First Look: Nobody Does Venetian Wine Bars Like Da Bepi

In Venice, most evenings unfold over small plates and short pours. Locals lean on bar counters, chatting between sips of wine and bites of cicchetti, maybe fried mozzarella, anchovy on toast and meatballs slicked in sauce before drifting off to the next stop.

That’s the spirit brothers Matthew and Anthony Lucato have channelled into Da Bepi, their new Venetian-style wine bar and cicchetteria (Venetian tavern) on Sydney Road in Brunswick. Named after their grandfather Giuseppi “Bepi” Lucato and inspired by his hometown of San Marco di Resana, just outside Venice, it’s equal parts family tribute and late-night local. “It’s a neighbourhood bar with Venetian soul and Melbourne sensibility,” Anthony says. 

The space feels instantly transportive. The room glows under soft amber light, with polished timber, marble and brass giving it quiet elegance. A long bar runs the length of the space, lined with wine bottles, vinyl and stemware that catch the glow. Lucato family photos line the walls, giving it a personal touch. It’s the kind of room built for staying late – and its 3am licence means you can.

The brothers have built a menu that walks a line between Venetian snacking and homestyle comfort. Small plates include mozzarella in carrozza (battered mozzarella sandwiches with anchovy or ham), fritto misto, arancini with a house-made Napoli-style sauce, house-made rosemary focaccia, and Da Bepi’s garlic bread topped with guanciale and pecorino. There’s also a daily rotation of cicchetti, small seasonal bites that change as the day does.

Da Bepi’s pasta comes from Piera Pasta Fresca. It’s made fresh daily and used across dishes including rigatoni carbonara, casarecce pomodoro, tagliolini ragu, aglio olio e peperoncino, and Nonna Maria’s lasagne – a recipe from the brothers’ grandmother that ties everything back to home. 

Then comes desserts and digestivi. The list runs from frittelle (grappa-filled Venetian doughnuts) and cassata to classic tiramisu and affogato, alongside an impressive line-up of amari and liqueurs like Braulio, Montenegro, Cynar, Rucolino, Poli Grappa plus fortifieds and espresso.

The wine list roams Italy’s northern regions – Veneto, Friuli, Piedmont – balanced by thoughtful local bottles. Aperitivi and classics keep things simple: spritzes, Negronis and grappa to end. 

This is the brothers’ first restaurant. Anthony’s past life in music, managing acts like Aussie indie pop duo Client Liaison, informs the sonic side. A built-in vinyl turntable and analog sound setup anchors the room, with sets from local selectors spinning through funk, soul and Italo-disco. 

Matthew spent more than a decade working his way up at KFC, from the front counter to area manager, before deciding to open a venue that both matched his pace and spoke his language. “I learned everything about systems, service and consistency there,” he says. “Da Bepi is the heart version of that, it’s still about people, but now it’s personal.”

Da Bepi Bar
391 Sydney Road, Brunswick
0451 491 391

Hours:
Wed to Sun 3pm–3am

@dabepi.bar