Laura, Pt. Leo Estate
3649 Frankston – Flinders Rd, Merricks VIC 3916
Two-hatted Laura restaurant is Pt. Leo Estate’s most refined expression of dining – a destination where food, wine, art, and nature converge. A proud member of the Relais & Châteaux family and holder of two chef hats for seven consecutive years, Laura offers an elegant culinary experience. On weekdays, Laura offers a table d’hôte menu, with a set entree and a choice of mains for $145pp. Spearheaded by Culinary Director Josep Espuga, the restaurant showcases seasonally driven, sustainable menus that highlight the region’s finest produce and an award-winning wine list of over 600 wines, thoughtfully crafted to reflect both provenance and place.
Hours: Lunch from12 PM
Bookings: Here
Ciao Cielo
115 Bay St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Ciao Cielo originally opened in 2010 by co-owners Kate Dickins and Bryan Nelson, as an Italian restaurant inspired by Dickins’ Italian heritage and her grandmother, who hailed from Vicenza. In 2018, the Good Food Guide recognised the restaurant, receiving a glowing review and a score of 14 ½ from Dani Valent. After eight years of operations, which saw the restaurant continuing to garner support and popularity from Port Melbourne residents and Melbourne locals alike, the pair saw an opportunity to upscale the beloved venue to a bigger location. In 2018, Dickins and Nelson bought Port Melbourne’s historic 165-year-old courthouse. They reimagined it into Ciao Cielo, continuing to serve authentic Italian dishes and paying homage to Dickins’ grandmother, from whom much of the menu takes inspiration. The venue offers a ‘Spritz & Pints Happy Hour’ daily, from 4 – 6 PM, where aperol spritzes, pints, and limoncello spritzes using housemade limoncello are $10.
Hours: 12 – 10 PM
Bookings: Here
Koi Toy
T16, PENTRIDGE SHOPPING CENTRE Coburg 3058
Koi Toy is a Japanese-inspired diner at Pentridge Shopping Centre, Coburg, offering a high-energy dining experience with a modern twist on Japanese flavours. Come daily between 3pm-6pm to enjoy happy hour, with $10 house wines and pints. With a menu crafted by Executive Chef Alex Meimetis and Head Chef Long Le, Koi Toy serves shareable plates designed for casual dining, celebrations, or pre- and post-movie moments. The vibrant atmosphere pairs perfectly with inventive cocktails, and the design blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with Tokyo-inspired neon accents. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Koi Toy brings a fresh, exciting dining option to Melbourne’s north.
Hours: 2 – 3 pm, 6 – 10 pm
Booking: Here
Atsu
Level 1/15-17 Lincoln Square S, Carlton VIC 3053
Atsu is a new Japanese yakitori and katsu restaurant in Carlton, led by the team behind Sachi. The venue offers a Monday alternative to ‘steak night,’ serving Striploin GyuKatsu Don, for $25. Additionally, they offer a dinner happy hour between 5:30 – 6:30 PM from Monday through Thursday, offering $6.50 Asahi on tap with an order of don or 5 skewers. The restaurant took over the former Leonie Upstairs space in Lincoln Square, Carlton. Atsu focuses on charcoal-grilled skewers, elevated katsu including Otway pork and Kumamoto A5 Wagyu, and a curated sake program featuring boutique labels and fruit-infused pours. The result is a refined yet energetic destination that blends traditional technique with modern Melbourne dining culture.
Hours: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 – 9:30 pm
Booking: Here
Common Cuts
Ground Floor/380 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Common Cuts is a lively dining and bar destination on Russell Street in Melbourne’s CBD, known for its bold flavours and approachable, modern menu. The venue offers a dinner special, serving a 220g Wagyu flank or a 300g Angus rostbiff with frites for $28.80 (sauces are an additional $4) between 5 – 9 PM. Additionally, a weekday set menu is on offer at $48pp, with a selection of starters to share, signature steak frites, with a choice to add on the house favourite wagyu brisket lasagna or squid ink tagliolini and a choice of one dessert. Since opening, the venue has quickly built a reputation for standout dishes like wagyu flank steak, Angus rostbiff steak frites and a wagyu brisket lasagne with bone marrow, all served with a curated wine list and welcoming service that balances relaxed dining with elevated flavour. With a vibrant atmosphere and quality cooking, Common Cuts offers a warm yet dynamic setting for everything from casual lunches to evening gatherings.
Hours: 5 – 9 PM
Booking: Here
Sachi
179 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Sachi began as a beloved Japanese pop-up concept by chef Reki Reinantha and his team. Talented chefs from Melbourne restaurants like Kisume established a permanent home in Melbourne’s CBD after successful stints in Carlton and Hawthorn. Rooted in the Japanese notion of umi no sachi (treasures of the sea), the menu highlights dry-aged seafood, premium sashimi, sushi and crowd favourite chirashi bowls. Guests can look forward to an exclusive 17-course omakase experience available in the evenings with the head chef. Paired with a thoughtful drinks list that complements the seafood focus, Sachi offers a sleek, elegant space that celebrates freshness and classic Japanese technique.
Hours: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM
Booking: Here
Andzero
696 High St Rd, Glen Waverley VIC 3150
Andzero is a cosy Japanese-inspired café in Glen Waverley created by former Kisume chef Reki Reinantha, designed as a neighbourhood meeting spot that stands apart from typical Melbourne cafes. The menu highlights take on Japanese breakfast and brunch, such as traditional teishoku sets with house pickles and miso soup, Wagyu hamburg and spicy miso pork sandwiches, onigiri and chicken katsu, alongside specialty coffee and creative classics like Mont Blanc lattes and strawberry matcha. With warm interiors and a welcoming vibe, Andzero offers a twist on your average Melbourne cafe that will have you feeling like you’ve just touched down in Kyoto.
