Never a city to sit on its hands, Melbourne's hospitality community is constantly developing. As we embark on a new year we're set to experience a legion of new wine bars, cafes, breweries and restaurants.
It's still early days so the entire slate of venues is yet to be revealed but we've done some digging around town for the tea—so without further adieu here are some of the venues that will be 'coming soon' to Melbourne in 2023:
Reine and La Rue
CBD
Nomad was undoubtedly one of the biggest openings in Melbourne in the last few years, even prompting executive chef Jacqueline Challinor to shift down from Sydney permanently. This year the team are tackling a whole new venture, with Reine And La Rue, an elegant bar and diner housed inside the imposing gothic-style building on Queen And Collins Street.
Batard
CBD
Positioned on Bourke Street, this new LUCAS Restaurant is a homage to all that is French. Batard is a passion project that has been in development from Chris Lucas and the team for over four years, its set to open in the second half of 2023.
TBC Lucas Restaurant
PRAHRAN
Chris Lucas and longtime Chin Chin executive chef, Benjamin Cooper are working together on an intimate spaced venue centred around spice and fire. The all-new haunt will sit next to Hawker Hall in Prahran and will bring Cooper's extensive culinary prowess to another Melbourne-based space.
Darling Group's New Diner And Bar
TBC
Straight off the back of their latest venture, Terrace, the Darling Group team (Top Paddock, Higher Ground) is embarking on an Asian-influenced diner and bar specialising in sashimi, seafood and steak. It's set to open in mid-2023 and while the name and location are both still under wrap, the team has hinted that it's a 'vibrant, energetic, and experiential' part of Melbourne—start guessing.
St Ali And The Queen
CBD
A joint venture from two of Melbourne's preeminent beverage specialists, 'St Ali And The Queen' is the all-new bar and cocktail space from St Ali and award-winning mixologist Orlando Marzo. Located inside the Queen Victoria Market precinct, the space will feature Marzo's famous 'Loro' cocktail range as well as coffee, a tidy menu of bar snacks and charcuterie and providore goods. St Ali And The Queen is set to open this March.
Totti's
LORNE
Totti's have announced they'll be opening up in Lorne on the Great Ocean Road this coming March. The new opening is part of the Merivale Group's expansion of the century-old Lorne Hotel, with Totti's being a major component of the development. The new Italian-influenced bistro will feature several of the notable Totti's favourites but will also showcase local produce through a range of new dishes courtesy of executive chef and Surf Coast local, Matt Germanchis.
Check out all of Melbourne's best here:
Melbourne's best restaurants
Melbourne's best cafes
Melbourne's best bars
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Image credit: Emily Godfrey (VisitVic)