A bite-sized recap of the biggest stories of the week, so you know where to go and what to order across Melbourne and Victoria. Check in each week so you can be the smartest person in your group chat.

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Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes & Bakeries guide

It’s safe to say Melbourne’s cafe scene has changed quite drastically since the last time Good Food ran a comprehensive cafe guide in 2014. Back then, a good cafe meant top notch coffee and a sit-down brekkie, but now the definition has expanded considerably to include expertly-made pastries and sandwiches, matcha and Mont Blancs and a diversity of culturally rich and delicious breakfast foods. Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025, presented by T2, includes more than 100 venues reviewed anonymously across 10 categories including icons, those best for food, tea, coffee and matcha, and where to get the city’s best sweets, sandwiches and baked goods. View the full list here.

Sweet deal: Free pizza at an inner southeast wine bar

Prahran wine bar The Alps, run by the team behind hatted Richmond hotspot Clover, has undergone a major revamp. It welcomes a new head chef this week – Miller “Mimmo” Cowie (Freddy’s, Zita’s) – who has introduced a hot new menu revolving around Italian-centric comfort food. Think crispy Romana pizza, fried meatballs, and a 400-strong wine list. To celebrate its opening weekend, the neighbourhood bar is slinging free pizza on Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8 from 1pm. Bookings are encouraged.

Two dreamy winter hot chocolates to try this long weekend

Cult Melbourne bakery Baker Bleu has just introduced two rich, chocolatey additions to its new Cremorne store’s menu. In collaboration with nearby chocolate factory Hunted + Gathered, the hot choccy flavours include a decadent 70 per cent dark couverture chocolate served with a housemade vanilla marshmallow, plus a hot version of its summer classic, the tiramisu iced latte, involving hot cocoa, espresso and whipped cream. The new drinks are available from Friday June 6 for a limited time only.

Nonno in the Kitchen + a simple crocche’ di patate recipe

Everybody loves nonna’s cooking, but mother-of-three Jessica Timpano is uncovering the culinary secrets of Australia’s Italian grandfathers – including those of her own dad, Bart Nicoliello. Read more about Timpano’s passion project Nonno in the Kitchen and get Nonno Bart’s easy crocche’ di patate (potato croquettes) recipe here.

Hump day special: $50 date night at Marameo

The midweek dining specials just keep on coming, and Italian CBD eatery Marameo’s Wednesday date night is a doozy. For just $50 per person, you’ll get a half-litre carafe of Italian white or red wine, a serve of fluffy, house-made rosemary focaccia paired with salami, prosciutto and mortadella, plus the star of the show – Marameo’s cavatappi bolognese ragu baked with a cheesy pecorino bechamel. Dessert is deep-fried zeppoli served with chocolate sauce. Book here.

A new southside bar serves Sydney Road’s favourite falafels

South Yarra might be brimming with wine and cocktail bars, but there’s a key point of difference at Nobody’s Baby, a new addition to Toorak Road – it’s serving falafels of Brunswick’s Very Good Falafel fame. Find out Good Food critic Dani Valent’s verdict on the southside bar here.

Emma Breheny reviews craft beer hangout Benchwarmer

You know the katsu is worth trying when Good Food restaurant editor Emma Breheny crowns it “one of the juiciest pieces of crumbed chicken” she’s ever had. This was the case at Benchwarmer, a local West Melbourne haunt for Japanese-leaning snacks and craft beer. Read the full verdict here.

A new Euro bistro and wine bar arrives in Middle Park

Following months of anticipation from Middle Park locals, restaurateur Matteo Bruno (Tartine, Ned’s Bake) has finally opened the doors to Middle Park European, an elevated diner and bar offering an Italian-leaning menu with French flourishes. Find out what you need to know about the new addition to Armstrong Street here.

