The New Openings in Windsor
Windsor’s Chapel Street is in a constant state of renewal — venues come and go, trends rise and fall, but the strip keeps its character because it’s never just about the new. The best new openings in Windsor aren’t the flashy flagship stores that South Yarra attracts; they’re the solid, well-executed restaurants and bars that know what they’re doing and do it well.
Here are the notable new openings in Windsor from the past 12 months that have earned their keep.
1. Studio Amaro — Weekend Bar Transformation
Address: 226 Chapel Street, Windsor Opened: Late 2025 What it is: Italian restaurant by day, basement amaro bar and dance floor by weekend
Studio Amaro opened as a dinner-only Italian restaurant in early 2025, but it’s the 2025 transformation that really matters — the basement bar that opens Friday and Saturday nights. The ground floor serves handmade pasta and woodfired meats in a warm, retro setting. Head downstairs and it’s a different world: DJs spinning Italo disco, amaro cocktails, and a dance floor that fills up around 11pm.
The food is excellent — the 72-hour-fermented focaccia (complimentary) is legendary, the pasta dishes ($26–$32) are consistently well-executed. The amaro program is genuine, not gimmicky.
Why it matters: It adds late-night sophistication to Windsor without the cliché of a cocktail bar. It’s the kind of venue that does dinner and then keeps the night going.
Insider tip: The focaccia is free when you dine upstairs. Eat it slowly in anticipation of what’s to come.
2. Tombo Den — Izakaya Invasion
Address: 401 Chapel Street, Windsor Opened: May 2025 What it is: Two-storey Japanese izakaya from Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Society)
Tombo Den is the third restaurant from the Chin Chin empire, and it’s brought a new energy to Windsor’s dining strip. The ground floor is a sushi bar with daily nigiri and crispy rice dishes. Upstairs is a cocktail bar with small plates, neo-noir AI-generated art on the walls, and a vibe that captures Tokyo’s after-hours culture better than any Melbourne venue has before.
The sushi is impeccably sourced, the sake-based cocktails are inventive, and the space is always buzzing. It’s not cheap — sushi pieces start at $6, cocktails $18–$24 — but the experience justifies the spend.
Why it matters: It brought a new level of Japanese dining to Windsor, attracting a crowd that might otherwise head to the CBD.
Insider tip: There’s a separate upstairs entrance. If you’re just drinking, skip the restaurant queue entirely.
3. Lah Bros — Nepali on Chapel
Address: 274 Chapel Street, Windsor Opened: Early 2025 (relocated from elsewhere) What it is: Authentic Nepali cuisine from a Kathmandu-born chef
Lah Bros isn’t brand-new to Melbourne, but its relocation to Chapel Street in early 2025 was a big deal for Windsor dining. Suddenly, Windsor had a genuine Nepali restaurant — not Indian food with a different name, but actual regional specialities from the Himalayas. The bara (crisp-fried lentil pancake, $8) is a revelation, the momos ($14 for eight) are properly spiced, and the Nepali-style crème brûlée ($12) shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
The thali ($22) is the best value on Chapel Street — rice, dal, curries, pickles, and chutney on a single tray.
Why it matters: It expanded Windsor’s culinary range beyond the usual Asian and European options and proved there’s space for authentic regional cuisines.
Insider tip: Order the thali for a complete introduction to Nepali flavours. It’s a meal that tells a story.
4. High Society — Florist-Cafe Hybrid
Address: 246 Chapel Street, Windsor Opened: Mid-2025 (renovated and reimagined) What it is: Cafe-florist combo with Mediterranean-leaning brunch
High Society isn’t entirely new — it’s a renovation of an existing cafe with a new concept: half coffee shop, half florist. The space is filled with native flowers and greenery, creating a brunch environment that feels like eating in a botanical garden. The food leans Mediterranean — zucchini fritters ($18), mushrooms on sourdough with truffle oil ($19), Vietnamese iced coffee ($7.50).
The outdoor terrace is one of the best on Chapel Street, catching morning sun and feeling removed from the foot traffic.
Why it matters: It brought a new aesthetic to Windsor’s cafe scene without sacrificing substance. The food is genuinely good, not just Instagrammable.
Insider tip: The flowers are for sale. Many brunch-goers leave with a bouquet — it’s a habit worth picking up.
5. Small Print Pizza — Eco-First Pizza
Address: 431 Chapel Street, Windsor Opened: Late 2025 What it is: Mostly-vegetarian, eco-conscious woodfired pizzeria
Small Print — which stands for “small eco-footprint” — opened late 2025 and immediately made an impact. The pizzas are Neapolitan-style with properly blistered crusts. The menu is mostly vegetarian, any meat used is locally sourced, and all drinks come from taps (no glass bottles). The margherita ($18) is the benchmark, and the seasonal specials ($22–26) show the kitchen’s creativity.
Crucially, they deliver to Victoria Gardens park if you ask. Eating woodfired pizza on a park bench is peak Windsor.
Why it matters: It brought environmentally conscious hospitality to Chapel Street without being preachy, and the gluten-free and vegan options are genuinely excellent.
Insider tip: The gluten-free base is one of the best in Melbourne. If you’re coeliac or gluten-sensitive, this is your pizza place.
6. Chapelyard — Bar with Attitude
Address: 310 Chapel Street, Windsor Opened: Early 2026 What it is: Cocktail bar with small plates, laneway location
Chapelyard (not to be confused with Chapel St Cellars) opened early 2026 in a former storage space off the main Chapel Street drag. It’s a cocktail-focused bar with a tight, inventive menu and a food list that covers nibbles and small plates. The space is small, dark, and intimate — think exposed brick, low lighting, music that doesn’t drown conversation.
The cocktails are $18–$24 and change seasonally. The small plates ($14–$24) are designed for grazing. It’s the kind of bar that feels like a discovery even though it’s on Chapel Street.
Why it matters: It adds another quality cocktail spot to Windsor’s growing list, with a different vibe from Her Bar or Hoo Haa.
Insider tip: The bar stools are the best seats in the house. Claim one early.
What We Skipped and Why
Renovations and relocations — We’ve included relocations (Lah Bros) where the move itself was noteworthy. Minor renovations don’t make this list.
Venues that opened but haven’t earned their keep yet — We monitor for 3–6 months before declaring something a “new opening worth knowing.” If it’s on this list, it’s proven itself.
Any chain or franchise — Windsor doesn’t really get them, and we wouldn’t cover them if it did.
Keeping Up with New Openings
Windsor’s dining and bar scene changes faster than most Melbourne suburbs. To stay current:
- Follow @melbz on socials for our weekly “What’s New” stories
- Sign up for our Windsor briefing — we send new openings every Friday
- Check this page monthly — we update it when venues prove themselves
New openings that don’t make the cut often close within six months. We’d rather tell you about the places that last.
Cross-links:
- New Openings in Prahran — Chapel Street’s polished end
- New Openings in South Yarra — where flagship stores land
- New Openings in St Kilda — beachside newcomers
MELBZ verified 2026. Last updated 16 March 2026. Prices and hours may change — check venues before visiting. If we’ve got something wrong, tell us at hello@melbz.com.au. New openings added monthly.
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