New Year and Christmas Functions in Carlton
FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS · CARLTON · 2026
Bring everyone together for a festive celebration filled with authentic Italian food, good company, and the warm hospitality Il Gambero has shared since 1975.
From office Christmas parties to New Year gatherings, celebrate with us on Lygon Street in Carlton.
Christmas parties · Corporate end-of-year events · New Year celebrations
Accommodate 22–140 guests
From $50pp
Upstairs & downstairs function rooms
A Lygon Street Tradition
Celebrate the Festive Season the Italian Way
Christmas is the perfect reason to bring colleagues, friends and family around the table. At Il Gambero, we make it easy with welcoming function spaces, freshly prepared Italian favourites, and a team that knows how to care for a celebration.
Planning an office Christmas lunch, an end-of-year dinner or a New Year gathering? Join us at our Italian restaurant in Carlton and let us help you organise a memorable occasion.
Make It a Celebration
Christmas Parties and New Year Celebrations at Il Gambero
From team lunches to lively evenings with family and friends, choose the occasion and we'll help you find the right space and dining style.
01 / CHRISTMAS
Christmas Parties
Bring your colleagues, friends or family together to celebrate another year. Enjoy classic Italian food, drinks and good company in one of our function spaces.
Choose a relaxed shared meal or a seated Christmas party, with menu options to suit your group.
02 / END OF YEAR
Corporate End-of-Year Functions
Thank your team for their hard work with an end-of-year lunch in Carlton.
Our New Year and Christmas Functions in Carlton accommodate everything from smaller team gatherings to larger corporate celebrations, including cocktail-style events with canapés and drinks.
03 / NEW YEAR
New Year Celebrations
Gather with family, friends or colleagues for a New Year celebration at Il Gambero.
Enjoy Italian favourites, drinks and good company over lunch on New Year's Eve, with the restaurant open from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. For celebrations on other dates, tell us your preferred date and guest numbers, and our team can discuss the available function options.
All festive bookings are subject to availability and confirmation.
Function Spaces
Our Function Spaces for the Festive Season
Every celebration is different. That's why Il Gambero offers New Year and Christmas Functions in Carlton for both intimate gatherings and larger parties.
01 / UPSTAIRS
Upstairs Function Room
Planning a bigger Christmas party or corporate celebration? Our upstairs function room offers a flexible setting for seated dining and standing receptions.
Up to 80 seated
Up to 140 standing
✔️ Audio-visual facilities for speeches and presentations
✔️ The main restaurant continues operating during upstairs functions.
02 / DOWNSTAIRS
Downstairs Function Options
For smaller celebrations, our private downstairs function room welcomes up to 22 guests and includes a light-filled patio. For larger gatherings, enquire about the whole downstairs restaurant area.
Private room: up to 22
Whole downstairs: 110 inside + 30 outside
Explore our function rooms in Carlton to find the right setting for your celebration.
Food & Drinks
Italian Function Menus and Drinks for Your Celebration
A great celebration deserves great food. At Il Gambero, our New Year and Christmas Functions in Carlton menus bring together Italian favourites, including wood-fired pizza, pasta and dishes made for sharing.
Seated Set Menus
Bring everyone together for a relaxed Italian lunch or dinner with our two-course or three-course function menu options.
Function set menus typically cost around $50 per person, depending on your selection. Our team can confirm the current pricing and available choices for your event.
Shared Italian Favourites and Canapés
Prefer a casual celebration? Our pizza and pasta platters offer a sociable way to enjoy Italian food together.
For standing events, explore our canapé options, which suit cocktail-style parties and corporate gatherings.
Beverage Packages and Bar Options
Complete your celebration with our fully serviced bar, offering beers, wines and cocktails.
Beverage packages and bar tab options are available. Our team can help you choose an arrangement that suits your event.
Why Il Gambero
Why Celebrate Christmas and New Year at Il Gambero?
Il Gambero has welcomed generations of Carlton diners since 1975. That same warm, family-run Italian hospitality is part of every function we host.
Flexible spaces for intimate and larger celebrations
Italian set menus, shared food and canapé options
Fully serviced bar and beverage packages
Audio-visual facilities for presentations and speeches
Convenient location at 166 Lygon Street, Carlton
Whether it's an intimate Christmas dinner or a larger end-of-year party, our team is here to help you plan.
Let's Make It Happen
Enquire About Your new year or Christmas Function
Planning a festive celebration at Il Gambero? Tell us a little about your event, and our team will contact you to discuss availability, menu options and function arrangements. Please check our special Christmas and New Year opening hours below before selecting your preferred date.
Christmas & New Year Opening Hours
Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve: Closed
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day: Closed
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day: Open 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday 31 December – New Year's Eve: Open 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday 1 January – New Year's Day: Closed
We look forward to welcoming you for Boxing Day dinner or New Year's Eve lunch. Please contact our team to confirm function availability and discuss your preferred arrangements.
Visit Us
166 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Prefer to speak with us?
Call: (03) 9663 2246
Email: info@ilgambero.com.au.
Please note that Il Gambero is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. New Year's Eve bookings are available during lunchtime opening hours (11:30 AM – 3:00 PM), subject to confirmation. All function bookings are subject to availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Il Gambero hosts Christmas parties, corporate functions and end-of-year celebrations in Carlton. We offer both upstairs and downstairs function spaces to accommodate different group sizes and event styles. You can organise a seated Italian lunch or dinner, or enquire about a standing celebration with canapés and drinks. Contact our team with your preferred date and guest numbers to discuss availability.
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Il Gambero will be closed on Christmas Eve (24 December), Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year's Day (1 January). However, the restaurant will be open for lunch on New Year's Eve (31 December) from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, with function bookings subject to availability and confirmation. We will also be open on Boxing Day (26 December) from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Please contact our team with your preferred date and guest numbers to discuss available function arrangements.
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Our upstairs function room seats up to 80 guests or accommodates 140 for standing, cocktail-style events. Downstairs, we have a private function room for up to 22 guests with a light-filled patio. For larger celebrations, the whole downstairs restaurant area can accommodate up to 110 guests indoors, with space for another 30 outdoors. Our team can help you choose the best configuration for your group.
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We offer Italian function menus for different celebration styles, including seated set menus, shared pizza and pasta platters, and canapé options. Set menus typically cost around $50 per person, depending on your selection. Our fully serviced bar also offers beverage packages and bar tabs. Contact our team to confirm the latest menus, pricing and any festive-period arrangements before finalising your function.
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Il Gambero offers vegetarian and gluten-free choices on its menus, giving groups different dining options. When submitting your function enquiry, please tell our team about any dietary requirements among your guests. We can discuss suitable menu selections and preparation needs before confirming the arrangements. Guests with allergies or specific dietary restrictions should provide these details in advance.
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We recommend enquiring as early as possible, particularly for popular dates in November and December. Christmas lunches, end-of-year dinners and weekend functions can attract strong interest as the festive season approaches. Sending your preferred date, guest numbers, and event style early gives our team more information to discuss suitable spaces, menu choices, and available booking options.