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Here's everything you need to know that's happening across the Melbourne food scene.
Melbourne is the king of the foodie scene. Every week there’s a cool new restaurant, bar or hidden gem popping up around the city just waiting to be discovered. And while it’s great for our taste buds (our wallets not so much), it can be hard to keep up with everything that’s brand-spanking-new, or all of the events that roll around quicker than the blink of an eye.
Need a hub to find all your Melbourne food news? That’s exactly what this is! Keep reading to find out the latest on our city’s food and drink scene.
Nico’s Deli Opens Melbourne’s First Late Night Sandwich Vending Machine
It’s official: Melbourne officially has it’s first late-night sandwich vending machine! It is a collaboration between Melbourne local Nico’s Deli and Heinz sauces, set to open for six months. We can expect a rotating selection of limited-edition items that celebrate the pairing of a Melbourne hospitality legend and iconic Heinz sauces, with the hero menu items being a Crispy Chicken Sandwich and Mozarella in Carozza!
Located in the heart of Fitzroy, the Sandwich Automat will be open Thursday – Saturday from 7pm – 11pm. To celebrate the launch of Heinz x Nico’s Night Shift, the first 50 customers on Thursday 12th of March will receive a free sandwich! We have a strong feeling this is going to be a huge hit… don’t say we didn’t warn you!
10 Kerr St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Steer Dining Room Tops Melbourne in New Steak Rankings
Steer Dining Room has been named Melbourne’s highest-ranked steak restaurant in the newly released Australia’s 30 Best Steak Restaurants list from the team behind World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, placing #6 nationally. Following a December 2025 refurbishment, the South Yarra institution is doubling down on its Wagyu credentials, with one of the country’s most extensive selections — including rare Japanese A5 — alongside signature tableside steak tartare and a trophy wine program with flights designed for marbling-rich cuts. Call it your permission slip to book a 2026 dinner.
Ground/15 Claremont Street, South Yarra
A New Midweek Steak Ritual Arrives in Brunswick East
Brunswick East’s neighbourhood gem, 98 Lygon St Bar & Bistro, has introduced a Wednesday tradition worth clearing the calendar for. Bottomless Steak showcases generous servings of dry-aged porterhouse, carved thick and served rare with crisp frites and peppercorn sauce. Michelin-trained Brian Macalister brings a steady hand to the series, with small off-menu additions keeping the night interesting. Drinks are ordered as you please, and the room carries that relaxed bistro charm that elevates midweek dining.
98 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Pebble Dining Launches a Summer Pop-Up Made for Long, Lazy Evenings
West Melbourne’s Pebble Dining is in its playful era, rolling out a season of courtyard takeovers and flavour-forward fun, all powered by the same spirit that once fed crowds from a mobile cool room and a giant grill in an Oakleigh South carpark. Back then, it was $10 chicken ribs, pandan roll cake and milk crates for seats; now it’s the grown-up edition, still carrying that big-hearted backyard energy.
The star of the moment is Side Piece Sundays, a weekly sandwich drop served in the courtyard, each one-off creation arriving with clever fillings, generous flavour and pure weekend spirit.
Chef Cam Tay-Yap keeps the wider menu lively, drawing on a six-month run across Asia that saw the Pebble crew cooking everywhere from wine bars in Vietnam to fine diners in Malaysia and open fires in Bali. Those travels show up in bright snacks and warm-weather plates made for long afternoons. March brings a celebrating women collaboration series, adding fresh energy to the lineup.
This dream courtyard hangout is built for sunshine, good food and the simple joy of something new each week. Don’t miss it.
225-229 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
A Big Culinary Name Joins Grampians Grape Escape 2026
Grampians Grape Escape returns to Halls Gap this May with a sharpened culinary focus and a lineup that reflects the Western District at its best. Leading the program is Analiese Gregory — the acclaimed Tasmanian chef known for her produce-driven, elemental cooking, forged through years at Le Meurice in Paris, Quay in Sydney and her own project, Lumachelle. She’s joined by fire-cooking specialist Tom Ballinger, Pomonal Estate’s Dean Sibthorp and Dimboola chef Cat Clarke, shaping a three-day program that revolves around technique, regional ingredients and thoughtful craft.
New this year is The Coal Pit, an open-fire arena where chefs work directly over coals, ash and cast iron in live masterclasses. More than 100 exhibitors fill the village across wine, distilling, dairy and pantry staples, supported by live music, masterclasses and family-friendly sessions. It’s one of the country’s most enduring food festivals — and 2026 feels especially considered.
COMING SOON: Melbourne’s New Sourdough Obsession Begins on Bennetts Lane
Cobb Lane is bringing its cult sourdough and pastries into the CBD, opening a fresh chapter on a site once home to a 19th-century neighbourhood bakery. Owners Matt Forbes and Amy Newman are stepping into the city with daily-baked-on-site loaves, next-level sandwiches, signature pies, and a Duke’s-led coffee program. Seating is minimal by design, encouraging city workers to wander over to Wesley Place for a pastry under the olive tree.
It’s a thoughtful, modern revival of Little Lonsdale’s baking past — and a very welcome return.
Opens late March 2026
1/17 Bennetts Lane, Melbourne
Basque Txoko Pops Up at Nobody’s Baby
Nobody’s Baby has scored the pop-up of the season: Basque Txoko, a three-month residency led by Michelin-starred chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive. Drawing from his Basque heritage — and a résumé that spans The Fat Duck, Mugaritz and his own Michelin-starred Basque Kitchen — Aitor is serving a menu that’s warm, soulful and designed for sharing.
We’re talking gildas, jamón croquetas, Sydney rock oysters with aguachile de Piparras, and those richly flavoured “Txuleta” steaks kissed by charcoal. Market fish in salsa verde, triple-cooked papas fritas and a burnt Basque cheesecake round things off in style. Spirited, generous and deeply Basque, it’s the pop-up set to shape Melbourne’s summer.
