Coming Soon: Tzaki, a New All-Day Athenian Cafe and Meze Bar in Yarraville from an Ex-Hellenic Republic Chef

Yarraville Village will welcome Tzaki, a new Athenian spot from chef Alex Xinis, next month. Xinis, who previously worked as head chef at both The Press Club in the CBD and Hellenic Republic, is turning a small shopfront on Ballarat Street into an all-day cafe and meze Bar.

Tzaki, which translates from Greek to mean fireplace, is a fitting name for the venue, as Xinis’s menu will centre around woodfired cooking. Xinis says the spot will also “showcase Grecian specialities presented in a Melbourne way” and be largely inspired by the time the chef spent living and working in Athens.

Stop by during the day for takeaway offerings including Greek pastries like vanilla cream bougatsa (custard pie with phyllo pastry) and savoury lagana bread (Greek flatbread), all cooked in the on-site woodfired oven.

By night, Tzaki will become a casual 31-seat venue (with room for 16 inside and 15 outside). Expect dishes like hung, dried and wood-roasted Australian octopus, red mullet with braised chickpeas, and pan-fried smoked metsovone cheese sourced from north-western Greece. The team will also be pouring Greek wines to match the Athenian cooking.

The venue has been designed by In Addition Studio. Inside, galvanised steel, raw finishes, reclaimed timber, mosaic tiles and a slick red and orange paint job will add a fiery nod to the woodfire cooking.

Tzaki is due to open at 31 Ballarat Street, Yarraville in May 2024