Lane Cove’s newest restaurant has barely had time to pour its first coffee and it is already planning a party. Galuwa Dining, which opened its doors at the recreation centre on River Road on Monday 12 October, is hosting a Melbourne Cup lunch on Tuesday 3 November, and it is doing things a little differently from the usual sit-down three courses.
A new spot with a view
Galuwa Dining sits inside the Galuwa Recreation Centre at 180 River Road, with the dining room and lounge looking out over Lane Cove Golf Course and the bushland beyond. It runs a restaurant and bar, a lounge, a grab-and-go counter and a set of function spaces, and is open seven days (from 11am on weekdays and 7.30am for breakfast on weekends).
For Cup Day, the whole place turns into a race day venue from 12.30pm, with the party running through to 6pm.
What’s on the menu
Rather than a plated lunch, Galuwa is running a grazing format built around live chef stations, so you can wander, nibble and get back to your sweep. The stations include:
- Fresh seafood and oyster station
- Grazing table
- Asian street food stall
- Gourmet sliders and tacos
- Chef’s carving station
- Dessert selection
Tickets include a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne on arrival and a three-hour premium beverage package from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, covering wine, beer, prosecco and soft drinks.
The race day extras
There is live entertainment through the afternoon, Melbourne Cup sweeps, lucky door prizes, a Best Dressed competition and the race itself on screen at 3pm. Once the race is run the entertainment keeps going, so there is no rush to leave at the finish line.
Tables, tickets and getting there
Tickets are $159 per person. You can book individual tickets (you will be seated at a shared table) or take a full table of 8 or 10. If you want your group together, one person should buy all the tickets in a single booking, as separate bookings cannot be seated together. Tickets are non-refundable, so lock in your plus-ones before you click.
Parking is free at the recreation centre, there is a bus stop near the entrance and a drop-off area for taxis and rideshare. The venue is fully accessible, with lift access from both the car park and the road entrance.
Dietary requirements can be noted when booking, or you can email the team beforehand at [email protected].
Looking for other ways to spend Cup Day locally? Our full Lane Cove Melbourne Cup 2026 guide, with long lunches, catering and race-day beauty, is coming soon.
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