On now until April; book the nook while you can.
19-21 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Bar Carnation Blooms in the Original Geralds Bar Space
Carlton has a new glow with Bar Carnation now open in the beloved Rathdowne Street room once home to Gerald’s Bar. Guided by Carnation Canteen’s Audrey Shaw, the space feels instantly assured: aperitivo plates, hand-rolled pasta and steak frites served seven evenings a week, plus a marble-topped bottleshop hidden behind the dining room. A treasured address begins an inspired new era.
Now open
386 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
Koi Toy to Bring High-Energy Japanese Dining to Coburg This February
Koi Toy arrives at Pentridge this February, setting the precinct abuzz with Japanese-inspired plates, crafted cocktails and a late-night mood that feels effortlessly stylish. Head Chef Alex Meimetis channels Tokyo precision through a modern, playful lens, delivering shareable dishes with flavour and flair. Meanwhile, Studio Y’s immersive interiors lean on both neon and texture, crafting a craveable atmosphere built for pre-movie bites, big nights and everything in between.
A fresh, imaginative addition to Melbourne’s north with serious dining credentials.
Pentridge, T16, 1 Champ Street, Coburg
OPENING IN 2026: Roccella Lido in Frankston
Frankston’s foreshore is stepping into its glow-up era with Roccella Lido, a southern Italian stunner landing at the Frankston Yacht Club later this year. August, to be exact. Picture sun-washed Sicily meeting Port Phillip Bay: award-winning pizzas, handmade pasta, seafood still tasting of the sea breeze, and a coastal fit-out that feels deliciously holiday-coded.
The Roccella Group is bringing serious culinary pull to the waterfront, shaping a generous, joy-filled space for long lunches, celebrations and golden-hour aperitivo moments. Frankston’s next chapter is looking very, very chic.
Stay tuned for further updates
Victor Churchill Sets Its Sights on Crown Melbourne in 2027
Victor Churchill, long praised as the “most beautiful butcher shop in the world”, is preparing to make a defining mark on Melbourne’s dining landscape with a bar and grill opening at Crown Melbourne in mid-2027. Led by Anthony and Rebecca Puharich with acclaimed chef Monty Koludrovic at the helm, the new venue will blend luxury butchery, modern grill craft and the sort of detail-driven hospitality that feels both theatrical and intimate.
The design is underway with New York’s AvroKO, known for spaces that feel immersive and richly layered, setting the tone for a restaurant that reimagines the classic steakhouse with contemporary confidence. Expect a menu guided by provenance and seasonality, a strong connection to producers, and the kitchen precision that defines the Victor Churchill legacy.
Overlooking the Yarra and sitting within Crown’s riverfront precinct, this opening is already being considered one of the most anticipated arrivals of 2027 — a meeting of craft, culture and culinary ambition that promises to reshape Melbourne’s dining conversation.
Opening 2027
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
A Summer-Only Pipis Pop-Up Arrives in Fitzroy
Albert Park’s beloved Pipis Kiosk has headed north for the season, debuting Pipis North — a short-run, seafood-led pop-up channelling the charm of San Sebastián’s snack bars. Executive Chef Jordan Clay and Head Chef Dave Kerr are steering a menu built for warm nights: marlin crudo with watermelon, oysters with kiwi hot sauce, crisp tempura prawns, cult-status flatbread, swordfish belly skewers, marlin crudo and a stacked seafood tower.
Add coastal-bright ‘Salty Sips’, $4 oysters from 4pm to 6pm and a drinks list championing small producers, and Fitzroy suddenly feels very beachy. Walk-ins encouraged.
274 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (enter via Victoria Street)
Baker Mornington Is the Peninsula’s New Summer Ritual
Mornington’s Main Street has a new weekend magnet. Baker Mornington — the artisan bakery drawing city-level hype — is fast becoming the Peninsula’s go-to for slow mornings and sun-soaked strolls. Shelves stack with glossy pastries, flaky croissants and small-batch sourdough delivered fresh each day, all paired with smooth espresso and a breezy coastal energy. It’s the sort of spot you swing by before the beach, after the markets, or as the first delicious stop on a long, lazy summer weekend. Arrive early: the cult favourites disappear quickly, and the iced strawberry matchas deserve your attention.
Shop 2/45 Main Street, Mornington
Punt Road Wines Unveils Its New Yarra Valley Cellar Door
Punt Road Wines has opened a sparkling new cellar door beside Meletos, placing tastings, long lunches and orchard-lined wanderings in one very pretty pocket of the Yarra Valley. The purpose-built space sits among vines and apple trees, giving guests front-row views of the region that shaped the estate’s history. Inside, curated flights, museum pours and barrel-hall sessions spotlight the vineyard’s cool-climate character, while the wider precinct tempts with dining, day spa time and elegant stays.
It’s a rustic, handsome cellar door that turns a spring or summer weekend into one of gentle indulgence, rooted in place and rich with that easy Yarra Valley charm.
12 St Huberts Road, Coldstream
The New Cinnamon Scroll That’s About to Hijack Your Feed
Melbourne’s next viral bake is loading — and once it drops, good luck escaping it. Soft, spiralled, sugar-glazed chaos is coming for your algorithm (and your weekend plans). Keep one eye on their socials, because this Malvern newcomer is about to hit cult status fast.
209 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
Hawthorn’s New ‘New Wave Cafe’ Is Giving Tokyo, Seoul and 2002 Borders Energy
Hawthorn just gained a little slice of Tokyo–Seoul cool, with the Bar Selecta crew opening Sabi Sounds: a day-to-night listening cafe where vinyl, matcha and mood collide. It has that soft-focus, early-2000s Borders nostalgia (think headphone listening stations), wrapped in the finesse of a modern Japanese record lounge. Ona Coffee pours alongside Shizuoka matcha, salt bread and melon pan glow in the cabinet, and the space hums with curated vinyl, artist residencies and Sunday Walk ’n Run Club energy. It’s a cafe for slowing your pulse — and sharpening your senses.
