The Best New Openings in Richmond
Richmond’s hospitality scene moves fast. Swan Street alone has seen more turnover in the last two years than some suburbs see in a decade. The good news? The places that survive Richmond’s competitive landscape tend to be genuinely good. The bad news? The places that close often had loyal fans who are still mourning them.
Here’s what’s new, what’s worth your time, and what to watch in Richmond in 2026.
1. Tipo 00 — 462 Church Street, Richmond
Tipo 00 made its name in the CBD with some of Melbourne’s best handmade pasta, and their Church Street expansion brings that operation to the inner east. The Richmond location opened in late 2025 and has been packing in since. It’s slightly more relaxed than the CBD original — think neighbourhood Italian rather than destination Italian — but the pasta quality hasn’t dropped a millimetre.
What to try: The cacio e pepe ($26) is the benchmark — simple, aggressive, perfect. The daily ragù ($28) changes depending on what’s in the pot but is always worth ordering. Their tinned fish selection ($18–$22) is an underrated starter option. Wine list is Italian-heavy and well-priced — plenty under $55 a bottle.
The vibe: Warm, busy, convivial. Open kitchen means you can watch the pasta being made. The Church Street space is bigger than the CBD original, with a long communal table and a separate bar area for walk-ins. No reservations for groups under four.
Budget: $90–$150 for two with wine.
Why it matters: Tipo 00 in Richmond means you no longer need to trek to the CBD for Melbourne’s best pasta. That’s a genuine quality-of-life upgrade.
2. Hotel Lincoln — 179 River Street, Richmond
Hotel Lincoln is a pub reopening done right. The heritage-listed building sat vacant for years before a local hospitality group picked it up and transformed it into a modern pub that respects the architecture without being trapped by it. It opened in early 2026 and immediately established itself as the best pub in the Cremorne-Richmond pocket.
What to try: The chicken parma ($26) is the litmus test for any pub and Hotel Lincoln passes with flying marks — proper crumb, house-made napoli, melted mozzarella, and chunky chips. The burger ($22) is also excellent — grass-fed beef, brioche bun, and a well-judged ratio of meat to everything else. Tap list includes local craft ($9 per pint) and Vic Bitter on tap ($7.50).
The vibe: Large, light-filled, heritage bones with modern furniture. The beer garden out back is generous and well-designed — it’ll be the hot spot in summer. Indoor space has a good mix of casual bar seating and proper dining tables. Family-friendly until 6pm.
Budget: $60–$100 for two with drinks.
Why it matters: Richmond needed a proper local pub that wasn’t a sports bar. Hotel Lincoln fills that gap perfectly.
3. Nativ Bakery — 204 Swan Street, Richmond
Nativ Bakery is a sourdough-focused bakery that opened on Swan Street in late 2025. It’s the kind of place that Richmond didn’t know it needed until it arrived. The bread is fermented for 48 hours, baked in a wood-fired oven, and sold warm from the counter. It’s artisan without the attitude and the prices haven’t gone fully insane.
What to try: The sourdough loaf ($9) is the foundation — it’s crusty, tangy, and stays good for three days. The pain au chocolat ($6.50) is flaky and buttery. On weekends, they do a ham and cheese croissant ($9.50) that sells out by 11am. Coffee is from a rotating roaster ($5 flat white).
The vibe: Small, fragrant, and unpretentious. There are a few stools out front but this is primarily a takeaway spot. The line builds from about 8am on weekends, so get in early. The team clearly cares about bread in a way that’s endearing rather than precious.
Budget: $15–$25 for bread, pastry, and coffee.
Why it matters: Good neighbourhood bakeries are disappearing in Melbourne. Nativ is a throwback to when your local bakery was a daily destination, not a weekend luxury.
4. Chimac — 192 Swan Street, Richmond
Chimac is a Korean fried chicken spot that opened on Swan Street in mid-2025 and has been building a loyal following ever since. It’s fast-casual, affordably priced, and exactly the kind of thing Richmond’s younger dining demographic was asking for.
