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.

A group of women dining outside a cafe among greenery.

Noẽma and Wishbone

435 Bourke Street development, accessed via McKillop Street

A new restaurant celebrating the Hong Kong street food scene is coming to Melbourne. Renowned restaurateur Chris Lucas was inspired by the city's tiny eateries and bustling food stalls. The all-day menu will put a playful Aussie spin on the food the Hong Kong-born chef, Dan Chan, grew up with. Inside, picture bright red interiors with retro '70s inspired styling. This casual dining spot is set to open in October. Also part of the development will be Noẽma. A nod to Lucas' own heritage, the Greek restaurant is due to open in spring. The focus is on light and fresh flavours, seafood and anything slow-cooked or char-grilled. And yes, there will be chicken souvlakis!

New dining hub at Melbourne Central

Corner La Trobe and Swanston Streets

Soon a day of shopping at Melbourne Central could end with dinner and drinks on a sprawling balcony overlooking the city. A $170 million redevelopment of the iconic centre will see a massive entertainment hub, as well as exciting new retail. Expect ten new food retailers with open-air balconies, spanning casual spots and fine-dining. Cult-favourite Japanese bookstore Books Kinokkuniya will also open its first and long-awaited Melbourne outpost.

A render of a new dining space with tables, stylish lighting and plants overhanging a balcony.
Melbourne Central expansion
A render of a busy shopping centre with a large mural.
Images via Melbourne Central website

Rooftop Garden at Garden State

101 Flinders Lane

The iconic Garden State Hotel is a favourite among Melburnians. The epic 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.

New Crown Melbourne venues

8 Whiteman Street, Southbank

World-class restaurants, a hidden door speakeasy and Anthony Bourdain–approved steak. Crown Melbourne is set to open six impressive new venues by 2028. First to open will be a new waterfront gastropub and theatre this November. Next year will see a new bar and grill described by Bourdain as “the most beautiful butcher shop in the world”. In March 2027, iconic Michelin-recognised Chinese restaurant Mott 32 will open. The highlight of the menu is a 42-day apple-wood roasted Peking duck. Come 2028, Crown will have a new modern Mexican restaurant and a speakeasy with a twist. A barbershop by day, revellers can enter the secret cocktail bar through a hidden door.

A stylish cocktail bar with couches and chandeliers.
Image via Crown Melbourne website

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

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. In the main space, expect an all-day neighbourhood osteria and wine bar called Delmonte. Warm and social vibes, Italian wine and simple food cooked in a wood oven. Don't fret — Pidapipo and Johnny's Green Room rooftop are sticking around!

People sitting outside an Italian pizzeria with seating in the windows.
Garfield Pizzeria

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, seen from the corner.

The Waterside Hotel

A Melbourne CBD destination for a pub, Southeast Asian dining and a rooftop experience.

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.

Maison Bâtard

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 Thu 23 Jul 2026

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Meatballs and spaghetti and a glass of red wine.

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Interior of a speakeasy-style bar with rich wooden tones, red velvet bar stools and a deep red chesterfield surrounded by wooden circular tables and leather chairs.

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Two friends sitting at a pub table sharing a wine.

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