717 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
It’s Goodbye to Lona Misa & Hello to South Yarra’s New All-Day Local
South Yarra is turning a new page. The space once home to Lona Misa — the influential, Latin-inspired vegan restaurant from Shannon Martinez that helped shift Melbourne’s plant-based dining conversation — has reopened as Bar Yarra.
Now open inside Ovolo Melbourne, Bar Yarra trades high-energy vegan plates for an all-day, all-rounder approach. Breakfast rolls into lunch, dinner stretches comfortably into drinks, and the menu leans classic and crowd-pleasing: shakshuka and pancakes in the morning, calamari with chilli salt, pumpkin ravioli with miso butter, steak frites and a smash burger by night. With cocktails, daily happy hour and vinyl-fuelled Thursdays, it’s shaping up as South Yarra’s newest everyday habit.
234 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Torquay Just Scored A Sun-Soaked Greek Opening
Ela has officially landed on the Torquay Esplanade, bringing a sun-drenched dose of modern Greek dining to the coast just in time for summer. Taking over the former Bob Sugar site, the 90-seat restaurant delivers a full coastal glow-up, pairing Mediterranean ease with Surf Coast energy. Expect seafood-forward plates, shareable mezze and citrus-laced flavours made for long afternoons and late finishes. If your summer cravings skew feta, fire and seaside spritzes, this is one detour worth making.
17 The Esplanade, Torquay
Melbourne’s Newest Japanese Cafe in the City: Yummy Mono
Yummy Mono is a sweet, vibrantly designed new CBD cafe serving Japanese cult favourites with easy, everyday appeal. Onigiri are neatly wrapped, rice bowls deliver pure comfort and matcha is made with care, all from a compact, design-led setup suited to quick lunches or midweek resets. Bold branding brings fresh energy to Little Collins Street, with tiled counters and gridded walls creating a space that feels fun, functional and built for the pace of city life. A grab-and-go stop you’ll happily return to.
387 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Hotel Sorrento’s Glow-Up Ushers in a New Peninsula Era
After five years of thoughtful transformation, Hotel Sorrento steps into summer as a fully realised bay-side resort, balancing heritage with a fresh, cosmopolitan ease. The new New York–inspired Lobby Bar sets the tone with low-lit glamour, marble and travertine, pouring sharp cocktails alongside elevated bar snacks from morning to night. Upstairs, an open-air wellness terrace offers sweeping sea views and hosts yoga, Pilates and sunset drinks with equal finesse.
Eight new luxury suites, premium conferencing spaces and a refined approach to wellbeing round out the evolution, while a Venroy capsule adds a stylish coastal flourish. It’s a confident new chapter for a Mornington Peninsula icon, polished, relaxed and perfectly tuned for long summer stays.
Hotel Sorrento, 5/15 Hotham Road, Sorrento
Book your stay with Hotel Sorrento
Book your stay with Booking.com
Victoria’s Wine Scene Just Had a Victory Lap for the Ages
Victoria has swept Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards, and the results speak to the state’s serious cellar power. Circl emerged as the standout — crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year and Best Wine List Victoria, alongside a dazzling run of national titles: Best Restaurant Wine List – City, Best List of Wines by the Glass, Best Champagne List, Best Sparkling Wine List, Best Listing of Victorian Wines, and the Sommeliers’ Choice Award for the delightful Xavier Vigier. An absolute coup.
Chris Lucas’ Society also flexed its muscle, taking home Best Listing of Museum & Rare Wines, Best Listing of French Wines, and Best Digestif List — a trifecta that cements it as one of the country’s most sophisticated places to drink.
Meanwhile, Lucas’ new favourite Maison Bâtard claimed Australia’s Best New Wine List – The Tony Hitchin Award, solidifying its status as the newcomer everyone should be paying attention to.
In short: Victoria didn’t just win this year — it defined it.
Circl, 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
Society, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Maison Batard, 23 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Hector’s Deli Brings Its Cult Sandwiches to Little Collins
Hector’s Deli is stepping into the CBD with a new outpost on Little Collins Street, bringing its cult-status sandwiches to the city’s lunchtime stampede. Think meatball subs, club sandwiches and those iconic melts, all served in a slick Normanby Chambers nook with just enough seats to pretend you’re not getting takeaway. It’s old-school luncheonette energy, Melbourne style — fast, indulgent and destined to be the office worker’s greatest weakness.
430 Little Collins Street (Normanby Chambers), Melbourne
An Amaretto Summer Arrives: Flour Child x Disaronno Launch Seasonal Menu
Flour Child is celebrating summer with a new collaboration honouring Disaronno’s 500 years of Italian heritage. Across St Kilda and Richmond, the pizzeria and cocktail bar has launched Amaretto Summer, a limited menu blending modern Melbourne flair with the iconic liqueur’s almond and cherry notes. Expect a secret cocktail lineup created with Disaronno’s mixologists, along with dishes such as Disaronno-glazed peach and prosciutto pinsa, burrata with peach and thyme, and a decadent cherry gelato sandwich. With vibrant styling and seasonal energy, it is set to be a summer standout.
See the full menu here
432 Church Street, Richmond
Level 1/77 Acland Street, St Kilda
Andrew McConnell Reveals Côte Basque for Winter 2026
Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann have announced Côte Basque, a European grill shaped by the coastal traditions of the Basque region, set to open on Crossley Street in winter 2026. The menu will centre on wood-fired craft and exceptional produce, bringing a fresh culinary lens to the former Becco site. ACME is redesigning the room with mid-century cues, restored terrazzo and a street-level bar, with an upstairs private space returning to service. Côte Basque is poised to reintroduce depth, clarity and momentum to this storied laneway.