What to try: The original fried chicken ($18 for a half chicken) is crispy, juicy, and comes with pickled radish and house-made sauces. The yangnyeom (spicy-sweet glazed) version ($20) is the fan favourite. Sides include kimchi fries ($12) and tteokbokki ($10). Beer is available — Korean beer on tap and local craft in the fridge.
The vibe: Casual, loud, and unapologetically fun. Neon signage, plastic stools, communal tables. This isn’t a date spot — it’s a “grab mates and eat too much chicken” spot. The Swan Street location puts it right in the action.
Budget: $30–$50 for two with drinks.
Why it matters: Melbourne’s Korean fried chicken scene is booming and Richmond now has a legitimate contender on Swan Street. The price point makes it accessible for students and young locals.
5. Rare Hare — 260 Church Street, Richmond
Rare Hare is a wine bar that opened in early 2026 on Church Street, filling the gap between Swan Street’s casual bars and the more formal restaurants on Bridge Road. The concept is simple — excellent natural and small-batch wines, a focused food menu, and a space designed for conversation rather than spectacle.
What to try: The wine list rotates constantly, with about 20 options by the glass ($14–$20). The staff know every wine on the list and will steer you well if you ask. Food-wise, the charcuterie board ($28) is generous and well-sourced. The roasted cauliflower with tahini ($18) is the standout vegetarian option. Cheese selection ($24) changes weekly.
The vibe: Low-lit, intimate, grown-up. Think dark timber, leather banquettes, and a curated playlist that sits at the right volume. It’s the kind of place where you lean in to talk rather than shout over the music. The Church Street location means it draws from both the Richmond and Cremorne crowd.
Budget: $80–$130 for two with wine and food.
Why it matters: Richmond was missing a proper wine bar — somewhere between a pub and a restaurant where you could spend a whole evening over good wine and snacks. Rare Hare is that place.
Coming Soon
Richmond Street Food Market — A permanent street food venue is rumoured for the old industrial site on Gleadell Street. No confirmed opening date, but local council approvals were granted in late 2025. If it goes ahead, it’ll be the biggest addition to Richmond’s food scene in years.
Several Swan Street refits — Three former retail spaces on Swan Street are undergoing hospitality fit-outs. The exact concepts haven’t been announced, but the locations suggest restaurants or bars aiming for the after-work crowd from Cremorne.
What We Skipped and Why
Pop-up and temporary installations: We’re only listing venues that are open for business and intend to stay. Pop-ups and food truck residencies are covered in our weekly weekend guide.
Places that opened and closed within six months: A few spots launched in late 2025 and didn’t survive. We don’t see the point in listing them — if they’re gone, they’re gone.
Places we haven’t personally visited yet: If a venue is too new for us to have been and formed an opinion, it’s not on this list. We’d rather be late than wrong.
Cross-Suburb New Openings
The inner east is evolving fast. If you want to know what’s new beyond Richmond:
- New Openings in Abbotsford — The convent precinct is attracting some interesting concepts
- New Openings in Collingwood — Smith Street continues its relentless evolution
- New Openings in Cremorne — The corporate area is getting some surprising after-hours venues
🗳️ Which new Richmond opening are you most excited about?
- Tipo 00 — pasta perfection on Church Street
- Hotel Lincoln — the pub Richmond needed
- Nativ Bakery — sourdough and pastries
- Chimac — Korean fried chicken on Swan Street
Vote in our weekly suburb poll →
📊 Richmond Vibe Score This Week: 88/100
New openings are pushing the score up. Hotel Lincoln and Tipo 00 have been the biggest contributors this month.
See the full Vibe Score breakdown →
💬 Heard about something we missed?
Richmond’s scene moves fast. If you’ve spotted a new opening we haven’t listed, tell us.
Drop a comment below or email us at hello@melbz.com.au
📖 More from Richmond
- Best Coffee in Richmond — the established players
- Neighbourhood Guide to Richmond — the full picture
- Nightlife Guide to Richmond — where to go after dinner
This guide was researched and written by the MELBZ team in March 2026. We visited every venue, paid for every meal, and received no sponsorship or compensation from any listed business. Prices and availability 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.
