Melbourne Food & Drink News for the Foodies

Melbourne is the king of the foodie scene. Every week there's a cool new restaurant, bar or hidden gem popping up around the city just waiting to be discovered. And while it's great for our taste buds (our wallets not so much), it can be hard to keep up with everything that's brand-spanking-new, or all of the events that roll around quicker than the blink of an eye. 

Need a hub to find all your Melbourne food news? That's exactly what this is! Keep reading to find out the latest on our city's food and drink scene.

Free Rainbouu Oakberry Acai

Free acai! We repeat, free acai! To celebrate both daylight savings and their new collaborative collection, clothing brands Bonds and Double Rainbouu have partnered with Oakberry Acai to give away free Rainboww acai bowls to the first 100 customers that walk through their doors and are signed up to Bonds Rewards this Saturday. The 15-piece collection will take you from bed to beach - and back again - with Bonds' classic comfy styles matched with Double Rainbouu's beachy prints.

Saturday October 5th

Available at Oakberry locations in St Kilda, Hawthorn and Melbourne CBD

Nation's Most In-Demand Find Wines are on Pour at LANGTONS Tasting Event

Wine lovers, this one's for you! You'll be able to try some of the finest wine available in the country that has been featured in the latest edition of LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine at an event called ‘LANGTONS Classified.' Last held in 2018, the return of this event is highly anticipated, featuring lauded fine wines that will be available for tasting - plus, the opportunity to meet the producers. Held at Marvel Stadium, there are currently general admission tickets available for purchase, as well as 1st Classified tickets, allowing you to taste the full 100-bottle line up.

11th October

Secure your tickets here

740 Bourke Street, Docklands

Free Ice Cream Pop Ups Around Melbourne This Week

Food + Drink Victoria and Agriculture Victoria are celebrating Victoria's agriculture with a brand new ice cream pop up series: The Scoop. Five unique ice cream flavours have been developed in collaboration with Billy Van Creamery, and not only are you able to try them for free, you can also purchase them in store for the month of October. The flavours include olive oil and salt, walnut and caramelised honey, Meredith goat cheese and fig, brown-butter apple pie with cinnamon myrtle and strawberry swirl.

You'll be able to get a free scoop at the following locations on these days:

Thursday 3rd October, 11.00am to 2.00pm, Wesley Place, 130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Friday 4th October, 11.00am to 2.00pm, Queensbridge Square, 3 Queens Bridge St, Melbourne

Saturday 5th October, 11.00am to 2.00pm, Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Sunday 6th October, 11.00am to 2.00pm, , Domain Road Gate D, Royal Botanic Gardens 

Celebrate French Rosé With a Long Lunch at Entrecôte

Beloved French restaurant Entrecôte is launching a $90 long lunch including four glasses of rosé and a special four course set menu to celebrate French rosé. The long lunch will be offered in the newly launched Conservatoire, which is a tribute to the great courtyards and indoor gardens of Paris - the perfect setting for a long lunch this Spring! The set menu is expertly curated by Head Chef, Timothy Menger, showcasing the finest in French gastronomy and cuisine. Grab your girlfriends and head on over to yap the day away over some rosé!

Half pour $90 per person, full pour $110 per person

142 Greville Street, Prahan

The Piccolina Gelato Project Returns

Piccolina is back with season four of its much loved Piccolina Project. Across eight weeks, Piccolina will see eight chefs come in and create limited-edition flavours that will be rotating weekly. It's the perfect excuse to indulge in a scoop (or three) on a regular basis. What's good for the heart is good for the soul!

From 2nd October

Available at Piccolina stores across Melbourne, see website for location details

Shop 225 x Il Caminetto Collaboration Dinner for Mental Health Month

Shop 225 and Il Caminetto are coming together in the first week of October to help raise awareness for mental health month nin a collaborative dinner. Andrea Brunetti, creator of famous Italian restaurant, Sileo Pizzeria, will be visiting Melbourne and participating in this 4hands dinner to bring his world renowned creations to Melbourne.

Shane Delia from Maha will also be creating a pasta dish for Il Caminetto that will be sold exclusively on the night. Plus, AFL player Ben Brown will be in attendance as a guest of honour to help raise awareness for mental health month, too.

