Australian-led wine program
A cellar that champions Australian regions – from cool-climate Tasmanian sparkling to textural Margaret River whites and elegant Yarra Valley reds – alongside select old-world labels for special occasions.
Our Concept
Fine Dining Restaurant & Poker Nights Australia
Experience the synergy of gourmet dining, coastal elegance, and curated poker evenings in a calm, luxurious setting on the Australian waterfront.
A Coastal-Inspired House of Culinary Storytelling
The River House is conceived as an elegant Australian retreat where fine dining, craft drinks, and sociable poker nights unfold with the ease of a long coastal evening.
Our philosophy is simple: bring people together through generous hospitality, contemporary Australian cuisine, and beautifully staged spaces that feel both cinematic and deeply comfortable. Every detail – from the linen on the tables to the glow of the poker lounge – is considered to create a sense of calm, unhurried luxury.
Guests arrive for the food but stay for the conversation: long-form dinners, shared bottles of wine, and intimate poker evenings that prioritise connection, etiquette, and enjoyment over competition.
The River House pillars
- Culinary ArtistrySeasonal Australian produce, plated with modern precision and warmth.
- Curated Social EveningsProfessionally hosted poker nights designed for connection, not high-stakes play.
- Editorial DesignLight-filled spaces, refined textures, and a calm coastal palette.
- Considered HospitalityAttentive, intuitive service that feels quietly luxurious.
Poker at The River House is framed as a social entertainment experience within our broader hospitality offering. The focus is on etiquette, atmosphere, and connection.
Signature Culinary Experience
Seasonal Australian cuisine, plated with quiet theatre
Savour an ever-evolving seasonal menu crafted with the finest Australian produce, presented with contemporary flair.
Our kitchen celebrates the richness of Australia’s land and sea – from pristine coastal seafood to native botanicals and small-farm produce. The River House menu shifts with the tides, responding to seasonality and the creativity of our culinary team.
Each plate is composed with an editorial eye: layered textures, thoughtful colour, and a restrained sense of drama that feels at home in our light-filled dining room. Classics are reinterpreted with subtle twists, always grounded in flavour and generosity.
Curated Wine & Cocktail Selection
Cellar-led pairings and coastal-inspired cocktails
Discover a meticulously chosen wine collection and bespoke cocktails that complement every dish, curated by experienced sommeliers and mixologists.
Coastal cocktails
Cocktails that echo the river and coast: saline hints, native botanicals, and understated aromatics that refresh without overpowering the plate.
Thoughtful non-alcoholic pairings
Elevated zero-proof pairings that mirror the structure of wine and cocktails, crafted with house-made infusions, teas, and seasonal juices.
The Poker Lounge
An intimate lounge for curated poker evenings
Step into our private poker lounge, where exclusive, professionally managed poker nights unfold in an intimate, stylish environment.
The River House poker lounge is an extension of our dining room – a softly lit salon where conversation flows easily and the pace is unhurried. Tables are hosted by experienced professionals who prioritise etiquette, courtesy, and a relaxed social atmosphere.
The focus is on shared moments: a well-poured drink, a knowing glance across the table, and the pleasure of an evening spent in good company. Our poker experiences are invitational in tone, designed for small groups and special gatherings.
Poker at The River House is positioned as a social entertainment experience within our hospitality offering. We encourage moderation, responsible enjoyment, and respect for all guests.
Design & Ambience
Light luxury inspired by Australia’s coast
Bask in an atmosphere of warm ivory, soft sand tones, and quiet coastal references that frame the theatre of the table.
The River House is designed as a sequence of calm, editorial spaces. The main dining room is bright and open, with generous white space and layered textures – linen, timber, stone – that soften the room without distraction. Lighting moves gently from golden hour to evening glow, echoing the river outside.
Throughout the venue, curated photography, sculptural floral arrangements, and bespoke tableware add a sense of understated occasion. The poker lounge and private dining rooms take on a deeper, more intimate palette while retaining the same refined rhythm.
Editorial hospitality
Layouts are intentionally spacious, allowing for privacy between tables and a sense of ease during longer dinners and late-night conversations.
Accessibility & comfort
Clear wayfinding, comfortable seating, and acoustic consideration ensure guests of all ages feel welcome and at ease.
Meet the Chef
A chef-led narrative of seasonality and place
Our head chef blends international technique with Australian ingredients, championing sustainability and seasonality in every dish.
Having cooked in acclaimed kitchens across Europe and Asia-Pacific, our chef brings a respect for classical craft together with a distinctly Australian sense of ease. Menus are anchored in local produce, minimal waste, and relationships with growers, fishers, and artisans who share our values.
Each service is an opportunity to tell a new story – of a winemaker bottling a coastal vintage, or a farm delivering the first figs of the season. Guests are invited into this narrative through tasting menus, chef’s table experiences, and quiet conversations at the pass.
Discover the chef’s philosophyElevated Hospitality
Service that anticipates, then disappears
Every detail, from tableware to pacing, is considered to make guests feel welcome, comfortable, and special. Our team favours intuition over formality: water topped up before it’s requested, dietary needs remembered, celebrations quietly acknowledged.
- Warm, knowledgeable service with a relaxed Australian tone
- Thoughtful accommodation of dietary preferences and access needs
- Discreet photography and device etiquette to maintain ambience
Private Dining & Special Events
Tailored experiences for gatherings and celebrations
Host celebrations or business gatherings in luxurious private dining rooms, where tailored menus and meticulous service ensure lasting impressions.
From milestone birthdays and anniversaries to discreet corporate dinners, our private spaces are designed to feel like a beautifully appointed riverfront residence. Customised menus showcase seasonal signatures, while our sommelier team curates pairings to match the tone of your occasion.
For guests seeking something distinctly different, our poker lounge can be incorporated into private events as a hosted social experience – pairing dinner with relaxed, professionally guided play.
Community & Connection
More than a restaurant, a river house for regulars
The River House cultivates a warm community of returning guests – couples, friends, and business hosts who treat our dining room and poker lounge as an elegant extension of their own living rooms.
Through seasonal menus, winemaker dinners, chef collaborations, and curated poker nights, we create reasons to return and reconnect. A refined loyalty experience, thoughtful communication, and considered events ensure that every visit feels both familiar and new.
Signature evenings
Rotating series of seasonal dinners, cellar showcases, and chef-led experiences that reveal new facets of The River House story.
Return guest recognition
Personalised touches for regular guests – from favourite table preferences to tailored wine suggestions.
Connected conversations
A culture that encourages conversation across the room – introductions at the bar, shared tastings, and relaxed post-dinner moments in the lounge.