Cjay Aksoy

There’s something irresistible about dining or drinking outside, and catching up with friends while soaking up the fresh air and sunshine. While picnics fit the bill on warmer days, the hassle of flies, untimely gusts of wind and lugging blankets and baskets around aren’t always the most fun. So opt for a venue instead – one with a nice al fresco dining area fit with all the frills and no fuss.  As the weather warms (or even if it doesn’t!), these al fresco dining spots let you enjoy the outdoors in comfort.  Looking for other outdoor activities? Check out Melbourne's best beaches or Melbourne's secret gardens.

December 2024: "It's the most wonderful time of the yeeear" goes that old classic Christmas croon. But let's be real: it certainly doesn't feel that way when you're staring at a rapidly dwindling bank balance. The festive period in Melbourne can quickly rack up unexpected expenses, which is where our handy cheap eats guide comes in – a monthly-updated list to help you fill your social calendar with more affordable dining out options. The late and great respected chef Anthony Bourdain once famously said: “I'd rather eat in Melbourne than Paris." It goes without saying that Melbourne has long been revered as one of Asia Pacific's most exciting food cities, but that status isn't just attributed to our fancy restaurants – special as many of those upper crust institutions may be. Our laneways and hidden alcoves are brimming with cheap street eats, smashable pub deals and dinner options you can enjoy for $20, $15 or even under $10, so you can stop counting your hard-earned pennies and start eating instead. Lauren Dinse is Time Out Melbourne’s Food and Drink Writer, and has spent an impressive time scouting for the city's tastiest cheap eats – from her early student days spent wandering around Carlton and the CBD in search of a pocket change lunch, to the present day covering fun new openings for Time Out.  For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. If you'd rather not spend any money at all right now, we've got you covered with our guide on the best things to do f

A cuisine that lends itself to long, leisurely meals shared with others, Italian usually doesn't stop at just one course. So, do as the Romans do: start with an aperitivo – and an antipasto spread – before a primo course (cue the pasta), secondo (a meat dish), contorno (a side, or three) and of course, something dolce (sweet). The Time Out team have spent years scouring the city for Melbourne's best Italian food, and while restaurants (and writers) may come and go – there are a few spots that consistently deliver. So if you're looking for an Italian feast that'll knock your socks off, look no further – we've rounded up Melbourne's best Italian restaurants for you to try in 2024. Buon appetito! If you're after more Italian cuisine, visit our guides to Melbourne's best pizza and gelato.

There's a lot to love about long weekends: sleep-ins, a quick getaway, a big night out on the town, perhaps? However you choose to celebrate the King's Birthday this year, we're here to help by letting you know which Melbourne restaurants are open (and when) so you can plan your long weekend antics.  Looking for more fun out and about? Check out our list of the best things to do this King's Birthday weekend.

Well, Melbourne, let's face it: summer's long gone and it's going to be a long, chilly few months ahead. Luckily, Melbourne's best pubs are lighting their fireplaces so you can beat those winter blues. Our advice? Pull up a pew, grab a pint, gather your friends by the fire and get cosy.  For more winter warmers, take a look at our guides to Melbourne's best hot chocolates and mulled wines. And if you'd like to start planning lots of other fun things to do in the months ahead, this guide is the place to start.

There's nothing quite like the warmth and comfort of a succulent, slow-cooked roast. It's both the culinary equivalent of a hug from your grandma and the tastiest way to get your meat and three veg in the chillier months. But on a cold winter's Sunday, you might not feel like spending five hours making it yourself – luckily, a whole host of venues across the city offer some hearty, homely and excellent value cook-ups. So with Melbourne's lowest temps officially upon us, why not make it your new weekly tradition to traverse your way through our guide to Melbourne's best Sunday roasts? Complete with gravy, sides and the odd Yorkshire pudding, of course. And for when you need some extra warmth, check out our guide to the best pubs with fireplaces. 

