The Melbourne hospitality scene is always in flux. Here are the new venues we got excited about this month, and the ones we were sad to see go.

Openings and new coverage

• First look: Hector’s Bakery is so much more than that.

• First look: “Japanese Starbucks” lands in Melbourne.

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• First look: Baker of Things in Richmond has Beatrix DNA.

• First look: the views are nearly 360 degrees at Slowpoke Rooftop Bar in Collingwood.

• First look: Pecks Road leads to “Filipino banh mi” and triple-ube doughnuts.

• First look: chicken is fried, smashed and smothered in sambal at Chinatown’s Geprek.

• First look: Scott Pickett opens a Parisian-style cafe at historical Como House.

• Quietly confident wine bar Suze is extremely Melbourne.

• Sushi On’s affordable CBD sibling has compressed sushi and brioche sandos.

• First look: Loku brings “Sri Lanka’s real taste” to Northcote.

• Nori Maki is redefining the Melbourne omakase experience.

• First look: Backspace Bar brings a neighbourhood feel to the Paris end.

• First look: Bar Taralli has volcanic wines and hard-to-find southern Italian dishes.

• First look: find street snacks and bento at Taiwan Village.

• First look: Nikuland has low-key teppanyaki and Wagyu hamburgs.

• First look: get coffee with a side of live music at Cremorne’s On Air.

• Yugen Tea Bar is completely different now.

Closures

• Melbourne farewells The Everleigh and Bar Margaux.

• It’s lights out for beloved live music venue The Gaso.

• Nathan Toleman and Kaidee Grzankowski’s Brunswick East venue Maggie’s Snacks and Liquor is now closed.

19 Melbourne Bars, Bakeries and Restaurants That Opened or Closed in February