Directory

Le Shoppe is the latest addition to restaurateur Scott Pickett’s quiver, serving takeaway delights, quality produce, pantry staples, and house-made food by Chef Rob Kabboord.

The southside of Melbourne just continues to blossom with exciting new spots, Vesper Bistro & Bar is one such addition. Residing in South Yarra, Vesper is bringing its unique flavour of southern European based dishes. Its cuisine is heavily inspired by the Mediterranean islands within the Aegean sea, think the coastline and islands that stretches across Greece to the Cote D'Azur, and Balearic Islands.

There’s always a raft of new health trends but one that’s really getting some serious love is Infrared Saunas, (they’re quite literally so hot right now). Vastly different to their steam counterpart the Infrared Sauna emits heat directly onto your body via electromagnetic light as opposed to the stifling amount of steam from traditional saunas that engulf the entire room.

New York Pizza hits different, the result of the mass migrations of Italians into the city in the early 20th century the city’s pizza has carved its very own distinct shape and flavour departing from its traditional origins.

The Grand Dining Room has an esteemed reputation for being one of the most refined fine-dining pubs in Melbourne. Located in Burnley, The Grand has a long history of culinary award nominations and accolades since opening back in 2003. 

Chinatown is getting a run for its money over on Collins Street with the latest culinary arrival serving up a smorgasbord of Shanghainese cuisine. New Shanghai may already be familiar to you—their Xiao Long Bao is famous across Australia and you might have tried it at Emporium or Chadstone—but this new concept restaurant isn’t just another link in the chain. They’re taking things up a notch with a sophisticated dining space, a large bar complete with a generous cocktail list, an outdoor dining area and a new Chinese tapas-style menu. 

Down in the leafy streets of Camberwell, there’s a sleepy little cafe that’s been making some noise in the suburban precinct. Old Garage Cafe which launched back in mid-2020 has made its home out of a former mechanic's garage, the industrial feel of the space with the raw brick interior brings back some of that repair shop charm. Tucked down a side street just off the main drag Old Garage has a very casual feel, a doggo friendly policy also adds to the welcome atmosphere.

We appreciate puns more than most that’s why when Va Penne’s clever reinterpretation of the Italian colloquialism Va Bene (alright/all good) came across our eyes we just couldn’t resist exploring what other homages to the boot-shaped country might be happening.

Following in line with their nordic theme, the name ‘Valhalla’ is derived from Norse mythology which loosely translates a spiritual place or afterworld for warriors slain in battle. While the name has heavy connotations, there’s nothing quite as existential going on inside this classicly fitted subterranean bar, with deep rich greens, hardwood floors and furniture, and exposed lights creating a gentle atmosphere over booth seating. 

As the name would suggest, there’s a fair bit of affection for coffee going on with these folk.

Tea. It’s a daily ritual for many of us. We define ourselves by our choice of brew—are you an English breakfast fiend? Or an earl grey loyalist? Maybe you prefer a fruity or a herbal variety. There are far too many teas out there for us to list them all, but thankfully we don’t have to. Flag & Spear Tea Hunters are here to teach us all about this ancient beverage and its many varieties.  

Marko is the newest plant-based kid on the block, setting up shop a stone's throw away from the South Melbourne market.

The iconic Ormond Road and St Kilda Street corner site in Elwood has been taken over by Repeat Offender, a breezy, loosely Latin haunt bringing an entirely gluten-free menu to the bayside locale.

If you’re lucky enough to stumble across Melbourne’s latest lunchtime destination, you’ll be treated to Italian-inspired porchetta sandwiches and French-style petit dejeuner. 

Abbotsford has developed majorly in the last decade with bars, restaurants and cafes popping up all over the place. Joining the ranks in the area, tucked away above Bodriggy Brewing Co., is the new bar Stingrays Upstairs. Sprucing a 70s Australian disco vibe, Stingrays is the new party destination in the area taking its name from resident brewer Stingray. 

Just a stone’s throw from Queen Victoria Market, this gorgeous little Japanese cafe and bakery in West Melbourne is here to fulfil all your cheesecake and panko crumb cravings. 

Don’t you hate it when you buy a burger but all the toppings cost extra? Since when does a slice of tomato or some lettuce cost more than a gold coin? We’re not having it, and neither is Meat Frankie, AKA, your new favourite burger joint in Brunswick East. 

If you’ve swung by the absolute vibe-fest that is Coe & Coe Cremorne, then you’ll love their new digs in Yarraville. Expect the same delicious made-to-order coffee, juice and paninis and infectious enthusiasm as their other venues.

Bottomless brunches, viral insta-worthy desserts, smoking rainbow cocktails—Zero Mode has it all. This suburban cafe and bar has had a rapid rise to fame thanks to their cream cakes which literally ooze creamy goodness. 

South Yarra’s newest two-level brunch spot is speckled with greenery and goes by the name of Norman. From Vegemite avo toast to zucchini and corn waffles with red capsicum curd, Norman South Yarra prides itself on serving up classic cafe dishes with a twist. 