As all freelance workers would know, finding a café to work from isn’t always so easy. There are obvious prerequisites, like Wi-Fi and a not-too-busy space where you’re guaranteed to find a seat. But there are other considerations that make the experience all the more comfortable – think booths (not stools) to keep your back supported all day; seats near a charging point in case your laptop battery runs low; quiet areas for those days when you don’t want bustle and need to concentrate. The list goes on. While you may have a favourite spot you frequent from time to time, you may also want to switch things up and work from somewhere new. In any event, we’ve done the trying-and-testing for you and found the best cafés for freelance workers, from lush greenhouses to warehouse-style roasteries. Time to get to work.  If you are looking for some fuel to get you through the day, check out Melbourne's best breakfasts here. 

Melbourne’s brimming with impressive venues left, right and centre, though it’s not often you hear the main drawcard of a restaurant in this city being a scenic view. Unlike Queensland’s postcard-perfect beaches and Sydney’s spectacular harbour, Melbourne isn’t as synonymous with scenery, making picturesque eateries a little trickier to find. There are a few gems, of course, and we know just where to find them. Whether you’re staying close to the city or venturing a little further out, there are some absolute treats of dining experiences that not only provide a top-notch feed but a feast for the eyes, too. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites, so get your notebook ready and head out to explore these gems while the days are still long and the weather is still warm.  Check out Melbourne's best rooftop bars for some other great views across the city. 

There’s a lot of Melbourne restaurants that take Sunday or a Monday (or both) off – and that’s A-OK (our hospo champs need a weekend too). But if you’re in town for the weekend, or hosting visitors with tight schedules, you’re going to need this list of restaurants that are open for business at the very beginning (or end) of the week. Got all the time in the world? Well, here's the best restaurants in the CBD, and the 50 best restaurants in the whole of Melbourne. Just want a drink? Try the 50 best bars in Melbourne right now.

Sometimes our bank accounts can’t keep up with our social lives. Planned three dinners this week? Great. Just realised you’re going to have to spend every last dime? Not so great. Be it a midweek dinner with a friend or a date night, sometimes you’re in need of a place that doesn’t feel like a cheap eat, but won’t break the bank. Find our favourites in the list below.  Looking for more great budget-friendly meals? Check out our round-up of 30 cheap lunch eats in Melbourne CBD for less than $15. 

If you've ever tried an omakase sushi dining experience, you'd know it can be an intimate and well-thought-out affair with each piece carefully crafted by a sushi master. While we're not in Japan, we do have our fair share of traditional Japanese dining institutions in Melbourne, and the same etiquette rules still apply – even in Australia. From using chopsticks to dipping soy sauce, we've tapped the sushi masters at Nobu Melbourne to learn all about the dos and don'ts of eating sushi.  1. Work your way up While many may not be aware, there's a rule of thumb on how you should indulge in sushi. Working your way up to heavier flavours makes the experience more enjoyable, so begin with whitefish before progressing to richer and oiler items like fatty tuna and cooked eel. Be sure to cleanse the palate with ginger between mouthfuls.  2. Less is more The flavour of fresh sushi is determined by the delicacy of the fish. Wasabi and soy sauce are designed to enhance the flavours, not overpower them. Oftentimes a chef will apply it for you to ensure the integrity of the fish is maintained, but if you’re doing the dipping, tread lightly and don’t overdo it. 3. Fish-side down When eating sushi, the fish is the star of the show. For nigiri, place it in your mouth fish-side down so it’s the first flavour you experience before you chew the rice. The fish-side down rule also applies to dipping in soy sauce. Not only will it cause the rice to crumble, but it will also upset the delicate balan

If you love good food, love an exceptional tipple and live in Melbourne, chances are your phone's 'notes' app has a solid list of restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs (and wineries, and breweries) you've been meaning to try. Well, if you do just one thing, add a few of these newbies to the list too – Melbourne has been brimming with new venue openings over the last month and we've got them all covered for you, hot off the press. For a tightly curated guide to dining in Melbourne, visit our guide to the best restaurants.  