Coming winter 2026
11/25 Crossley Street, Melbourne
Ten Minutes by Tractor Ushers In A Bold New Era
Mornington Peninsula’s Ten Minutes by Tractor has entered a tasty new era with chef Craig Lunn steering the kitchen, bringing Michelin-polished skill shaped by years in Europe and the Middle East. His opening menu leans into the estate’s farm, nearby waters and the region’s cool-climate charm. Think garden herb custard, tortellini with Moreton Bay bug and a deeply indulgent Black Opal Wagyu with fermented lettuce and date. But the dish we’re quietly eyeing off is the tuna tart with nori and fingerlime. It sounds bright, clever and very summer.
New head sommelier Noah Rozenfeld ties it all together with cellar-door pairings that roam from fresh releases to cherished back vintages. A very promising chapter indeed.
1333 Mornington-Flinders Road, Main Ridge
Ellie Bouhadana Is Bringing Summer Magic to the St Kilda Foreshore
St Kilda’s shoreline is about to level up its snacking game. Stokehouse will hand over its Beach Box kiosk to the ever-brilliant Ellie Bouhadana for a summer residency that feels tailor-made for warm evenings and salt-sprayed afternoons. Ellie’s cooking has always carried a sunny kind of generosity, shaped by Moroccan heritage, Mediterranean wanderings and an instinct for food that tastes best a few steps from the water.
The menu leans into crisp, clever plates, unfussy cocktails and bottles that shine in the heat, all suited to foreshore feasting or a wander down to the pier as the sky softens.
Open from Thursday to Sunday all summer, Ellie’s Kiosk is set to become the little beachside gem everyone rushes to claim as their secret.
30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Tokyo Takes the Rooftop: Melbourne’s Disco-Era Revival is Here in the Form of Disuko
Move over, martini bars — Disuko has entered the chat. Once home to the iconic Madame Brussels, Bourke Street’s rooftop is spinning back to life as a Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar from the MAMAS Dining Group (Hochi Mama, Kiss & Tell). Channelling the pulse of 1980s Tokyo, it’s all lacquered timber, mirror-ball gleam and vinyl on the decks. Behind the glowing glass-block bar, highballs, sakes, and house signatures set the pace; in the kitchen, udon carbonara, hibachi-grilled chicken, and sashimi take centre stage. There’s even an eight-seat omakase glowing like sundown.
With skyline views and late-night energy to match, Disuko promises Melbourne’s most glamorous comeback yet, where Tokyo’s golden age meets the city’s modern beat.
Opens Tuesday 18th November
Level 3/59-63 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Daphne, Brunswick East: Hannah Green’s Next Act Opens Today
Melbourne’s most intuitive host swaps fine-dining finesse for pub grit — and the result is pure electricity. Daphne, opening today in Brunswick East, is Hannah Green’s next-gen public house: less parma, more panache. Chef Diana Desensi (Montalto, Pt Leo Estate) turns out plates that feel like pleasure personified — LP’s pig’s-head hot dog, beef tartare with a twist, mussel flatbread, ricotta tortellini in milk sauce, and half chook with blistered grapes.
There’s even a sunshine-bright Cobb salad — an early contender for dish of the summer.
Behind the bar, Sam Peasnell (Etta, Dom’s Social Club) shakes up a 10-strong cocktail list that’s equal parts clever and classic: a velvety Olive Oil Sour cracked with black pepper, a white-balsamic Rhubarb Spritz, and a chocolatey Guinness Americano. Dom Valentine supplies the on-tap pours ($10 a glass, $50 a carafe), Hop Nation brews the house Daphne Draught, and Ashley Boburka curates a texture-driven wine list with access to Etta’s 450-bottle cellar.
What else can you expect? Martini Club Mondays ($15 martinis), steak, pasta and pie specials through the week, and for the night owls, tinned fish, midnight spaghetti and ice cream topped with salty fries. The room — all walnut, marble, crimson textiles and that irresistible house-party pulse — feels like the spot Melbourne’s been waiting for: grown-up, playful, and perfectly undone.
Opens 10th November, 2025
52-54 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Chicken, Caviar & Champagne at Circl
When a venue crowned with Australia’s Best Wine List 2025 and Best Champagne List (twice) adds something new to the menu, you pay attention — preferably with a flute in hand. Circl’s Chicken, Caviar & Champagne is head chef Elias Salomonsson’s indulgent twist on comfort food: buttermilk and seaweed–marinated chicken oysters, fried until golden and topped with Yarra Valley salmon roe or Kaviari caviar.
It’s rich, playful, and best enjoyed alongside something sparkling from Circl’s award-winning list.
Sitchu Tip: Treat yourself — the Kaviari upgrade is a game-changer.
22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
Melbourne’s Jack Simpson Crowned 2025 World Barista Champion
Australia’s coffee crown just got shinier — Jack Simpson of Melbourne’s Axil Coffee Roasters, has taken out the title of 2025 World Barista Champion in Milan.
After two years on the podium — runner-up in 2024 and third in 2023 — Simpson finally claimed the top spot, impressing judges with a performance that balanced technical precision with pure storytelling. His routine championed transparency and origin, spotlighting producers like Jonathan Gasca and celebrating the intricate journey from farm to cup.
It’s Simpson’s third consecutive Australian title, turned world triumph — and a testament to the country’s unmatched coffee culture. Consider this another win for the flat-white faithful.
Yiaga: Hugh Allen’s Long-Awaited Fitzroy Gardens Debut Opens Today
After years of quiet anticipation, Hugh Allen — one of Australia’s brightest culinary minds — finally lifts the curtain on Yiaga, his ambitious first restaurant, opening today amid the elm-lined serenity of Fitzroy Gardens. Designed in poetic tandem with architect John Wardle, the intimate 44-seat pavilion is a study in Australian craft — 13,000 handmade tiles, terracotta walls, and timber that glows like honey in the afternoon light.
