Snack Bar: The Best Openings of the Year So Far and More Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

• Transport Hotel’s rooftop bar Transit at Fed Square has temporarily closed. The space will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation designed by Studio Y (Moon Dog Doglands, Nick and Nora’s). The bar will reopen with a drinks program overseen by Matt Linklater (Zareh).

• Chef Julian Hills’ Yarraville fine diner Navi is celebrating eight years with a month-long truffle-focused menu. The nine-course menu is available for $270 per person (or $225 per person on Saturdays at lunchtime) until Saturday August 1.

• On Wednesday July 8, Flinders Lane restaurant Lexy celebrates one year with a one-night-only banquet. For $120 per person, enjoy a welcome drink as well as a menu of kingfish with kombu seaweed, seared black cod with Thai red curry, and more. Plus, a burlesque performance and a DJ set.

Dine Out

• Book now: full 50-event program revealed for Dine Out 2026.

What we covered this week

• Melbourne’s 11 best new restaurants of 2026 (so far).

• Melbourne’s 11 best new bakeries and coffee shops of 2026 (so far).

• Melbourne’s 10 best new bars of 2026 (so far).

• The 13 best dishes we’ve eaten in Melbourne in 2026 (so far).

• 18 Melbourne bars, bakeries and restaurants that opened or closed in June.

• First look: The Gaso is reborn as Smith St Hotel – with the bandroom intact.

• First look: Remo’s brings its $8 tiramisu and affordable pasta bowls to Richmond.

• Abbotsford Convent restaurants Cam’s Kiosk and Julie have closed.

• First look: Mornington favourite Dreamer opens a second cafe on the Peninsula.

You might have missed

• Restaurants now have to disclose the origin of their seafood (or be caught out).