Juni

Juni is the latest from acclaimed chef Michael Lambie, who’s career includes stints at top Melbourne diners Stokehouse, Circa the Prince, Taxi and Lucy Liu, among others. At this fun 140-seat restaurant, the UK-raised chef picks up where he left off at Lucy Liu, with a menu inspired by the cuisines of Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, China and other Asian countries.

On the opening menu, classic dishes such as Thai papaya salad and Japanese tuna tataki sat comfortably alongside fusion dishes such as house-made burrata with chilli oil and grilled Chinese doughnuts. The drinks menu is similarly inspired, and includes cocktails riffing on Southeast Asian desserts.

A gleaming open kitchen with a pink-sealed stone counter is the focal point of the dining room, and a Tom Blachford projection of a 90-minute sunset loops on the opposite wall. A semi-private dining nook, Plum, can be found out the back. And upstairs, a private 20-seater mezzanine called Pickle.