The menu is audacious yet deeply grounded: retired David Blackmore Wagyu, dive-foraged wakame in dessert, Gippsland dairy, and coral trout from Queensland’s warm waters. Every element hums with intention — from Dorian Guillon’s bespoke pairings to Studio Ongarato’s botanical branding. For Allen, it’s the culmination of a lifelong dream — a restaurant that celebrates place, craft, and the slow art of mastery.
Melbourne has waited patiently. Tonight, the wait is over.
Reservations are now open for the remainder of 2025, with January and February 2026 bookings set to release on 1st November via website
Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
Melbourne’s Tiniest Pub, Global Heavyweight: Caretaker’s Cracks Top 20 in World’s 50 Best Bars
A church-side shoebox with cathedral-level clout, Caretaker’s Cottage has vaulted into the World’s 50 Best Bars top 20, landing at No.19 — proof that Melbourne’s beloved tiny titan still roars on the world stage. Swing by at golden hour and you’ll spot the faithful with a pint of the black stuff, while insiders order the city’s smartest “boilermaker”: a freezer-cold signature martini beside that Guinness, anchored by a bespoke house gin. Low-lit. High craft. Zero fuss. A pilgrimage for travellers; a proud local habit for the rest of us.
139-141 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Vansetter Goes Bold: Two New Vodkas, One Triple Sec
Ballarat’s Itinerant Spirits is turning up the heat with Vansetter’s first signature distilled flavours: Habanero & Lime and Cucumber & Mint — plus a handcrafted Vansetter Triple Sec. Think supercritical CO₂ for clean spice, vacuum distillation for bright fruit, and volcanic spring water proofing: precision over perfume. Habanero & Lime delivers fruity heat and a zesty snap, while Cucumber & Mint is crisp, green and gloriously refreshing.
Limited bottles ($65/700ml, 40% ABV) land at the distillery and select retailers before a wider roll-out. Consider it chapter one in Vansetter’s refined-exploration era: flavour with substance, not sugar.
We know what we’ll be sipping this spring.
Purchase here
200 Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill
Meet Zoncello: The Yarra Valley’s Italo-Disco Fever Dream
Zonzo Estate’s exuberant new sibling has arrived, and she’s dressed for a good time. Having opened officially on Thursday, 2nd October, in the former Innocent Bystander space, Zoncello Yarra Valley is where Italian verve meets a touch of disco decadence — all colour, charisma and clinking spritzes. Director Rod Micallef and designer Claire Larrit Evans have conjured a sprawling Healesville playground that feels equal parts Riviera nightclub and contemporary osteria: booths for gossip, long tables for celebrations, and a bar that hums from midday till late. Executive Chef David Petrilli brings the energy with salumeria spreads, wood-charred arrosticini and a tiramisu ice-cream sandwich worth the drive alone. Naturally, the full Zonzo spritz suite stars — Zoncello, Bellina and Cicchio — each as effervescent as the interiors. For those who take their prosecco with a side of playfulness, this is your new pilgrimage point.
316–334 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Death & Co: The Cocktail Institution Touches Down in Melbourne
The holy grail of cocktail bars is finally landing on Australian shores. This November, New York’s fabled Death & Co — the name that rewrote the rules of modern drinking — will open on Flinders Lane, its first international outpost and a landmark moment for Melbourne’s bar scene. Expect the full theatre: the cult classics (hello Naked & Famous, Oaxacan Old Fashioned) alongside locally tuned creations. A decade-defining arrival, and proof that Melbourne still sets the pace when it comes to the art of the drink.
Opens November 2025
Death & Co Melbourne, 87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Karen Martini’s New Era at Bar Carolina
South Yarra’s beloved Italian institution turns the page as Karen Martini takes ownership — her first independent venture since 2020 — bringing a confident, cucina-led refresh without losing the room’s timeless poise. The menu moves with Italian rhythm: cicchetti (stuffed olives; pizza fritta with vinegar salt and whipped cod roe), Harry’s Bar–style eye fillet carpaccio, housemade pastas like tagliarini with blue swimmer crab, then larger plates from the Josper, including bone-on veal costoletta. A robust, regionally focused Italian wine list (with a soft spot for Barolo) underpins it all.
The best part? Rooftop sibling Tetto di Carolina will be returning in time for summer.
44 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Circl Crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year
Punch Lane newcomer Circl has just pulled off the impossible — crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year 2025 barely a year after opening. The wine-led restaurant claimed the top gong plus seven category wins, from Best Champagne List to Best List of Wines by the Glass. Sommelier Xavier Vigier also scooped the prestigious Judy Hirst Award for curating the list, praised for its “eye-watering depth” and rare accessibility.
With 150+ pours by the glass, paired to a seasonal, Scandinavian-inspired menu, Circl is Melbourne’s newest must-book for wine lovers.
22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
Taquería Sin Nombre: The Laneway Taco Bar Pop-Up with No Name
Slip down Celestial Avenue in Chinatown and follow the glow of a neon dingo — that’s your cue you’ve stumbled upon Taquería Sin Nombre, the unmarked spot from the cult crew behind Dingo Ate My Taco. Open Fridays and Saturdays only, this laneway bolthole is equal parts fiesta and secret society. From the counter come scratch-made tacos — brisket, birria, even huitlacoche — while Saturdays add burritos slung straight from the window from 11am. Inside, it’s grungy-Mexicana chic: orange neon, graffiti walls, papel picado, DJs spinning reggaeton. Outside, late-night wanderers discover tacos that taste like pure street-party magic. Casual, chaotic, and magically delicious, this fleeting weekend delight won’t stay hidden for long.
