Best Melbourne, suburban and regional Victorian restaurants to visit in summer

Whether you’re heading to the coast, regions or staying put, we’ve found the best new places to eat and drink this summer.

As Victorians gear up for the festive season and a hot vax summer, we’ve found the best places to celebrate the good times with family and friends — whether it be beachside, in the thick of the city or the regions. Here’s where you should be eating this summer.

Daughter in Law owner Jessi Singh, wi.th his team Sacha Imrie, Chef Arjun Singh and Emily Ross. Picture: Nicki Connolly.

CITY

NEW YEAR STREET FEASTS

Back for another year, the Melbourne Food and Wine event takes to the city streets for the ultimate send-off to 2021 with great food, drink and a whole lot of fun.

Restaurateur and Daughter in Law owner Jessi Singh will ring in 2022 with a four-course “unauthentic Indian” offering, which includes his famous fried chicken and “balls of happiness” and champagne on arrival.

Other foodie events will be held across six city precincts, such as Docklands, Flinders Lane, Federation Square and Little Collins St on New Year’s Eve.

melbournefoodandwine.com.au

HER is a new concept by the Arbory team

HER

The team behind Arbory and Arbory Afloat will open its new multi-level dining venue HER in mid-January. Inside a former cigarette factory, opposite Emporium, are four spaces to eat and drink. HER Bar, on the ground floor, HER Music Room will host DJs on level two, while restaurant BKK, will live on level three. Chefs Sungeun Mo and Nick Bennett will serve Thai streetfood, such as fried chicken, pork belly, curries and barbecued flounder. HER Rooftop overlooks the city. No official opening date has been confirmed.

270 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Food from Crown restaurants Nobu, Ging Thai and Gradi will be on offer.

PETANQUE SOCIAL

Southbank

Perch yourself on a plush day bed and watch the world go by at Crown Melbourne summer pop-up Petanque Social. Petanque looks to Tuscany for its theme – with snacks and booze to match. Crown’s favourite restaurants Nobu, Gradi and Ging Thai will help out on the food front.

The Petanque Social pop-up at Crown Melbourne will be a destination for many this summer.

Petanque is taking an eco-friendly approach, chilling its tap beers by solar power, using rainwater tanks, sending food scraps to its worm farm and using sugar cane astro turf.

Petanque Social, Thu-Sun, 12pm to late, until May.

PetStock pooches Fendi and Fred relaxing at The Exchange Beach Club pop-up in Port Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel.

EXCHANGE BEACH CLUB

Port Melbourne

Take advantage of sunny Melbourne skies at Port Melbourne's Exchange Beach Club on the seashore.

Get sand between your toes with a spot of volleyball, quench your thirst with an ice-cold cocktail and feast on lobster rolls, Wagyu beef burgers and calamari via Mr Yum, ordered on your smartphone. Pooches are welcome (on a lead).

Don’t forget to pre-book a VIP cabana and pack a book to laze about.

Port Melbourne Dog Beach, open daily until January 30.

SUBURBS

You no longer have to wait months to try Navi.

NAVI LOUNGE

Yarraville

There’s now a way to try westside fine diner Navi without waiting months for a table. Melbourne chef Julian Hill has opened a lounge next door to his Yarraville restaurant, seating 18 people on a walk-in basis. The food will change daily, but may include baby octopus with mountain pepper nasturtium and kangaroo tartare. Navi’s final service will be December 23, reopening January 14.

83A and B Gamon St, Yarraville

Pasta will be a big drawcard at Pasta Poetry’s new courtyard.

PASTA POETRY

Fairfield

What started as a lockdown pasta pack has become a thriving summertime courtyard. Fairfield’s Pasta Poetry is now serving fresh pasta, focaccias and drinks in its outdoor alfresco dining space.

Executive chef Elena Kavallaris and head chef Robin Turner will churn out your carby favourites with a new menu weekly.

86 Station St, Fairfield, open Wed-Fri, 3pm till late

WALTER

Mount Waverley

Only Hospitality Group gifted Mount Waverley locals a new cafe for Christmas. Opening in early-December, Walter slings typical brunch fare such as avo and feta on toast and granola bowls as well as signature dishes from other OHG cafes including the Mojo Benny. The all-day menu will also have larger meals such as burgers, chicken schnitzel rolls and miso ginger salmon. Inglewood coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, smoothies and juices round out the drinks.

Open weekdays: 7am to 4pm, weekends: 7.30am to 4pm.

REGIONAL VICTORIA

There will be eight types of pizza at Bonnie, the new casual eatery at All Saints Estate.

BONNIE

Rutherglen

All Saints Estate’s casual diner will sling wood-fired pizzas and local wines from Boxing Day. It’s the latest venue by powerhouse siblings Eliza, Nick and Angela Brown, who also own Terrance Restaurant, St Leonards Vineyard, Mount Ophir Estate and Thousand Pound Wine Bar.

There are also meat and cheese platters and salads for lunch, as well as beers and non-alcoholic drinks.

Open daily for lunch, Thu-Sun for dinner from Dec 26.

Bonnie opens on Boxing Day at All Saints Estate in Rutherglen.

CHANDON: GARDEN SPRITZ SUMMER SESSIONS

Yarra Valley

Chandon is hosting the ultimate garden party with its Garden Spritz Summer Sessions.

The winery’s terrace bar and lawn will host live music, entertainment, picnics and lunches all summer long, serving Chandon’s new spritz cocktail.

Open daily, 11am-4.30pm, until the end of February

The Avani Wines summer series will bring Melbourne's best chefs to the Mornington Peninsula.

AVANI WINES SUMMER SERIES

Mornington

Family-owned winery Avani Wines popular summer series will have chef Mischa Tropp on the pots and pans until December 30.

He’ll pass the baton to Biji Dining’s Harry Mangat from January 7 to February 14.

The four course lunches focus on Indian fare. On Valentine’s Day, Mangat joins ex-Bar Saracen chef Tom Sarafian for a collab.

98 Stanleys Rd, Red Hill South

Only Hospitality Group chief Julien Moussi at his new Rosebud cafe Hobson. Picture: Nicki Connolly.

HOBSON

Rosebud

Only Hospitality Group founder Julien Moussi has added another cafe to his growing hospo portfolio, this time filling a brunch and coffee void along the Mornington Peninsula coastline.

Expect Ingelwood Coffee on the machine, acai bowls, chilli scrambled eggs, and smashed avo on the all-day menu. Hobson is open daily from 7am to 4pm.

1489 Point Nepean Rd

BONNY

Blairgowrie

Yep, there’s another new venue called Bonny opening this silly season. Only Hospitality Group’s third cafe to open in December will be a summertime pit-stop for coffee (Inglewood, of course) and cocktails. Open daily from 6.30am-4pm.

2827 Point Nepean Rd