Coffee lovers unite. Undercover Roasters have opened their HQ cafe and store in Abbotsford and it is all time. The wholesale business has stuck through the pandemic to open their flagship, so you can now enjoy their signature coffee with a stack of brunch and breakfast options.  

From pop-up to permanent, Portsea’s Blakeaway is here to stay. This family owned and run store comes from the team behind Blakes Feast, a boutique catering company serving up pre-prepared bespoke menus with seasonal ingredients. They specialise in events, but now with Blakeaway, you can pick up your very own treats to enjoy, special occasion or not.

Once upon a time, Arc’teryx was exclusively reserved for the weekend warriors and outdoors type as a top-end brand that would help one attack the elements. In more recent times, however, the brand has been adopted by the global streetwear community thanks to the versatility of the garms and Veilance, their fashion-forward sibling label—and now, you can find both under one roof at their new flagship Chadstone locale. 

Is it Italian? Is it Mexican? It’s Chachos. Packed full of flavour and fun, the team at Chachos are bringing their take on classic Italian and Mexican food to Chapel Street. Combining the best of both worlds, they’re serving traditional, crispy pizza bases topped with punchy combos to get those taste buds singing. 

Your belly will thank you after a visit to East Brunswick’s latest takeaway opening. East Rusty’s Sandwich Parlour is the new establishment from Phil Gijsbers and Rob McKenzie following the success of their Green Acre Pizza Bar. The new takeaway joint follows a similar ethos to its pizza bar sister site—quality food, great flavours, and sustainability at the core of the business. 

Head Honcho is backed by a team of ambitious hospitality young guns James ‘Chooka’ Pettenon and Fintan Redmon. These guys are putting the humble toasted sandwich front and centre, with the gooey three-cheese ‘Greenhorn’ toastie taking centre stage—we’re talking Swiss Gruyere, Mozzarella and Cheddar oozing out the sides.

Crooked Letters quickly became a southside institute when they set up shop in their Murray Street corner store several years back; the locale was quintessentially Melbourne, as were the bagels. 

Backed by an all-star lineup, including the founder of Rustica, Hobsons Bay Hotel opens its doors just in time for summer. Brenton Lang—with partners Drew Gibbs and Matt Cook—have completely revamped the 100 year-old Williamstown pub with a new look, team and rooftop deck, perfect for the summer holidays.

Step back in time at restaurateur Scott Pickett’s newest venture, Chancery Lane. The 100-seat bistro oozes charm with its antique-inspired interiors and classic European menu, set inside the historic walls of the Normanby Chambers building. Think luxurious gold and brass fittings, dark timber, checkerboard tiles, and hand-crafted finishing touches—classic European sophistication. 

We love a wine down here in Melbourne, and we also love a yarn. So we think you’re going to love the new Glou wine store opening on Smith Street. The team behind Glou are building a community around sustainability and awareness in the wine industry with their part shop, part tasting bar. You can pop in for a chat and a sample, before stocking up on your favourite sustainable drops. 

Just by the entrance to the new East Brunswick Village centre, you’ll find the latest northside cafe to open their doors—Bellboy. The fitting name is just the tip of the iceberg for why you’ll love this new brunch spot. They’re pet and cyclist-friendly with abundant al fresco space, and they make their own breads from scratch. House-made sourdough crumpets anyone?

Say hello to the newest kid on the block in Fitzroy: Masti. This Indian hangout is part restaurant, part cocktail bar, serving up an array of reimagined street food classics. With the successful Eastern Spice restaurant in Geelong behind her, head chef and owner Manpreet Sekhon is here to bring her signature flavours to the big smoke.

In true Italian style, this new Richmond eatery is a no-fuss venue where traditional food and the art of hosting collide. The two owners, Nicola and Osvaldo, are both culinary veterans from Northern Italy so you know you’re getting genuine Italian food here.

A new joint project between the owners of Hop Nation Brewing Co. and Yarrville's Navi has just popped up in West Footscray.

After a few rumours, a little hearsay around the hospo traps and plenty of crossed fingers, Three Blue Ducks has dropped the news that they’ll be opening their first southern state restaurant at Tullamarine wave park, URBNSURF.

Gingerboy’s Teague Ezard has teamed up with several heavyweights to bring the Mornington Peninsula the Ocean Beach Pavilion, a casual restaurant and bar bringing south-east Asian flavours down to the ‘Ninch.

We don’t know when overseas travel will be an option again, but we do know that authentic food is one of the best ways to spark a little wanderlust. Enter Gatboy, bringing authentic Korean street food flavours to Russell Street in the CBD. 

Reminiscent of a 70s style bar, Gum is Collingwood’s latest boozy haunt. Located on Johnson Street, the ‘tiny bar’ is a considered mix of eatery, pub and good times.

The old saying goes that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. That’s definitely not the case when it comes to Elsternwick’s Smoke & Pickles.

Just a few months back, the idea of having a beer with your mates in the sunshine seemed about as unlikely as leaving the house without a mask. While there’s no movement on the latter just yet, Melburnians can crack a cold one with their mates this summer in a prime outdoor locale called Pontoon Park, courtesy of The Stokehouse Precinct.

