It’s called the dining capital for a reason, Melbourne continuously enriches its culinary landscape with a plethora of new restaurants and bars sprawling the city and emerging almost every week.
From charming neighbourhood wine bars nestled on leafy street corners to heritage building takeovers and bakeries dabbling in all-day service, Melbourne's best new openings for 2024 can be found right here.
Wally’s Albert Park
67 Cardigan Place, Albert Park
Image credit: Wally's | Pete Dillon
Situated on a serene corner along Cardigan Place is Albert Park’s newest neighbourhood wine bar, Wally’s. Designed by Studio a.mi, the interior radiates an ageless French influence, while the outdoor seating area takes centre stage, with quaint tables spilling over Wally’s covetable corner location.
Helmed by head chef Damon Mclvor (Waxflower and Vex Dining0), the establishment is whipping up seasonal European-inspired cuisine expertly matched with an extensive selection of organic, biodynamic and artisanal wines. Wally's is now open Tuesday to Sunday.
Banshō
960 High Street, Armadale
Image credit: Banshō | Jana Langhorst
High Street Armadale introduces its latest restaurant to its eclectic dining scene, Banshō—a unique fusion of French bistro and Japanese cuisine. Enlisted chefs Tomotaka Ishizuka (Kisumé) and Yoonho Chang (Lume), blend the timeless sophistication of French gastronomy with the artful mastery of Japanese flavours, evidenced in the choux au craquelin—a matcha cream puff, among other dishes on the menu.
With brass details, tan leather seats and intimate circular booth and counter seating, Banchō’s interior echoes its culinary harmony and draws inspiration from Japanese minimalism and French elegance, making for a warm art deco fitout.
D.O.C St Kilda
14-16 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Image credit: D.O.C St Kilda | Pete Dillon
In its seventh venture, Lygon Street icon, D.O.C, extends its authentic Italian charm to St Kilda’s esplanade. The team have curated a fresh menu, showcasing new and exclusive items, reflecting the evolution of Italy’s progressive culinary scene while remaining rooted in the essence of its flagship venues.
In classic fashion, the menu is divided into Antipasto, Primi and Secondi, with signature pizza and pasta dishes retained alongside new additions complemented by a selection of top-shelf wines from the cellar. The 100-seat diner, featuring a semi-open kitchen and beachside-adjacent outdoor dining, elevates the simple Italian dining with retro olive seats juxtaposed with elegant marble white masterpieces.
Lucia
11 Eastern Road, South Melbourne
Image credit: Lucia | Arianna Leggiero
Situated at the foot of Eastern Road in South Melbourne, Lucia is a quaint Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar exuding Renaissance charm. From the team behind Riserva, Baia Di Vino and San Lorenzo, this neighbourhood gem promises the same warm hospitality and authentic food.
With Head Ched Jordan Clavaron (Society, Cutler & Co), son of a Michelin star chef, crafting the menu from his travels in France, Italy and Spain, the dishes are elegant yet unpretentious.
Anticipated crowd favourites include the Fremantle octopus skewer complemented with red pepper sauce and the Riserva menu highlight—beetroot ravioli. The experience is elevated by a novel-like wine menu boasting over 400 bottles and its sleek interior comprising floor-to-ceiling windows, banquette seating and mood lighting, making for an intimate ambience.
Red Chilli House
119 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Red Chilli House | Supplied
Occupying three levels within a once-abandoned historic building, Red Chilli House breathes new life into Chinatown with its fiery Southern Chinese fare. Owner Steve Xu’s commitment to his home province sees chilli-spiced stir fries and seafood soups taking the menu spotlight.
Drawing from over a decade of experience at Red Cliff, his new venture innovatively blends flavours and reimagines traditional recipes using ingredients from different regions. The menu showcases both signature dishes as well as a slate of new offerings, with highlights such as Sauerkraut fish— a sour and spicy Sichuan soup made from freshwater catfish and pickled mustard greens simmered in green peppercorn broth, alongside other seafood specialties.
Baker Bleu
65 Dover Street, Cremorne
Image credit: Baker Bleu | Supplied
In its most ambitious venture to date, Baker Bleu is making its way to Cremorne later this year, establishing this outpost as an all-day cafe and bakery destination. The household favourite bakery will continue churning out its cult status and signature baked goods such as their buttery almond croissants as well as newcomers—loaded sandwiches and sourdough pizzas.
The venue’s fit-out has been meticulously designed to accommodate all-day dining, featuring 20 seats indoors with additional outdoor alfresco seating that spills onto Dover Street’s pavement. With a commitment to providing a comprehensive experience, Baker Bleu will also offer catering service, making it a one-stop shop.
Mill Place Merchants
2 Mill Place, Melbourne CBD
Tucked away in one of the CBD’s endless laneways, Mill Place Merchants is quite literally a hidden gem, slated to unveil its doors in late April. Residing within a heritage-listed edifice dating back to the 1840s, the entrance masquerades as a vintage dressing room, complete with a full-length mirror door, inviting guests to step through the wardrobe akin to Narina.
Reigning in the allure of the golden age, the speakeasy bar and eatery emanates clandestine charm accentuated by chandeliers, nautical lights and a melodic backdrop of smooth jazz and blues standards. With award-winning mixologist, Giancarlo Mancino, carefully crafting the drinks, cocktails are at the heart of the experience, while the concise food menu offers morsels, enticing bar snacks and delicate desserts.
Sky SQR
Box Hill
Image credit: Sky SQR | Supplied
Melbourne’s newest east-meets-west culinary precinct is taking up residence in the leafy suburb of Box Hill. The project is called SKY SQR and it is set to be a vibrant but diverse celebration of food, family, life and culture. It is designed to engage the wider community of Melbourne by providing an inclusive precinct that shares the traditions around food. The Asian-inspired Hawker Lane will take you through a journey through Asia with street-style food offerings before crossing over to a European-esque courtyard hosting a restaurant and cafe dining scene reminiscent of the famous plazas of Europe.
The details around specific vendors are still in the works but early info looks to point to a range of noodle, Pho and Bao bun options. But the centrepiece of the three-level project will definitely be the outdoor plaza and entertainment area which will host exciting events, art installations and cultural activities. Meanwhile, the upper floor will feature lifestyle, retail and services. In a true Melbourne style, SKY SQR will be completed with a central plaza and laneway concept that hopes to awaken visitors' senses through sight, taste and sounds at every turn. Head over here for more.
Image credit: Lucia | Arianna Leggiero