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East Melbourne is a haven for historic and beautiful buildings, and new in the neighbourhood is Hemingway’s Wine Room. Inspired by the 1920s New York and Paris brasseries, their concept certainly adds another touch to the busy street of Wellington Parade. 

A small chunk of Chapel Street’s soul was taken away when the Prahran HJs served its final whopper to whoever it was that stumbled out of Revs at 4am. But now, after four years of emptiness, the heritage-listed locale will be home to a new burger joint called Burgertory. 

Little Bourke Street dining institution, Longrain, will get a new lease on life with Scott Pickett recently announced to be taking over the restaurant.

North Melbourne. It’s that top pocket of the city that’s full of hidden gems, and the latest that’s been unearthed is Palette, a (loosely) Korean cafe that also does an exceptional Swiss roll. 

After flirting with us during a summer pop-up in late-2019, Black Star Pastry reopened its doors in St Kilda, and this time it's permanent.

While you’ve been isolating, Melbourne CBD has had some serious work done. Take a stroll up to the Parliament end of Collins Street and you’ll find a luxe new precinct called 80 Collins that’s dotted with top-shelf diners, eateries and premium retailers. Many are still in the works, but the charming coffee hub + brunch spot, Maverick, has already opened its doors to the city centre.

Moorabbin is an area that has changed a lot over the past few years. Its industrial area has become home to breweries and eateries dotted between auto repair joints, cabinet makers, and manufacturing businesses.

Mordialloc, the formerly sleepy beach-side suburb, is having a bit of a moment when it comes to new places to eat at.

If you’re a true Melbourian you’ve most definitely heard of Hanoi Hannah, and if you’re a fan of Asian-fusion style eating, you more than likely eat there religiously. Joining the Hanoi Hannah family is Firebird, and it brings plenty of flames and flavour to its prime Windsor location. 

Following the popularity of their pop-up store in Queen Victoria Markets, Ruben Bertolo and Nelson Coutinho of Casa Nata are set to open their official storefront in a heritage-listed building on Thornbury’s High Street next month. With both founders being of Portuguese descent and having grown up eating traditional Pasteis de Nata, their vision is to bring this delicious piece of Portugal to Melbourne. 

If there’s one thing we’ll never tire of, it’s a grazing table. In fact, we’re expecting each spread to out-do the last; that’s essentially what Instagram was made for, right? Lucky for us, the good folk at Daylesford Grazing don’t mess around when it comes to delivering decadent platters and desserts.

LA steeze powerhouse, JOYRICH, has arrived in Melbourne, and they’ve set up their first location in the backblocks of Cremorne. 

Old Palm Liquor might be relatively new on the scene, but once you step inside you’ll be well convinced that it’s been there for what seems like a lifetime.

You’re always looking for excuses to host parties so you can showcase one hell of a cheeseboard, and now you have the perfect excuse. Located in Prahran Market’s great food hall, Maker & Monger have taken the cheese industry to new heights.

From the team behind Cheltenham's Drip cafe, comes a new Mentone cafe that is certainly dishing up some excellent food.

Residents of Brunswick East have a new neighbour and they’re here to spice things up. Bringing their Turkish and Middle Eastern goodies from Carlton North, Babajan has opened up a second location on Lygon Street with a no-frills, no-fuss pop-up.

Swan Street native, Beer and Burger Bar, is back with a brand new fit-out and a burger challenge to end all burger challenges.

Meet Mr Robertson—the new kid on the block in Nunawading’s industrial estate brought to you by the creative team behind Mister and Miss Cafe in Surrey Hills. This trendy space features a monochromatic colour scheme with timber floors and tables and sleek white marble benchtops. If you are coming alone to study or punch out a few boring work emails, there are private booths. Otherwise, there are both outdoor and indoor seating for all weather conditions catering for small or large groups. 

In excellent news for Melbourne's film photography enthusiasts, online film seller Walkens House Of Film has developed into a bricks and mortar operation in Fitzroy.

Windsor, meet Punk Carla, the cocktail bar that combines grunge with hedonism and high-end design on Chapel Street. Taking its name and inspiration from a mysterious woman they met one European summer, the owners keep Punk Carla in mind with their decor, food and cocktail curation. 