Good Times checks just about all the boxes – a hearty meal (check), that’s cheap (check) in a vibey atmospheric setting (check). It gets a fair share of attention from word-of-mouth recommendations and its bright-as-the-sun yellow facade on St George’s Road in Fitzroy North. Chances are you’ll have noticed the building with the big thumbs up imprinted on it when driving past. As the name suggests, it’s all good times from the minute you enter. The space itself is reflective of the menu – it’s no frills, no fuss and a sprinkle of fun. The tables are old school, covered in big white sheets of paper that make for tablecloths. And while you may expect to find salt and pepper on the table, at Good Times, you’ll find little grey lead pencils made for doodling while you wait. You can sip on $9 wine carafes or an array of affordable bevs, too. In what feels like a rarity these days, Good Times takes bookings and is only open four days a week (from 4pm till late, in case you’re wondering). The menu features all the classics: napolitana, bolognese, pesto – usually on a bed of spaghetti, though the team spice things up by keeping it ever-changing. It caters to everyone. The fussy friend? Sorted. The vegan friend? There are options. The frugal friend? Tick of approval. With most of the pastas starting at $9 a pop, it’d basically be rude not to. It’s a nice feeling to go somewhere that doesn’t break the bank these days, but doesn’t feel like you’re skimping either. Add the alfresco garden

Update October 2024: This review was originally written in 2022, so please be aware that some elements may have changed since. Time Out Melbourne never writes starred reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills for reviews so that readers can trust our critique. Stepping onto Tedesca’s gravel path is like entering a farm – the expensive yet humble-looking kind that welcomes you in with a white Hamptons-style pergola enlaced with grape vines and perfectly undone stacked rows of firewood. There’s a farmer, fields of homegrown produce and a cottage for those lucky enough to snap up a coveted booking. And on this farm, all roads lead to the osteria. If Tedesca were an osteria by Italian definition – a casual, unpretentious place serving wine and simple food – the interior fits the bill. The gobsmackingly large wooden door; the fire on and crackling; the tables set with rustic off-white and red-striped tablecloths. The space, designed by owner Brigitte Hafner’s architect husband Patrick Ness, feels like someone’s living room – cosy and centred around a big kitchen fire oven that commands your attention. It’s like being at a friend’s place (if your friend owned a really impressive property in Red Hill and makes otherworldly dishes out of humble produce). Tedesca, meaning “little German girl” in Italian, was the nickname affectionately given to Hafner during her time in Guy Grossi’s Florentino kitchen. Clearly, the name stuck. Between Hafner and busin

There's not a lot going on in the Eastern Road pocket of South Melbourne: a few office buildings, quiet residential streets and scenic positioning near Albert Park Lake. Though there's a lot going on at Woodsyard, the little wine bar hidden amongst said quiet streets that draws locals, workers and visitors alike. Conceptually, Woodsyard's a little local eatery. By day, it's more of an espresso bar, with coffee and a chalkboard doodled with varieties of gourmet sandwiches (think: roast chicken and salsa verde, stock-braised brisket with malt vinegar onions or porchetta with fennel fronds). By night, it's very much a wine bar, one that's serious about natural wine and produce-driven snacks. The space itself is intimate and moody, with black walls and ceilings lit by Art Deco-style pendants. Natural, biodynamic and low-intervention wines line the shelves. On the tables are those makeshift candle holders that have been bistro lighting since time immemorial: old wine bottles with taper candles stuck in, the wax melted down to cover the bottles. It’s all pretty cool and cosy. Woodsyard is the kind of place locals wander over to for a wine and then stay for the snacks and inevitably the pizzas. There’s a strong emphasis on skin contact wines here and one minute into chatting with co-owner Kris Wood (who opened Woodsyard with his brother Aaron just as the pandemic hit) and you’ll realise he’s serious about the offering, giving you the backstory to each bottle and helpfully guiding yo

