Best Melbourne restaurants opening in 2021: INDU, Soda Fish, Ekeko

From a reimagined hospitality emporium with four new venues and a rooftop bar to a full fruit picking and dine-in experience, here are the best foodie feasts in 2021.

The Refectory Parlour, Werribee Park Mansion

This year may have been a write-off in the culinary games but next year is shaping up to be pretty sweet.

From a reimagined hospitality emporium with four new venues and a rooftop bar to a full fruit picking and dine-in experience, here are the best foodie feasts in 2021.

270 LONSDALE STREET

CBD, MID 2021

Having taken the keys in 2015, the HQ Group — Arbory Bar & Eatery and Arbory Afloat — has been planning, constructing and restoring a five-storey 1903 heritage building at 270 Lonsdale St to ready it as a reimagined hospitality emporium featuring four new venues, including a rooftop bar.

SODA FISH

LAKES ENTRANCE, SUMMER

He’s been keeping CBD suits in fish and freshly shucked oysters for years at Crown’s high-end seafood restaurant, The Atlantic. But now chef Nick Mahlook is returning to his hometown to elevate the humble fish and chip at the restored old ferry on the water at Lakes Entrance. Offering a fish and chipper plus seafood bar and grill and surrounded by fishing boats, Soda Fish will make the most of the catch of the day in the freshest way.

The Orchard at Montague takes farm to fork to the next level.

THE ORCHARD AT MONTAGUE

NARRE WARREN NORTH, JANUARY 11

Taking farm to fork to the next level, The Orchard at Montague will offer a full fruit experience when it opens in January. From pick-your-own fruit orchards through dine-in restaurant, Stella’s Kitchen, a retail store (Bill’s Orchard Gate) and bike store to hire wheels for exploring Lysterfield lake, the multidimensional offering will offer family friendly fun in fabulous fruit form.

INDU

CBD, EARLY 2021

Taking over the front of the existing Collins Quarter building — the rear of which has already opened as Mejico — Indu will be a celebration of Southern Indian and Sri Lankan village culture, flavours and hospitality. With a menu focusing on seafood and vegetarian plates, the venue will feature a main dining space downstairs with high tables, kitchen-bar seating, exposed circular booths and private booths as well as a private dining room upstairs.

THE SLIPWAY

LAKES ENTRANCE, SUMMER 2021

The popular East Gippsland town’s old slipway site on the foreshore will be transformed this summer into a new outdoor dining and arts space. Beer-lovers can enjoy tastings from the region’s renowned Sailor’s Grave Brewing. A Gippsland Jersey pop-up will serve taiyaki ice cream cones — a popular Japanese dessert shaped like a fish — while

an abundance of wild-caught local

seafood will be cooked by local restaurateur Sam Mahlook.

The Refectory Parlour at Werribee Park Mansion.

REFECTORY PARLOUR

WERRIBEE PARK, TODAY

Within the historic Werribee Mansion, the Refectory Parlour is a garden-style cafe and wine bar offering morning and afternoon teas, brunch and lunch as well as picnic boxes and grazing hampers to grab before heading into the gardens to explore.

80 COLLINS ST

CBD, FROM EARLY 2021

COVID might’ve postponed its headline launch by a year, but that hasn’t dimmed the excitement around the landmark development 80 Collins, which will feature two of 2021’s biggest restaurant openings. Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Kong, Baby, Kisume) lured Martin Benn and Vicki Wild from Sydney’s acclaimed Sepia restaurant with the promise of “creating a truly international restaurant”. Also making a mark will be Alejandro Saravia (Pastuso) with his Farmer’s Daughters, which will celebrate all the produce of Gippsland in a ground floor deli/cafe and restaurant with open “campfire kitchen”.

Jose Narvaez and Luciano Vanini are opening Peruvian restaurant Ekeko in CBD in 2021.

EKEKO

SOUTH YARRA, JANUARY

Named after the god of abundance, prosperity and good luck, Ekeko will bring traditional Peruvian dishes and hospitality to South Yarra. Opening in Jan on Toorak Rd, Luciano Vanini (Harley House) and Jose Narvaez will serve ceviche and tiraditos (raw, cured fish), some traditional Amazonian dishes and Peruvian pisco sours when they open on Jan 5.

STINGRAYS UPSTAIRS

ABBOTSFORD, EARLY 2021

It’s already Abbotsford’s favourite spot for a few cool crafty brews, now the team at Bodriggy are going up in the world — well, one level. What was a private events space will be transformed into Stingrays Upstairs offering another bar where the brewed onsite beers are teamed with smoked brisket sangas.