The download: Friday, May 30

Thi Le’s crispy banh xeo recipe

Banh xeo (crispy, savoury crepe) is ubiquitous in Vietnam. It’s typically used as a vehicle to wrap fresh veggies before dunking in a dipping sauce that may vary by region. But despite its seeming simplicity, it can be difficult to authentically recreate the dish at home. Until now. See Anchovy chef and co-owner Thi Le’s foolproof banh xeo recipe here.

Fine dining chef opens day-to-night diner with a globetrotting menu

Indian-born chef Nishant Arora (ex-Society, Cutler & Co) has brought his global fine-dining experience to a new neighbourhood restaurant in Caulfield North. Banksia is the latest addition to Hawthorn Road with an approachable menu that spans cuisines across Europe, Asia, Australia and beyond. Find out what you need to know here.

Hump day special: $45 date night at Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca

Each Wednesday, Fitzroy’s favourite Italian trattoria Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca puts on a date night special with serious bang for buck. Dine from 5pm to 9pm to enjoy one of Rocco’s famous meatball subs and a house pasta to share, plus a half-litre wine carafe and a soft serve of the day for dessert. The best part? You’ll get all of that for just $45 per person.

Neil Perry’s cosy braised lamb recipe

Perfect for either a make-ahead midweek dish or your next dinner party, Neil Perry’s slow-cooked lamb neck braise is the ultimate comfort dish to help you defrost this winter. It’s rich, garlicky and best served atop soft polenta with a fresh green salad. You can also save the recipe for a rainy day (literally) on the Good Food app.

Sweet deal: Celebrate Gemini season with an oyster and Champagne happy hour

Gemini season has officially arrived, and whether you’re into astrology or not, it’s hard to resist a happy hour as good as this. To celebrate its namesake star sign, Coburg wine bar Gemini is serving a very happy hour from 5pm to 6pm on Wednesdays through to Saturdays for the entirety of the season (May 21 to June 21) including a rotating specials menu of Champagne, truffles and oysters. It’s also hosting a series of events for the month, including Sunday sessions, extended opening hours, tarot readings and more. Check out what’s on here.

Dani Valent reviews bayside cafe with a secret matcha menu

It’s no secret that the matcha craze has taken over Melbourne. At Cheltenham’s new Asian-inspired cafe Sana, there’s an entire menu filled with variations of the green tea beverage – you just have to ask. Foodwise, find fusion brunch dishes like udon carbonara, wagyu katsu sandos and more. See Good Food critic Dani Valent’s full review here.

Eat streets: We ate our way through Melbourne’s Koreatown

CBD laneway Healeys Lane has long been known as Melbourne’s unofficial Koreatown – until last September, when the cobblestoned street became an official City of Melbourne designation. With more than 20 Korean businesses occupying the street and its surrounds, Good Food joined Doju chef Mika Chae to hit up a handful of the best hot spots for Korean food in the city.

The download: Friday, May 23

Meal prep: Five ways with beef bowls

Planning Sunday’s meal prep? Take the hassle out of midweek lunches or dinners with Katrina Meynink’s recipe for bulk beef mince that can easily be added to different variations of beef bowls – from a TikTok viral dish to an Asian-inspired gochujang-honey iteration, a healthy harissa and tahini mix, plus more. See all the recipes here.

Must-order Melbourne sandwiches

In the latest edition of Sandwich Watch, Good Food’s column dedicated to the essential Melbourne sangers, rolls, subs and jaffles you need to know about, Tomas Telegramma and Dani Valent divulge the hottest sandwiches to try at three venues across the city (including a herby, Greek-inspired spanakopita toastie).

Malvern East gains a new bakery

The owners of South Melbourne fine diner Lucia have set up shop in Malvern East with Breadcetera, a new bakery, grocery store and sandwich shop dubbed “the milkbar for 2025″. On the baked front, expect loaves, bagels, focaccia, pastries and more. Read our verdict and everything you need to know here.

