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The Best New Restaurants and Bars in Melbourne

Melbourne is the food capital of Australia, and Melburnians hospitality scene doesn’t take this label lying down. Every week we see new restaurants, bars, and cafes open in Melbourne’s CBD and in its suburbs. Keeping track of the newest Melbourne restaurants can be tough, so we’ve made it easier for you with the following run-down of the best new restaurants in Melbourne.

Lately, we’ve seen everything from floating bars, to tequila bars, to late-night haunts, everything you need for a great night out in the city of Melbourne.

These are the best new restaurants and bars in Melbourne that have opened in 2022.

BrewDog Pentridge

Coburg
BrewDog’s first Melbourne pub is open. In partnership with Australian Venue Co. BrewDog has opened its first Melbourne bar inside the ominous halls of Pentridge Prison. Calling E division home, BrewDog has given nods to the history of the site, and features an indoor dining room, function spaces, and a beer garden. BrewDog Pentridge can fit 500 people across two levels.

Read more about BrewDog Pentridge here.

Amphlett House

CBD
Opening in Melbourne’s CBD on Little Bourke Street on November 10, Amphlett House comes from the minds of Andrea Gualdi—from Sydney’s World’s 50 Best Bars entrant, Maybe Sammy—and Melbourne hospitality legend Ian Curley. Amphlett House features 120 seats and will have a range of beers, and cocktails on tap. Expect to see elevated pub classics on the menu.

Read more about Amphlett House here.

Tequila Bar by Mejico

CBD
Tequila Bar by Mejico is a late-night bar on Pink Alley in Melbourne’s CBD. Opening in late-October, the venue is brought to you by the Mejico team, and sits atop the Mexican favourite. Tequila Bar serves food and beverages from 9pm until 3am Thursday to Saturday, and has room for up to 40 guests.

Arbory Afloat Balearic Beach Club

Yarra River
Now a staple of Melbourne’s summer scene, Arbory Afloat will once again reinvent itself for its seventh season on the mighty Yarra River. Arbory Afloat will become Balearic Beach Club Inspired by the Balearic Island you can expect it to capture the character of Ibiza, Formentera, Menorca, and Mallorca.

Arbory Afloat Balearic Beach Club relaunched on Wednesday 21 September.

best restaurants melbourne

Ministry of Crab

CBD
One of Asia’s top 50 restaurants, Ministry of Crab, will be coming to Australia for the first time ever with a month-long pop-up at Crown Melbourne. Founded over a decade ago by eminent chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa alongside iconic Sri Lankan cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, the Ministry of Crab pop-up will reflect Chef Dharshan’s dual Japanese and Sri Lankan lineage and culture, featuring a variety of the acclaimed restaurant’s most renowned dishes including the fiery pepper crab, avocado crab salad, crab liver pâté, and garlic chilli prawn. Book here.

melbourne ezistreat

EziStreat

North Melbourne
Set in a former warehouse on the corner of Macaulay Rd, 600sqm warehouse space has been transformed into a vibrant warren of indoor laneways offering a collection of culinary delights. The pop-up stalls cover a diverse range of multicultural comfort foods, including handmade saucy pasta from Etto Pasta, Japanese baked goods from Taiyo Sun, and Korean street food from Sinjeon. That’s not all. There’s takoyaki from Parco Ramen, fusion burgers from Captain Cook’d, burritos from Burrito Bae, and so much more. Local beverage start-up Home Grown will sell their craft beer and cocktails. EziStreat officially opens to the public on Saturday, September 3. The venue will be open for dine-in and takeaway from noon until late.

melbourne restaurants royal oak
Photo: Duncan Jacob

The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak is under new management and switched its lime-green facade to more classic cream and burgundy palette. Inside, the menu nods to Australiana, with a touch of European influence, helmed by a new team of restaurateurs, including Scott Stevenson (ex MoVida and Pei Modern). While diners can expect to see the classics—schnitzels, steaks, and fish—they should also be excited to see a rotating daily specials board and permanent highlights, including a pork sausage with cavolo nero and lentils. The new Royal Oak Hotel is now open.

best restaurants melbourne

Galok

Windsor
Carlo Tran and business partner Lei Zheng have just opened Galok on the Windsor end of Chapel Street. Carlo was a pharmaceutical engineer who swapped his industrial 20,000 litre still for a smaller, gleaming R&D scale 100 litre still and makes a spicy, citrusy gin with 23 botanicals. They have a lovely line up of pre-batched cocktails on tap along the back of the bar for an Asian take on contemporary classics. The menu is designed in small and large sharing plates, including a kingfish ceviche, twice-cooked lamb riblets, and a prawn toast covered in a creamy yuzu mayo. And what does Galok mean? It’s the Cantonese version of Carlo’s name.