Open until 10pm, Fridays and Saturdays
Tacos only for now, with tequila and margaritas arriving in October (we’ll keep you in the loop)
Celestial Avenue, Melbourne CBD
Anita Gelato’s First Melbourne Scoop
Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra have already fallen hard — and now Melbourne is about to get its taste. Beloved for its creamy, decadent flavours, Anita Gelato is finally making its Victorian debut, opening on one of the city’s most iconic CBD streets. Think 150 flavours swirling with wild imagination: from tart fruit sorbets and velvety vegan options to chocolate creations studded with surprises.
The exact date is still under wraps (they’re teasing it on socials), but one thing’s certain: Melbourne’s gelato game is about to hit dizzying new heights.
Opens this weekend, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September
273 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
SHOP225 Crowned Australia’s Best Pizza at Global Awards
Global accolades, local heart — Pascoe Vale’s humble SHOP225 has just been crowned the best pizzeria in Australia at the prestigious 50 Top Pizza World Awards in Naples, securing its place among the world’s greats. Yet behind the headlines, it remains the same neighbourhood hole-in-the-wall where locals gather, families squeeze into booths, and gluten-free and vegan diners break bread alongside traditionalists. Founder Lorenzo Tron’s ethos is simple but powerful: everyone deserves a seat at the table, whatever their dietary needs. Right now, he’s en route to Naples to accept the award for Australia’s best pizza — and to discover the restaurant’s global ranking.
With a loyal following and sister venue Il Caminetto in Moonee Ponds, SHOP225 proves that authenticity, inclusivity, and a wood-fired crust can win over judges in Italy — and keep Melbourne locals coming back week after week.
225 Melville Road, Pascoe Vale South
Ligurian Nights at Bar Bianco with Guy Grossi
Southside favourite Bar Bianco has joined forces with culinary heavyweight Guy Grossi for a menu that transports Hawksburn Village to the sun-drenched coast of Liguria. This takeover is Grossi’s first project south of the river in over two decades, and it’s one that feels both celebratory and deeply personal.
The new menu pays homage to the produce-driven traditions of Liguria — a region famed for pesto Genovese, fresh seafood and olive oil–kissed breads. Think half-shell scallops in an almond crust, cured kingfish lifted with bay leaf oil and pine nuts, slow-cooked lamb ragu tangled through rigatoni, and a Ligurian-style cannoli threaded with amaretti, ricotta and olive oil. A sharp wine list and Bar Bianco’s signature cocktails complete the experience.
Designed to feel like a true neighbourhood haunt, the collaboration strikes a balance between refined and familiar — equally suited to a quick glass of wine midweek or a long Saturday lunch with friends.
Bar Bianco, 523 Malvern Road, Toorak
Melbourne Crowned Australia’s Most Food-Curious City in 2025 Forks & Searches Report
Melbourne has officially claimed the title of Australia’s most food-curious city, according to CupoNation’s inaugural Forks & Searches report. Drawing on over 9,400 Google search terms and 23,706 TripAdvisor restaurant listings across six major cities, the study uncovers how Australians are navigating a year marked by rising living costs with curiosity, appetite, and flair. Melbourne clocks 26.3 cuisine-related searches per 1,000 residents each month, narrowly beating Adelaide, which takes second place, with Sydney a close third.
Korean cuisine dominates Melbourne’s searches, while Hunan and Xiang dishes are surging—up 238% YoY—revealing a city eager to explore heat, texture, and regional nuance. Nationally, Ethiopian cuisine has skyrocketed 2,767%, proving Australians are increasingly seeking communal, spice-forward dining adventures. Japanese cuisine remains the most searched for but underrepresented in actual venue availability, highlighting a delicious gap between desire and supply.
The study also uncovers quirky insights: cafes now outnumber pizza joints and bars, chicken tops menus as the most served dish, and salads even outpace beef, pork, and desserts. South Australia surprises with North Indian food leading searches, and Mediterranean cuisine surging 878% YoY.
Melbourne, it seems, isn’t just eating — it’s exploring.
Vanilla Dessert Bar – Do It Your Way
Oakleigh’s new Vanilla Dessert Bar takes indulgence to lavish new heights. A Mediterranean-inspired sweet haven from the team behind the iconic Vanilla Lounge, it’s part bakery, part custom-cake atelier, and entirely devoted to the art of the DIY dessert. Here, you can build your own creation from buttery gnocchi or flaky croissants, swirl it with soft serve, then crown it from a line-up of over 60 toppings — think sauce fountains, shards of chocolate, jewel-bright fruit, and layers of cream. Architect Rodney Eggleston has wrapped it all in a sleek, sunlit space that feels like summer in full swing.
For celebrations, late-night sugar cravings or just the joy of creating something that’s entirely yours, Vanilla Dessert Bar is the sweetest new arrival.
17–21 Eaton Mall, Oakleigh
Tom Sarafian’s ZAREH Opens Next Week
Hummus legend Tom Sarafian opens ZAREH, his first solo restaurant, next Wednesday. It is a bold tribute to his grandfather’s self-taught French-Armenian kitchen and the vibrant overlap of Lebanese and Armenian flavours. Central to the space is an open charcoal barbecue and wood-fired oven, where seasonal Victorian produce is kissed by ancient spices — sumac, za’atar, pomegranate molasses — that carry stories through every bite.
Beyond the kitchen, Matt Linklater’s bar pours standout cocktails like a properly dirty martini and an Arak Negroni, alongside a handpicked selection of Armenian brandies. The dining room channels Beirut’s warmth with pink-hued limestone, soft green banquettes, and vinyl spinning rich, soulful tunes.
ZAREH is where heritage meets heat — an intimate celebration of family, flavour, and fire that stays with you. Melbourne, brace yourself—this one’s destined to be unforgettable.
