The Best Italian Restaurants in Melbourne
There’s no denying Melbourne hospitality’s strong Italian accent. Institutions like Grossi Florentino set the table early, opening its doors in the first half of last century. While the post-World War Two immigration boom helped to accelerate the cuisine’s popularity here, there’s more to our Italian bent than regional pastas and Napoli-accredited pizzas. It’s the commitment to using high-quality ingredients, allowing seasonality to shine through simple preparations, and of course, service with old-school charm.
Whether they’re longstanding institutions or future classics with contemporary edge, Melbourne’s best Italian joints are bound by another notable European import: a respect for food as the great unifier. Gather your favourite people and book a meal at one of these spots, curated by Broadsheet’s expert food and drink editors.
Restaurant
Tipo 00
After all these years, moody Tipo 00 still attracts queues of people hoping for a taste of its simple yet meticulously assembled pastas. A couple of secondi and dolci also grace the menu, alongside salumi best enjoyed at the marble bar, spritz in hand. Make sure you arrive early – very early – if you don’t have a booking.
Restaurant
Grill Americano
Venetian elegance, New York energy and Melbourne nostalgia collide at restaurateur Chris Lucas’s lavish brasserie and grill. Settle into the grand dining room for charcoal-fired bistecca, show-stopping tiramisu, quintessentially Italian cocktails and lots of tableside theatrics.
Restaurant
Di Stasio Citta
The CBD sequel to restaurateur Rinaldo Di Stasio's St Kilda institution goes just as heavy on the hand-made pastas. But it also throws high art into the mix, with video installations and dramatic artworks lining the walls of the restaurant’s brutalist, contemporary interior.
Restaurant
Scopri
Inspired by Italy’s Piedmont region, the Scopri team plates up house-made pastas and heavy-hitting secondi such as kid goat cooked on the bone. Don’t be fooled by the starchy white tablecloths – there’s nothing but a friendly, welcoming vibe at this Carlton classic.
Restaurant
Al Dente Enoteca
Originally a lockdown pasta delivery service by a stood-down chef, this swish spot doubles as a restaurant and locally focused wine bar. Come for signature tortellini, sterling seafood and classic Italian desserts in a chic neighbourhood dining room.
Restaurant
Osteria Ilaria
Tipo 00’s younger sibling stretches beyond the pasta bar concept with meat and seafood dishes straight out of a modern Italian osteria. An enormous cellar below stocks Italian necessities like wine and house-cured charcuterie.
Restaurant
Centonove
This family-run restaurant has been serving elevated Italian food to locals for decades. Go for saffron tagliolini with spanner crab, eggplant parmigiana or 12-hour roasted lamb shoulder. Plus, exclusive wines from small Italian producers that you’ll only find here.
Cafe
Umberto Espresso Bar
A tribute to the owner’s Calabrian-born father, Umberto plates up cucina casalinga homestyle cooking and classic Italian aperitivi in a former shoe shop. It’s also home to Gigi, a rooftop bar where you can sip a Negroni with one-of-a-kind views.
Restaurant
Park Street Pasta & Wine
Housed in a 19th-century building, this spot freshly extrudes pasta shapes such as rigatoni and bucatini in-house – an expensive process rarely seen in restaurant kitchens. Try them in the cosy dining room, or pull up at the parklet.
Restaurant
Capitano
This fun Italian joint, from Bar Liberty’s crew, takes plenty of cues from North America – with deep-dish pizza “squares” and rich, fermented base “rounds”. While the US gets a big look-in, the wine list is almost entirely Italian.
Restaurant
Osteria Renata
Look for the lush olive-green facade on Prahan’s High Street to find this handsome restaurant and bar. Inside, a dedicated “pasta lab” produces all shapes and sizes, with a big emphasis on egg-based pastas specific to northern Italy. The wine list includes a handful of Italian varietals produced here in Victoria.
Restaurant
Cafe Di Stasio
White-jacketed waiters delivering discreet, attentive service and a consistently excellent menu have made Rinaldo Di Stasio's intimate dining room a pilgrimage for lovers of fine Italian food. The seasonal set menu is an excellent way to dive in.
Restaurant
Il Solito Posto
Choose your own adventure at this cosy underground institution. If you fancy casual Italian dining, pull up a table in the cafeteria opposite the bar. For a more refined atmosphere, make your way to the dimly lit trattoria lined with bottles of vino.
Restaurant
Da Bruno
Sip Martinis while overlooking 360-degree views of Melbourne, indulge in classic pizzas and pillowy house-made gnocchi or descend into the neon-lit basement for a signature late-night cheeseburger.
Restaurant
Trattoria Emilia
Taking cues from northern Italian trattorias, Emilia has you covered for all occasions, from casual pasta and tigelle lunches to long and luxurious dinners.
Restaurant
Bottega
The tables at Bottega spill out onto the footpath much like they would in Rome or Florence, luring in passers-by with an energetic atmosphere. Mains usually feature produce from owner Denis Lucey’s farm, while an expertly curated wine list offers around 150 bottles from both Australia and Italy.
Restaurant
Il Bacaro
At this CBD stalwart, you'll find old-school service, a lengthy wine list and plenty of classic Italian charm. Dishes here have a Venetian focus, and include a zucchini risotto plus a signature Moreton Bay bug spaghettini. For drinks, opt for a classic Bellini or a parmesan-infused Martini.
Restaurant
Di Stasio Pizzeria
When veteran restaurateur Rinaldo Di Stasio started serving pizza for the first time, people duly took notice. Come for classic Margheritas and luxurious lobster pies in a colourful, artwork-filled space.
Restaurant
Figlia
Left-of-centre pizzas are the draw at this big, industrial-chic room from the Tipo 00 and Osteria Ilaria crew. Post up at the central bar for snacks and natural wines, or share bistecca and nebbiolo at a bistro-style table.