Everything tastes better charred – and Firebird got the memo. A restaurant dedicated to smoke, flames and fire that opened on the brink of the pandemic, with every dish in some way, shape or form having been licked by the fire, and it’s all the better for it. You’ll find the 110-seater space on Prahran’s High Street. The Vietnamese-leaning menu will come as no surprise given it's owned by the Commune Group (also behind Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and wine bar Neptune directly across the road). It’s constantly vibing. The music’s loud, the warehouse-style space has videos projected on the walls, and the splashes of green tiling make it feel a little retro. Oysters should be printed in red on the menu with exclamation marks as they’re one of those non-negotiable, can’t-leave-without-trying snacks. They’re superb, kissed by the hot coals for just a split second or two as they are creamy as anything, warmed yet not at all rubbery. This would be an easy dish to take over the edge, but it’s done masterfully. A moreish, crunchy, pressed banh mi is tiger-striped and bolstered by a charred eggplant relish. It's sweet, a little tangy, and unexpectedly complex for what looks like a scoop of chutney in a ramekin – likely thanks to the addition of pork floss adding a little meaty umami. A grilled sheet of rice paper comes next, smothered in a mushroom pâté with corn, peanuts and lime. It’s textural, fun to eat and inventive – roll it up, chop it up, enjoy the flavour bombs. And then, the car

Farmer’s Daughters’ second farm-to-table restaurant, Victoria, is bringing life back to Fed Square. Overlooking the Yarra River (and fittingly, a few gum trees), the 250-seater mega restaurant is an ode to the region; its farmers, producers, makers and artisans. And whilst it’s just as aesthetic as the Farmer’s Daughters at the swanky 80 Collins precinct, it’s not limited just to Gippsland produce like its big sister. It’s also seemingly the golden child. The space is schmick and modern, with a theme of dark wood and tonal greens throughout that make it feel a little more casual than the original Farmer’s Daughters. It’s hard not to miss the four-or-so metre ingredients table as you walk in, a total piece of art made from reclaimed eucalyptus, the host tells us. It holds bowls on bowls full of Victorian ingredients and produce for you to look, touch and smell. It’s a nice sensory touch. The big open kitchen with an attractive fire is next in line for your attention – all a glimpse of what’s to come. Perhaps the most exciting part about Victoria is that executive chef Alejandro Saravia and head chef David Boyle (both ex-Pastuso) have reunited to do what they do best: grill. The menu is meat-heavy, with most additions licked by the woodfire or blackened by charcoal. If you’re after dinner and a show, snag yourself a seat at the bar and watch on. The starters begin with some Cobb lane sourdough and salted butter, both nice. If you’re hoping for a repeat – or some variation – of

Set in the fancy 80 Collins precinct, Nick & Nora’s fits right into the lineup of swanky venues that have moved into the Paris end of Melbourne’s CBD. Y’know – Society, La Madonna, Farmer’s Daughters. And much like its neighbours, it’s ritzy! But in a fun way, as opposed to an intimidating way, with a concept dedicated to the golden era of post-prohibition 1930s soirees and high society parties. Sticking to what they do best, Speakeasy Group (Mjølner, Eau de Vie, Pearl Diver, Boilermaker House) have tackled a theme – and completely and utterly nailed it. I’d say there’s nowhere like it, though there is, in Sydney, where the first Nick & Nora’s was born. It’s all just grand. A grand staircase. A grand hallway lined with 400 bottles of Champagne on display. A massive grand marble bar with bartenders serving up libation after libation. The venue’s name was inspired by fictional detective duo Nick and Nora Charles from 1934 novel and film The Thin Man, who, in between solving murder mysteries, throw lavish parties in high society. The space is like a scene out of the book – glitz, glam and all. Before you settle into the extensive cocktail menu, you may want to opt for something sparkling. In case the 400 bottles in the hallway didn’t give it away, there’s lots of Champagne. The comprehensive list of sparkling wines are broken up by flavour profile, ranging from “crisp & elegant” to “fresh & fruity”. The prices range too, starting from $80 a bottle all the way up to $2,400. Most

