The Best New Openings in Preston
Preston’s dining and bar scene is in constant flux. While the Vietnamese and Italian institutions along High Street have been serving locals for decades, a steady stream of new openings is reshaping what Preston means as a food and drink destination.
Here are the most notable new spots in Preston from late 2025 and early 2026.
Cafe Mellow Fellow — High Street area
Opened: Late 2025
All-day cafe with bottomless brunch and a level of polish you’d usually travel to Fitzroy for. The bottomless brunch option (unlimited cocktails and coffee for two hours) has become a weekend staple for Northcote and Preston brunch crowds. Food does the classics well — eggs benedict, avocado toast, pancakes — with creative twists. Excellent coffee from a local roaster.
Oliva Social — 102-104 High Street
Opened: 2024 (recently expanded)
Worth including because it represents a new category for Preston: the cocktail-forward neighbourhood bar. The Chinotto Connection (whiskey, Chinotto San Pellegrino, lemon juice, honey) has earned its reputation. Food covers pizzas, tapas, grazing platters. The fairy-lit courtyard is the main draw on warm evenings.
Arepa Days — Dundas Place
Opened: 2023 (gained prominence in 2025)
Not brand new, but its influence on Preston’s food identity has only grown. Colombian arepas — thick, griddled corn flatbreads — loaded with scrambled eggs, pulled pork, or black beans. Colombian-style coffee that’s a genuine departure from the Melbourne flat white norm. The kind of opening that diversifies a suburb’s food scene.
Eat Cannoli — High Street area
Opened: 2024
Does exactly one thing better than anyone in Melbourne’s north. Every cannoli is hand-crafted, gluten-free, and accredited by Coeliac Australia. The “OG” — whipped ricotta, candied orange, chocolate chips, honey from the owners’ rooftop beehive. Small space, mostly takeaway, rotating seasonal flavours.
Window Corner Cafe — Plenty Road
Opened: Early 2025
A cafe with windows, a corner location on Plenty Road, and a vibe that says “we’re here for the neighbourhood.” Well-made coffee, honest food, peaceful atmosphere. A go-to for northern Preston and the Reservoir border.
Chumanchu Renovation — Gilbert Road
Opened: Original 2018, major renovation 2025
Vietnamese-Thai spot that expanded its kitchen and seating while keeping the food quality consistent. The pho, bun cha, and Thai curries are all excellent. The larger space makes it more viable as a dinner destination.
The Raccoon Club Expansion
Opened: Original 2020, expanded 2025
The grungy bar at 145 Plenty Road doubled its indoor space and added outdoor seating. The original charm remains — taxidermy, political statements, board games, mismatched decor — but now it can accommodate more of the people who want to be there.
Preston Market Upgrades
Completed: Ongoing through 2025
Phased upgrades to facilities, seating, and vendor management. New Lebanese bakeries, upgraded Vietnamese stalls, and expanded seating. The gozleme stalls are still the main draw, but the overall experience has improved.
What’s Coming in 2026
Several projects in development:
- A microbrewery on High Street near Bell Street
- A Greek restaurant converting a former warehouse on Cramer Street
- A second location of a popular Thornbury wine bar considering Preston
We’ll update this guide as they open and prove themselves.
FAQ
What’s the best new restaurant in Preston? Cafe Mellow Fellow for brunch, Oliva Social for cocktails and dinner. Both on or near High Street.
Are there any new bars in Preston? The Raccoon Club expansion on Plenty Road added significant space. Oliva Social at 102-104 High Street continues to grow its reputation as the cocktail-forward option.
What streets should I watch for new openings? High Street between Murray Road and Bell Street, Plenty Road north of Bell, the Cramer Street corridor near the market, and side streets off High Street with warehouse conversions.
The Verdict
Preston’s new openings reflect a suburb that’s deepening its food identity rather than abandoning it. The Colombian arepas at Arepa Days, the gluten-free cannoli at Eat Cannoli, the cocktail sophistication at Oliva Social — each adds a new dimension without displacing the Vietnamese, Turkish, and Lebanese institutions that define the suburb. That balance between old and new is what makes Preston’s food scene one of Melbourne’s most interesting.
Explore more of Preston’s food scene:
- [Best Restaurants in Preston](/preston/best-restaurants/)
- Best Bars in Preston
- [Best Cafes in Preston](/preston/best-cafes/)
- Cheap Eats in Preston
Explore More of Preston
- Preston History
- Preston Things To Do This Weekend
- Preston Cheap Eats
- Preston Rent Guide
- Preston Date Night Guide
- Preston Things To Do
- Preston Cost of Living
- Preston Young Professionals Guide
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