LOTI

St Kilda
St Kilda has a new restaurant in the Saint Moritz precinct. LOTI has a menu inspired by nature, the coast, and the history of St Kilda. Expect dishes such as artichoke tarte tatin, an ‘Ice Rink’ ceviche of market fish, whole lobster poached in butter and wrapped in kelp, and dessert such as Victorian-sourced saffron ice cream with rhubarb and riberries.
Find LOTI on The Esplanade, St Kilda.

Leonardo’s Pizza Palace

Carlton
Sure, it’s not a new venue, but after a fire and various delays, Leonardo’s Pizza Palace is finally back open properly for business. After running with a smaller menu since the start of the year, Leonardo’s menu now features a full range of pizza, and pasta dishes once again.

Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters

Fed Square
The man behind Farmer’s Daughters, Alejandro Saravia, is doubling down on his love of Victorian ingredients with the launch of Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters at Fed Square.

Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters opens on Thursday 28 July and will feature an open kitchen, formal dining room, as well as a sensory and interactive ‘Ingredients Table’. The venue will have a rotating ‘region in residence’ which will see ingredients, guest chefs, winemakers, and bespoke cocktails from specific regions around Victoria.

Mr Miyagi In The Big Smoke

Russell Street
Windsor hot spot Mr Miyagi will venture into Melbourne’s CBD for the first time with its new partnership with QT Melbourne. ‘Mr Miyagi in the Big Smoke’ is a pop-up restaurant down QT Melbourne’s ‘Hot Sauce Laneway’ at 8 Portland Lane in Melbourne’s CBD.

Expect to see the likes of Mr Miyagi’s take on smoke salmon, togarashi lamb chop, smoke sticky soy scotch, Japanese-style rocking tortilla, and much more.

Mr Miyagi In The Big Smoke will run from Thursday 30 June until Sunday 14 August.

Pearl Chablis & Oyster Bar

Bourke Street
The team behind Pinchy’s Champagne & Lobster bar has opened a new venue on Bourke Street. Pearl Chablis & Oyster bar is an intimate speakeasy that showcases French wine from the Chablis reason, along with a seasonal variety of Australian oysters.

Instagram / @barbombay_yachtclub

Bar Bombay

Flinders Lane
Replacing wine bar Mrs Singh on Flinders Lane will be Bar Bombay, a new venue by the same creative mind; Jesse Singh. After closing the door to Mrs Singh only five weeks ago, the changes to mask rules, density restrictions and the return of office workers in the CBD, encouraged Singh to give it another shot.

Inspired by a newfound love of sailing, combined with a distaste for the exclusivity of sailing clubs in colonial India (and everywhere, really), Bar Bombay will be all the best bits about boat life, without discrimination.

Think lobster, with chilli sambal, layered dum biryani with crab and thrice-cooked squid, among aquatic-themed interiors and a cocktails fit for an afternoon on the yacht, plus a glorious wine list of imported drops. Book here.

Instagram / @elchirestaurant

Elchi

Flinders Street
Manpreet Sekhon, owner and Executive Chef of Eastern Spice (Geelong) and Masti (Fitzroy), has quietly opened a contemporary Indian restaurant named Elchi, occupying the former house of Press Club on Flinders Street. Breathing new life into the space, she is delivering modern and colourful Indian cuisine in a relaxed, yet sophisticated setting.

Manpreet continues to push the boundaries of Indian cuisine in Australia. Over time, she has evolved family recipes, whilst perfecting her own technique which she is proudly showcasing at Elchi, in the form of a rotating seasonal menu. Showcasing several regions of India and her proud heritage, the inventive menu will cater to different palates and dietary preferences. Elchi is now open for lunch and dinner service, Wednesday – Sunday and is now taking bookings. Whilst bookings are encouraged, walk-ins are also welcome. Book here.

