Farm Cafe produce box
Photograph: Supplied
Photograph: Supplied

Restaurants and bars now selling groceries in Melbourne

There are only so many venues that can cater to takeaway in Melbourne. These guys are selling stellar produce instead

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The government has announced closures of restaurants and bars. Some venues have pivoted to takeaway and delivery, but not all menus are delicious once transported. Instead, some cafes, restaurants and bars have transformed into grocers, offering you stunning produce, direct through restaurant suppliers for you to cook at home. Please be sure to check the social media accounts of your favourite venue to keep up with what they're doing.

We endeavour to keep this list as up to date as possible. If you would like your venue featured or know of any changes, please get in touch via email.

Here's just what you can and can't do in Melbourne (and Victoria) right now.

Restaurant and bars now selling groceries

  • Wine bars
  • Melbourne

The wine bar portion of Denton is sadly shut down for the moment, but prepared meals like chicken liver pate, beef cooked in Guinness, chicken with leeks and mash potato are available for you to pick up. Seasonal produce is also for sale, and don't forget to pick up a bottle for those tough nights indoors. Delivery is available for free for orders over $100; for orders less than $100, delivery is $1 for every 1km from the bar. If you get in at the right time, you might even see the chef Keiran with a spray bottle doing his best Con the Fruiterer impression. 

Theodore's

Head to the website to register for grocery boxes. These boxes can include essentials like bread, eggs and coffee, but can also include seasonal vegetables, fruit, juices, milk and fermented foods.

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  • Beaconsfield
  • price 3 of 4

The O My crew are heading out to the farm once a week to pick in-season produce, make stocks, breads and pasta to fill farm boxes with. Anyone who has ever eaten at the restaurant will know that the produce from the farm is some of the best you can get your hands on. Order online and feed your family for a whole week. Boxes are available on Fridays until sold out.

  • Carlton North
  • price 1 of 4

Sibling has transformed its store front to be stocked with ready-made meals, fresh produce, ready-to-go hampers stuffed with fruit, veg, eggs and other staples. As Sibling is community-minded, it is also distributing meals and staples to at-risk community members. Regular menu items are also available for contactless takeaway. Delivery is available to more than 60 suburbs.

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  • Fitzroy
  • price 1 of 4

There is a central fruit and vegetable station, stacks of tinned tomatoes, a huge variety of dry pasta shapes, preserves, milks (and alternative milks after all the Bonsoy was bought out last week) and booze for you to buy at this Italian-themed grocer. If you are after a ready-made meal, there are daily sandwiches on the counter. There is no need to preorder your goods as Marios has tonnes of stock. Just walk in and shop like a regular person. Find out more.

  • Carlton
  • price 1 of 4

Coffee, sandwiches and pastries are on the menu for you to pick up at Heartattack and Vine. If you also can't brave the supermarket, the crew have put together boxes of essentials, and yes, it does include a bog roll. No need to call ahead, just turn up and walk home happy. If you live in Carlton, the crew will even walk your orders to the door. You can order online here

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  • Abbotsford
  • price 1 of 4

Produce boxes containing seasonal fruit and veg suited to any size household can be picked up from the Farm Cafe, adjacent to the Collingwood Children's' Farm. Each box will also contain Schulz milk, La Madre bread and eggs, but can be subbed out for vegan alternatives if you so desire. Delivery is an extra $5 and you can add on optional extras like Pacdon Park bacon, cheese and olives to any order. Purchase here

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  • Wine bars
  • Fitzroy
  • price 2 of 4

Everyone has transformed their restaurants to grocers, so McConnell thought he would do one better and be the north side outpost for bread legends, Baker Bleu. Grab some of the excellent high-hydration loaves, pastries, take-home meals and other essentials from Wednesdays to Sundays. Eggs, cheese and other goods can be found in store if you get in fast enough. You can pre-order and pay if you don't want to miss out. 

  • Restaurants

The amazing folk behind the Italian cheesery, That's Amore, have just launched its online shop. You can get beautiful tubs of fresh buffalo ricotta curds, balls of bocconcini, tubs of buffalo mozzarella and flavoured caciotta, and other Italian ingredients like fresh pasta, ciabatta, olive oils, ready-to-bake pizzas, lasagnes and other pantry essentials delivered right to your door. Head to the website here.

