Chris Lucas' Maison Bâtard named "Australia's Best New Restaurant 2025"
Wednesday 20 August – Chris Lucas, who is this month celebrating 30 years since the opening of his first restaurant, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Best New Restaurant’ accolade for his much lauded Maison Bâtard. The Melbourne venue was crowned in Hobart at the 2025 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, one of Australia’s most trusted authorities on dining, hospitality and travel.
The annual award recognises the nation’s best new restaurant opening of the last 12 months, this year honouring Maison Bâtard for its exceptional culinary offering, world-class design and experiential dining excellence.
“Chris Lucas is Melbourne’s restaurateur and Maison Bâtard is his Oscar-worthy masterpiece,” Gourmet Traveller says of the win. “To simply call it a French bistro is a disservice. It’s Melbourne’s new haute clubhouse, shimmering with indulgent possibilities.”
Opening after more than six years of meticulous planning, Maison Bâtard occupies the heritage-listed 23 Bourke Street site, longtime home of one of the city’s original à la carte restaurants, first established nearly 90 years ago. This recognition cements Maison Bâtard as a new benchmark in Australian dining and is testament to Lucas’ enduring impact on the nation’s culinary landscape.
“Maison Bâtard marks the culmination of a long-held dream to bring a touch of international style and sensibility to Melbourne, blending the elegance of French cuisine with the warmth and energy of this city. This accolade is truly a reflection of the dedication of our talented team, and I’m humbled to see our vision resonate with so many,” said Lucas.
The four-level venue offers a uniquely Melbourne interpretation of modern French-inspired cuisine, its exceptional culinary offering the result of close collaboration between Lucas, his long-time collaborator and Culinary Director Damian Snell and Executive Chef Adam Sanderson (The Fat Duck, Noma). The menu eschews the heaviness of classical French fare for lighter, fresher flavours, embracing local influences while paying homage to timeless classics such as hand-cut steak tartare and the signature poulet rôti aux olives.
"Maison Bâtard is another step in continuing to build Melbourne’s reputation as a truly world-class food city, and I’m proud of how guests and industry alike have embraced what we’ve created”.
Maison Bâtard, 23 Bourke Street, Melbourne maisonbatard.com.au
Maison Bâtard, 20th August 2025