Wowee Zowee isn’t the kind of place you’d expect to find in Mornington, but boy does it spice up the chilled-out coastal area. The rock ‘n’ roll dive bar is open from Thursday to Saturday and welcomes walk-ins. While it does get pretty jamming, they do their best to let everyone in on the fun – “If we can fit you we will. If we can’t, don’t hate”. The sign out front sets out some ground rules: “Lovers only, no fighters. Be nice to your bartender. Respect each other. Listen to Motorhead,” and lastly, “No requests unless it's ‘Surrender’ by Cheap Trick.” Got it? Good. Given the people behind it, it was bound to become the rocking spot down on the ‘Ninch. The four co-owners include drummer Clint Hyndman (Yellow Bird Cafe), Craig Baum (event guru), Cam Marshall (from Mornington’s Garagiste winery and Balcombe Gin) and Simon Tarlington (the executive chef for Jackalope and Doot Doot Doot).  If you want a bite, the menu basically offers up one of two options: fried things or burgers – with all the sides and toppings you could ask for. The buffalo wings are a staple, accompanied by blue cheese ranch. The fried chicken doesn’t muck around, made perfect with buttermilk to keep it tender but super crispy. The burgers are the main act, with options like the Chicken & Bacon Burger, or a ‘Broc & Roll’ Burger for the vegos. Special mention must be made to the side of tater tots, which bring the full American vibes to Mornington.  Depending on the night you’re having, there’s a little somet

Delhi Streets is bustling. Most times of the week and most days of the week, the small spot hidden in the lonely end of Melbourne’s CBD (tucked away in between Spencer and Flinders Streets) is full to the brim. Most impressively, it’s been so since it opened nearly a decade ago. Even after a pandemic that shattered so much of our hospitality industry, Delhi Streets remains a well-loved spot that’s weathered the storm. It's all happening inside the jamming little place: the walls are covered in Bollywood movie posters, there’s Indian pop music blaring from above and the chefs in the kitchen are on full display separated only by glass windows. And much like the city of Delhi itself, the bustle is all part of the appeal. If there’s one thing to remember when you get to Delhi Streets, it’s the pani puri. The crispy, hollow balls of dough hide a filling of potatoes and chickpeas inside, as well as small dollops of tamarind and yogurt chutney. You do as you’re told – pour (the accompanying cold spiced mint water broth) into the shell and down it in one quick mouthful. And, repeat. It is, as it should be, a total flavour bomb. A well-balanced, fragrant explosion of sour, spice and sweetness all in one. As the masters know and the amateurs find out the hard way, you’ve got about three seconds to get it in your mouth before it all comes apart. Either way, you’ll be going back for seconds, then thirds, then another serve. The menu brings a little bit of everything. Samosa chaat represe

The Cricketers in Port Melbourne is a little hidden gem – a nearly 150-year-old hidden gem, that is. The beloved pub remains a well-loved local and is the perfect place to gather the family (or the pooch – it's dog-friendly) for a midweek meal or some weekend fare. A beautiful heritage venue, the pub still has four fireplaces throughout the dining rooms and main bar area, providing all the toastiness you need during a winter watching the footy or dining in for one of its $26 Sunday roasts. If you prefer the beer garden vibe all year round, the courtyard out the back has a covered roof on cooler days and plenty of heating to keep you warm. In summer, you'll find the roof off, making it the best little spot to sit back, hang out and enjoy life.

