A group of women dining outside a cafe among greenery.

The best new venues coming soon to Melbourne

Mark your diaries. These new restaurants and bars will be must-visits when they open in Melbourne.

Rooftop Garden

101 Flinders Lane

The iconic Garden State Hotel is a favourite among Melburnians. The sprawling venue is home to multiple bars, a lush beer garden and even a hidden Italian restaurant. Soon it will expand even further with a huge, open-air rooftop. Spread across two levels, the Rooftop Garden will seat up to 300 guests. Expect a fresh menu of cocktails, beers and ice-cold slushies. Construction is now underway.

An open-air rooftop bar with a green interior, outdoor furniture and foliage.
Rooftop Garden

New venues from the Merivale Group

Various locations

A slew of new venues are coming soon from the hospo heavyweight behind Totti's. The team just launched LB's Record Bar in one of Melbourne's most iconic laneways. The Meyers Place bar boasts a vinyl-only soundtrack, live music and local DJs. It's the first Melbourne venue for Justin Hemme's Merivale, with more slated to open soon. The group's properties include Tomasetti House in Flinders Lane and the Parkade car park on Little Collins, watch this space to find out more! In the meantime, we'll keep dreaming about Totti's opening in Melbourne CBD.

King and Godfree building

297 Lygon Street, Carlton (King & Godfree building)

What's happening to the King & Godfree building? Wonder no more. A new Japanese-inspired pizza shop called Garfield has just opened with more businesses coming soon. The basement cellar will soon host a late-night cocktail and music bar. And in the main space, expect an all-day neighbourhood osteria and wine bar. And yes — Pidapipo and Johnny's Green Room rooftop are sticking around!

The exterior of a corner building covered in posters.
The King & Godfree building

Roma and Sergio's

120 Collins Street, Melbourne

Con Christopoulos is transforming a Collins Street courtyard into a little slice of Italy. The restaurateur is behind iconic Melbourne hotspots Siglo, Kirk's Wine Bar and Kafeneion. So you can expect the food and vibes to be equally exceptional. Roma will be a sophisticated yet laid-back trattoria, inspired by its namesake city. Next door you'll find Sergio's, a bar and record store. There'll also be a casual kiosk with gelato and toasties to follow.

Côte Basque

25 Crossley Street, Melbourne

Gimlet's Andrew McConnell is opening a new European grill in a heritage building. Located down a laneway in the former home of Becco, the restaurant will be inspired by the beautiful Basque Coast in northern Spain. We're imagining simple dishes teeming with fresh produce. The original green terrazzo floors will stay and the restaurant will spill out onto the street for alfresco dining. Côte Basque is due to open in winter 2026.

More of the best new spots in Melbourne

Restaurant interior with industrial styled concrete walls, visible pipes, red seating.

Frenchie

A fun and casual approach to Parisian dining where the lights are low and the energy is high.

Vintage wood-panelled bar with shelves for bottles and signage.

Disuko

A day-to-night Japanese rooftop, restaurant and vinyl-backed cocktail bar, inspired by 1980s Tokyo.

The external facade of the Waterside Hotel, with a vertical garden on the building behind it.

Waterside Hotel

Dine between destinations with a layered experience of Melbourne hospitality inspired by Asia.

Rooftop bar and outdoor park area at The Quarterhouse, with Melbourne city buildings in the background.

Quarterhouse

A contemporary, three level pub conveniently located next to Southern Cross Station.

A large building with a glass exterior on the banks of the Yarra River, a pedestrian bridge in the foreground.

1 Hotel Melbourne

The city's natural beauty and vibrant heritage converges on the serene banks of the Yarra River.

A French bistro-style restaurant with seated patrons and an open kitchen.

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Chris Lucas' Maison Bâtard heralds a grand new legacy for a heritage Bourke Street site.

Exterior of a Gothic style building in Melbourne's Bourke Street, with colourful artwork surrounding the windows on the ground floor.

MECCA

Located at Bourke Street and offering brands, products and services across three levels.

Elegant interior of a restaurant with pale blue banquette seating along one wall, dining tables covered in white linen, high ceilings and large windows, with sunlight streaming into the room.

The Lodge Dining Room Little Collins

The pièce de résistance of Rodd & Gunn’s flagship – a destination for elevated hospitality.

Two shelves of take-home Sri Lankan food and other pantry staples above a shelf of fresh fruit and vegetables; shelves and wall are painted yellow.

Lankan Tucker

At Lankan Tucker, enjoy Sri Lankan inspired eats with a Melbourne twist.

Last updated on Mon 23 Feb 2026

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