New bars, restaurants and cafes in Melbourne: June 2018

We’re so spoilt when it comes to dining and drinking out in Melbourne – so much so that it can be hard to keep track of what’s opened. Rather than keeping tabs yourself, this new monthly column will round up all the best restaurants, cafes and wine bars that open each month. With so many new eateries in the past couple of months, there was a bit of catching up to do. Enjoy.

Sunda, CBD
This is perhaps the most hyped opening of 2018 so far, and rightly so. Sunda is making South East Asian food great again with creative, contemporary dishes in a former car park.

• Must order: off-menu roti with Vegemite curry
• Vibe: cool, collected and industrial without being cliche
• 18 Punch Lane, Melbourne
• 9654 8190
• sunda.com.au

Bar Saracen, CBD

A restaurant “of Middle Eastern appearance”, brought to you by the team behind Rumi. It opened where Rosa’s Kitchen used to be, serving moreish dishes – or is that Moorish dishes? – in a warm environment with excellent service.

• Must order: prawn, egg & cheese borek
• Vibe: refined Middle Eastern in a Melbourne laneway
• 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
• 8639 0265
• barsaracen.com.au

Alter Dining, Windsor
Opened by the Commune Group in the former Saigon Sally site, Alter is all about contemporary food made with the best ingredients and refuses to be pigeonholed into any particular cuisine.

• Must order: hand-cut curry egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, sea urchin
• Vibe: modern industrial with a geometric mural to boot
• 2 Duke Street, Windsor
• 9533 2342
• alterdining.melbourne

INES Wine Bar, Windsor
Brought to you by Matteo Bruno of The Meatball & Wine Bar, INES is a self-proclaimed old-world European wine bar (that happens to have a neon sign) with an 80-strong wine list, including premium drops available by Coravin.

• Must order: three-cheese and prosciutto Croque Signore
• Vibe: Frank Sinatra’s millennial alter ego
• 150 Chapel Street, Windsor
• 9521 4465
• ineswinebar.com.au

Matilda, South Yarra

Across from the Royal Botanic Gardens at the bottom of brand new boutique hotel, United Places, chef Scott Pickett has opened Matilda – a restaurant cooking with fire named after his daughter.

• Must order: Macedon duck, leatherwood honey and figs (for two)
• Vibe: plenty of smoke, no mirrors – slick finishes with natural materials
• 159 Domain Road, South Yarra
• 9089 6668
• matilda159.com.au

St. Charly, Carlton


There’s a clear Mediterranean influence on the menu at this cafe that takes coffee seriously. Sip Industry Beans’ Rose Street blend and rotating single origins in this clean, colourful space smack-bang in the middle of old-school Lygon Street.

• 
Must order: smoky roast pumpkin and labna puree, poached eggs, zaatar, fresh herbs, pea tendrils and fried halloumi on sourdough toast
• Vibe: clean edges and colourful crannies
• 306-308 Lygon Street Carlton
• facebook.com/st.charlylygon

BOUZY Bar a Vin
A seat is hot property at BOUZY, a charismatic French wine bar inspired by Jason M. Jones’ (Entrecote and Second Home) first trip to Paris when the then-29-year old stumbled upon Au Petit Fer à Cheval in Le Marais.

• Must order: beef bourguignon party pies and lobster frites
• Vibe: A stylish, tongue-in-cheek Parisian wine bar in the ‘burbs
• 976 High Street, Armadale
• 9500 9546
• bouzy.com.au

A post shared by BOUZY (@bouzy_armadale) on May 15, 2018 at 6:36pm PDT

Tipico, Windsor

Another great addition to Windsor opening June 6, Tipico is the first venue for Andrea da Como (ex DOC, The Lucas Group, McConnell Group) and Marco Scalisi (ex Ti Amo, Swillhouse Group, Tokyo Tina). Chef Domenico De Marco’s menu is inspired by his home in Bologna and features Italian dishes using ingredients from Melbournian producers.