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  • Richmond
  • price 2 of 4

The Grand is now operating as a takeaway store and market called Piccolo Grande, specialising in Italian fare. Lasagne is available for heat-and-eat and fresh bread will be available every day. Pick up fresh produce, pantry staples, dairy, salumi and wine if the supermarket down the road fails you. 

  • South Melbourne
  • price 1 of 4

St Ali has transformed the cafe into a general store packed with vac-sealed meals, produce like Pepe Saya butter, Burd eggs, Ned's Bake sourdough and of course, bags of its roasted coffee. Walk in and browse the shop for the goods, or order online for delivery within a 10-kilometre radius. 

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  • South American
  • Southbank

San Telmo Group is making the best of a bad situation and has transformed Asado into a pick-up point (yes, there is parking) for its online grocery store. On top of the high-quality meats you'd expect from San Telmo Group, you will also find some pre-packaged meals, its own chimichurri, jars of dulce de leche, an all-Victorian produce box that contains all the essentials (even a roll of toilet paper) and imported wine. Just order everything online and pick it up from Asado to Go the next day. 

  • Melbourne
  • price 2 of 4

For those of you who are too scared to cook Indian, let alone mod-Indian, Tonka is coming to the rescue. Heat and eat premade curries (comes with uncooked rice), cook pre-marinated meats and desserts. For those of you who are looking for fruit and veg and want to avoid the crowds, these too, are available, along with survival packs to restock your fridges and pantry. Order online.

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  • Melbourne
  • price 2 of 4

Chicken liver pate, Korean fried chicken, Javanese vegetable curry and other dishes are available on Coda's takeaway or delivery menu. Supplement your order with a vegetable box, or survival box full of pantry staples to get you through the week. Order online

  • Brunswick

Stock up on pantry essentials like pasta, sauces, cheeses, salumi, baked goods and ready meals through the DOC Delicatessen Carlton or Mornington store. Order 24 hours in advance via phone or email your order through to the corresponding branch to ensure everything you need has been picked and packed for you.

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  • Wineries
  • Coldstream
  • price 2 of 4

Rochford Wines is currently offering online grocery delivery to the greater Melbourne metro and Yarra Valley areas. Kitchen and home essentials like freshly baked bread, meat, eggs, cheese, deli items, vegetables, pasta, rice, sanitiser and even toilet paper can be picked up from Rochford's online shop

  • South Melbourne
  • price 2 of 4

Lamaro's has transformed itself into a boutique grocer and wine store where you can order your wares online that include John the Oyster Bloke's incredible oysters; steaks; Geoff Lindsay's duck curry; chowder; a range of frozen dumplings; house-made pastas and sauces; and pantry staples. Order ahead and drive by for a pick-up. 

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  • Craft beer
  • Balaclava

This swanky pub has turned into a provedore, meaning you'll find premium meats, pantry staples, eggs, milk, loaves of bread and cook-at-home meal packs from chef Simon Moss, complete with instructions. Luckily for locals, the bottle shop is also open. Order online.

  • Bistros
  • South Yarra

This South Yarra local is running as a grocer, wine shop and coffee bar from 7am, daily. Pick up ready-made meals that you only need to heat at home like pies and tagines, or shop for premium cuts of steak, pantry staples and wine if you prefer to cook for yourself. You can wander in and shop like you normally would at a supermarket or pre-order your goods for an efficient pick-up. 

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  • Southbank

Every weekend until lockdown ends (whenever that may be) Left Bank is running Left Bank Mercato, where locals can pick up fruit and veggie packs, takeaway pizzas, ready-to-eat pastas, cheese, salumi, sauces, cannoli, truffle products, pastries, bread, fresh seafood and more. There will also be wine, bottled cocktails and growlers of beer available. It's on every weekend from 10am.

  • Windsor
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

The Commune Group that's behind Tokyo Tina, Hanoi Hannah and Firebird has launched the Golden Grocer, a specialty online Asian grocery store. In additional to selling fresh produce, pantry items, sauces and curry pastes, you can also order ready made packaged meals made by Commune chefs. Think kimchi bolognese, lemongrass chicken curry, and DIY pho kits. 

Spending time indoors?

  • Things to do

We've collected the best ways for you to experience Melbourne while staying at home here into this hub, so you can stay sane, comfortable, fed, watered and entertained at home – while helping small business owners, hospitality workers and creative people who desperately need your business.

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