Melbourne's best new restaurants and bars

A tasteful palette of neutrals sets the sophisticated tone at From Here by Mike - the main restaurant at Melbourne's recently opened 1 Hotel. This is renowned restaurateur Mike McEnearney's first hotel eatery, upping the ante for not just desirable dining in Melbourne but also raising the bar for hotel restaurants. There's an exhaustive menu of shareable snacks, small things, large things, sides and sweets to choose from, including highlights such as twice-baked goat's-cheese souffles and Skull Island prawns grilled to perfection. But in true McEnearney style, a list of specials - depending on the fresh produce of the day - arrives at the table on a big blackboard, with surprises like a whole baby snapper. 1hotels.com/melbourne

Tucked among a small cluster of restaurants on Melbourne's Little Bourke Street, Kan Eang Thai Bistro is a casual eatery where traditional Asian flavours meet Western classics. Think butter infused with Tom Yum spice paste, beef tartare with Korean condiment gochujang and fried calamari with Sichuan spice. There's even a section of "Thai pasta", with options such as spaghetti with green curry chicken katsu and baked rigatoni with nam prik ong (a curry paste from north-eastern Thailand). "Kan eang" in Thai means "feel at ease" and both - the laid-back mood at the restaurant as well as the super-large portions of the dishes - achieve the desired result. It's a great place for a no-fuss, full-of-flavour meal with friendly service. ketb.thaiculinary.com.au

Vibe Melbourne's pop-up bar on level 22 was such a hit last year, the hotel has permanently converted its top-floor apartments into a stylish lair with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a wrap-around outdoor terrace. Go for the views; stay back for the drinks menu heaving with 50 different gins and more than 70 rums from Australia and beyond. A substantial food menu with irresistible mains, such as lobster crepes with citrus bisque, means you can make a night of it. Or a weekend if you like; the hotel's bright, airy, contemporary rooms are just a short elevator-ride away. Level 22, 1 Queen Street, Melbourne; fleetrooftopbar.com.au

An exhaustive menu of Australian and international drops is one of the biggest drawcards at this neighbourhood wine bar located in the heart of Melbourne's Albert Park precinct, but chef Damon McIvor is matching it with an equally enticing European-inspired food offering. Think dishes such as sirloin and horseradish with a generous splash of bordelaise. 67 Cardigan Place, Albert Park; wallysalbertpark.com.au

One of Melbourne's best-known chefs Shannon Martinez (of Smith & Daughters and Lona Misa) is behind this two-part drinking and dining offering in Docklands. Kick off the party at the second-floor Amphora bar with boundary-pushing cocktails (Elixir of Passion - a vegan yet heady blend of Belvedere, passionfruit, peach, agave, pineapple, lemon and white chocolate - would be our pick), then make your way to the ground-floor Friends of Fire restaurant for lip-smacking American fare, complete with steaks, briskets and woodfired ribs. 740 Bourke Street, Docklands; amphora.melbourne; friendsoffire.com.au

An unabashed celebration of Sri Lankan culture and cuisine, Hopper Joint is the brainchild of restaurateur Jason Jones and co-owner and interior designer Brahman Perera. If the restaurant's warm and inviting fit-out - complete with rattan chairs and antique chandeliers - don't leave you mesmerised, chef Ronith Arlikatti's hopper, sambols and rassams will surely do the trick. Oh, and did we mention the marigold-hued linen serviettes? 157 Greville Street, Prahran; hopperjointmelbourne.com.au

Read more on Explore:

Here's another pop-up success gone permanent. Kafeneion's limited-edition run on Bourke Street in 2023 gave many locals a chance to taste some exceptional Greek classics. No wonder the no-fuss concept by restaurateur Con Christopoulos has found a permanent home on Spring Street, with sensational dishes such as braised beef cheeks with shallots and spiced chicken with risoni. Level 1, 161 Spring Street, Melbourne; kafeneion.com.au

Strictly speaking, Castlerose is a subterranean cocktail bar, where concoctions range from classic Vespers to the envelope-pushing C&C Sour, with Four Pillars Gin, vermouth, lemon, egg white and raspberry syrup. But the food is so damn good - think duck rillette with fig jam and king fish ceviche with pickled cucumber - that you will be in no rush to leave. 67 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne; castlerose.com.au

Darling Group, which is behind some of Melbourne's best-known eateries (think Top Paddock and Higher Ground) has joined forces with chef Jun Sun (who earned his stripes at fine-diner Nobu) to launch an izakaya-inspired restaurant next to the South Yarra train station. Nab a spot at the counter set around a central open-plan kitchen, then pick from Sun's menu of sushis, sashimis, gyozas and dumplings, or leave the decision-making to the experts by opting for one of the two set menus priced at $85 and $120 per person. 151 Toorak Road, South Yarra; tokenrestaurant.com.au