Flinders Lane is already packed with excellent restaurants, bars, galleries and boutiques. We are of course talking about the east end. Until recently, the west end has received less love, keeping its head down as the greyer, more corporate sector of the long CBD street.

But that is turning around quickly with the development of The Archway, a new and considered food precinct on Katherine Place. It already houses cult bakers 5 & Dime Bagels, pâtissier T by Luxbite and Altius Coffee Brewers. The next phase is already underway – Indian joint Delhi Streets opened last week and health-conscious Hunters’ Roots opened yesterday.

Owner of Delhi Streets Charan Singh says theirs is not a typical Indian restaurant. “We do Indian street food most Melburnians have yet to experience.” The food coming out of the 28-seat restaurant is less heavy curries and more snacky chaat, Indian-inspired burgers and wraps and sweets such as chocolate naan and kulfi ice-cream pops. Charan’s dad, Resham will be manning the tandoori oven.

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While Delhi Streets has the street food covered, Hunters’ Roots will provide a clean-eating experience, serving cold-pressed juice, smoothies, and healthy breakfast and lunch options.

Hunters’ Roots, by husband and wife Jeffrey and Kerry Chew, is slated to open on Tuesday March 24. The cafe’s cosy space is designed by architect Kei Kitayama. It has timber accents and furniture custom-made by Arteveneta. “The atmosphere and design is very clean, and we want the food to reflect that,” says Chew.

Look out for a dragon-fruit smoothie bowl with house-made granola. When the weather starts to turn, a roast-carrot soup with maple syrup, turmeric and roasted nuts is on the cards.

The final piece of the puzzle is Mr Huang Jin, the Taiwanese dumpling house relocating to The Archway from its current Collins Street site just after Easter.

Delhi Streets

22 Katherine Place, Melbourne

(03) 9629 2620

Opening Hours
Mon to Fri 11.30am–2:30pm, 5.30pm–9.30pm

Sat 11.30am–2.30pm

Hunters’ Roots

28 Katherine Place, Melbourne

Opening Hours

Mon to Fri 7am-4pm

delhistreets.com.au

huntersroots.com

thearchway.com.au