Hump day special: Steak night at Lilac

Need a little hump-day pick-me-up? Every Wednesday from 4pm, Cremorne wine bar Lilac is firing up the grill with a steak special, perfect for when your midweek cooking motivation is waning. It includes a 250g dry-aged rump, potato gratin, salad by Common Ground Project, plus sauce, all for just $28. Talk about a bargain.

Viral Turkish pasta recipe

Remember when everyone on TikTok was making Turkish pasta? If you didn’t jump on board the trend, you can now with this quick and easy lamb pasta recipe, inspired by flavours of manti (Turkish dumplings). It’s tangy, garlicky, and sure to impress the entire family.

Laneige launches limited edition bubble tea lip masks

Cult beauty brand Laneige is combining the popularity of bubble tea, matcha and its viral lip masks into two scrumptious limited-edition lip treatment flavours: taro bubble tea and matcha bubble tea. The new products include a lip sleeping mask ($30) and a glowy lip balm ($28), available at Sephora while stocks last. sephora.com.au

Dani Valent reviews Collingwood’s day-to-night diner

Amped up toasties for lunch? Steak nights with free fry refills? Smash burgers, cocktails, and Sunday morning pancakes with fried chicken? Get all of the above and more at JollyGood Diner, an all-day American-style eatery with a Melburnian touch. Read Good Food critic Dani Valent’s full review here.

Warm up with this cosy Italian-style tomato, sausage and lentil soup

Evenings have become a little frostier in Melbourne, meaning it’s well and truly time to dust off the soup pot. To kick off the season, try Danielle Alvarez’s pork sausage and tomato soup (serve with crusty garlic bread for the ultimate comfort meal). Or, find other soup recipes here and save your favourites on the Good Food app.

The download: Friday, May 16

Etta to open new restaurant in former Bar Romantica site

Hannah Green – owner of hatted Brunswick East restaurant Etta – is expanding her footprint on Lygon Street with the launch of new neighbourhood restaurant and bar, Daphne. The venue will focus on Euro-centric share plates cooked in a custom-built woodfire grill and oven. Slated to open in September, Daphne will occupy the space previously home to Bar Romantica. Find out more here.

Weekend pour: Savvy b with a twist

It might seem heinous to mess with the crowd-favourite sauvignon blanc – or savvy b as it’s affectionately known among Aussies – but the latest trend on TikTok has seen a new vino recipe emerge: the spicy sauvignon blanc. Simply freeze jalapeno slices and add them to your favourite pour for a refreshing drink with a spicy twist. Need inspo? Discover three playful white wine blends, including a sav blanc blend, here.

Melbourne is getting another private members’ club

67 Pall Mall, the London-based private members’ club with branches across Singapore and Switzerland, is coming to Melbourne next year. The $35 million venue will span four levels and 2000 square metres in a landmark site above Parliament Station. Find out what we know so far here.

Curry in a hurry: speedy takeaway swaps

Meal planning for next week? Or stuck for inspiration and reaching for the takeout menu? These 15 home-made curries are tasty, affordable alternatives to ordering in – and quicker too. You can also save your favourites for later on the Good Food app.

Sweet deal: Bar Brillo’s $20 Wednesday pasta night

Cosy neighbourhood wine bar and eatery Bar Brillo in Aberfeldie is serving up an irresistible hump day special: $20 bowls of fresh, handmade pasta. The pasta changes weekly – it could be a rigatoni with rich tomato sugo, fried eggplant and salted ricotta. Brillo’s regular menu is available too; see our recommendations on what to order here.

How to make food last longer (without harming the planet)

Hold on to your jam jars and take stock of old tea towels. Writer and sustainability educator Anna Matilda shares her eco-savvy hacks to help stretch the storage life of your favourite foods. See her top tips inthis edited extract from Everyday Permaculture.

The Tipo 00 crew is opening its first non-Italian restaurant

The team behind one of Melbourne’s most iconic Italian restaurants, Tipo 00, is opening Harriot in late June beneath a city office block at the business end of town. But the new venue won’t be strictly Italian; instead it draws from European wine bars and bistros with a menu that nods to French, Spanish, Italian and British cuisine.