With summer fast approaching, and life returning to a level of normalcy, we all owe ourselves a good time. The iconic Prince Hotel in St Kilda has just launched its pop-up Rooftop Beer Garden, and it looks incredible. 

The only good thing that’s Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown has left us is several ghost kitchens continuing to trade without a brick and mortar locale. The latest to arrive via plenty of Instagram hype is Oru Bake, an account slinging a grip of loosely Japanese desserts which epitomise the age-old ‘looks too good to eat’ truism.

Over the past decade, Richmond’s Swan Street has become its own culinary mecca with a full spectrum of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, and now, the transformed stretch welcomes a healthy new addition that’s primed for the summer ahead, Fishbowl.

When that hunger hits, nothing quite hits the spot like some no-fuss hot chippies, a big ol’ fried chicken burger or a bucket of wings. The all-female identifying team at Preston’s Fried Hustle have hit the nail on the head with that formula, offering up a bevy of salty goodness and accompanying treats.

The humble sanga is making waves in Carnegie, with Saul’s Sandwiches opening its doors on Neerim Road. This sandwich bar is the brainchild of the team behind Bentleigh cafe Time and Place, and after just a week of trade and hype, they’re selling out almost daily.

After several months of operating around the limitations of a global pandemic, Nico’s Sandwich Deli is relocating from its city locale to a pop-up in Fitzroy, for a good time, and maybe a long time.

St Kilda, it’s time to reintroduce yourself to that space below The Prince Hotel, now affectionately known as Little Prince Wine. The St Kilda stalwart is set to add another venue to their already impressive lineup with this charming Euro-inspired wine bar. 

Collingwood just scored a very Collingwood late-night pizza joint called Thin Slizzy, courtesy of Scott Penberthy, a veteran of the Melbourne pizza scene who’s spent the last five years slinging slices at northside institute Rita’s.

After Dinner by Heston shut its doors at the beginning of Melbourne’s lockdown, chef Gareth and his partner, Cat, had a lot of time on their hands. Gareth joined the many Melburnians baking their way through isolation, but he and Cat couldn’t eat all the tarts on their own. And so Tarts Anon was born. The business is their side-hustle, but with over 3k followers on Instagram already, these humble desserts are gaining traction. 

Once upon a time, one would be hard-pressed to find a restaurant worth travelling to past the north border of Fitzroy. Times be changing, though, with outer suburbs becoming their own culinary mecca; up next is Reservoir with the recently opened La Pinta. 

Just a decade ago, you’d find most hospitality venues that are worth visiting within the CBD and inner suburbs. Fast forward a few years and several culinary hotspots have popped up in relatively unassuming suburbs—just take Moonee Ponds and Glen Waverley for example—and now, it’s Greensborough’s turn. The suburb’s latest addition is Dulce Gelateria, offering up 80 primo flavours a week, with many of them vegan.

The residents of Fitzroy’s Gertrude Street and surrounds quickly became accustomed to picking up their baked goods from the temporary Marion Grocer. Realising it had quickly become a fixture of the cherished culinary strip, restaurateur Andrew McConnell has decided to relocate his grocery, now known as Morning Market, to a permanent locale two doors down.

The people of Melbourne’s hospitality scene have been busy during lockdown. We’ve seen some wild creations come out of the woodwork, like an entire mudcrab wrapped in pastry, a bacon and egg donut and a 3kg cookie dough cake. Sometimes, however, you can’t beat a classic, and that’s where Pav Queen comes in.

After a long, cold winter, Melbourne is finally scoring some good news. Public gatherings of up to five, forecasts exceeding well above the 10° mark and daylight savings arriving—those lucky enough to live within 5km of the St Kilda foreshore can tie all of the above together with a feed from the just-reopend Paper Fish.

Smashing down a bowl, or tin tray of pasta, from Good Gnocchi is sort of like a rite of passage if you live in Melbourne’s North. And now, they’re inching ever so slightly towards Melbourne’s centre with a second takeaway-only location in Abbotsford, letting Collingwood, Richmond and surrounds into the club.

The self-proclaimed “morning-artisans”, Beggs & Acon in Prahan is the latest limited-run culinary venture to come out of COVID. As you’ve probably worked out, their focus is bacon & eggs, of which they do four—and only four—iterations of the classic breakfast meal.

It's fair to say Robert and Irene Magdziarz know a thing or two about good wine. After hand-planting their first vineyard in the Macedon Ranges, they moved to Coldstream and took over the old Warramunda Station in 2007, turning it into one of the Yarra Valley’s finest biodynamic wineries, Warramunda Estate.

Melbourne's independent beer scene has shown little signs of slowing down over the past decade. New breweries continue to pop up all over town, and we're very much into that.

Mile End Bagels quickly reached institute status when it opened its doors to the warehouse locale in Fitzroy back in 2016, and now, they’re making tracks further north with a second location in Brunswick, down an industrial side-street, behind a roller door. 

Given the calibre of offerings at Melbourne Central’s new foodie precinct, ELLA, we can only assume there’s a fairly comprehensive vetting process in being able to open up shop. One such newcomer to this culinary hub, NUTTEA, has clearly passed with flying colours, slinging their unique range of 100% vegan, nut-based bubble teas.