2023 update: Mansae now has a second restaurant in Burwood East as well, so you can choose to make a booking at either the CBD or new location.  If you’ve driven past or walked down the top end of A’Beckett Street on any given evening, you’ll inevitably have noticed the line of people waiting outside Mansae. It's a modern Korean barbecue restaurant whose name translates to ‘hip hip hooray’ – and a celebration of Korean barbecue cuisine it is. Mansae opens at 5pm and does not take bookings. Keen diners often begin lining up from the late afternoon, and as many restaurants were in the pre-Covid era, it's a first-come, first-served. We bravely arrive at 7pm, knowing the line will be in full force but to our surprise, it moves quickly. The staff know the drill, efficiently handing out menus to those in the line. They’re those fun pencil-in-what-you-want menus, allowing you to do your homework while you wait, and hand it to the waiter from the second you sit down. You’d better not waste time, as the restaurant has a strict 1.5 hour sitting time. As far as first impressions go, Mansae is a well-oiled KBBQ machine. A hectic, bustling, well-oiled machine, that is. As the story goes, you’ll walk in and catch a whiff of smoky wagyu cooking on grills around the space – and true to Korean barbecue form, your clothes will catch much of it too. Unlike some venues, Mansae grills use charcoal, which produces even more smoky flavours that encapsulate each piece of meat you’ll cook, and it ma

When the founder of Buff Studios, Emma Forrest, opened her first nail salon in 2020, she knew it wouldn't be like the others. Forrest has always loved getting her nails done but constantly felt disappointed by the hygiene standards, working conditions and staff wellbeing in the salons she was visiting. She knew her goal with Buff was to reset the standard of the Australian nail salon industry – both for customers and for the technicians behind the beauty bar. Once Buff was born, it was all systems go in ensuring nail technicians received the appropriate training whilst earning a living wage, and providing customers with a luxurious experience that above all, promises rigorous hygiene standards. And it shows – from the minute you walk into Buff's clean, sophisticated and luxurious space, you're in good hands. Buff focuses only on hands and feet, with a service menu refined to just best-in-class manicures and pedicures for those looking for a little nail pamper. The offering includes gel polish, some seriously Insta-worthy nail art and even a 'chip-free guarantee' for both regular and gel polishes. You can be sure the team don't cut corners and use the best formulations to ensure your mani – or pedi – stays in tip top shape. Perhaps most impressive is Buff's long wear performance polish option, which is technically a normal polish (not a gel), that air dries in five minutes (no fans, no lamps) and lasts anywhere from seven to ten days. According to the team, some clients have h

Botswana Butchery isn't your average butchery; the opulent venue houses up to 300 diners across its three grand levels that are fitted out with dining rooms, bars and private function areas.  Like its Kiwi counterparts, the Melbourne iteration will have a grand interior – but it will also feature a Melbourne touch, thanks to plush booths and long marble-topped bars. And just in case you like a view with your steak, there are two glass-enclosed terraces overlooking Flinders Lane that add another level of grandeur.  The menu? You guessed it – high-quality cuts. From high marble scores of wagyu to 1.6kg Tomahawks, culinary director Angel Fernandez (from Dante NYC) isn’t mucking around when it comes to the meat on show. The signature dish comes in the form of a four-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder, where no knife shall be in sight given it should melt off the bone with the brush of a spoon. The menu is vast and ventures into seafood and vegetables too, catering to an array of appetites and culinary preferences. The team have also brought their head sommelier Piers Haszard with them from New Zealand who has sourced a list of more than 1000 wines from Victorian and New Zealand winemakers.  Bookings are available from May 20, and keep an eye on the website for updates.