Hotel Railway

Brunswick
Coming back with a vengeance, a totally new look, menu and group behind it, the notorious Hotel Railway is getting a new life. It’s revived form: a two-storey venue, with five different dining spaces, minimal European interiors and a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Oh, and did we mention live music until the wee hours? This is a true transformation of what was once a morgue, then a hostel, then a notorious drug-busted site and beloved pub, which is set to become one of Brunswick’s most popular watering holes once more. Book here.

grillamericano.com

Grill Americano

101 Collins Street
Grill Americano, a 145 seat restaurant and bar opened by flourishing restaurateur Chris Lucas, is located inside 101 Collins Street, with entry through Flinders Lane. Inspired by elegant Venetian architecture, the interiors are nothing short of luxurious. Dishes from the wood grill and bespoke wood oven imported from Naples form the heart of the menu with Italian classics like Bistecca a la Florentina and handmade pasta. 
Grill Americano is open now, and you can book here.

Moonhouse

Balaclava
The new project by Commune Group (Firebird, New Quarter, Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina) launching in May and it’s called Moonhouse. Set to be a new restaurant located on the prominent corner of Carlisle Street and Nelson Street in Balaclava; the arrival will bring Chinese cuisine in a bistro setting. The kitchen team includes Executive Chef Anthony Choi, Group Pastry Chef Enza Soto and Head Chef Shirley Sunnakwan. Together the team is hoping to express the intersection of flavours in contemporary ways.  More info to come.

Instagram / @benyuekitchen

Benyue

Aberfeldie
When Lau’s Family Kitchen decided to shut down due to covid last year, long-time lovers of the hospitality legends were absolutely shattered. But now, in a fabulous plot twist that is bringing us back all of our favourite elements of Lau’s, the core team of the former restaurant’s crew have opened up a new venue: Benyue. With the Lau family’s blessings, former staff of Lau’s Family Kitchen have brought back some of their most beloved dishes, including the klamb spring rolls and next-level crab omelettes, as well as some classics and new faves, impeccable service, food and atmosphere to a new space on Buckley Street, in Melbourne’s west.

According to a food reviews so far, Benyue is delivering the goods as divine as we remember them—and perhaps a little sweeter, for coming back. Book here.

Instagram / @cothamdining

Cotham Dining

Kew
Cotham Dining is a bright new restaurant that has popped up in the old Hellenic Republic site, which has been vacant for two years until now. The owners, chefs Ayhan Erkoc and Federico Perez Lopez (both former Feast of Merit and Panama Dining Room) are bringing local-meets-global cooking to the east, with their Turkish and Colombian roots shining through on a seasonal produce-focused menu. Having worked together for five years previously, the two have a great relationship with high levels of experience and creativity to bring.

Although producing some very very good food, the dining experience is set to be quite casual—family dining table style—as is their food offering. Think marinated tomatoes with stracciatella, porchetta with roasted grapes and kale, while caramelised pineapple from the rotisserie goes with rum cake and Sichuan pepper ice cream for sweets. They’re also looking to do some wood-fired pizza soon.
Book here.

Instagram / @hifi_collingwood

Hi Fi

Collingwood
The team behind renowned Melbourne culinary destinations Terror Twilight and Tinker have opened their third hospitality venture — Hi Fi. Dubbed a “neighbourhood deli with a difference”, their focus is on high-quality chef-designed sandwiches, expertly roasted coffee and mouth-watering shakes, set in a space that celebrates good food and all things music and vinyl.

Open seven days a week and just a short stroll from Terror Twilight, Hi Fi, while smaller in scale, comprises the signature aesthetic, service and soul that has ensured the founders’ existing hospitality ventures remarkable success. They also make bloody good sangas.
You can keep up with them on the ‘gram here.

Instagram / @thestolengem

The Stolen Gem

Bourke Street, CBD
Head for the skies and land on Melbourne’s newest rooftop bar, The Stolen Gem, perched eight storeys high in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. Previously operating as an exclusive, private event space the venue will be opening to the public as of late-Feb 2022. Think 360-degree city views, canape-style share plates, sashimi, local Australian spirits and an impressive wine list.
Book a table here from Feb.

Yarra Botanicals

Southbank
In a pontoon like we’ve never seen on the Yarra before, two-level pontoon venue, Yarra Botanicals is popping onto the scene in March and we’re so ready to drink cocktails with a premium river view.

All about supporting and celebrating Victorian producers, the drinks will be made with 100% Victoria produce. With stunning views of Melbourne’s cityscape and a design that has been created for year-round weather conditions in mind, it will genuinely be the perfect landmark destination for guests to sip, snack and relax on the river, regardless of the hormonal Melbourne weather. More info here.

