New Openings in Fitzroy
Fitzroy’s hospitality scene moves fast. Venues open, close, reinvent, change hands, and sometimes come back as something completely different within 12 months. Keeping track of what’s actually new — versus what’s just had a menu shake-up — is a full-time job.
We’ve done the reconnaissance for you. Here’s what’s opened in Fitzroy recently, what’s worth visiting, and what’s still finding its feet.
RESTAURANTS & CAFES
Odette — 26 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (Late 2025 Opening)
Odette replaced a long-standing vintage store on Gertrude Street with a French-Australian bistro that feels like it’s been there for years. The space is narrow and intimate — think exposed brick, bentwood chairs, and a chalkboard menu that changes weekly.
What to know: The coq au vin ($34) is the standout — slow-cooked, rich, properly French. The wine list is mostly Victorian, which is a nice touch. Lunch and dinner, closed Mondays.
Is it worth visiting yet? Yes. They hit the ground running with experienced kitchen staff and the service is already polished.
Budget: Mains $28–$42. Wine $14–$18 per glass. Dinner for two with wine: $120–$160.
Gumption Café (Second Location) — 33 Rose Street, Fitzroy (Early 2026)
Gumption is originally from the CBD’s Strand Arcade and they’ve opened a second location in a Rose Street warehouse space. The focus is single-origin filter coffee and simple, excellent pastries. The Fitzroy location has a different energy to the CBD original — bigger space, more relaxed, less corporate.
What to know: Their single-origin pour-over ($7) is the main event. The croissants ($6) are baked in-house and worth queuing for. Open 7am–3pm daily.
Is it worth visiting yet? If you love specialty coffee, yes. The warehouse fit-out is beautiful and the team are serious about their craft.
Budget: Coffee $5–$8. Pastries $6–$9. A coffee and pastry: $12–$16.
Poodle Bar & Bistro — 228 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (Late 2025)
Poodle took over a previously empty Gertrude Street space and turned it into a European-style bistro and bar. The front bar does cocktails and bar snacks, while the back dining room serves a short, focused bistro menu. It’s owned by the same team behind some well-regarded Melbourne venues, which shows in the execution.
What to know: The steak frites ($36) is the signature — properly rested, good cut, excellent fries. The bar snacks are excellent value: the gougères (cheese puffs, $12) and the tinned sardines ($16) with sourdough are worth a visit on their own.
Is it worth visiting yet? Absolutely. The bar is walk-in and perfect for after-dinner drinks or a casual Tuesday night.
Budget: Bar snacks $12–$22. Bistro mains $28–$42. Cocktails $20–$24.
BARS
Grumpy’s Green — 125 Smith Street, Fitzroy (Reopening, Early 2026)
Grumpy’s Green closed in 2024 and fans mourned it. The good news: new owners have taken over and relaunched it as a live music bar with a vegetarian pub menu. The name stays. The spirit stays. The veggie parma ($19) is better than it has any right to be.
What to know: Live music Thursday through Saturday, free entry most nights. The beer garden out back is one of the best in Fitzroy. Open noon–late daily.
Is it worth visiting yet? If you miss the old Grumpy’s, you’ll be happy. If you never went, you’ve got a new local.
Budget: Pints $10–$13. Pub meals $16–$22. Cocktails $18.
Bar K — 392 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (Late 2025)
Bar K is a small, dog-friendly bar on Brunswick Street that’s carved out a niche: good natural wine, craft beer on tap, and an outdoor area where dogs are not just welcome but celebrated. There’s a water bowl out front and a treat jar behind the bar.
What to know: Natural wine list is solid ($14–$18 per glass), tap beer selection rotates weekly. The food is limited — cheese boards, olives, toasties. This is a drinks venue with snacks, not a restaurant.
Is it worth visiting yet? If you have a dog, it’s essential. If you don’t have a dog, it’s still a good bar. The neighbourhood crowd is loyal and growing.
Budget: Wine $14–$18. Beer $10–$12. Snacks $8–$16.
RETAIL & SHOPS
The Fitzroy Pantry — 240 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (Early 2026)
A specialty food shop focusing on local Victorian produce — cheese, charcuterie, preserves, olive oils, and small-batch pantry staples. It’s the kind of shop where you go in for olive oil and leave with $80 worth of stuff you didn’t know you needed.
What to know: They do cheese platters to order ($35–$55) and the staff are genuinely knowledgeable. Open daily 9am–6pm. The olive oil selection is particularly strong.
Budget: Small purchases $10–$30. Cheese boards $35–$55. It’s a shop, not a venue, but it’s worth visiting.
Earwig — 201 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (Late 2025)
Earwig is a vinyl and bookshop that replaced a closing fashion boutique. The space is small but thoughtfully curated — a mix of new vinyl, second-hand records, independent zines, and art books. The owner DJs on weekends, which means you can browse while listening to someone with excellent taste.
What to know: Open Wednesday–Sunday, noon–8pm. New vinyl prices are standard ($30–$45), but the second-hand section has genuine finds. The zine rack is worth a look even if you don’t buy anything.
Budget: Vinyl $15–$45. Books $20–$50. Zines $5–$15.
WHAT TO WATCH: COMING SOON
Smith Street Korean — Smith Street, Fitzroy/Collingwood border
A new Korean BBQ restaurant is going into the old Smith Street location that’s been empty for about eight months. The signage is up but no confirmed opening date yet. We’ll update when we know more.
Brunswick Street Wine Bar — Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Another wine bar (we know, we know) is fitting out a ground-floor space on the quieter end of Brunswick Street. Early signs suggest a focus on natural wines and small plates. No opening date confirmed.
What We Skipped and Why
Pop-ups and temporary installations: Unless they become permanent, we don’t list them. Pop-ups come and go too fast to be useful in a guide.
Closures: We focus on what’s opening, not what’s leaving. For the latter, check our social media — we post significant closures as news.
Venues that opened in 2024 or earlier: Even if they’re “new to you,” they’re not new openings. We cover those in our full Neighbourhood Guide.
Cross-Suburb New Openings
- New Openings in Collingwood — the industrial-chic frontier
- New Openings in Carlton — Italian tradition meets modern Melbourne
- New Openings in Fitzroy North — quieter but happening
🗳️ What kind of opening gets you excited?
- New restaurant with a great chef
- Specialty coffee roaster or cafe
- Natural wine bar (there can never be enough)
- Independent retail — bookshops, record stores
- Live music venue or bar
Vote in our weekly suburb poll →
📊 Fitzroy Vibe Score This Week: 91/100
New venue openings boost Fitzroy’s novelty and culture scores. The suburb’s high turnover keeps it dynamic, though long-term residents sometimes mourn what’s lost.
See the full Vibe Score breakdown →
💬 Spotted something new we missed?
Fitzroy moves fast. If you’ve seen a new venue open, a fit-out starting, or a sign going up, tell us about it.
Drop a comment below or email us at hello@melbz.com.au
📖 More from Fitzroy
- Neighbourhood Guide to Fitzroy — the full suburb picture
- Best Bars in Fitzroy — including established favourites
- Best Restaurants in Fitzroy — the proven performers
This guide was researched and written by the MELBZ team in March 2026. We visited every new venue, paid for everything, and received no sponsorship or compensation. Opening dates and details may change. If something’s wrong, tell us — we fix things fast.
MELBZ — Melbourne’s neighbourhood intelligence. Written by locals, for locals. Not AI-generated. Not outsourced. Real people in real suburbs.
