Byrdi among wave of recent Melbourne venue closures
Melbourne's dining and drinking scene has lost a string of well-known venues over the last few months as cost-of-living pressure, thin foot traffic and owner fatigue contributes to closures.
Byrdi, the Melbourne Central bar ranked 91st on last year's World's 50 Best Bars longlist, is among the victims of the current climate. It has closed after seven years in the city's Melbourne Central food court. Owner Luke Whearty announced the news on Instagram, saying: "This has all happened very quickly. It's not the way that we saw things ending here. However, we were forced into a situation we didn't have control of and it's been pretty challenging."
He added: "I don't think this is permanently a goodbye, but for now, in its current form, we have to wrap things up." Whearty declined an interview to clarify the reasons for the closure.
In West Melbourne, six-year-old craft beer bar Benchwarmer closed in mid-September. Owner Lachlan Jones said: "We haven't turned a profit in a couple of years," pointing to a lack of night-time foot traffic and a sustainable local clientele.
"With the cost of living [increasing], craft beer has been deemed a luxury item," he said. Jones also observed that some craft beer enthusiasts had returned to pubs, which many see as better value.
In Brunswick East, Tiny Bar will close on October 9 after two years. Chef-owner Zac Shearer, who runs the venue with Jamila Fontana, said the bar was trading well but the pair chose to step away: "We were busy, figures were going up, things were positive." The demands of a small space and small team, alongside a newborn baby at home, were factors in the decision.
Several two-hatted restaurants also shut over winter. Scott Pickett's South Yarra fine diner Matilda 159 has closed and will become Kiki's Tavern, an all-day eatery from Julien Moussi's Venues by Only group, owner of the Godby Hotel and Beehive Hotel. Pickett said: "It made sense from a commercial perspective to pass the baton, and being able to do that with a trusted hospitality group felt like the right way to let go of such a special site."
It has been an unsettled year for Pickett's venues. The company that owned four of his restaurants – Smith St Bistrot, Chancery Lane, Matilda 159 and Longrain – collapsed last spring, before the chef secured new financial backers in July.
Destination diner No. 7 Healesville held its final service on August 16, ending a seven-year run in the Yarra Valley. "We are finishing at a point where our offering has never been better", was its final message to patrons.
Other venues to close include Victor Liong's fast-casual city eatery Silk Spoon, Fitzroy Vietnamese diner Rue de Thanh,
Moorabbin wine bar Comma (September), and Carnegie's Med-inspired Sowl (July), whose owners are focusing on their new Greek venue Helios in Malvern.
Jonathan Jackson, 28th September 2026