Instagram / @bar_rosella

Rosella Dining Room & Bar

Collingwood
Rosella Dining Room and Bar is an elevated Italian eatery has just popped up in the old site of the beloved Gertrude Street Enoteca, another venue that struggled to make it through the pandemic. Rosella opened it’s doors on December 10, with a focus on south-eastern Italian cuisine, like fava beans and chicory, sardines with friselle and baked rice with mussels and potato.

The venue is the most recent passion project of the couple behind Project 49 — a Beechworth cafe, deli and vineyard — and is set to be Gertrude Street’s new haven of .casual but refined European dining. They’ve transformed the venue to seat 100 (rather than its 40 previously) by using it upstairs level as well. Rosella Dining Room and Bar is open now. Book here.

The Q Rooftop Bar

Flinders Lane, CBD
Loaded with a delish line-up of snacky Asian bites and three different margaritas, Q Rooftop is bringing the tropical getaway to us. Part of the new city hotel The Quincy, a Singapore hotel that has landed in Melbourne’s CBD, it’s rooftop is located on the 28th; providing some impressive views. For food think smoked eel betel leef, sticky chilli and garlic coated chicken ribs, cauliflower and shiso fritters and for drinks, think yuzu, lemongrass and tropical, zest and refreshing combinations. Book a table here.

Photo: Mark Roper

Bar Bambi

Hospitality entrepreneurs Nick and Daniel Russian officially launch their new venue, Bar Bambi on Melbourne’s iconic AC/DC Lane next Thursday, 11 November. Bar Bambi merges food, drinks and entertainment, whilst paying tribute to their Nonno’s original Bar Bambi that stood in their hometown of Trieste, Italy 80 years ago. 

Guests will be treated to a menu of classic Italian gems along with some fun additions (including a carbonara toastie) created by Head Chef Salvatore Giorgio. There’s also an extensive negroni & spritz list, handpicked by internationally acclaimed mixologist Matteo Ambler. All round, it sounds pretty irresistible. You can book a spot here.

Instagram / @gigirooftop

Gigi Rooftop

Thornbury
Gigi has popped up on top of Umberto Espresso Bar on High Street, just in time for summer (it’s not over yet kids). Popping off with orange and green—a classic and beloved ’70s combination but also the colours of an Aperol spritz, duh — Gigi’s will be serving ice-cold spritzes and some yummy snacks such as sardine skewers, cheesy soldiers with ‘nduja… plus late-afternoon DJ sets—a summer staple. Walk-ins only.

Instagram / @pasta.poetry

Pasta Poetry

Fairfield
Pasta is poetry and so yes, we already love this place. You may have tasted some of Pasta Poetry’s homemade pasta throughout lockdown, as they were selling their creations for at-home cooking, but now, you can enjoy their masterpieces in the sunny courtyard tucked beside St Paul’s Church. Add on snacks, drinks and a game of bocce, and you’ve got yourself the perfect Italian summer arvo. Perhaps a nap in the sun, too? The menu changes week to week but has been known to include crostini, bagna cauda with seasonal vegetables, spaghetti tossed through capers, anchovies and chilli, or rigatoni with ragu bolognese. When it comes to pasta, these guys really know what’s up. Find out all the information here.

Ganzo

Richmond
Richmond’s beloved Italian restaurant Ganzo, is re-launching with a revamped venue and menu offering. Owned and operated by renowned chef Ian Curley (French Saloon, Kirk’s) and restaurateur Valerio Calabro (La Svolta, Figo) the pair combined their love of the Mediterranean in early 2020 to create an authentic Italian restaurant on Richmond’s popular dining strip, Bridge Road. 

Converting the garage out the back into an additional dining space with funky, graffiti-style wall art, regulars will also notice a few new additions to the menu including their new house-made tagliatelle served with slow-cooked duck ragu and mixed mushrooms, finished with dried porcini dust. Book here.

Photo via Good Food by Justin McManus

Di Stasio Pizzeria

Carlton
The iconic team behind Melbourne institution Di Stasio, have quietly opened their third venue, Di Stasio Pizzeria, just off Faraday Street in Carlton. In the pizza capital of Melbourne, Di Stasio Pizzeria still manages to stand out, with a more casual setting than its other two venues but still super refined; with white-jacketed waiters, fior di latte made in-house and an epic wine list. They’re open Wed-Thu 5:30pm-late and Fri-Sun noon-late. Book here.

