Public holidays may come and go but the need for a bacon and egg roll and flat white remains. Here’s where to head when your local’s not open.
Ten years on and Andrew McConnell and Jayden Ong’s two-floors-of-fun at the top end of town still has Melbourne – and so many of its visitors – sorted day through night (closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC.
Andrew McConnell’s wine bar is a wonderfully elegant eatery, that serves an impressive selection of wines accompanied by small bites (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 53 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC.
The bistro offers an upmarket spin on pub classics with some more interesting dishes for those wanting to mix things up a bit. There’s a great cheeseboard on offer too (closed Christmas Day only). 211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC.
A sleek Italian eatery that has become a fan favourite with locals. The pizzas are a stand-out (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 421 Rathdowne Street, Carlton VIC.
A light-filled café with delicious Japanese-style breakfasts and excellent coffee (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 33-39 Keele Street, Collingwood VIC.
Snack on a wide range of Asian-inspired dishes, all paired with delicious wines, sake and whiskey. The lobster rolls are a winner (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC.
A decade on and Andrew McConnell’s sleek and sexy flagship fine diner remains a candlelit vision of arty and artful Fitzroy in all its glory, with the choice of a la carte or full chef’s menu a welcome offering (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 55–57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC.
Supernormal Canteen is a faster, louder, more casual (and smokier, thanks to the yakitori grill) sibling to the popular CBD eatery (closed December 23, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). 2/157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda VIC.
This Texas-style barbecue house serves slabs of meat cooked over a mix of ironbark and oak woods, from porter-braised beef cheeks to crispy lamb ribs and tomahawk steaks (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day). 124-126 Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC.
Matt Moran’s harbourside venue offers fine, white tablecloth dining with super professional service to boot (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). 1 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW.
This indoor-outdoor venue reads like a flowery ode to 18th century Britain, all dangling fronds and muted pastels, with a menu of botanically-inspired food and drink offerings (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Shop 11, 33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo NSW.
Award-winning harbourside venue Cirrus offers sustainably-caught seafood on Barangaroo’s waterfront (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). 23 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo NSW.
This slinky Potts Point joint has put together the ultimate pairing of quaffable wines with scoffable snacks (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). 71A Macleay Street, Potts Point NSW.
There’s nothing beige about this plant-based bistro by Bentley boys Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt. Yellow does something few restaurants manage – that is, get diners excited to eat their greens (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). 57 Macleay Street, Potts Point NSW.
The metropolitan sister to the bucolic The Grounds of Alexandria evokes the luxe brasseries and coffeehouses of New York and London (closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). Shop RG 12, 500 George St, Sydney NSW.
