The Melbourne hospitality scene is always in flux. Here are the new venues we got excited about this month, and the ones we were sad to see go.

Openings

• First look: at Taverna, two hospo legends help reshape Melbourne’s Greek restaurant scene.

• First look: Breadtop meets Scandinavian bakery at Collingwood Yards’ Dua Bakehouse.

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• First look: there’s a new Lebanese charcoal chicken player in town.

• Homey cafe Osoi draws lines for hand-whisked matcha and Final Fantasy-inspired teas.

• First look: a former Lune and Wild Life baker has opened Bobby’s Bakery.

• First look: Japan’s convenience store culture gets a Melbourne spin in Cremorne.

• First look: Baker Bleu’s biggest spot yet has sourdough pizzas and fresh breakfast sandwiches.

• First look: find expert char siu, milk tea and macaroni at the CBD’s newest Hong Kong-style cafe.

• First look: Box Hill was a dry zone for decades. It finally has a new neighbourhood bar.

• First look: “It’s really traditional, grandma-style cooking” at Japanese deli Obanzai Mama.

• We’ve waited 25 years for Bakery Hill’s cellar door.

• First look: Welcome to Suburbia, Seven Seeds’ new bakery-cafe.

• First look: dreamy Indonesian Dutch restaurant Voor Ouker is worth the drive.

• First look: find expert wine-bar-style snacks at Tiny Bar.

• After a four-year wait, Barragunda Dining on the Mornington Peninsula is finally open.

• First look: a former Napier Hotel chef swaps steaks for suburban sourdough at Backhaus Food Store.

Closures

• “There’s zero regret”: Boris Portnoy’s Gray and Gray wine bar has closed.

• Tarts Anon Cremorne is closing.

• Alta Trattoria’s sibling venue Enoteca Zingara has closed.

16 Melbourne restaurants that opened and closed in January, 2025