Just Open: 40 Thieves & Co, St Kilda

Shimmying into the space between St Kilda's iconic Dog's Bar and sassy new rum bar The Nelson, 40 Thieves & Co brings a dash of Middle Eastern cafe fare to Acland Street.

Co-owners Michael Haddad, who owned Fitzroy's Red Tongue for 13 years, and chef Ali Shahverdi (ex-St Katherine's and Hellenic Republic) have created a lush and intimate space with gold, teal and beaten copper accents.

The menu spans breakfast mezza of flat bread with hummus, tomato and cucumber, to brioche rolls with kotlet (Iranian beef patties) for lunch, pistachio and almond-crusted fried chicken for dinner, and saffron rice pudding with coffee for a "why not?" late-night pop-in.

Open Tues-Fri 7.30am-late; Sat 8am-late; Sun 9am-late.

40 Thieves & Co, Shop 1, 56 Acland Street, St Kilda, 9079 7832