prepares various sushi rolls and sashimi on site!. There are tasty dishes such as prawn and foie gras "potstickers" (pan-fried dumplings), kingfish with high-quality meat, maple-and-soy-glazed Berkshire pork ribs, and more.

CUISINE: JapaneseADDRESS: 175 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000OPENING HOURS: Monday – Thursday 5pm – 10pm, Friday – Sunday 5pm – 11pmINSTAGRAM: @kisume_au. Kisume is a modern Japanese Restaurant from the Lucas Group that exudes, elegance, luxe and grandeur. The restaurant is unmistakeably Melbourne, but with that added New York sass.

The problem with many Asian restaurants is this- a lack of authenticity. So when you find an authentic Asian restaurant, boasting actual Japanese and Korean chef’s, you know you must try it!. Our recommendation: You want to sample as much from their sushi bar as possible, so go for the chef’s tasting menu

Supernormal (pan-Asian) and Kisume (Japanese) are a bit fancier/pricier but 100% guaranteed delicious. Attica by Ben Shewry is next level, and the one for a Special Occasion. (Or in lockdown, delivery lasagna! #PIVOT) Also good for special occasions: Donovans and Stokehouse, down St Kilda way.

You get more than just a meal at Kisumé; you get an experience. Trust in the expertise of their Master Chef and let them take you on a journey showcasing the finesse, technique, and imagination of Japanese craftsmanship. Kisumé’s dedication to seasonality is one of its most notable qualities.

At $265 a head, Kisume’s two-hatted chef’s table is worth saving for a special occasion. But if you want to get the best of the Flinders Lane Japanese diner – for less – daytime dining is the way to go. Visit from noon, Tuesday to Friday, and you can spend less than 30 bucks on a lunch set.

The problem with many Asian restaurants is this- a lack of authenticity. So when you find an authentic Asian restaurant, boasting actual Japanese and Korean chef’s, you know you must try it!. Our recommendation: You want to sample as much sushi as possible, so go for the chef’s tasting menu

Melbourne restaurant Flinders Lane has three floors dedicated to art and design as well as a dining area. Enjoy the restaurant's bespoke menu, some of the world's best sushi, and other Japanese delicacies while admiring the jobs of renowned photographers Polly Borland and Nobuyoshi Araki.

Fittingly named "the chef’s table", Kisumé’s 12-seat omakase offering showcases the expertise of its master chef. Ascend to the top floor for its 20-course menu, which might range from sushi nigiri made with high-quality seafood to premium Wagyu beef, with canelés and sorbet for dessert.

Kisumé in Melbourne has a sleek and refined atmosphere, with staff who focus on every detail to make the experience feel special. There’s a sense of precision in how things are run, adding to its calm and inviting vibe. Many people consider it one of the top Japanese spots in the city.

A few doors down from Chin Chin, Kisume serves modern Japanese that is worth a little card splash. Visit the triple-threat venue's premium kaiseki bar for 12 to 15-course menus or head to the ground-level sushi station. Groups of twelve are invited to the chef's table.

Location: 175 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Ph: (03) 9671 4444. This restaurant’s name translates as ‘a pure obsession with beauty’. When you see the wonderful dishes on offer within this jaw-dropping venue, you’ll fully understand why.

Kisume means pure obsession with beauty and it's the whole package that impresses; indeed it's world class. We have enjoyed one soiree here and look forward to many more. A game changer in Flinders Lane.

If it’s milimetre-perfect Japanese knifework, try Kisume or Ishizuka. If it’s dependable pho in a vibey room, go Mekong. If it’s fancy French-Vietnamese, head to Coda.