The transformation of the landmark King & Godfree building in Melbourne’s Little Italy is complete, with Delmonte restaurant opening on the ground floor of the former deli. Joining new-ish Karen Martini-led pizzeria Garfield, the bustling 120-seat venue is fuelled with a menu by Head Chef Diana Desensi (lately of Daphne) and the precinct’s Culinary Director Karen Martini; inspired by the great dining rooms of Europe yet approachable enough to become a community fixture. 293 Lygon St, King and Godfree Ln, Carlton; delmontewine.com

After winning over the inner-city suburb of Armadale with her Chinese-French pop-up Bistro Marigold, chef Rosheen Kaul teamed up with bartender Joe Jones to transform the former Alta Trattoria into pop-up Little Rose. The duo embraced a ‘Chinoiserie’ theme, reimagining Asian flavours through a European lens. After a successful two-month run, the community reaction was so positive that Little Rose has planted permanent roots and signed a long-term lease, with an expanded menu melding French and Asian influences. 274 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy; littlerosefitzroy.com

One of Melbourne’s most striking dining rooms now has a sister bar to match. Alongside Reine & La Rue in the Gothic jewel of the former Melbourne Safe Deposit building, Privé is a standalone bar and private dining extension of Reine & La Rue, by the same design studio that fit out the grandiose space next door. The drinks list for the 25-seat bar is in the hands of Felix Woods, who has led legendary Melbourne bars like The Everleigh and Black Pearl. Come for pre-drinks or order that extra martini and make a meal out of the decadent French-accented bar menu. 90 Queen Street, Melbourne; prive.melbourne

Pack the woodie and hit the road, this one is worth the drive from Melbourne. Respected chef Jo Barrett has had a seachange at new Surf Coast destination, Surf Hotel. At this ’70s-style surf motel on the esplanade of the popular beach town, Barrett draws from the pantry of the coast and Otways. 35 The Esplanade, Torquay; surfhotel.com.au

O’Connell’s Hotel is looking good for its 150 years, after a careful restoration by the team behind Prahran local The Flying Duck. As well as the refreshed front bar, a new-look dining room has the fireplaces cranking, just in time for winter. The food offering passes as a classic gastropub menu at first glance, but reveals cameos by native ingredients like pepperberry and bush tomato, while a Josper charcoal grill turns out cuts of prime beef sourced in collaboration with high-end butcher Flinders + Co. Every day of the week delivers a different special: from pies and porterhouse to parma and pasta. 407 Coventry St, South Melbourne; oconnells.com.au

After successfully relaunching the former Madame Brussels CBD rooftop as Japanese izakaya Disuko late last year, MAMAS Dining Group (Hochi Mama, Straight Outta Saigon, and more) revealed Spaghetti Club in Richmond. The neighbourhood trattoria draws on co-owner Lucas Gugliandolo’s Sicilian background and family recipe book, with plenty of pasta and fire-fuelled share plates by chef Michael Flemming (ex Totti’s Bondi; and Adelaide’s Botanical Hotel and Press Food & Wine). 95 Swan Street, Richmond; spaghetticlub.com.au

The team behind cult Mexican restaurant Mamasita has pivoted to Italian in Julietta – a welcoming 35-seat trattoria and wine bar on the corner of Toorak Road. House-made pasta leads the menu by Jimmy Garside (Mamasita, Pinco Italo, The Apollo), with a smattering of moreish antipasti to get things started. 220 Toorak Road, South Yarra; julietta.com.au

Flinders Lane has a new late-night option, with the Tartine Bistro, Middle Park European and Meatball & Wine Bar team opening The Florence. Named after the birthplace of the negroni, the moody space focuses on classic cocktails and Tuscan wine, pouring and serving small bites until 1am. Level One, 133–135 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, theflorence.com.au

Unfurled above steak frites specialist 7 Alfred, 21-seat Bar Ferdinand is a Garden of Eden for cocktail fans. In a space bedecked with floral detail, ex-Gimlet bar manager Greg Thompson draw on botanical inspiration in signature drinks like Fern, Camellia and Herb. Level 1, 7 Alfred Place, Melbourne CBD, bar-ferdinand.com.au

Cobb Lane bakery revealed its more ‘grown-up’ CBD store on Bennetts Lane, which aims to cater to a busier city crowd. As well as takeaway sandwiches on the bakery’s famed 36-hour-fermented sourdough, sweet and savoury pastries are on offer to tempt office workers already lured in by the smell of freshly baked bread – the store will be one of the only places in the city where you can grab a loaf straight out of the oven. 1/17-23 Bennetts Ln, Melbourne; cobblane.com.au

What do AFL players do when they retire? Open a diner. Retired players Jordan Roughead and Nathan Murphy have teamed up with the rest of the crew behind cult Hawthorn cafe Whiplash to open AfterMath – think English cafe meets US diner, somewhere in Mexico, with brunch that could fuel an entire football team. 154B Greville Street, Prahran; @aftermath_diner

As it farewelled summer, Sorrento welcomed ONDA: a Mediterranean restaurant set over the water at Port Phillip Bay’s new ferry terminal. Gaze across the bay through floor-to-ceiling windows as you dine on elevated seafood and Neapolitan-style woodfired pizzas, from a kitchen led by chef Mike Jaques (formerly of Tulip, and Tarra). 10 The Esplanade, Sorrento; ondasorrento.com.au

Frank Ciorciari and Anthony Silvestre teamed up with Mount Eliza local Natalie Osborne to open a Peninsula outpost of their Malvern East gourmet market Breadcetera. It comes just after the duo revealed Via Lucia Mercato, a casual deli and takeaway spot beside South Melbourne bar and bistro Lucia, and less than a year after they opened the first Breadcetera, a hybrid bakery, deli, homewares boutique and gourmet grocer. 26 Ranelagh Drive, Mount Eliza; breadcetera.com.au

Fourteen dollars doesn’t buy much these days, but it does buy you anything on the menu at CBD bar-meets-bistro Frenchie. At the Paris-inspired venue from New Zealand restaurateurs Julian Diprose and Lucas Boucly, every plate and drink will come in at $14 or less. In a space dripping in red velvet, mirrors and marble, the menu of plats à partager (share plates) includes steak entrecote, a classic salad niçoise, confit duck leg and more. Plus there’s a roving caviar and Champagne trolley offering bumps and glasses (all $14), plus cocktails on tap, craft beers and a wine list by the glass (still all $14…). 1/15 Collins Street, Melbourne; frenchierestaurant.au

Koi Toy is the new fish in the pond at Pentridge Shopping Centre. The 90-seat Japanese bar and restaurant in the expanding complex brings late-night Tokyo energy, with a menu by ex Chin Chin and Claypots-chef Alex Meimetis, with outdoor seating spilling into the yard of the historic bluestone prison, across from Palace Cinemas and BrewDog. T16, Ground Floor/1 Champ St, Coburg; koitoy.com.au