All the New Melbourne Restaurants, Bars and Cafes We Got Excited About in November and December

• First look: Mischa Tropp reinvigorates Southbank with Kolkata Cricket Club.

• First look: the Soi 28 team ditches boat noodles for southern Thai dishes at brand new restaurant R Harn.

• First look: French pastry technique meets Lebanese flavours at new bakery cafe Salam.

• Two top Sydney restaurateurs bet big on Melbourne with Marmelo and Mr Mills.

• First look: Grant Smillie brings LA vibes and a bit more cool to Crown with Marmont.

• Chef Michael Lambie makes his Melbourne return with pan-Asian restaurant Juni.

• Only Chris Lucas opens restaurants like Maison Batard.

• First look: Askal’s new rooftop bar Inuman is all about Filipino flavours and Pinoy drinking culture.

• The rice rolls are better at Liyin. Melbourne’s first outpost of the Guangzhou chain opens.

• First look: coconut latte pretzels, wild yeast loaves and more. Here’s what to get at new Camberwell bakery Toast House.

• First look: at Nine Yards Cremorne, brunch classics still hit hard.

• First Look: new gelato makers hit the scene with Good Daze Canteen.

• First look: two seasoned pros turn a suburban milk bar into a homey cafe.

• The revived Bendigo Hotel is now a great hangout (with fun gigs and birria tacos).

• First look: Thornbury gets a new wine and pasta bar.

• First Look: 330-seat venue Hotel Paradiso turns Frankston into Retro Miami with mirrorballs, disco-house DJ sets and house-made Neapolitan pizzas.

• First look: fancy finger buns and 800 chocolate brownie croissants are all made in-house at Darling Group’s new bakery-cafe Cheri.

• Hotel Sorrento launches a rooftop bar – right in time for summer.

• Family-owned wine bar Casa Mariotti brings rustic Roman dishes to Richmond.