The best new restaurants in Melbourne

Love the Gippsland-themed fare at Farmer's Daughters? Get a taste of the whole state at the team’s new venue in Fed Square. The sharing menu is a love letter to local farmers and producers, with dishes cooked over woodfire in the open kitchen. Flit across the countryside with cured Bass Strait scallops, dry-aged steak and grilled market fish swimming in celery butter sauce. Stake out a spot on the all-weather terrace to take in the riverside views.

The Royal Botanic Gardens' leafy cafe has had a glow-up. This newly relaunched spot serves refined breakfast dishes, cult-status hotcakes, fresh summer cocktails and top-tier iced coffee. Pull up a seat in the sun-soaked courtyard and enjoy a meal by the stunning Ornamental Lake. And yes – you'll still find those iconic scones with berries and cream on the menu.

Enjoy Australian wines paired with native produce in a warm and inviting space at Myrtle Wine Bar. A newcomer to Warburton Lane, the two-storey space is beautifully rustic. To eat there’s aniseed myrtle and saltbush spiced squid. Sardine fingers with whipped Murray cod. Buttermilk damper. And oh-so nostalgic chip shop potato cakes, elevated to gourmet status with salmon roe and cultured cream.

Silky strands of handmade pasta and creamy risottos take centre stage at this moody late-night pasta bar. Tucked down tiny Niagara Lane, Alt Pasta Bar's chefs create art with simple dishes in an open kitchen. Order a plate of glossy cacio e pepe, or perhaps squid ink fettuccine with spanner crab. Everything is made in-house, from the pasta down to the seasonal gelato, and carefully paired with a curated wine list.

Located in the historic Olderfleet building, Freyja feels like something truly novel. With a Nordic-approach to Aussie fine-dining, dishes are infused with the complex flavours of our native produce. The restaurant introduces Melburnians to Scandi gastronomy and you can expect unique flavour pairings that are beautifully executed. Think trout roe with waffles, fresh oysters served with rhubarb and fluffy fermented crispy potatoes. All paired with Nordic rum cocktails.

Find a fiery new spot for traditional Filipino food, hidden in a laneway. Grab a seat at the chef’s omakase table to watch your meal cooked over the open fire in front of your eyes. Pair colourful cocktails with dishes like kingfish sinuglaw and pork belly with smoked pineapple palapa.

Located in an intimate, futuristic space, Archer's needs to go right to the top of your special occasion dining list. Beautiful beams of light glow warmly against the unique, vault-like interiors. And the menu is an ever-changing celebration of seasonal, local flavours. Don't miss a trip up to the 15th floor for drinks at neighbouring Sunset House.

Nomad's food is inspired by travels through Spain, Morocco and the Middle East, but grounded in Australia's fine local produce. Dishes are cooked with fire and smoke, think smoked mussels and wood-roasted eggplant escabeche. Add a side (or three) of burrata and fennel jam and mop it up with wattleseed za'atar flatbread.