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Melbourne’s foodie scene isn’t necessarily in need of an upgrade. From our perfectly formed burgers to our wildly impressive restaurants, the Victorian capital is revered for its excellent edible offerings – in fact, Melbourne was just ranked as the seventh best city in the world for food. But we will gladly welcome this: a deeply personal new restaurant from Chris Lucas, the man behind some of the city’s most scene-shaping restaurants, who’s turning to his roots for his next opening.
Landing this spring, Noẽma is a modern Greek restaurant set to open at the base of Cbus Property’s 435 Bourke Street development, joining the growing Midtown dining precinct – and sitting alongside Lucas’s recently announced Hong Kong-inspired spot, Wishbone.
Named after the Greek word for “thought” or “understanding”, Noẽma isn’t aiming for nostalgia. Instead, it’s a contemporary take on Greece as it exists right now: energetic, produce-driven and grounded in tradition without feeling stuck in it. For Lucas, it’s been a long time coming. Despite building a portfolio of high-end venues across Melbourne and Sydney (among them: Chin Chin, Grill Americano and Maison Batard), he’s held off on opening a Greek restaurant – until now.
According to the team, the menu will lean heavily into seafood and seasonality, with a focus on charcoal and slow cooking, underpinned by the kind of bright, clean flavours that define Mediterranean food. Expect generous use of olive oil, citrus, herbs and vegetables, alongside Australian produce and select ingredients sourced directly from Greece – including feta, spirits and specialty imports.
The space itself is being designed by Chris and Sarah Lucas, alongside longtime collaborators Mitchell and Eades, with architecture input from Bates Smart. According to the team, we can expect a restrained, textural fitout – think raw timber, linen and stone – that leans into natural materials and a kind of understated, sun-bleached elegance. There’s also a striking façade in the works, with curved, sail-like windows inspired by Mediterranean boats.
Noẽma is slated to open in Bourke Street’s Midtown strip this spring, with bookings and further details expected to drop closer to launch. Stay in the loop over here.
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