Located at the top of Bourke Street, spitting distance from the pocket of bars at Meyers Place, The Mess Hall is an unassuming little restaurant with a modern Italian menu.

The limited space is pared back and elegant: dark wood tables, textured white walls and a white, pressed-tin ceiling make it seem larger than it is. Curious diners can observe the chefs at work in the exposed kitchen.

The menu, while not extensive, covers breakfast, lunch and dinner and features a diverse offering of pasta, pizza, salads and meaty mains that showcase food from Italy’s northern regions. Try an aperitif, like Prosecco over ice, a sparkling cocktail spiked with a bitter splash of Campari, and enjoy an appetiser such as calamari fritti or tuna carpaccio. For mains, dishes like pork belly with apple and chives or handmade pumpkin casoncelli are rich and rewarding.

Intimate and relaxed, The Mess Hall serves up well-balanced food with a deft touch that has patrons returning to this all-day city eatery.