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The bullhorn peppers and tartine at Ophelia.

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Your November hit list: The hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now

From fabulous French bars to rooftop restaurants, Melbourne’s heaving with top quality new hotspots. Here are 21 to add to your spring hit list.

21 stories
Le Splendide’s zinc bar was made to order in France.

France-Soir’s Le Splendide bar is here at last

  • Tomas Telegramma
The main salon at Gigi has antique chandeliers, hand-painted walls and velvet banquettes.

There’s nothing understated about Entrecote’s new bar, Gigi

  • Tomas Telegramma
The bullhorn peppers and tartine at Ophelia.

Top Melbourne cafe groups shakes things up with daytime diner Ophelia

  • Tomas Telegramma
A huge curved screen above the buffet projects an undulating underwater seascape into the 220-seater diner.

It’s an all-you-can-eat adventure at Dainty Sichuan’s new hotpot and barbecue buffet

  • Tomas Telegramma
Rooftop restaurant Amatrice has 10th-floor views that span almost 360 degrees.

Cafe Amatrice is raising the roof(top) in Cremorne

  • Tomas Telegramma
Kirbie in South Melbourne

Kirbie wine bar - plus more new South Melbourne hot spots

  • Tomas Telegramma
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Casa Mariotti

Casa Mariotti is Richmond’s new budget-friendly Roman wine bar

  • Tomas Telegramma
The go-to dish: chicken ballotine.
14.5/20

Malin is Carlton North’s excellent new French-style wine bar

  • Besha Rodell
The New Moon Mart cafe in South Melbourne, and its rye with smoked salmon rillettes.

Popular Moon Mart cafe has made the move to West Melbourne

  • Tomas Telegramma
Play “spot the camel” at La Vetta.
Good Food hat15/20

La Vetta is the newly hatted hilltop winery restaurant

  • Dani Valent
Catch your own dinner, or let one of the members of staff net one for you.

Catch and cook your own dinner at seafood hotpot restaurant Fishing Season

  • Dani Valent
Deep-fried chicken thigh with hot oil garlic sambal.

Choose from 20 chilli sambals at Australia’s first Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal

  • Dani Valent
Malewa City pop-up restaurant in Balaclava.

Malewa City is the kind of place that makes Melbourne worth celebrating

  • Dani Valent
Lunch and cocktails at Morena Barra.
14/20

CBD bar Morena Barro may be the start of Melbourne’s Latino age

  • Besha Rodell
Cochinita pibil (pork) tacos.
14/20

Ride the vertical tram to Mexi-Melbourne stalwart Mesa Verde

  • Dani Valent
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The high-ceilinged former factory space is warmed by artwork, plants, and chandeliers.
Good Food hat15/20

No. 7 in Healesville has a casual but elegant atmosphere, good service and great flavours

  • Besha Rodell
Bang Fitzroy
12.5/20

Fitzroy’s much-hyped StandardX hotel’s restaurant Bang has landed

  • Besha Rodell
White rice; kale mallum; chicken, beetroot and cassava curries; pappadum.

Ceylonese by South Ceylon might be the cheapest feast in the south-east?

  • Dani Valent
Elio’s Place, a new all-day eatery in Flinders Lane, feels as if it’s been here for decades.
14.5/20

Elio’s is the all-day diner the CBD has been missing

  • Dani Valent
Year-old bakery Lumos is already a local favourite.

Lumos bakes up some magic in the suburbs

  • Dani Valent
Service at Circl is casual but has fine-dining underpinnings.
Good Food hat15/20

Circl is a modern wine cave offering sophisticated snacks and education by the glass

  • Besha Rodell

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/your-november-hit-list-the-hot-new-and-just-reviewed-places-to-check-out-right-now-20241030-p5kmnr.html