What’s new in Melbourne

Dining and drinking experiences

Taking cue from South-East Asian street food and hawker centres, Heroes offers diners a steady stream of charcoal-grilled BBQ dishes such as skewers, wings and other drinks-friendly bites housed in four levels of food, drinks and fun. The east-meets-west influence extends to the cocktail list spliced with Asian ingredients, complemented by a rooftop terrace and a basement karaoke room for those wanting to sing their hearts out. Levels 1-3, 188 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, (03) 8639 0630

Diners wanting to take time to slow down can find their pace at Lesa, Melbourne’s set-menu-only restaurant from restaurateurs Christian McCabe and Dave Verheul, the team behind Embla, just downstairs. Each of the four produce-driven courses offers three dishes to select from, but otherwise diners can sit back and let the competent team do the rest. Vintage lighting, rustic brick walls and low timber ceiling panels ensure a downbeat, intimate vibe suited to those wanting to linger. Level 1 122 Russell Street Melbourne 3000, (03) 9654 5923

Little Lon is the new kid in town handcrafting small batch spirits in east Melbourne. Focusing on gin, this inner city gin distiller opens its bar three days a week from Thursday to Saturday.  Visitors wanting to learn about the distillation process, base spirit and the flavours and botanicals of Little Lon’s gins which are inspired by the characters who once lived in and around their current site can book in a masterclass tasting. 17 Casselden Place, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, 0434 796 873 

Keeping visitors sated with a new secret entrance, it's hard to resist the lure of Trinket. Once visitors find their way into the green-velvet and chandelier-decorated art deco cocktail lounge, there’s a further covert space accessed by stairs behind the bar. Old-world mixed drinks are offset with a selection of nibbles, including incredibly realistic cheese cigars, plus a roaring fire for chilly nights and a cobbled laneway for fresh night air. 87 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, (03) 9810 0044

Bomba Rooftop Bar reopens and welcomes city dwellers to its refurbished bar with a focus on gin with Australian and Spanish distillers, as well as an exclusive Bomba-specific Animus Distillery gin, from Kyneton, used in a selection of in-house cocktails.   As the warmer months loom ahead, the rooftops bar’s new smart retractable roof, provides a fully weatherproof spot for patrons to take in the city skyline. 103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, (03) 9662 1558

Capitano is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant in the evolving Carlton precinct from the talented team behind Bar Liberty. At the moment diners can pick from two pasta dishes, the utterly buttery Clam Chittara or Vesuvio, clever little volcano shaped morsels of deliciousness in vodka sauce. There is an American influence for sure with the pizzas more at home in New York than Lygon Street. Produce however is mostly local so it's a multi-cultural affair diners can expect.  Mains include Not My Mum's Meatballs or sharing style Lasagne or a Dry-aged Steak. Wines and cocktails are perfectly chosen. The menu will change regularly keeping fans coming back for more.  421 Rathdowne St, Carlton VIC 3053, (03) 9134 855