• 
Must order: tigella with prosciutto e squaquerone cheese
• Vibe: Italian hospitality in a contemporary setting
• 247 High Street, Windsor
• 9089 0768
• tipico.melbourne

Pierrick Boyer Cafe Patisserie, Prahran

The French native behind Le Petit Gâteau has opened a patisserie-slash-cafe that caters for both sweet and savoury palates, as well as vegans. Single serve cakes are available along with a solid brunch menu, plus there’s a retail section for home.

• Must order: tarte tatin
• Vibe: Willy Wonka meets Cartier
• 31 Izett Street, Prahran
• 9510 6868
• pierrickboyer.com.au

Ciao Cielo & Ciao Cucina, Port Melbourne


Port Melbourne’s most-loved Italian restaurant has moved down the road to the heritage-listed courthouse, where Corte restaurant used to be. There are old favourites alongside new dishes in the revamped space, along with a casual new sister venue out the back, Ciao Cucina, which specialises in wood-fired pizzas.

• 
Must order: whole salt-baked fish
• 
Vibe: warm Italian heritage at Cielo; Amalfi-chic at Cucina
• 115 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
• 9646 7697
• ciaocielo.com.au

IPPUDO, CBD


Ramen fanatics are already flocking to IPPUDO, an iconic global ramen shop now open in QV. Originally from Kajata, Japan, back in 1985, you’ll also find Japanese fried chicken, bao buns and gyoza at Melbourne’s first store.

• 
Must order: signature Shiromaru Motoaji creamy tonkotsu broth with pork chashu
• Vibe: slick Tokyo noodle shop
• Shop 18 Artemis Lane, QV, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
• 9654 9057
• ippudo.com.au

Caddie, Richmond


Meatmother in Richmond is no more, but in its place is Caddie, a new venue by chef Dylan Evans whose impressive CV includes Noma, Manresa and Alinea in the US, as well as Fargo and Co. on home soil.

• 
Must order: grilled steak, artichoke pickle, bone marrow
• Vibe: market-driven dishes in a monochrome-chic setting
• 167 Swan Street, Richmond
• 9427 8501
• caddierestaurant.com.au

FLATIRON Side Door, Kew

Local designer Ben Bangay and his wife Emma have attached a wine bar and garden to the FLATIRON store. Sit in the heated outdoor area or stay inside and drink seasonal cocktails infused with herbs from the garden. Pizza and wine are available to eat in or take away.

• Must order: seasonal, flat-based pizzas
• Vibe: worst-kept neighborhood secret
• 72 Willsmere Road, Kew
• 0410 341 300
• flatironmelbourne.com.au

Bar Romantica, Brunswick East

Replacing Brunswick East icon, Cafe Romantica, Bar Romantica now serves a new menu every day, making the most of what’s fresh and available. Thankfully you can still order pizza until 5am on Friday and Saturday to fuel up for free pool.

• Must order: Pizza Romantica with house passata, fior di latte, basil and ‘nduja
• Vibe: lights down low and Euro charisma up high
• 52-54 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
• 9191 9410
• barromantica.com.au

A post shared by Bar Romantica (@bar_romantica) on May 24, 2018 at 9:51pm PDT

Upsy Daisy, Glen Huntly

Glen Huntly has been blessed with not only a multi million-dollar park, but also this new kid-friendly cafe across the road. Plants hang inside from aqua walls and up the front there’s a frozen yoghurt station to keep all ages happy. Dogs welcome out back.

• Must order: bright blue spirulina acai bowl with strawberries, green apple, banana, passionfruit, Coyo and muesli
• 1062 Glen Huntly Road, Glen Huntly
• 0433 768 027
• facebook.com/UpsyDaisy3163

A post shared by UPSY DAISY (@upsydaisy3163) on May 25, 2018 at 4:29pm PDT

Mjolner, CBD

Named after Thor’s hammer, this Viking-themed restaurant comes from the brains behind Eau De Vie and Boilermaker House. The theatrics continue here, but the space is more dark and handsome than kitsch.