Institute-status burger joint, The B.East, is set to open a sister restaurant called The B.East Of Brunswick St. in the heart of Fitzroy.

Ganzo, or ‘cool’ in Tuscan, is bringing exactly that to Bridge Road with a breezy diner serving up pizza, pasta along with classic Italian sides and a charming drinks list.

Located in the heart of Moorabbin you’ll find Farro Nourishing Eatery, a bayside cafe serving nutritious food that tastes as good as it looks.  After mastering the art of turning good-for-you ingredients into delectable raw desserts, owner Tia used her background in nutritional science to open Farro with the mission to heal with good food.  

Looming casually over Hardware Lane is The Hardware Club, a cosy 65-seat Italian eatery from Nicola Dusi (D.O.C Pizzeria, Baby Pizza, Chin Chin) and Andrea Ceriani (+39 Pizzeria). Here, you’ll find a menu at least as cheeky, but far more charming, than the opposing restaurant spruikers of the iconic street.

Not five years ago, venturing north up the far end of High Street in search of a cold one would yield little to no results. Fortunately, the northside frothy offering is in abundance these days, making for a beer-rich itinerary any day of the week. Adding some space on the list for beer garden and bar, Surly’s, is recommended.

Nestled within the heart of Camberwell, True Dermal Skin Clinic prides themselves on delivering to their clients the most advanced, cosmetic, medical-grade, non-invasive treatments. With nurses, clinicians and therapists to guide you on your skin journey, the team offer tailor-made treatment plans after in-depth consultations. 

Melbourne's bayside suburbs are booming. And as people flock to buy houses a little further south than usual, amazing cafes, restaurants, and bars are following them.

Occupying the space formerly known as Sneak, The Blacksmith couldn't be more different a venue than its predecessor.

When Uncle closed up its St Kilda East eatery last year, most knew it wouldn’t take long for the two-storey space—complete with rooftop bar—to be snapped up, refitted and reopened with a new lease on life. Upstairs, you’ll find diner The Land of Plenty, and on the ground floor, Billy T’s cafe. 

Carlisle Street took a hit to its hospo offerings when Uncle shut their St Kilda East eatery. Fortunately, the southside hood didn’t have to wait long until the location was snapped up and transformed into a breezy rooftop bar and diner that’s primed for summer.

It’s your typical Melbourne story. Take a suburban cricket bat factory and turn it into a wine-shop-cum-cafe. Yep, the old Fisher Cricket Bats & Willows on Williamstown Rd no longer sells handcrafted bits of wood—it’s now dishing up burrata with beetroot relish and crazy good baked eggs, heavy on the goat’s cheese.

The Pickle & The Patty—formerly of The Ascot Lot—now calls The Market Hotel in South Melbourne home.

Abbotsford, it’s the underdog of Melbourne’s inner ‘burbs. The postcode’s understated charm is often trumped by its gruff exterior, however, there’s a growing quiver of cafes, bars and restaurants trying to change that—enter Volume 2.

If you’ve ever been knocking about in Newtown with a 2042 local, there’s a fair chance they’ll have dragged you through an ominous steel door into Sydney institution known as Mary’s. The Black Sabbath right-hooking you in the jaw as you walk in should jog your memory of the experience, as should their filthy-delicious burgers. 

Masterchef alum Kha Nguyen has been hard at work since his departure from the show back in 2015. First came Jamu Dining, and now, we see Kha open the doors to his second restaurant, Tian38.

Bridge Road is making its way back to our hearts thanks to cafes like OTTO, who’s bridging the gap between Swan Street’s reign over Richmond and the brunch mecca that is the inner-northern burbs.

Eka, which means ‘one’ in Sanskrit, has the conscious types covered out in Melbourne’s west with their bulk organic wholefoods, vegan-friendly cafe fare and a swag of workshops and events. 

After setting up shop in the CBD, Pretzel has opened its doors to a second Melbourne location on the top end of Chapel Street. 

Patient Wolf Distilling Co. has been a staple of the excellent Brunswick food and drink scene, and its expansion into Southbank will give Patient Wolf’s 200L Müller copper still a new home, with a state-of-the-art 1000L still due to arrive from Germany in early 2020.

