Aru turns Southeast Asian flavour through the fire-lit lens of modern Australian cooking.

Aru: Where the Hearth Meets Southeast Asia

Located on Little Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD, Aru merges a disciplined open kitchen with a wood-fired hearth that commands the room. The fit-out—terracotta bricks, spotted-gum joinery, linear benches—sets an atmosphere that feels warm yet refined. ([turn0search0]) The menu draws on Indonesian, Japanese and Thai influences filtered through Australian produce and ancient techniques.

From “forbidden” black-rice sourdough glazed with palm sugar, to clay-pot broken rice with braised pork cheek and king-brown mushrooms, every dish is designed for sharing and discovery. ([turn0search0]) It’s not dinner as backdrop—it’s dinner as performance.

Plates Built Around Fire, Smoke and Native Produce

At Aru the wood-fired hearth is the centrepiece not just of the kitchen but of the menu. Items such as the 14-day dry-aged duck and the spanner-crab toast demonstrate the team’s focus on texture, depth and flavour. ([turn0search5]) Dishes arrive bold yet balanced, pairing Southeast Asian aromatics with native herbs, citrus and spice. The wine list and cocktail program lean into this with precision rather than showmanship—reflecting a confident vision.

The approach is generous: bigger plates designed to cycle through the table, allowing guests to compose their own flow of flavour. It suits groups, celebrations or those who simply come expecting the unexpected.

A Room That Feels Connected to the Kitchen

In most restaurants you watch the kitchen from afar. At Aru you sit along a 16-metre counter or banquette that looks straight into the brigade at work. ([turn0search5]) Flames flicker, sauces bubble and chefs move with purpose while the staff remain attentive without ceremony. The dining room blends raw materials with polish—timber, stone and heat rendered with subtle elegance.

Aru is not trying to dazzle you with gimmicks. It invites you in, encourages you to share and quietly delivers excellence. For Melbourne’s modern dining scene it stands out as both benchmark and an evolving story of flavour, place and craft.