MDI Wines – formerly known as Mandi – started off as a wine project for Celia McCarthy and her father Kevin (better known as 'Kev'). Now, the label is a fully-fledged brand that celebrates the rich agriculture of the Murray Darling and incorporates European skin-contact winemaking techniques. Indeed, the name stands for Murray Darling Italy, fitting given all of the grapes have deep Italian roots, sourced from vineyards near Mildura. Using only sunshine, soil, and long-soaked skins, their wine is now a favourite across a range of eateries, bars and bottle shops (think: Marion, Supernormal and Blackhearts & Sparrows).  But this is no new territory for the McCarthy family, who are also the family unit behind the Mornington Peninsula's Quealy. Born from winemaker Kev's decades of experience in the region, MDI is a step further – championing esoteric European varieties and traditional, sustainable winemaking methods. And how would the father-daughter duo describe it? "Hung on sangiovese and pinot grigio – with a punk edge," they say. Whilst Kev always had a reputation for innovation and rebellion in wine (he rose to prominence for introducing pinot grigio to Australia in the 1990s), it was the numerous trips to Europe that accelerated his knowledge of skin contact white wine. To put it simply, he's been in the skin-contact game for decades, long before it was the fashionable thing to drink on a Friday in Fitzroy. According to the duo, "MDI doubles down on its maker’s skin-contact

Babajan, Carlton North's Turkish-inspired cafe, has opened its second store on Little Collins Street. After six years leading the Northside brunch scene, the eatery has expanded its takeaway concept into the city – so your CBD lunch just got a whole lot more exciting.  Back in 2020 and in response to the pandemic, the Nicholson Street eatery ditched dine-in and transformed permanently into a takeaway concept, allowing visitors to pop in and select their vice from the large class cabinet overflowing with pastries, breads, house-made boreks and simits, alongside salads, desserts and pretty much any other delicacy they choose on any given day.  Owner and founder of Babajan, chef Kirsty Chiaplias says it was a natural progression, "Pre-pandemic I wanted to change the business, and funnily enough, despite all the stress and pressure,COVID allowed me to do that," she says. City slickers and workers alike will be spoilt for choice come lunchtime, with Babajan offering up their beloved boreks (yes, the silverbeet borek will be on offer), famous roast chicken sandwich with stuffing and will have a focus on simits – a Turkish circular bread generously encrusted with sesame seeds. Although it may be a hole-in-the-wall, the new CBD shop will offer up a host of Babajan's retail products too, like eggplant aleppo, harissa, baharat and sumac to take home.

In sad news for Shack supporters everywhere, Miss Katie’s Crab Shack is closing for good. Having opened back in 2013, owner Katie Marron moved around town before finding the permanent home for crab-lovers on Smith Street.  Like many small businesses, Katie’s has struggled to keep up with the repercussions of the pandemic on the hospitality industry. “I have held on to the Shack for as long as I can as I love her so much, she has served me well,” owner Katie said on her Instagram this week.  Whilst its permanent store will be gone for good, Katie has a glimpse of hope that the Shack will live on in some way, shape or form. “I look forward to rolling out the Crab Shack for events and special catering occasions in the future, but for now it’s goodbye to the Crabby,” she says. The team will be slinging crabs and chowder until mid-July, so be sure to pop down and get your final fix before they shut up shop for good. Obsessed with seafood? Chow down at Melbourne's best beachside restaurants.

In sad news for food lovers, Anchovy – Richmond’s beloved modern Vietnamese restaurant – is closing in late June. And while it will be back at a different location and in a different form, it marks the end of an era for this Bridge Road institution.   Having learned how to cook in the kitchens of Andrew McConnell, Christine Manfield and Dave Verheul, Thi Le was bound to make a mark on Melbourne’s food scene when she began her own venture with partner Jia-Yen Lee seven years ago. Although unfortunately, like many hospitality venues hit hard over the last couple of years, Anchovy is closing up shop. “The last two and a bit years have been a rollercoaster of a ride, both mentally and emotionally,” Lee announced in an Instagram post this week. "I have given everything to this little restaurant to ensure its survival and its place within the community."   And with the bad news, comes the good. The duo will take a break to work on Anchovy’s next incarnation doing what they do best – exploring Vietnamese food and delivering it with masterful execution to the community. In the meantime, the current space on 338 Bridge Road will offer a Laotian-inspired à la carte menu as a casual, everyday eatery and the couple's Ca Com Bánh Mì Bar will still be operating next door. ICYMI: Moroccan Soup Bar is closing its doors after 24 years.