Opens Wednesday 20th August
368 Smith Street, Collingwood
Ballarat Has Crowned Its Best Pie — And It’s a Raspberry Cookie Dream
The pie to beat in 2025? Mrs Browne Bakes’ raspberry goldfields cookie pie, served at the ever-charming Naomi & i, has officially taken top honours at Ballarat’s Best Pie Awards. Judged by a heavyweight panel including Tim Bone, Richard Cornish, Kara Monssen and Alejandro Saravia, this year’s event dished out accolades to both sweet and savoury stunners. Our advice? Bring your appetite and try them all.
Here are the winners worth chasing down:
Ballarat’s Best Pie (Grand Prize): Raspberry goldfields cookie pie – Mrs Browne Bakes at Naomi & i
2nd Place: Peach and Portuguese custard pie – Lydiard General
3rd Place: Apple sty pie – Mondegreen Cafe
Best Savoury Pie: Lechon paksiw pie – Stables Cafe & Bar at Hotel Canberra
Best Sweet Pie: Raspberry goldfields cookie pie – Mrs Browne Bakes at Naomi & i
Best Bakery Pie: Beef rendang pie – Turret Bakehouse
Brilliantly Unexpected Pie: Lechon paksiw pie – Stables Cafe & Bar at Hotel Canberra
Pie with Purpose: Feral Pie – The Shared Table
Throughout August, you can sample the winning pies — and all 36 entries — at bakeries, cafes, restaurants and bars across Ballarat. Your winter pie crawl awaits.
These Chic Mini Duos at Cordelia Might Just Be Perfect
From Wednesdays to Fridays, 2pm to 5pm, Carlton’s newest neighbourhood spot is serving Little Hours — mini cocktails paired with snackable bites for just $20. Pick a Negroni or a martini with buttery fries or a slick mini wine and shellfish combo (oyster or scallop). It’s perfectly pitched: chic enough to feel special, casual enough to swing by solo or with friends. The ultimate happy hour in Melbourne. Tiny drinks, bold bites, and no fuss. Walk-ins welcome — this might just become your new mid-afternoon ritual.
180 Rathdowne Street, Carlton
Tokyo Nights, Melbourne Heights: MAMAS Dining Group to Open Disco-Soaked Rooftop Izakaya
There’s a new Tokyo-style rooftop landing soon, and she’s swapping G&Ts for sake, oysters for chargrilled yakitori, and daylight for a moody disco glow. MAMAS Dining Group — the minds behind Hochi Mama, Kiss & Tell and Suzie Q — are reviving the iconic Madame Brussels site with their most electric venue yet: a 150-seat izakaya dream pulsing with 1980s Tokyo energy. Expect skyline views, spinning vinyl, low lighting and master Japanese chefs serving smoky, share-style plates alongside craft beer, sake and theatrical cocktails.
With a retro-modern fit-out by Directitude and the promise of late-night revelry under the city lights, this is shaping up to be spring’s most exciting opening.
Opens spring 2025
Level 3, 59-63 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Curious Matter is the New Menu to Know
Beneath W Melbourne, down the hush of descending stairs, where soft light pools around velvet booths and the bass trembles just so, something strange and sensual is happening. Curious Matter, the new menu from award-winning bartender Matt Whiley, is not simply cocktails: it’s chemistry, memory, sensation. There’s a fizz of peach blossoms as the helium balloon lifts the Wizz Fizz skyward. A lime leaf crackles on the tongue before Quantum Silk unspools into bok choy-lime syrup and coriander oil. Fog drifts over Surface Tension like mist after rain, each sip sharp with nostalgia. You don’t drink the On Cloud Nine, you spoon it across your tongue. Here, beneath the city, matter becomes memory and flavour becomes story.
408 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
North vs South: How Melbourne Really Dines Now
Melbourne’s north/south divide just got a whole new flavour, thanks to fresh data from Aussie fintech Zeller. Their latest hospitality report dishes up some spicy intel on how — and where — Melburnians are dining out.
Southsiders? They’re Melbourne’s undisputed breakfast royalty, dropping 30% more per morning meal and ordering like it’s a sport. They’re also spending more across bars, cafes and takeaway — suggesting a taste for elevated, on-the-go luxury (think: oat flat white with a side of designer croissant).
Northsiders, on the other hand, own dinner. They’re filling more tables at night and spending the big bucks when it comes to sit-down, restaurant dining — averaging over $100 per meal. Plus, they’re tipping more often and more generously (+60% by dollar value), reinforcing their reputation as Melbourne’s laidback-but-loyal locals.
Lunch? A city-wide afterthought. But if you’re grabbing a midday bite, the data shows you’re more likely to do it — and spend more — north of the Yarra.
It’s a tale of two cities on one map, and whether you’re splashing out in South Yarra or tipping big in Thornbury, one thing is clear: Melbourne’s hospitality game is thriving, no matter the postcode.
Victoria Cleans Up at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Spirits Awards
Victoria’s distilling scene is on fire — and the proof is in the (award-winning) pour. At this year’s Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards, local legends walked away with some of the night’s top honours. Bright’s trailblazing Reed & Co Distillery took home a double win: Champion Victorian Gin for their NEO New World Dry Gin, and Best Ready to Serve Cocktail for their citrusy Yuzu Chu-Hai — a nod to both precision and play. If you visit, you must dine at their onsite restaurant, it’s one of the best meals you’ll have all year.
Meanwhile, Top Shelf International was named Champion Victorian Distiller, while Snowgum Distillery charmed the judges with their Williams Pear Schnapps, earning Best Alternative Spirit. And whisky lovers, rejoice: Backwoods Distilling Co, the Yackandah-based distillery, snagged Best Australian Single Malt Whisky with a standout chardonnay barrel-aged release — further proof that Victoria’s High Country is fast becoming one to watch for distilling the goods. Cheers to that.