Photo: Kristoffer Paulsen

Miss Mi

Melbourne
Located inside Melbourne’s new Movenpick Hotel is Miss Mi, bring the flavours of south-east Asia to the Melbourne CBD. Malaysian chef Esca Khoo (ex Lume, Dinner by Heston and Restaurant Andre in Singapore) is behind the delicious masterpieces, drawing on cuisines from an impressive 11 countries, including  Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and other parts of south-east Asia.
Open now, Wed-Sat 6pm-9.30pm. Book here.

Instagram / @dame.melbourne

Dame

Collins Place, Collins Street, Melbourne
From the team behind Earl Canteen, is Dame, a glamorous all-day wine bar and diner with billowing drapes, caesar salads and free-flowing prosecco. Decked out in all brass and marble and serving everything from coffee to cocktails & all the snacks in between, Dame will truly make you feel as though you’re in the Paris end of the CBD.
No bookings necessary.

Kata Kita

La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Translating to ‘Together we say [EAT]!’, an invitation to relax, unwind and enjoy good Indonesian hospitality, Kata Kita is kicking things up a notch and bringing a new layer of fresh, flavourful Indonesian dining to the CBD, with a delicious menu of cocktails to match. Be prepared for flavour bombs of zesty citrus, tongue spiking chilli, and homemade aromatic sambal underscored with lemongrass, shrimp and sweet palm sugar. Offering a range of small and big plates, Kata Kita is showcasing the very best of Indonesian regional specialties including Balinese favourites Babi Guling – 5-hour slow-roasted pork coated in Balinese spices, served with a mix of crisp vegetables, coconuts and fried shallot sambal. 
Book here.

Instagram / @cinder_terminus

Cinder

Fitzroy North
Cinder is a new restaurant within Fitzroy North’s iconic pub; The terminus Hotel. Just opened, the name nods to its mighty wood-fired Josper Grill, which Head Chef Jake Furst celebrates in his modern Australian menu. Cinder has also partnered with Mountain Goat Brewery to offer an exclusive signature aged negroni, which we will definitely be trying asap.
Cinder is open 5 nights a week, Tues-Thu from 5:30 and Fri-Sat from 11:30am. Bookings can be made here.

Red Emperor

Little Bourke Street, CBD
Red Emperor has opened up a second restaurant in the former Shark Finn House building. Sadly, Shark Finn House — a Melbourne staple — closed down due to the financial pressure of COVID-19. This new location serves at Red Emperor’s only open venue currently. It sits over 300 people across two levels and a mezzanine, with the same menu of rolling yum cha trolleys stacked with house-made dim sum. Open for yum cha Mon-Fri 11.30am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-1.15pm & 1.30pm-3.30pm; and dinner daily 5.30pm-10pm, they’re serving up live seafood and all our favourite Cantonese classics including tea-smoked duck and roasted squab.
Make a booking here.

Instagram / @victorchurchill.melbourne

Victor Churchill Wine Bar

Armadale
Sydney’s couture butchery has moved into Armadale, marble, charcuterie, champagne and all. It’s everything we expected and more, with its bronze sausage door handles to its strangely charming butcher terrarium, where you can watch the slicing go down like its performance art. But its pièce de résistance is thee dedicated wine bar, with 12 seats that invite you to devour a steak or whole lobster (plucked from the display tank) grilled by professionals, while your foie gras or truffle salumi is being wrapped up for you to take home and wow your guests. Soon to be open for dinner service, this place is set to be a new favourite for those that appreciate good meats, seafood and top-shelf wines.
Book here.

Instagram / @her_melbourne

HER

Lonsdale Street
The team behind Arbory revealed to Good Food that their new multi-level venue on Lonsdale street in Melbourne’s CBD will be called Her, and is set to open in December after being in the works for six years. The venue has an epic capacity of 550 patrons and encompasses four different venues that will house music, artwork and hospitality. With service running from the morning until the late hours of the night, we can sense a new favourite hang-out spot with the lot incoming! According to the exclusive information obtained by Good Food, the ground floor will be a Parisian-style ground-floor brasserie Her Bar led by chef Josh Rudd (ex-Asado) and two floors up, will be a theatrical Thai eatery, complete with gold adornings and chef Sungeun Mo (ex-Red Spice Road) taking charge. Oh, and there’s a rooftop. Obviously.
Book and find out more here.

Instagram / @bar_merenda_daylesford

Bar Merenda

Daylesford
If you’re looking for a fab selection of French, Italian and Victorian wines in a cute wine bar setting in Daylesford, look no further. Bar Merenda just opened up a week ago, offering up small plates—with all vegetable produce homegrown in an idyllic farm-to-table setting—and meats, cheeses and other products coming from local producers. Bar Merenda has got that gorgeous relaxed vibe that you only really get as you head out of the city, with relaxed nibbling and drinking and delicious produce at the forefront. Bar Merenda is open Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat 12.30pm-11pm, Sun 12.30pm-6pm and does not require booking ahead.

