Staying in this winter doesn’t have to be drab if you have the right home for entertaining.

Anchor kitchens with island benches, butler’s pantries, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow to built-in bars, cellars, home theatres and fire pits are just some features of the perfect entertainer’s haven.

Here are five of the best homes for sale in Melbourne for entertaining.

Located in Mount Eliza, the coastal residence ‘Linea House’ was designed by architects Pleysier Perkins. The home features a curved floor plan that separates the bedrooms from the family and entertainment areas.

The open-plan central living, dining and kitchen has 3.6-metre ceilings, French oak floors, lime-washed walls, and a sunken lounge, with the adjacent family room.

The designer kitchen anchors the space with Taj Mahal marble, Palladian limestone inlay flooring, integrated high-end appliances, and a butler’s pantry.

Outdoors, there’s a gas-heated pool framed by mature landscaping and custom paving. The al fresco zone, complete with a cedar outdoor kitchen, built-in BBQ, and louvre roof system, extends entertaining across all seasons.

This Brighton home features both formal and family entertaining areas on its ground level.

The large kitchen, family/meals, and living/dining spaces wrap around a north-facing courtyard, with the kitchen featuring Miele appliances, an integrated espresso machine and a warming drawer.

Other features include three-metre-high ceilings, a wrought-iron and timber staircase, premium stone benchtops, wool carpets, plantation shutters, and proximity to Dendy Village and Brighton Beach.

This Toorak apartment is in The Clendon Residences. Residence 3 spans around 220 sqm, with natural textures and softly layered finishes defining the home’s style.

The gourmet kitchen offers both a setting for entertainment and a statement in design, with its sculptural island bench supported by a scullery. The kitchen also features Gaggenau appliances, concealed refrigeration, and a butler’s pantry.

The open-plan kitchen, living and dining area has steel-framed arched windows that open to an undercover portico terrace.

This single-level home in Malvern East offers low-maintenance living with space to entertain.

Inside, there are high ceilings and natural light, with the expansive formal living and dining area centred on a gas log fireplace that overlooks a private north-facing paved courtyard.

The kitchen features stone benchtops, excellent storage, a walk-in pantry and a breakfast bar. It overlooks the casual family and dining area, which extends through sliding doors onto the second outdoor entertaining area, a covered al fresco with water feature.

Other features include ducted heating, solar panels, plantation shutters and electric blinds.

Located on the Mornington Peninsula, ‘Olive’ offers a range of entertainment options. An olive tree-lined driveway leads you to the coastal, natural light-filled weatherboard home.

There’s an open-plan kitchen, dining and family area with a recycled red-brick fireplace featuring a double-sided Cheminees Philippe wood burner that opens onto the outdoor covered veranda, al fresco area with BBQ and outdoor kitchen, and salt-chlorinated pool and spa.