These are the nominees for the Time Out Bar & Restaurant Revive Awards

Voting has now closed in the Revive Awards. Winners announced Monday November 8 at 5pm.

During an agonising year for the hospitality industry, we’ve been in and out, open and shut, and struggling under lockdown numbers four, five and six – just waiting for the word that it’s safe to return to the city’s bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants.

Now that time is finally in sight – and we’d like to show the industry how much we’ve missed it. In partnership with American Express, we’re launching the Time Out Bar & Restaurant Revive Awards, a reader-voted celebration of our favourite venues to help kickstart the reopening of Melbourne. 

Here’s how it works. Head to the Revive voting site and pick your favourites across 20 categories both ‘IN’ (to recognise the venues that have stayed open with pivots, deliveries and initiatives under lockdown) and ‘OUT’ (to salute our favourites, the places we just can’t wait to get back into as soon as we can). 

Here at Time Out, our expert critics have thought long and hard about whom to longlist for these awards. It ultimately came down to the places we love the most and the places that have helped get us through – but we also thought about diversity of offering, geographical spread, and all the things that a healthy range of venues can bring to a city’s food and drink scene. And while we’ve narrowed the field, we are inviting readers to vote here for the winners. Voting closes Sunday, October 31 and we'll announce the winners at an online ceremony at 4.30pm on Monday, November 8. 

The ‘OUT’ categories are all venues that were doing amazing work in 2021 when they were permitted to be open. But we recognise that you may disagree with our choices, so we’ve also made it possible for you to write in your own choices too. We’ll ensure that up to three of the most popular write-in votes each week get added to the nominees list. 

UPDATE: On October 11 we added reader write-in nominations for the following venues to our lists: Ona Coffee; the Great Northern; Bijou; Ends & Means; the Wanderer Thai Kitchen & Bar; Curious; Code Black; Industry Beans; Tian38; and Covid-19 EAD. Check back here each Monday evening to see if your favourite venue has made the list.

UPDATE: On October 18 we added reader write-in nominations for the following venues to our lists: Bala Sanga; Bar Thyme; Borek Shop; Carwyn Cellars; Coffee Supreme; the Cornish Arms; Everyday; Gimlet; Green Refectory; Entrecôte; Higher Ground; Kelso's Sandwich Shoppe; Lankan Tucker; Lukumades; Lune Croissanterie; Maha; Maker; Marion; Meet Sando; Mr West; Naked for Satan; the Napier; Navi; Nick & Nora's; Noisy Ritual; Otter’s Promise; Patricia Coffee Brewers; Rice Paper Scissors; Stan’s Deli; Sunda; Taita’s House; Trouble in Dreams; Ugly Duckling; Wilbury & Sons.

UPDATE: On October 25 we added reader write-in nominations for the following venues to our lists: the Alps; Aru; Black Star Pastry; Cherry Bar; Corner Hotel; Dexter; Eleni’s Kitchen & Bar; Falco; Farmers Daughters; Florian Eatery; Goldilocks; Kenangan; The Local Drop; Old Palm Liquor; Ona Coffee; the Plough; the Purple Emerald; Rusty’s Sandwich Parlour; Seddon Wine Store; Smith & Deli; Top Paddock. 

So what are the categories and who has been nominated? Drum roll please…

‘STAYING IN’ AWARDS: 

Favourite Cocktail Delivery

Favourite Food & Drink Reinvention

Favourite Overall Booze Delivery

Favourite Dessert Delivery

Favourite Sandwich Joint

Favourite Coffee

Favourite At-Home Restaurant Experience – Casual Gems

Favourite At-Home Restaurant Experience – Fine Dining

Community Spirit Award

‘GOING OUT’ AWARDS:     

Favourite Café

Favourite Pub

Favourite Rooftop

Favourite Wine Bar

Favourite Snack

Favourite Cocktail Bar

Favourite Casual Diner

Favourite Casual Bar

Favourite Fine Dining Restaurant

Favourite New Opening (Bar, Café or Restaurant)

Favourite Restaurant 

So what are you waiting for? Head over to the voting site tout de suite and have your say. 

We're proud to partner on the Revive Awards with American Express whose Shop Small campaign supports small businesses. Let's Go Shop Small – and support the local stores that make Melbourne so great. 

Always remember to check in, socially distance and follow the latest safety guidelines when visiting Melbourne’s bars and restaurants.