• Must order: grass fed short rib, brussels sprouts, braising juices
• Vibe: fit for a Norse king
• Ground floor, 106 Hardware Street, Melbourne
• 8393 9367
• mjolner.com.au

A post shared by Mjølner (@mjolneraustralia) on May 23, 2018 at 7:43pm PDT

The Store Room


Formerly a barbershop, you’ll have to dial 2 on the phone outside to enter The Store Room. Once inside there’s a collection of eccentric items decorating the space and gin and whiskey worth staying up late for.

• Must order: limited food menu, jaffles the top pick
• 
Vibe: laid-back and friendly, like drinking in a hoarder’s lounge room
• 2-12 St Kilda Road, St Kilda
• 9529 1396
• thestoreroom.com.au

Willow Urban Retreat, Armadale

Part of a multi-faceted business that includes a spa and wellness centre, this cafe specialises in nutritious, organic-where-possible dishes designed by a resident naturopath. Want more than a meal? Ask about the three-week introductory offer for $60.

• Must order: rice flour pancakes with charred figs, coconut, maple butter and sour cherries
• Vibe: an ocean of designer calm
• 1203 High Street, Armadale
• 9822 8778
• willowurbanretreat.com.au

A post shared by Willow Urban Retreat (@willowurbanretreat) on May 21, 2018 at 2:17pm PDT

Messer, Fitzroy


A new restaurant beneath an apartment building on Gertrude Street, courtesy of the team behind Copper Pot in Seddon. German for ‘knife’, Messer’s menu is market driven and changes regularly.

• Must order: wild rabbit ravioli, charred savoy cabbage, hazelnut
• Vibe: European market meets design magazine
• Shop 1/166 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
• 9419 0035
• messerfitzroy.com

The Rochester Hotel, Fitzroy

The Rochey flipped its dining room recently with the introduction of a south Indian menu from Mischa Tropp of We Are Kerala. Now there’s a pub menu inspired by his heritage with Kerala fried chicken and curries best enjoyed with a boozy mango lassi.

• Must order: 1/2 ghee roast chicken in tamarind and Kashmiri chilli curry
• Vibe: noise levels are still that of a pub, but sharp service and top nosh
• 202 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
• 9419 0166
• rochey.com.au

Don’t Lose Your Temper, Fitzroy

Opened by two Vue de Monde alumni, this pastry-forward cafe sells an ever-changing selection of sweets and baked goods from tarts and cakes through to eclairs and doughnuts. There are sourdough toasties for the savoury inclined and Valrhona hot choccy for those who’d rather double up.

• Must order: the sweet treat that most catches your eye
• Vibe: raw brick and chipped walls, like the Italian restaurant it used to be
• 256 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
• 9973 1134
• dontloseyourtemper.com.au

A post shared by Dont Lose Your Temper (@dontloseyourtemper) on May 12, 2018 at 4:13pm PDT

Luton Wine Bar, Hawthorn

A wine bar for the people in the middle of neighbourly Hawthorn with a Spanish-inspired menu and 140-plus wines that cater for everyone, from skin-contact naturals through to burgundy.

• Must order: Gontran Cherrier baguette brushed with extra virgin olive oil, charred and topped with ox heart tomato salsa, garlic, Tio Pepe Fino Sherry and jamon serrano
• Vibe: clean-cut European with a terrace that screams, “Summer!”
• 8 Luton Lane, Hawthorn
• 9818 0514
• lutonlanewine.com.au

Lobby Coffee & Wine, South Melbourne

Remember Seven Nightclub? Those days are long gone with the opening of the first instalment of Albert House, Lobby Coffee & Wine. Keep an eye out for a cocktail bar, Southeast Asian restaurant and karaoke room to come.

• 
Must order: limited food menu – bagels and Urban Produce salads by day, charcuterie platters by night
• Vibe: fuss-free minimalism
• 52 Albert Road, South Melbourne
• 9690 7877
• facebook.com/lobbycoffeewine