Instagram / @meetmeatmarys

Meet Me At Mary’s

Geelong
Meet Me At Mary’s is a warehouse transformed into a wine bar and restaurant, brought to us by Richard and Donna Flanders (The Arborist and Beav’s Bar)… and it’s just what Geelong needed. Offering up contemporary share plates with Korean and Mediterranean influence, you can expect things like school prawns with Korean salt and lettuce cups filled with bottarga-dressed kingfish rillettes. They also have an incredible generous offering of “chef’s pick” for an insane $60 pp.
You can book a spot at Meet Me At Mary’s here.

Instagram / @laurusmelbourne

Laurus

Carlton
Another recent venue that opened quietly at the end of 2021 was Laurus, bringing modern takes on southern Chinese food in Carlton. Headed up by chef Roger Lu (ex-Sezar and The Atlantic), the 110-seat restaurant is the first time Lu has led a kitchen, served up the food of his heritage in this setting and named a restaurant. The name Laurus, comes from Laurus nobilis, the Latin name for Bay leaf which is an ingredient that Lu has woven throughout the menu. On the menu, you can expect fried eggplant with red vinegar caramel, house-made XO sauce with octopus chow mein and crispy duck, with a five-spice mix and mountain hawthorn sauce. It’s all the deliciously succulent elements of Chinese food, with a slightly elevated modern twist.
Laurus is open Wed-Sat noon-10pm, and you can book here.

Smith St Bistro

Very well-known for his posh and delicious restaurants, chef and restauranteur Scott Pickett has opened a new French bistro on Smith Street, in Collingwood. Paying homage to the beautiful bars and bistros of Paris, he does not disappoint. This endeavour has more of a “for the locals” vibe, open seven nights a week, with a casual drop-in-for-a-glass feel. Serving both lunch and dinner, you can expect menu items such as Southern Rock Lobster thermidor and whole flounder with sauce gribiche, alongside simple plats du jour like quiche lorraine and steak baguettes, with crème caramel and champagne sorbet for dessert. There will also be live music and sexy waiters. Mangez bien! Book here.

Cucina Povera

Little Collins Street
Maurice Terzini, who owns Bondi’s Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, is teaming up with chef Joseph Vargetto to open Cucina Povera Vino Vera in Melbourne’s CBD in November, according to Good Food. This is pretty exciting news, as it’s papa Terzini’s first Melbourne venture in eight years and this time, he will be joined by his son Slyvester Terzini, who will run the bev and service of the new Italian restaurant. Vargetto, who owns Mister Bianco in Kew, is collaborating on the food, which will honour the simple peasant-style food of Italy. Cucina Povera is set to be housed in Vargetto’s other restaurant, Massi, in Little Collins Street, as a rebrand of the restaurant.

Instagram / @manze_melbourne

Manze

North Melbourne
Guys, is this our first Mauritian wine bar and restaurant? Nagesh Seethiah, a young chef with time at Bar Liberty, is making a smart move, by combining how he likes to eat, with the cuisine he knows and loves. Once a pop-up and now a restaurant, Manze has opened it’s doors up on Errol Street, in North Melbourne. Currently only catering for a set menu, Seethaih guarantees that you’ll get “a great taste of Mauritius with the best produce & wine we can get our hands on”. They source everything sustainably and ethically, right from their garnishes, to their seafood, to their wine. Book here.

Instagram / @nomad.au

NOMAD Melbourne

Flinders Lane
Nomad has officially opened in Melbourne, and the preparation of this modern Middle Eastern Sydney favourite has been almost two years in the making. Set down in the former Ezard site — a basement space on Flinders Lane — the transformation is dramatic and pretty stunning. They’ve stripped it back to its minimal, concrete bones, with just enough light to give it an airiness, but not too much light for a sexy basement dining experience. The menu is built out with signature dishes from Executive chef Jacqui Challinor and even some of Head chef Brendan Katich’s own too. Think house-made ricotta, served baked, with a salty side of anchovies and roasted bullhorn peppers, or cold-smoked mussels, glistening with peppery oil and toum (garlic and lemon-heavy yoghurt) to be served on top of a potato rosti. Yummo. Book a spot now, via the NOMAD website.

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