2nd October at Shop225, 225 Melville Road, Pascoe Vale South

3rd of October at Il Caminetto, 114 Pascoe Vale Road, Moonee Ponds

5.00pm until close

Pidapipo x Julia Busuttil Nishimura Announce Gelato Collaboration and Giveaway

Pidapipo, Melbourne’s beloved gelato destination, has teamed up with acclaimed cook and author Julia Busuttil Nishimura to celebrate the release of her new cookbook, 'Good Cooking Everyday'.

This collaboration brings a delightful twist to a classic Greek dessert, Bougatsa, with the launch of an exclusive gelato flavour! A bougatsa is a Greek custard pie, and this gelato flavour flavour features a zesty lemony semolina custard gelato, coated in caramelised filo pastry flakes and served in a waffle cone. You can also enjoy a traditional Bougatsa from the 2nd October to 6th October at Pidapipo Laboratorio in Fitzroy. Plus, if you arrive between 5pm to 7pm, Julia will be handing out free Bougatsa custard pies topped with the limited edition gelato flavour. What's not to love?

16th Seprember to 6th October

il Mercato Centrale to Open in Melbourne

Much-loved il Mercato Centrale is opening its very first location in Melbourne on the 19th of September. This will be a food haven in Melbourne's CBD from Thursday to Sunday, and involve 23 artisans who will form a collaborative ecosystem, supplying ingredients and produce to one another. Originally founded in Florence, Italy, it's incredibly exciting to have this market that's done so well in numerous Italian states come to Melbourne - the first il Mercato Centrale outside of Italy.

Open from 19th September, 4.00pm

Hello Kitty Pop-Up Cafe Arriving in Chadstone

Starting 20th September, Chadstone will host a charming pop-up Hello Kitty Cafe to celebrate Sanrio’s iconic character’s 50th anniversary. Nestled within The Social Quarter, this sweet cafe promises a delightful experience for fans, foodies, and pop culture lovers alike. Expect Hello Kitty-inspired treats like strawberry sandos, themed bento boxes, iced matcha lattes, cakes, and cookies.

The celebration also features an eye-catching installation by renowned street artist Sofles, limited-edition merchandise, and a vibrant school holiday program.

Visit Chadstone for a fun-filled, nostalgia-rich celebration and indulge in a taste of Hello Kitty’s world with delicious bites and playful vibes!

From 20th September

1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone

New Acai Bowl & Smoothie Store Opens in Montmorency

North-siders have a new acai bowl, smoothie and wellness store to enjoy after their weekend workouts and for a healthy lunchtime treat! Halo Bowls is blending up delicious, healthy acai bowls that are filled to the brim with extra yummy treats like shredded coconut, granola, chia seeds, peanut butter, Nutella and more. There are so many combinations to choose from, all equally delicious and bound to leave you wanting more. Halo's smoothies are equally as mouth-watering, packed with all the vitamins and goodness you need to fuel you throughout the day.

4 Were Street, Montmorency

Innocent Bystander Releases New Watermelon Spritz for Spring

Award-winning Yarra Valley winery, Innocent Bystander, have created a new, unique wine that we'll be sipping on all spring and summer long: a Watermelon Spritz. Fruity, fresh and ready to drink, all you need to do is get your cutest wine glasses ready to go and gather your friends so you can pop it open in style. Light, bright and perfect for the warmer days ahead, enjoy this Watermelon Spritz chilled, or served over ice with a sprig of mint.

$25

Shop now

Maha East Launches 'ARAB'iata $15 Weekly Pastas

We all love a good bowl of pasta, but the experience becomes even better when the bowl is only $15. Maha East is collaborating with several of Melbourne's best chefs including Ben Cooper (seen above), Scott Pickett and Moscha Tropp to bring a $15 weekly rotating pasta series to Melbourne: 'ARAB'iata. Kicking off on the 16th of September, thi8s series will see eight chefs grace the Maha East kitchen with their unique spins on classic Italian dishes, adding in their own personal flair. 

Every Monday to Wednesday, 16th September to 6th November

Walk-ins welcome, bookings can be made here

36 Chapel Street, Windsor

Mulline Wines Wins Big at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards 

Mulline, the acclaimed Geelong winery, has just been honoured as Best Value Winery at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2025. Crafted by the talented duo Ben Mullen and Ben Hine, Mulline's portfolio is a treasure trove of exceptional wines, including standout Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and their remarkable cool-climate Syrah.

Even with just five vintages under their belt, their 2023 Syrah and Gris are already crowd favourites, while the 2023 Port Arlington Chardonnay, at $60, is a true revelation of richness, creaminess, and complexity. 

