‘Order the crispy pork with extra chilli’: Chef Alejandro Saravia’s favourite bistros, bars and banh mi

Peruvian-born Australian chef Alejandro Saravia has built a reputation as a fierce champion of regional bounty, most notably at his Melbourne flagship, Farmer’s Daughters, and Sydney’s Morena.

This summer, for the third consecutive year, he returns to the Australian Open grand slam tennis event in Melbourne, where he’ll serve his flavour-packed cuisine in the VIP hospitality suites at Rod Laver Arena when the tournament kicks off on January 12.

Saravia has hosted many celebrities and tennis stars at his acclaimed restaurants, including former men’s world number ones Jim Courier and Andy Murray.

“The Australian Open brings a lot of attention to Melbourne and our amazing food scene. I get really excited that all eyes are on us for a few weeks, and it’s a chance to show the world what we offer when it comes to food and produce,” says Saravia.

The father of two lives in Melbourne’s CBD, where he loves to explore laneways and seek new and lesser-known venues among the dining institutions.

Here are some of his favourites, at home and further afield.

Eating out in Melbourne

My favourite hometown restaurants and go-to dishes

The City Wine Shop and The European are my go-to places. I head to the back of the dining room in the European for a hearty and flavoursome dish. It’s usually steak tartare or the juicy and tender chicken schnitzel with coleslaw.

For Thai, it’s always Soi 38. I’ve been going here since they were cooking in a parking lot in Little Collins Street and have now moved to Royal Lane. They’re not afraid of giving you a spicy Thai street food dish. I love the barbecue pork, and the papaya salad with fermented crab is incredible.

My favourite hometown cafe and/or bar and go-to order at each

N Lee Bakery, a banh mi place in Little Collins Street [with branches around the city and inner suburbs] is a favourite spot. I always order the crispy pork with extra chilli. I also like Market Lane Coffee – a warm long black is my go-to, and it never takes more than one explanation for them to get it right.

Bloomwood is another favourite bakery in the city. The coffee is nice and the pastries are incredible. Try the scroll with cheese and ham — they use a deep aged cheddar, which makes it delicious.

My favourite takeaway

A takeaway place I love and go to regularly is Singh’s on Nicholson Street in Brunswick East. It’s amazing and has really authentic Indian food. I eat a samosa or curry puff while I wait for my order of dhal, roti, rice and butter chicken.

What is your favourite place to eat in Australia, and any special food memories here you have?

Carlton wine bar Brico in Carlton North has nice hospitality and down-to-earth food. They focus on seasonal produce and don’t over-manipulate the ingredients. They have a private dining room upstairs where we ordered a lamb shoulder that was slow-roasted in a Moorish style. The salad was the winner – a mix of leaves, radicchio, white cabbage and poached pears, and a vinaigrette that was well-balanced.

Eating out in Sydney

I love Chaco Ramen in Darlinghurst. They have a really nice ramen base and sometimes get very playful with a bone marrow, serving wagyu with a big bone in the middle of your bowl.

Clam Bar in the CBD is also great. The food is simple, well executed and delicious. Expect to hear old-school Latin and Italian music playing. We ordered bistecca fiorentina and creamy greens as a side.

We usually stay in McMahons Point and there’s a bakery nearby called Fiore Bread. They make rustic sourdough rolls and you can make your own sandwich. I like the country-style ham with Dijon mustard – it’s no more than a three-step process.

I also went to [three-hatted seafood fine diner] Saint Peter for an event last year. The selection of charcuterie and a tartlet that looks like pâté but is actually made of fish is really incredible.

When I need to show Sydney to visitors, we go to Otto – it’s a classic, and you can opt for anything from pasta to fish and steaks.

On the road

Favourite food city

“I love Paris. I spent three years there working at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant before eventually moving to Australia. I really thought I’d live there forever. I am obsessed with natural wine bars in the 8th and 11th arrondissements.

Café du Coin is situated on a corner in the 11th – you have to wait for tables, but they encourage you to stand and drink a wine on the street. It’s a very relaxed community feel.

I love the entree-size portions they serve, even if it’s a pasta dish. It allows you to explore the menu. I ordered pork belly that was lightly roasted in a master stock and served with an apple compote – tangy but sweet and garnished with hazelnuts. I also go here for natural wines and amphora wines macerated in clay pots.

Café Charlot is a typical Parisian bistro. It’s located in Le Marais. It’s where you eat steak tartare or foie gras with toast on the side. It’s classic French food.

I also like Marché des Enfants Rouges. It’s within the market and you’ll see a small menu on a blackboard with a great wine selection. It takes no bookings and is worth a visit. I like to stay at Hotel Bastille Speria.

Eating in

Signature dish and go-to at home

I enjoy cooking many different styles of roasts at home – a lamb neck or lamb or pork shoulder. At the moment, I am using a lot of Moroccan and Middle Eastern flavours to season them, as well as garam masalas, cumin and fennel seeds.

My guilty pleasure

Chocolate brownies.

The best kitchen wisdom I still cling to

A little prep goes a long way. I love to have a batch of sofrito [an aromatic blend of vegetables, herbs, and spices used to flavour beans, fish, meats, rice and stews] in the fridge. I usually cook three kilograms of onion, a few heads of garlic and lightly roast them in a baking pan with lots of olive oil and bay leaves, and then separate the oil. I use that to cook rice. It’s a very versatile base that lasts for weeks in the fridge in an airtight container.

Find out more about AO Reserve at the Australian Open, January 12–February 1, 2026.