• First Look: “No one’s on their phone” at The Keys, Preston’s 600-person bowling and leisure centre. With 12 bowling lanes, three bars and a massive front beer garden, the nostalgic, family-friendly venue from a co-founder of Dexter, Takeaway Pizza and Dom’s will change the face of the suburb forever. Roll in for pizzas, dancing, White Russians on tap and retro arcade games like Daytona and Time Crisis.

• Unadulterated and unmissable, Chae in Cockatoo is a Victorian dining experience unlike any other. Chef Jung Eun Chae and her partner Yoora Yoon have moved their six-seat Korean diner from their one-bedroom apartment into a larger, more serene home deep in the Dandenongs. But the experience remains the same: wholesome food (and homemade condiments), intimate conversations and a front-row seat to her one-woman show.

• First Look: A Melburnian has converted his nonna’s Fitzroy North house into a nostalgic Italian sub shop. Enter through the discreet side gate, order at the garage window, then head to a leafy nearby park with a saucy meatball sub and a side of fries loaded with either bolognaise or carbonara – made from family recipes.

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• First Look: Full Moon Fever, Lulie’s new Cali-inspired rooftop bar, will have you dreaming of the desert. You’ll forget you’re in Abbotsford at the local favourite’s new upstairs boozer – it’s all sun, stone and succulents. Ascend to the rooftop for zesty cocktails from a cactus-shaped dispenser and a riff on the HJ’s Whopper.

• “The sky’s the limit”: Pidapipo’s long-awaited Fitzroy Laboratorio has more than just gelato going for it. It’s a full-blown dessert destination. As well as experimental, exclusive (and excellent) new gelato flavours, there’s a dedicated chocolate room, a pasticceria offering, nostalgic gelato cakes and a rooftop honey operation.

• First Look: France-Soir’s veteran wine guy will be your personal somm at his new “wine tailor”. Pierre Stock was the French bistro’s sommelier and wine buyer for 10 years. Now he’s opened an appointment-only wine destination, where you can snack and sip while he matches you with the perfect bottle (or case).

• First Look: Down a cobblestone CBD laneway, Tori’s is Melbourne’s cosy new Asian-inspired cafe and bakery. It feels like your grandma’s lounge room – in the best way. And in true grandma style, it’s nailed the art of afternoon tea. Go for Japanese shortcake and Basque burnt cheesecake by the slice, plus a fluffy, creamy garlic brioche bun.

• First Look: An ex-Supernormal head chef gives new wings to the Flying Duck Hotel, in Prahran’s backstreets. The longstanding pub is now in the hands of Rustica owner Brenton Lang. Have a seafood feast in the greenery-surrounded glasshouse or wrap your hands around a big burger in the charmingly refurbed dining room.

• With a “sushi florist”, in-demand omakase and late-night lobster rolls, Yugen Dining strikes gold in South Yarra. One of the year’s most anticipated restaurants is finally (entirely) open. And it delivers on all fronts, with an array of dining experiences. Walk in; try the supper menu; or set an alarm for bookings at the six-seat omakase bar.

• Now open in Carlton: live your best lamo life at Tokyo Lamington’s first Melbourne bakery. After a few successful Melbourne pop-ups, the popular Sydney bakery has put down permanent roots. Alongside the team’s playful range of lamingtons, find made-to-order onigiri, pork-katsu sausage rolls and mapo-tofu pies.

• First Look: Greenwich Deli, a petite sandwich shop in an old suburban milk bar by a Tiktok-famous cook. Johnny Moroney’s career trajectory is unusual: from political advisor, to social-media sensation, to cafe owner. Head to Newport to try his fried-eggplant sub doused in vodka sauce, or a saucy eggs-Benny-inspired beef brioche.

• Alphington brewery La Sirene (finally) opens a taproom to flaunt its complex, acid-driven beers. After 12 years in business, the wild fermentation pioneer has opened to the public, with an indoor-outdoor space that’s as much about eating as drinking. Visit for creamy French cheeses, Spanish-style seafood plates, spelt pizzas and farmhouse-style ales that pair uniquely well with food.

• First Look: From beach club to breezy pasta bar – Stokehouse Pasta & Bar opens in the former Pontoon site. St Kilda’s seaside institution now has an all-day European-inspired diner and bar where you’ll find family-sized bowls of pasta, and tiramisu masquerading as bombe Alaska. Think of it as “a half-price version of Stokehouse”.

• First Look: With views for days, you’ll want a window seat at Marnong Estate’s new Italian diner La Vetta. Just 35 minutes from Melbourne, the sprawling Mickleham winery has reimagined its premier restaurant. Now, an ex-Scopri and Bar Bambi chef is serving hearty pastas, bistecca alla Fiorentina and tiramisu cannoli.

• First Look: Smith Street Alimentari 2.0 has an Ottolenghi-style salad bar and a beautiful goods store. With an abundance of herby, veg-heavy dishes – which you pay for by weight – it’s reminiscent of the celebrity chef’s London delis. And it’s the centrepiece of the reimagined Collingwood cafe classic, which is finally (fully) reopen.

• First Look: A “formaggio” sign marks the spot at Grana, the fancy Brunswick deli by Tipo 00 and Osteria Ilaria. Next door to the team’s new Lygon Street pizzeria Figlia, it’s a one-stop shop for pre-dinner snacks. Shop left-of-centre cheese (including cute mandarin-peel-wrapped ricotta) by Lucy Whitlow, standout salumi and lo-fi vino.

• First Look: Hot-honey fried chicken biscuits and fish’n’chip butties at ace Carlton cafe Shooter McGavin’s. It’s named after (but is a lot more likeable than) the worst character in ’90s golf comedy Happy Gilmore.

• First Look: A prime-positioned St Kilda pub has reopened – with a new adjoining deli open from 7am. The 151-year-old Post Office Club Hotel has had a handsome makeover from the team behind House of Lulu White. In the bistro, find $3 oysters, and mussels and fries by the kilo. Then head out back to the sun-drenched courtyard.

• First Look: Boozy brunch on a budget? The Mimosas are always $5 at colourful new Kew East cafe Gilbert’s. And the menu has a strong Greek influence. Head to the new east-side spot for yia yia-approved spanakopita, golden slabs of fried halloumi and a take on French toast inspired by tsoureki (a fluffy Greek bread served at Easter).

• First Look: A pair of Aussie hospo heavyweights open Amphlett House, a retro taphouse in Melbourne’s CBD. Sip smoky eucalyptus-infused Margs and gummy-bear-garnished Cosmos by a former co-founder of Maybe Sammy, Australia’s best-ranked bar. Then feast on elevated pub classics by celebrated Melbourne chef Ian Curley.

• First Look: Fancy potato cakes and Bunnings-inspired snags at nostalgic CBD wine bar Myrtle. In an old blacksmith, the new laneway spot is putting native Australian ingredients front and centre.

• First Look: Coburg’s historic Pentridge Prison is the unusual site of Brewdog’s first Melbourne taproom. The Scottish craft-beer brand has refurbished the old bluestone building, while the prison yard is now a beer garden with a 26-tap shipping-container bar. Find Australian-exclusive brews, boozy shandy gelato and “Hoppy Meals”.