Tarts Anon 2.0: Richmond’s Sweetest New Era Has Arrived
Melbourne’s cult-favourite dessert slinger Tarts Anon is back — and she’s glowing. After the unexpected loss of their Cremorne HQ, pastry power couple Gareth Whitton and Catherine Way have launched a luminous new flagship in Richmond, complete with open kitchen, dine-in space, and the same unapologetic obsession with tarts. You’ll find signature flavours like chocolate caramel and smoked pecan, rotating specials, and an exclusive new pistachio Saint Honoré tart for launch week.
Designed with Melbourne hospitality icon Nathan Toleman, the space brings fine-dining finesse to your local bakery run. Launch week perks include scratch cards with guaranteed prizes, from free slices to limited-edition merch. Consider this your official excuse to dessert first… and second.
10/658 Church Street, Richmond
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Junda Khoo Kicks Off Trio of Melbourne Restaurants With Ho Liao
Junda Khoo’s introduction to the hospitality world wasn’t traditional. The former investment banker didn’t undergo culinary training; instead, he opened his first Sydney restaurant, Ho Jiak, with the vision of sharing the dishes from Penang he enjoyed throughout his childhood with Sydneysiders. Eleven years later, and Junda has opened a series of restaurants in the state, and is finally making his way to Melbourne. Ho Liao is the first of a trio of Melbourne venues from Junda Khoo, bringing his signature modern Malaysian flavours to Victoria. And the best part? The prices are capped at $15.
Designed to be approachable yet bold, Ho Liao channels the vibrant street food energy of Penang while introducing a fresh, elevated dining experience. The space itself is lively, with an exposed brick wall proudly showing off Ho Liao signage, and a casual, comfy atmosphere.
Ho Liao marks the start of a trio of new venues Junda Khoo will be opening in Melbourne, with a ground floor takeaway spot with a heavy focus on street food, Da Bao, and Junda Khoo’s famous Ho Jiak, which will be a formal dining venue slinging contemporary Malaysian delights.
Da Bao and Ho Jiak to open by the end of June
235 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Victoria Shines Bright: Four of Top Five Wineries Crowned in 2025 Rankings
Victoria has once again dominated Australia’s wine scene, claiming four of the top five spots in The Real Review’s 2025 Top Wineries rankings. Geelong’s Wine by Farr took the coveted Winery of the Year title, marking a remarkable second win and continuing Victoria’s impressive five-year streak at the top. Close behind are Yarra Valley powerhouses Yarra Yering (#2), Levantine Hill (#3), and Giant Steps (#4), showcasing the region’s exceptional strength in producing world-class wines.
South Australia rounds out the top five with Wynns Coonawarra Estate securing fifth place, highlighting its significant rise this year. This Victorian dominance is echoed across the top 20, with nine Victorian wineries featured, underlining the state’s reputation for premium, cool-climate styles.
From elegant Pinots to bold Chardonnays, Victoria’s winemakers continue to craft wines that captivate critics and enthusiasts alike, reinforcing the region as a cornerstone of Australia’s vibrant and evolving wine industry.
Victoria’s Top Wines Steal the Show at Dan Murphy’s Best in Glass Awards 2025…and They’re All Under $50!
Victoria is turning heads at the inaugural Dan Murphy’s Best in Glass Wine Awards, picking up eight prestigious titles across multiple categories and ranking as the second-best performing state overall.
The Yarra Valley emerged as a standout, showcasing its cool-climate finesse. Little Yering Pinot Noir ($21.99) was crowned Best Value Pinot Noir, delivering a bright, fresh expression of the region’s signature style. In the white category, Tahblik Marsanne ($17.29) from Nagambie Lakes took out Best Value Other Varietal White, proving top quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Meanwhile, the Oakridge Valley Series Chardonnay ($29.99) claimed Best Chardonnay, further cementing the Yarra’s rep for elegant whites.
From the King Valley, Pizzini Pietra Rossa Sangiovese ($30.29) was named Best Other Varietal Red, Dal Zotto’s Pucino Prosecco ($22.29) the Best Prosecco, and in the sweet wine stakes, Brown Brothers Moscato Strawberries & Cream Limited Edition ($14.99) from North East Victoria took the top spot. Naturally, everyone’s favourite spritz, Zoncello ($21.95), won Best Sweet Spritz.
To round out Victoria’s impressive run, Dominique Portet Fontaine Rosé ($28.29) was awarded Best Rosé, making it official: Victoria is home to some of the country’s most exciting and accessible wines. Happy sipping!
CHANDON Unveils a Stunning Events & Tastings Space
CHANDON Australia has unveiled its reimagined Homestead, an intimate, design-led space within its Yarra Valley estate. A century-old farmhouse turned luxurious gathering place, the Homestead blends heritage with modern Australian artistry—think soft pinks, earthy hues, and bespoke works by local designers. Here, guests can savour oyster bars, tableside cooking, and CHANDON’s rare Étoile wines while overlooking rolling vineyards. With curated interiors by Melanie Beynon and a focus on craft and storytelling, the Homestead is an exquisite stage for indulgence—where méthode traditionnelle meets contemporary elegance.
Now open for events, tastings, and private celebrations
Melbourne Has Just Been Ranked the #1 Hottest Food Destination in the World for 2025
Melbourne, take a bow—you’ve just been crowned the world’s hottest food destination for 2025. A new study from the British luxury holiday brand Travelbag ranks our fair city as numero uno for food-obsessed travellers, and honestly, was there ever any doubt? With over 100 cuisines, a globally revered dining scene, and millions of food posts lighting up Instagram, Melbourne is a true culinary juggernaut. Beating out heavyweights like Tokyo, New York, and Bangkok, we’ve officially got the world’s best eats—so grab a fork, loosen your belt, and celebrate the only way we know how: by eating. Melbourne, we feast.
Can’t get enough Melbourne food and drink news and want to be in the know of more delicious restaurants, cafes and bars to book? Be sure to take a look at the best dining deals happening this week, or these fancy degustations if you want to dine out in style.
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