Mulline’s dedication to excellence and social responsibility shines through in every bottle, with many wines offering outstanding value under $60.

Discover their exquisite offerings and become a member of their Wine Club, or enjoy their wines at prestigious venues like Longrain, France Soir, or Reine & La Rue.

Whiskey Aged in Old Melbourne Gaol Now Available

Little Lon Distilling Co has released their highly anticipated Little Lon Whiskey. This spirit has quite the story, being aged in Old Melbourne Gaol cell number 13 for the past two years, maturing under optimal conditions and absorbing the essence of its surroundings. The result? A whiskey that's as unique as the city it's made in.

$135

Shop now

Tombo Den's Opening Weekend is Here

Chris Lucas is opening what is yet to be another hotspot, and this time, it's a multi-level Japanese restaurant and sake bar. Tombo Den will officially open to the public on 7th September, with timeslots available to be booked in advance. Expect to dine on market-fresh sushi and select indulgent drinks from an extensive list of imported sakes curated by Tokyo-born Master Sommelier Yuki Hirose. There is also an intimate private dining space where guests can indulge in karaoke and bespoke cocktail experiences.

Chef Dan Chan has crafted a menu of continuously changing sashimi and nigiri offerings, as well as elevated dishes inspired by the street food of Tokyo.

Book here

100 Chapel Street, Windsor 

Limited Edition Lamb Shawarma from G. McBean Family Butcher x Shane Delia of Maha East 

If you frequent the Prahan Market, make sure to head down the weekend of the 14th and 15th of September to taste a limited edition collaboration between long-time friends and industry veterans, Gary McBean and Shane Delia of Maha East. G. McBean Family Butcher will be serving up a flavour-filled limited-edition Merguez Lamb Shawarma, featuring Gary’s lamb and merguez seasoning, combined with pickled onions, parsley, toum, Lebanese flatbread, and fried chips. It's only available until sold out, so make sure you get in early in you don't want to miss out.

$20

Stall 515/163 Commercial Road, South Yarra

Morena Melbourne Officially Opens

Highly anticipated Latin American restaurant Morena Melbourne is officially open as of Monday 2nd September. Diners have the choice of two unique experiences right next door to each other, Morena Restaurant and Morena Barra. Morena Restaurant is a more formal dining experience, with the option to choose either a tasting menu or enjoy selections from the a la carte menu. Morena Barra, on the other hand, is an all-day dining experience that is more casual, inspired by the cantinas of Latin America. 

Book here

71 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Friends of Fromage: Cheese Toastie Takeover at Maker & Monger 

Cheese lovers, this one's for you! Over the weekend, Maker & Monger launched the fifth instalment of their "Friends of Fromage" series, and it’s all about epic toastie collaborations. Each Saturday in September, a guest chef will take over the sandwich press to create their version of the ultimate cheese toastie—because there’s no such thing as too much melted cheese.

Here's the line-up:

• 7 / 8 Sept: The Rosheen - Tuna Sambal toastie with a kick.
• 14 / 15 Sept: The Shannon - A Mexican Cobb loaf with a cheesy twist.
• 21 / 22 Sept: The O.My - Textures of Artichoke toastie.
• 28 / 29 Sept: The Chae - Cashew doenjang Comté toastie.

Expect flavour-packed creations, crispy golden crusts, and all the cheese pulls your heart desires. 

Prahran Market, Stall 98/163 Commercial Road, South Yarra

The Crafty Squire Temporarily Closes Its Doors

The Crafty Squire will be closing its doors on 10th September, but don't worry, because it's bye for now, not forever. The microbrewery and pub has major renovation plans, and will be turned into a multi-level food and drink destination that will become a hub for people to gather in the heart of the CBD.

The first stage of the renovation is set to be unveiled to the public this summer, with further details to come.

127 Russell Street, Melbourne 

DOC Espresso Undergoes Renovations

After 20 years of trading, DOC Espresso has temporarily closed its doors to undergo renovations. This renovation is set to complement their new concept menus, elevating the dining experience and combining both traditional and contemporary Italian food, atmosphere and style. It plans to reopen its new and improved cafe and restaurant in late October.

In the mean time, you can still get your DOC fix right next door at DOC Delicatessan, located at 330 Lygon Street in Carlton.

326 Lygon Street, Carlton

Can't get enough Melbourne food and drink news and want to be in the know of more delicious restaurants, cafes and bars to book? Be sure to take a look at the best dining deals happening this week, or these fancy degustations if you want to dine out in style.