From killer pub reboots and specialist Korean soup shops to northside taquerias steadfast in tradition, it’s been a bumper six months for the diners, drinkers and glass clinkers of Melbourne.
Whether you’re a seasoned diner or dropping into the city for a flavour-fuelled weekend, these are just some of Melbourne’s best new openings for 2026 so far. More to come.
Super Taco
Just 10 seats, chef Jose Angel Delgado Juárez’s family recipes, and a show-stealing pork al pastor caramelising slowly under a pineapple-topped trompo. Crossley Street’s tiny new taqueria is packing serious flavour – don’t miss it.
Shop 8/26 Crossley Street, Melbourne CBD, @supertacoau
O’Connell’s Hotel
South Melbourne’s 150-year-old institution has found a new lease on life, shifting the focus to Fresh Aussie seafood and open-fire cooking. Smoky, charred steaks done in the Josper oven, whole ocean king prawns dressed generously with macadamias and bush tomato, and raw Victorian tuna adorned with green apple and grapefruit are just some of the highlights at what chef Michael Conlon calls a pub for everyone.
407 Coventry St, South Melbourne, oconnells.com.au, @oconnells_hotel
Sagye
New Melbourne soup spot serves up more or less just one thing: brothy bowls of Korean gomtang soup. The soup itself is simmered low and slow eight hours ahead of service and includes three separate cuts of wagyu – brisket, shank and chuck-eye roll – each of which brings its own layer of soul-soothing flavour as the fat renders out. The result? It’s clear, clean and warming, and for just a moment, it provides a sense of reassurance that everything in life is okay – provided you can beat that line snaking out the door.
50 Russell St, Melbourne, open 11am-3pm and 5pm-9pm Tues-Sat, @sagye_melb
Roma
There’s a lot to love at restaurateur Con Christopoulos’s new 100-seat trattoria – provided you love the cuisine of the Italian capital – there’s seafood in abundance, elegant pastas and prime cuts simply served with lemon and a selection of classic condiments. How does Roma set itself apart from Melbourne’s stellar Italian offering, though? By leaning into the Roman philosophy of “the fifth quarter”, the tradition that puts the likes of liver, kidneys and other lesser-used cuts into the spotlight.
120 Collins St, Melbourne, romamelbourne.com.au, @roma.melbourne
The Flying Fox Public House
If the idea of a Welsh rarebit doughnut and a pint of stout sounds like a good time to you, then we suggest heading straight for The Flying Fox Public House – the second British boozer from the pub power-couple behind St Kilda’s Lion and Wombat.
396 Bridge Rd Richmond, theflyingfoxpub.com.au, @theflyingfoxpub
Chabela
Karla Martinez and Harry Lawrence met in Coyoacán, a district in Mexico City known for its takeaway taquerias and fine-diners alike, and when they relocated to Melbourne, they knew they had to bring those varied and vibrant flavours with them. The menu at their Thornbury Street restaurant is largely informed by recipes passed down through the family Martinez: we’re looking at peanutty enchiladas; we’re looking at enfrijoladas, the bean-powered counterpart to the enchilada; and we’re looking at the huarache, the taco’s big, oval-shaped cousin piled high with thinly sliced rib-eye and sauced up with a punchy pico de gallo.
832a High St, Thornbury, chabela.com.au, @chabelathornbury
Little House
Little House is a tiny new bar and diner in Collingwood doing the most. There’s a cheeseburger, but this one is stacked sky-high with a hefty wagyu sausage patty, the oxheart tomato is pickled in rice vinegar, and the regular slice of cheddar is subbed out for oozy, gooey cheddar custard. There’s a serve of suppli – arancini’s Roman cousin – stuffed with an octopus Amatriciana. And then there’s a brick chicken, butchered in-house, marinated for nine hours in burrata brine, brushed in eucalyptus honey and served with a lemon-myrtle infused sauce.
98 Smith St, Collingwood, littlehousewinebar.com.au, @littlehousewinebar
Smith & Deli
For the first time, Shannon Martinez’s signature brand of punk-rock plant-based dining comes to the CBD. The new Degraves Street spot is mostly a Smith & Deli and a little bit a Smith & Daughters, which means mostly grab-and-go meals at breakfast and lunch along with a few more substantial dishes at night. That looks like hefty Padrón and cheese croquetas spilling out the top of a vegan tortilla, it looks like vegan mac and cheese, and it certainly looks like the gluten-free focaccia we’ve come to know and love. Best of all? You can have it all with a glass of vegan wine in hand.
Smith & Deli CBD, 16 Degraves St, Melbourne, smithanddeli.com, @smithanddeli
Frenchie
Everything is $14. Everything is $14. Everything. Is. $14. Did we mention everything is $14 at the CBD’s latest French bistro?
Shop 1/15 Collins St, Melbourne, frenchierestaurant.au, @frenchie.melb
Bar Carnation
When Gerald’s Bar left its original home to move to Lygon Street, it seemed like devastating news for this part of Carlton North. But then Audrey Shaw, from Carnation Canteen, took over the Rathdowne Street site, it turned out that the neighbourhood now had two great new spots. Bar Carnation takes the things you like about the Fitzroy original – including crisp design and produce-forward, concisely plated Italianate eats – and upsizes the gently with (a little) more space, a menu that hews more to some beloved signatures (like the vitello tonnato) rather than changing every week. Come for a cocktail, stay for dinner – or vice versa – it’s a good time either way.
386 Rathdowne St, Carlton North, barcarnation.com, @barcarnation
Garfield
Much like the cartoon cat, Garfield likes to go its own way. This new pizzeria from the people who brought you Johnny’s Green Room (and indeed in the same building) is definitely not trying to follow la vera tradition to the letter. But while toppings such as bonito bechamel with scorched sweet chilli and raw tuna, and a cacio e pepe situation enlivened with potato crisps might have Nonna reaching for the rosary, the fact that chef Karen Martini is across the project suggests it’s all going to be pretty dang tasty.
293/297 Lygon St, Carlton, garfieldpizzeria.com, @garfield_pizzeria