Coming Soon: 11 of the Most Anticipated Restaurants Opening Later This Year

We’re officially halfway through the year, and 2025 is flying. Exceptional new bars , restaurants , bakeries and cafes have already opened. But there’s still plenty more to come. From Tom Sarafian’s highly anticipated debut to Hugh Allen’s ambitious fine diner and an epic St Kilda chicken shop, here are 11 spots we can’t wait to try when they open later this year.

Zareh, Collingwood

In recent years, Tom Sarafian has become Melbourne’s preeminent pop-up chef, cooking everywhere from the Australian Open to Lee Ho Fook and Anchovy. The chef, who worked with the late Greg Malouf at Momo and London’s Petersham Nurseries, and was head chef at Rumi and Bar Saracen , hasn’t helmed a restaurant since Bar Saracen closed in 2021 during the Covid pandemic.

But this winter, he’ll finally open his restaurant Zareh in Collingwood. Sarafian will serve his signatures, including hummus topped with king prawn and spanner crab sauce, and other dishes drawing on his Egyptian and Armenian heritage. At launch, the restaurant will serve dinner, with lunch service to follow. There’ll also be a small retail section stocking both Sarafian’s hummus, toum and harissa as well as a number of products imported from Lebanon.

Yiaga, East Melbourne

When Hugh Allen returned to Melbourne after three years at Noma in 2018, he was already thinking about opening a restaurant. But in 2019, he took on the executive chef role at 25-year-old restaurant Vue de Monde instead. In spring, he’ll open Yiaga , a fine diner in the Fitzroy Gardens designed by architect John Wardle. He’ll retain his Vue role, but will really let his creativity run wild at Yiaga. “Having a place where no one’s got any preconception of what it should be or what it is … that’s really exciting,” the chef told Broadsheet in March.

Daphne, Brunswick East

Restaurateur Hannah Green, who worked at Attica before opening Hot-Listed restaurant Etta on Brunswick East’s Lygon Street in 2017, is taking over the former Bar Romantica space next door to launch a new venue, Daphne.

Green sees the 125-seat Daphne, expected to open in September, as a more casual space than Etta. She’s brought on Diana Desensi (ex- Saint George ) as head chef, and has inherited Bar Romantica’s 24-hour licence. Green plans to stay open late. She’s keeping the old venue’s sound system and will collaborate with Etta regular DJ JNETT on music for Daphne.

Bar Selecta, Hawthorn

Bar Selecta has one of the strongest opening teams around, with former Flower Drum bartender Joey Tai, sake sommelier Masaki Hisaike, The Elysian co-owner Kelvin Low, Golden Monkey co-founder Adam Ong and Brand Works ’s Michael and Eleena Tan, teaming up on the 10-seat venue. There’ll be small-batch Japanese whiskies, Tai’s expert cocktails and vintage vinyl. And the best part is you don’t have to wait long as Bar Selecta opens on Wednesday July 2.

Roma and Sergio’s, CBD

After almost two years of talks, in May, restaurateur Con Christopoulos ( The European , Kafeneion , Angel Music Bar ) signed the lease to two spaces in the courtyard at 120 Collins Street. In December, he plans to open Roma , a trattoria inspired by Rome, and Sergio’s , a bar and record store named for Italian spaghetti western filmmaker Sergio Leone.

Matt Wilkinson (co-founder of Pope Joan ) will join Roma as chef and co-owner, and Giovanni Patane (co-founder of Supermaxi ) will oversee the floor. And Greg Molinaro of Abbotsford shop Hub 301 , will open a record store inside Sergio’s.

Yang Thai, St Kilda

Former Earth Angels chef Narit Kimsat and Waxflower co-founder Jimmy Pham will focus on flavour and affordability at Yang Thai. Their mostly – but not strictly – southern Thai-focused chicken shop is expected to open before the end of September. A highlight will be the $25 lunchtime meal of tofu, fish or golae chicken (a southern Thai dish of grilled skewers coated in coconut milk and barbeque sauce) each served with salad, sticky rice and sauce.

Melitta Next Door, Carlton

Bar Bellamy founders, husband-and-wife duo Danielle and Oska Whitehart, are readying Melitta Next Door , a wine and cocktail bar right next door to their first venue. There’ll be a Mediterranean barbeque menu by Melitta head chef Lorena Corso of pop-up series Sicilian Smokeout. And Lachy Boyle – who worked at Black Pearl for over four years – is on board to oversee drinks. Unlike at Bar Bellamy, where cocktails are made to order, Melitta will focus on pre-batched cocktails, which will help keep staff costs and prices down.

Sachi, CBD

After three years of fine-tuning at three pop-ups, seafood specialist Sachi is finally settling down. The team is putting the finishing touches on a 60-seat space at 179 Queen Street in the CBD and plans to open in the next few weeks

While the final menu is still evolving, the lunchtime trade of Reki Reinantha’s new venture will likely be a mix of raw fish, catch-of-the-day dishes and sushi omakase. Fan favourites, including the chirashi and the marlin hambagu, will also make appearances.

Tori’s, CBD

Hot-Listed Tori’s , hidden on Niagara Lane, would be hard to find if it wasn’t for the constant line down the street. This winter, the team will open its second location at 124 Exhibition Street. The new store is also considerably smaller, meaning there won’t be as much room for the mismatched cosy furniture the original location is known for. But visitors can expect Tori’s Japanese-inspired bakes and even more of the creative matcha drinks – especially the iced strawberry matcha.

Untitled Andrew McConnell Restaurant, CBD

We know very little about the new restaurant from Melbourne hospo gun Andrew McConnell, whose Trader House group is behind some of the city’s best restaurants including Obama-approved Gimlet , Cutler & Co and Supernormal. What we do know is McConnell is taking over the Becco space at 25 Crossley Street to open a yet-to-be-named restaurant that is expected to start service this year.

Additional reporting by Claire Adey and Alice Volfneuk