Coming soon to Melbourne: 15 pubs, cafes and more to get excited about

Summer might be over, but the year’s new openings are just heating up. From hotly anticipated restaurants to suburban bakeries, here is what’s to come over autumn and winter – in order of opening date.

Roma Snack Bar and Restaurant, and Sergio’s, CBD (from early April)

Restaurant tycoon Con Christopoulos will unveil a trio of new, neighbouring venues over the next three months. In April, an all-day Italian snack bar will open, before flagship restaurant Roma in May, channelling the trattoria of Rome, with a focus on offal dishes and a “five-star-hotel edge”. Late-night diner Sergio’s – a more “New York Italian” offering – will follow in June. Pope Joan founder Matt Wilkinson is on board as chef and co-owner.

120 Collins Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/roma.melbourne, instagram.com/sergios.melbourne

The Angel of Malvern, Malvern (from April)

An 1856-built Malvern pub is bursting back to life across three levels. The ground-floor public bar will arrive in April, with a Med-inspired wine-diner and a late-night speakeasy to come afterwards. It’s by new hospo group Refinery – an offshoot of property developer Kokoda – which has also acquired St Kilda’s Saint Hotel, set to reopen later this year.

641 Dandenong Road, Malvern, theangelofmalvern.com.au

Daybaker, Abbotsford (April)

Whisky caneles. Meyer lemon cake. Roman-style pizzas. That’s just some of the baked goodness to expect when talented pastry chef Charlie Duffy (Small Batch, Tivoli Road) opens his own neighbourhood bakery. Floor-to-ceiling windows will let you peer into the kitchen, where viennoiserie (and creativity) will reign supreme across sweet and savoury bakes.

66 Nicholson Street, Abbotsford, daybaker.com.au

Spaghetti Club, Richmond (late April)

Mamas Dining Group is best known for its Asian-inspired restaurants, from the Vietnamese Hochi Mama to last summer’s hotspot the Japanese Disuko. The group’s latest is, as the name suggests, all-out Italian, leaning into group co-owner Lucas Gugliandolo’s roots. Spaghetti Club will bring handmade pasta, “nonna-style” share plates and open-fire cooking to Richmond.

95 Swan Street, Richmond, mamasdininggroup.com.au

Patricia, CBD (late April)

One of Melbourne’s most renowned coffee shops, Patricia, has been a staple at the bottom end of town for nearly 15 years. It makes sense that its sophomore location will service the top end, in an old bluestone cottage near Spring Street. There will be a room dedicated to pour-over coffee, plus an extended range of filter options, all courtesy of Patricia’s Coburg North roastery.

44 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, patriciacoffee.com.au

Jess Lemon, Nunawading (late April)

A colourful array of tarts, macarons and chiffon cakes will fill the display when MasterChef alum Jessica Liemantara – aka Jess Lemon – brings her own bricks-and-mortar bakery to the eastern suburbs this autumn. She’s setting up a warm, welcoming space in Nunawading, which will eventually also serve laminated pastries.

10 Market Street, Nunawading, jesslemon.com.au

Smith & Deli, CBD (late April)

Getting an excellent vegan lunch in the city will be even easier when plant-based pioneer Shannon Martinez drops Smith & Deli on Degraves Street. The laneway location will have more of a “cafeteria vibe” than its Collingwood predecessor, selling grab-and-go soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch, plus tapas and drinks for the after-work crowd.

16 Degraves Street, Melbourne, smithanddeli.com

The Florence, CBD (late April)

Above its Flinders Lane meatball bar, the Valarc Group (Middle Park European, Tartine, Ned’s Bake) is readying a more swanky wine and cocktail bar inspired by Florence. In a striking space designed by local firm Bergman & Co, expect snacks like vitello (veal) and caperberry sandwiches, Tuscan wines, and a daily happy hour with $10 mini negronis.

133 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, theflorence.com.au

Dingo Ate My Taco, Abbotsford (early May)

Popular Mexican food truck Dingo Ate My Taco, which spawned Chinatown’s laneway hangout Taqueria Sin Nombre, is putting down roots under its original moniker in the former Range Brewing site in Abbotsford. The menu will channel that of the truck, featuring breakfast and birria tacos – the specialty – with a bar centred on agave-based drinks.

272 Johnston Street, Abbotsford, dingoatemytaco.com

King & Godfree venues, Carlton (from late May)

Jamie Valmorbida is opening three new venues within the former site of legendary Carlton deli King & Godfree. Counter-service Garfield Pizzeria has already arrived, and while details about the other two are scarce, we know that a corner restaurant is coming in late May and a basement bar will follow later in the year.

293-297 Lygon Street, Carlton, kingandgodfree.com

Cote Basque, CBD (late winter)

Still on track to open this winter, as planned, is the latest restaurant from Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann, among Melbourne’s most successful operators. Cote Basque will reimagine what was once Italian restaurant Becco as a European grill inspired by the Basque coast. Wood-fired cooking will be a hallmark of the 100-seat laneway diner.

25 Crossley Street, Melbourne, cotebasque.com.au

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the family behind King & Godfree are responsible for the three new venues opening this year. In fact, it is only Jamie Valmorbida from the family.