Hours: 8 AM – 3:30 PM
Booking: Here
Officina Gastronomica Italiana
532/534 Malvern Rd, Prahran VIC 3181
Officina Gastronomica Italiana reopens in spring 2023 after doubling its size, and expanding to offering dinners and a deli section. Originally opened as Officine Zero in 2014 by Claudio Casoni, it offers a well-curated list of Italian and artisan wines, as well as seasonal house-made pasta by head chef Gabriele Coniglio.
Hours: 6:30 am – 3 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Bookings: Here
The Douglas Club
472 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Located within the historic Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, The Douglas Club is an elegant CBD cocktail bar inspired by the glamour of 1930s travel and hospitality. Blending old-world charm with contemporary mixology, the venue offers bespoke cocktails, curated wines and refined bar snacks within a sophisticated Art Deco setting, making it a standout destination for after-work drinks, intimate gatherings and late-night indulgence in the heart of Melbourne.
Hours: 6 – 10 PM
Booking: N/A
Studio Amaro
168 Chapel St, Windsor 3181
Studio Amaro is a day-to-night Italian-inspired restaurant and basement bar from Commune Group. The multi-faceted venue, also Commune’s largest to date, champions the forgotten drink of Amaro, boasting an extensive list of the bittersweet liqueur remixed to ignite an Italian affair, served alongside a feast of Italian-style sharing dishes. Offering a menu of snacks, antipasti, pastas, and dishes from the woodfired grill. With a strong music focus, every Thursday to Saturday night, the underground DJ booth vibrates with the rhythmic beats of disco and soul, soundtracked by a rotating lineup of DJs selecting tunes, whilst conversation, laughter and shots will continue to spill well into the night.
Hours: 12 PM – late
Bookings: Here
Tokyo Tina
66A Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Situated on the vibrant Windsor-end of Chapel Street, Tokyo Tina serves up modern Japanese cuisine in a fun and energetic space. Another venue from the celebrated hospitality group Commune, Tokyo Tina invites guests to enjoy the good times, good vibes, and good food on offer.
Hours: 5:00 pm – 10 pm
Bookings: Here
New Quarter
Ground Level, 79 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
First opened in 2018, New Quarter changed up its offering in March 2021, driving a focus on Neo-Vietnamese. Head Chef Scott Lord leads the kitchen, bringing his modern interpretation of some favourite Vietnamese hits such as banh mi finger, beef tartare with egg and duck floss noodles. The elegant restaurant space, designed by Ewert Leaf, is located on the corner of Swan and Lennox street and features wicker lights, cork top tables, and natural muted timber tones. The warm neutral walls reflect the natural light during the day and transform it into a dark and moody dining space at night, catering to destination diners and locals alike.
Hours: 12 – 10 pm
Bookings: Here
Hanoi Hannah Express Lane – 186 High St, Windsor VIC 3181
Hanoi Hannah Vol. II – 306 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick VIC 3185
The OG Commune venue, Hanoi Hannah quickly becoming a Melbourne favourite, focusing on Vietnamese street eats with staple dishes like poached chicken or tender beef phở, vermicelli salads and a range of rice paper rolls. Hanoi Hannah has since grown to include a sibling restaurant Hanoi Hannah Vol.II in Elsternwick, and is available on Uber Eats and also offers catering.
Hours: 12 – 9 pm
Bookings: Here
Spaghetti Club
95 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Bringing the warmth and energy of a classic Southern Italian trattoria to Richmond, Spaghetti Club is the perfect destination for lively EOFY lunches and dinners. Inspired by family traditions, the venue serves handmade pasta, slow-cooked sauces and generous share-style dishes in a vibrant, welcoming setting designed for long lunches, team celebrations and memorable group dining experiences.
Hours: 5 PM – late
Booking: Here
Public Bar at The Angel of Malvern
641 Dandenong Rd, Malvern VIC 3144
Open seven days from 10am till late, it’s a space built for exactly this kind of occasion, relaxed, social, and always well looked after. Guests can pull up a seat and work through a menu of reimagined pub classics, from share plates and bar snacks through to burgers, schnittys and steaks off the grill, all designed to be enjoyed over good conversation and cold drinks. With local beers on tap, a broad wine list and classic cocktails, the drinks are just as considered as the food.
Hours: 10 AM – 1 AM
Booking: Here
Bar Lourinhã
37 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Offer: Every Monday – BYO at Bar Lourinhã. Crack open your cellar and enjoy $25 corkage alongside a stellar Iberian-Mediterranean feast, with à la carte dining, Lunch Rápido and all-day dining available through to 9 PM.
Hours: 12 PM – 11 PM
Bookings: Here
Fern Bar & Dining
288 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Occupying level two adjacent to reception, Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins’ in-house restaurant, Fern Bar & Dining, offers a menu of elevated modern Melbourne cuisine led by Executive Chef Darryl Hand. The 62-seat restaurant blends global influences with local ingredients, favouring flavour, personality, and experimentation over tradition. Diners may even catch a glimpse of the counters of the newly opened Mecca Bourke Street through the restaurant’s windows.
Hours: 6:30 AM – 10 PM
Bookings: Here
Image credit: Michael Pham