Grill Americano

With Grill Americano, restaurateur Chris Lucas wasn’t looking to create another Italian restaurant. Melbourne had plenty of those already. Instead, his Italian steakhouse is a reimagining of the grills and brasseries prevalent in Melbourne throughout the ’60s and into the early ’80s. The menu’s centrepiece, though, is the grill section and its bistecca alla Fiorentina. A star of Tuscan cuisine, here it comes in the form of a 1.2-kilogram T-bone cooked over charcoal and doused in sea salt and rosemary.

Location: 101 Collins Street Melbourne 3000

Email: reservations@grillamericano.com

Phone: (03) 8616 8010

Website: grillamericano.com

Smith St Bistrot

Designer Sarah Townson of Anthology has warmed up the exposed-brick interior with fresh moss, antique mirrors, gothic chandeliers and burgundy banquettes, which line the wall opposite the bar. It’s stocked with all the makings of a classic Parisian cocktail spot (think dirty Martinis and French 75s) and an extensive selection of French and local wine.

Location: 300 Smith Street Collingwood 3066

Email: info@smithstbistrot.com.au

Phone: (03) 9419 2202

Website: smithstbistrot.com.au

Stokehouse

When Stokehouse re-opened in December 2016, it was booked up until March 2017 within 24 hours. Such is the love that Melburnians have for the seaside diner, which was founded in 1989 and destroyed by fire in January 2014. The refit produced three distinct spaces. 

Location: Upstairs 30 Jacka Boulevard St Kilda 3182

Email: info@stokehouse.com.au

Website: http://www.stokehouse.com.au/

Tel: +610395255555

Embla

Christian McCabe believes you don’t need to know anything about a band to enjoy going to a bar and listening to live music. And that wine is just the same.

Location:122 Russell Street Melbourne 3000

Email: ask@embla.com.au

Website: http://embla.com.au/

Tel: +610396545923

Aru

Walking into Aru – by Sunda chef Khanh Nguyen and Adi Halim (owner of Sunda and The Hotel Windsor) – the first thing you’ll notice is the blazing woodfire hearth. The second is the sheer number of chefs and staff gracefully criss-crossing the room.

The busy kitchen occupies one side of the narrow Little Collins Street restaurant; on the other, diners perch on cosy banquettes and curved timber chairs. 

Location: 268 Little Collins Street Melbourne 3000

Email: info@aru.net.au

Website: https://aru.net.au/

Tel: +610399398113

Navi

Typically, it’s living room lights that shine through the curtains on sleepy Gamon Street. From behind one gauzy grey set, though, comes the glow of Navi. Beneath a corrugated and wrought-iron awning is the door to chef Julian Hills’s first restaurant, where rigorous European technique meets native ingredients and Eastern philosophy.

Location: 83B Gamon Street Yarraville 3013

Email: hello@restaurantnavi.com.au

Website: https://www.restaurantnavi.com.au/

Tel: +610399399774