PRIVATE EVENTS · LYGON STREET
Function Rooms in RICHMOND
Mark your next occasion at Il Gambero, where classic Italian dining, attentive service, and a welcoming setting come together to create events worth talking about.
A LONG-STANDING
Italian Venue with a Reputation Worth Visiting
Il Gambero has been serving authentic Italian cuisine on Lygon Street since 1975, established by the Dimattina family with origins in Sicily, and has become one of inner Melbourne's most familiar names for genuine Italian dining and well-run private events. Richmond hosts in search of dependable Function Rooms in Richmond will find that same standard reflected throughout our two private function spaces.
Behind every booking is a kitchen and floor team that has refined its craft across thousands of celebrations. Italian cuisine prepared with patience, service delivered with quiet confidence, and rooms shaped to match the spirit of the occasion are the qualities that define an Il Gambero function.
SPACES
Two distinct spaces, one trusted address.
— 01 / Upstairs
Upstairs Function Space
Larger gatherings are well served by our upstairs function room, which operates entirely independently from the main restaurant. Privacy and pace are handled on your terms, making the space a strong fit for corporate evenings, end-of-year celebrations, milestone birthdays, and standing cocktail receptions where guests are encouraged to circulate freely.
SEATED
STANDING
80 guests
140 guests
— 02 / Downstairs
Downstairs Function Configurations
The ground floor offers two more intimate setups suited to smaller and mid-sized gatherings. Groups of up to 22 guests are well accommodated in our private downstairs room. For slightly larger occasions, the entire downstairs area can be reserved, with seating for 110 indoors and 30 outdoors.
PRIVATE
INDOORS
22 guests
up to 110 guests
OUTDOORS
30 guests
FOOD & DRINK
Authentic Italian cuisine at the heart of your event.
— Food
From pizza platters to seated banquets.
Three menu styles are available to suit different event formats. The Il Gambero Special ($30pp) offers banquet-style assorted pizzas and shared pasta platters for relaxed, sociable dining. Seated set menus run from $50 (2 courses) to $65 (3 courses) for more structured occasions. Standing receptions are well served by the Canapé Menu, featuring grazing platters and warm bites such as Arancini, Salt & Lemon Pepper Calamari, Lamb Kofta, and Mini Pasta Boxes. Vegetarian and gluten-free options feature throughout each menu.
Il Gambero Special
Assorted pizzas & mixed pasta platters, banquet-style
Two-Course Set Menu
Structured seated dining
Three-Course Set Menu
Entrée, main & dessert
Canapé Menu
Arancini, calamari, lamb kofta, mini pasta boxes & more
— Drink
A fully serviced bar for the evening.
Drinks at Il Gambero are handled with the same care as the food. Two main options keep the choices straightforward. The Basic Drinks Package runs across 3 hours ($45pp) or 4 hours ($55pp), covering tap and bottled beers, red, white, and sparkling wines, and soft drinks, with basic spirits available as a $12pp add-on. A flexible bar tab is also available for hosts who want more freedom over what's served, covering beer, cider, wine, and spirits, with the option to upgrade wines from our wider cellar list.
Basic Drinks Package — 3 hours
Tap & bottled beers, wines, sparkling, soft drinks
Basic Drinks Package — 4 hours
As above, extended
Basic Spirits Add-On
On top of any package
Bar Tab
Beer, cider, wine & spirits — tailored to your event
WHY IL GAMBERO
Why Richmond Hosts Continue to Choose Il Gambero
A great function venue should feel like a partner rather than a backdrop. Il Gambero's combination of heritage, hospitality, and Italian craft has made us a trusted name for private events across Melbourne's inner suburbs, and our long-standing experience handling functions of nearly every shape and size shows in the consistency of the experience we deliver.
A short trip from Richmond brings you to our doorstep on Lygon Street, making us a sensible answer for those searching for function rooms near me, an inner-city venue that consistently delivers on quality, value, and ease.
50yrs
2 Function Spaces Suited to Different Occasions
Choose between an upstairs room designed for larger, more private gatherings and a downstairs setting better suited to smaller, more intimate events. Both options come with the same level of attentive service from start to finish.
02
A Family Restaurant with Roots in 1975
Founded by Frank and Angela Dimattina more than fifty years ago, Il Gambero remains a recognisable Lygon Street name, trusted across generations for warm hospitality and reliable craft.
$50pp
Genuine Italian Cooking at a Fair Per-Guest Rate
Set menus from $50 per person make our function offering accessible to a wide range of budgets, with menu formats spanning shared platters, seated dinners, and canapé-style receptions.
EVERY OCCASION
Spaces That Adjust to the Style of Your Gathering
Each function brings its own pace and personality. Some are quiet and reflective; others are lively and unhurried. Both of our spaces are equipped to support either style, with our team adjusting the layout, service rhythm, and menu format to match the occasion at hand.
LOCAL · LYGON STREET
A Quick Trip from Richmond to Lygon Street
Convenience matters when planning an event, and reaching Il Gambero from Richmond involves nothing more than a brief drive across the inner city. That accessibility is part of what makes our Function Rooms in Richmond a popular choice for nearby residents looking to celebrate without the burden of a lengthy commute for themselves or their guests.
Bookings reach us regularly from a broad range of inner-Melbourne suburbs, and Richmond features prominently among them. Wherever your guests are travelling from across the area, a refined and welcoming venue is rarely more than a few minutes away.
Guests regularly join us from:
ENQUIRE NOW
Tell us about your event.
Still in the early stages of planning and not sure what to ask first? Our events team is ready to help, offering clear answers on availability, room layouts, and menu options to make the entire planning process feel manageable from the very first conversation.
CONTACT US
Let's plan your event.
Sketching out an upcoming function and unsure where to begin? Our events team is happy to walk you through dates, room choices, and menu options with the kind of attentive guidance that takes the pressure off the planning process.
LOCATION
166 Lygon Street
Carlton, VIC 3053
PHONE
OPENING HOURS
Mon–Thu 11:30–15:00 · 17:00–21:00
Fri–Sat 11:30–15:00 · 17:00–Late
Sun 12:00–20:00
FAQ
Common questions about our function rooms.
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Function pricing is per person, based on the chosen menu, starting at $30 per person for the Il Gambero Special and rising to $65 per person for a three-course set menu. Beverage packages and bar tab arrangements are charged separately, and our events team can prepare a tailored quote once group size and event style are confirmed.
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Yes. A $500 cash deposit secures and confirms any private function at Il Gambero, with the remaining balance settled around the time of the event. Should the booking be cancelled within 2 weeks of the scheduled date, the deposit will be forfeited, as outlined in our function terms and conditions.
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Yes. Exclusive use of the upstairs function room is subject to minimum spend requirements that vary by day: $3,500 on Saturday evenings, $3,000 on Friday evenings, and $2,000 on Sundays, with a 10% surcharge applying to all Sunday bookings. The minimum spend is calculated as a combined total of food and beverage costs across the event.
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Yes. Celebration cakes are welcomed and will be cut and served by our chefs and staff on your behalf. A standard cakeage charge of $2 per guest applies. Other forms of BYO food or desserts may be considered, these are only permitted by prior arrangement with management, and an additional charge will apply.
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Yes. Functions can be arranged across both lunch and dinner periods. Our restaurant operates Monday to Thursday from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 until late, and Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00, allowing flexibility based on the nature and timing of your event.
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Yes. Il Gambero is well suited to corporate functions, business meetings, and end-of-year work celebrations, with the upstairs function space offering AV facilities and a PA system suited to presentations and professional gatherings. Specific corporate requirements can be discussed with our events team during the enquiry stage.