This serene cafe, full of lush Australiana themed decor is the newest addition to Prahran’s buzzing cafe scene. Escape the crazy hustle and bustle of Chapel St and retreat into Kookaburra Kanteen, a hotspot for good quality coffee and a menu that covers all bases. 

Republic Tavern, or the “Revolution of the North,” is a spacious bar, restaurant and brewery in Epping, capturing both a modern taste of beer, as well as a classic Aussie pub atmosphere. A sizeable venue, exposing an impressive array of craft beer and cider taps, from fellow brewpubs to their very own Beer Republic small-batch brews, there’s a welcoming and warm vibe, with an open fire and wall of chopped logs to top it off. Republic Tavern attracts a community of mateship and good times to be had. 

It's been two years in the making, but Panda Hot Pot is now open in Melbourne.

Beaumaris is a suburb that unless you grew up there, you’d rarely go to unless it’s for a swim at Rickett’s Point. Now, there’s another reason to head bayside, with the opening of new café, Gatekeeper.

So you think you’re pretty good when you belt out a few tunes in the shower. And the karaoke stage doesn’t frighten you when you get up to do your best “Shallow” or Jack Riewoldt impression doing The Killers. But have you ever thought of doing karaoke with an actual live band?

Melbourne-based not-for-profit streetwear label HoMie celebrates it’s fourth birthday this year and is celebrating some impressive milestones they have knocked up along the way.

When it comes to chocolate shops, there may not be two more exciting words than “flagship store”, and Koko Black has opened theirs right in the heart of South Yarra.

Brunswick is definitely not lacking in the excellent-spots-to-get-a-feed department, but in case you’ve tried every single one, you’ll be happy to know there’s a new name in town.

THE VERDICT

The northern suburbs have an array of amazing pizza shops, but there's one in Fitzroy North called Piccolino that's doing things a little differently.

Transport yourself back to the 1970’s in this lavish, mossy green-walled bar nestled at the end of a laneway near Federation square. Sister restaurant to the middle Eastern eatery Souk, Handsome Bar gives off the vibe off a 70’s mansion with velvety couches, bronzy metallic tables and dim lighting. Closed Mondays and Sundays, the venue is open from the afternoon until late Tuesday to Saturday, perfect for a knock-off drink after work or a cheeky cocktail before the clock strikes midnight. 

A warehouse in Abbotsford has left room for Bodriggy Brewing Company to move in, renovate the space and change it forever, and we’re very excited about it. Opened very recently, Bodriggy Brewing Co is fast becoming a favourite amongst locals who just cannot get enough of this place. Much more than a typical brewery, Bodriggy Brewing Co is a brew-pub and bottleshop with a dining area, aka the perfect location for your next drink out.

Scott Pickett has just opened the doors to his latest venture, Pastore at Hotel Chadstone. The new dining venue will focus on Italian-inspired all-day dining, with a contemporary Australian feel and a variety of dishes from small plates to full tasting experiences. 

If you’ve ever caught Puffing Billy (if you haven’t, why not?) you’ve probably noticed a sign near Clematis Station that points to the Paradise Valley Hotel, an isolated pub in the Dandenongs.

When you hear that Marameo is from the minds behind Bar Carolina, and Il Bacaro, you know you're going to be in for a good time.

Just when you thought burger joints might be past their prime, along comes 300 Grams, Northcote’s newest burger oasis for vegans, vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. 

Located in the heart of Flinders Lane lies a 2-storey modern fine dining restaurant with an East-meets-West interpretation of Japanese cuisine. The name ‘Akaiito’ derives from the meaning ‘red thread of fate’ which refers to the red thread which connects people to kindred spirits and reflects the way we are all tied to each other. 

Patagonia has unveiled its new flagship store in Melbourne, reviving a heritage building from 1884.

Australians love a cold beer during the warmer months, and residents of Melbourne are definitely no stranger to a big, cold beer. But how does one served at -2.2 degrees sound?

If you’ve ever ventured west for a Perth sojourn, you’ve no doubt come across the aptly named Pretzel.

Rustica is not a new name in the Melbourne café scene, having established itself as a destination in Fitzroy back in 2012.