Loco Love launch specialty hot chocolate

There’s a new entry in the world of posh hot chocolate. Byron Bay-based Fairtrade chocolatier Loco Love has released Chuncho Drinking Cacao – a gold-wrapped sun disc made from an heirloom Peruvian cacao bean that dissolves into a deliciously rich, slightly bitter brew. Each disc is priced at $7.95, or get six for $55.

Vietnamese chicken salad recipe + other easy midweek favourites

Stuck on what to cook tonight? The weather might be getting cooler, but it’s still (just) sunny enough in Melbourne to warrant salads for an easy midweek fix. Adam Liaw’s juicy Vietnamese chicken salad is quick and easy to throw together, and you can find more simple dinner recipes here.

Lune Lab’s $90 croissant tasting menu

Croissant enthusiasts can now get Lune for entree, main and dessert with the iconic croissanterie’s $90 tasting menu at Lune Lab in Fitzroy. But is it worth the cost? The Age’s chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell gives us the low-down in her latest review.

The download: Friday, May 9

Four to try: Melbourne’s best charcoal chicken

A new wave of Melbourne venues are putting a fresh spin on a takeaway dish long rooted in the Australian food landscape: the humble rotisserie chook. Try a close Chick-fil-A dupe at Chook in Cremorne, plus more.

The Age’s chief restaurant critic unveils her identity

After 20 years as an anonymous restaurant critic – one of the world’s last – Besha Rodell is finally revealing her face. Find out why she’s given up her identity and what it means for her reviews here.

Piccolina’s tiramisu ice-cream sandwich

In collaboration with Yarraville deli Rocco’s, Melbourne ice-cream favourite Piccolina has made a decadent, creamy tiramisu gelato sandwich featuring coffee- and marsala-soaked savoiardi sponge, marsala ganache, mascarpone gelato and Belgian dark chocolate. It’s available now across all eight Piccolina stores for $22.

Adam Liaw’s most underrated and overrated foods

Where do kingfish carpaccio, hot dogs, caviar, and burgers sit on Good Food columnist Adam Liaw’s scale of great to yeah, nah mate? Not where you might expect. Find out his thoughts on some of the country’s most popular foods here.

The download: Friday, May 2

Our critic returned to Attica

Attica’s Ben Shewry famously declared that he does “not consent” to reviews of his world-class Ripponlea restaurant.Good Food’s chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell returned to the Melbourne dining institution anyway to pen a review of how it holds up in 2025.

A Sunday sauce that will make your house smell like a home

Level up your Sunday meal prep this week with Katrina Meynink’s meaty, slow-cooked pasta sauce recipe. It simmers for five hours so you can get your Sunday chores done while your house smells like Nonna’s.

Hot ticket: Sunda is back with Saadi pop-up

Hatted Punch Lane restaurant Sunda is back – well, sort of. The modern South-east Asian diner is re-opening its doors for Saadi at Sunda, a pop-up by chef couple Saavni Krishnan and Aditya “Adi” Suresh. It runs from June 12 to July 26 and includes an $80 set dinner menu (or a smaller, $40 set lunch menu) of Indian-ish dishes.

Our most popular recipes of April

Adam Liaw’s one-pan chicken and potato recipe might just be the perfect midweek meal. Less than six ingredients? Tick. Crowd-pleasing? Tick. Budget friendly? Tick, tickety tick. Find it, plus more dinner inspiration, in our wrap-up of the top recipes in April.

Save your favourite recipes and restaurants on the Good Food app

No more dog-earing your recipe books. The Good Food app has launched a new saved function, which allows you to compile all your favourite recipes in one easy place. Simply click the bookmark icon to save, then head to the Saved page on the navigation panel to view. The Good Food app is home to more than 10,000 recipes from Australia’s top cooks, including Nagi Maehashi, Adam Liaw, Helen Goh, Neil Perry, Karen Martini, Emelia Jackson and more.