Restaurant
Tipico
A strong player in the city’s crop of sharp, contemporary Italian joints. Find classic dishes with subtle twists, and a wine list that picks from the country’s premier growing regions. The commanding terrazzo bar is the best place to take it all in.
Restaurant
Mister Bianco
Restaurateur Joe Vargetto honours his Sicilian roots at this moodily elegant diner. The focaccia and Sicilian pizzas come hot from the bread oven, and the porchetta is slow-cooked over red gum coals.
Restaurant
Lupino Bistro
The retro feel – complete with macramé and terracotta accents – is part of what makes this classic CBD bistro so great. But it’s the crowd-pleasing menu of pizza, pasta and secondi that keeps diners coming back for all manner of occasions.
Restaurant
48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar Elsternwick
Named for its dough’s 48-hour rise time (and officially recognised as one of Oceania’s best pizzerias), the menu here runs the gamut of classic and modern pies with notable vegan alternatives. The eponymous gnocchi is made small, “della nonna” style, and completely gluten-free.
Restaurant
Cecconi’s
Luxury and tradition collide at Cecconi’s, where Venetian food is the star of the show. The kitchen grows its own herbs, fruit and vegetables to use across the board, be it a seasonal risotto or garlicky seafood linguine.
Restaurant
Zia Rina’s Cucina
A farm on the Mornington Peninsula informs the degustation at Zia Rina’s, a rustic, candle-lit trattoria that celebrates the seasons with each lovingly prepared course. To drink, it’s southern Italian wines with a big focus on Sicilian winemakers.
Restaurant
Bar Carolina
Inside a former ice-cream store, this little slice of Venice is big on protein – woodfired in a Josper oven imported from Spain. But if you’re feeling pastas, varieties such as tagliolini and pappardelle are rolled in-house. It’s all served in a terrazzo-and-timber space that’s casual and contemporary at once.
Restaurant
Little Black Pig & Sons
A cosy, familial Italian restaurant where the menu changes every week. Enjoy oysters, hand-rolled pasta and creative seafood dishes alongside wines from Australia, Italy and Argentina.
Restaurant
Marameo
An Italian eatery tapping into pasta obsessions such as cacio e pepe and seafood linguine, plus protein-heavy mains. It’s designed to feel like an Italian dinner party – so gather your crew and make for the all-seasons rooftop courtyard.
Restaurant
Baby Pizza
If you’re after Italian with a fun, neighbourhood feel, head here. Restaurateur Chris Lucas’s buzzing southside spot turns out pizzas alongside salumi and traditional, crowd-pleasing pastas.
Restaurant
Abbiocco
A swish Italian spot that reps lesser-known pastas such as paccheri and tortelli, and obscure wine varieties to drink with them. Also on the menu are house-made digestifs such as limoncello, Aperol Margaritas and an unmissable tiramisu.
Restaurant
The Hardware Club
Two childhood friends are behind this breezy upstairs Italian spot, which pays homage to the neighbourhood eateries of their hometown with textbook pastas, cacio e pepe toasties and a daily dessert that’s best paired with house-made amaro.
Restaurant
Rosa’s Canteen
Rosa Mitchell’s menu is a masterclass in simple and supremely effective Italian cooking. Forget luxe imported ingredients – her unpretentious eatery in the heart of the legal district is all about making local produce sing.
Restaurant
Italian Artisans
Pizza is king here, but the ex-DOC owner behind it also serves killer antipasto. Enjoy your pie with an extensive drinks list championing lo-fi wines from Italian regions like Puglia, Toscana and Piedmont, and small-batch Italian beers.
Restaurant
DOC
Come to this buzzy restaurant for pizza like the Italians eat: simple and brilliant combos that don’t overload the palate, with a focus on best-in-class ingredients. It can be hard to squeeze in on a busy night – that’s half the fun.
Restaurant
Thirty Eight Chairs South Yarra
It’s a tiny spot, but the romantic, elbow-to-elbow ambience at Thirty Eight Chairs increases the chances of getting to know your neighbours – and maybe even sharing a bottle of wine with them. Pastas pay homage to all the family classics and are made from scratch.
Restaurant
Cicciolina
With an impressive collection of art covering the walls, Cicciolina feels like a dinner party in an eccentric painter's home – and it’s almost always full. Diners young and old are drawn back for its simple Italian cuisine and lengthy wine list. Enjoy drops from Italy, France and beyond from the bar out the back while you wait for a table.
Restaurant
Bar Idda
If you forget to book at this cosy neighbourhood restaurant, grab a seat at the bar, order a spritz and picture yourself in the streets of Palermo as you wait for a table. You’re in for home-style Sicilian fare, nostalgic Italian desserts and a welcoming vibe.
Restaurant
Lagotto
This Italian-leaning wine bar serves remixed pastas and classic Italian dishes in a room full of mid-century design flourishes. And there's an on-site bottle shop with Aussie and Italian booze.
Restaurant
Grill
Florentino’s downstairs sibling is a casual, Tuscan-inspired steakhouse powered by a Josper grill. Grill dials down the formality and grandeur, yet retains the mothership’s passion for outstanding produce and Italian values.
Restaurant
Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca
The permanent home of popular Italian sandwich pop-up, Rocco’s – with the addition of big bowls of pasta, house-made Italian liqueurs and a vibe reminiscent of an Italian nonna's house.
Restaurant
Pinotta
Sit up at the bar or outside in the heart of Fitzroy North village over an unpretentious and affordable bowl of pasta. The owner of the neighbourhood spot is a self-professed wine lover, filling out the mostly Victorian wine list with ones she’d drink herself. Better yet, you can bring your own.
Restaurant
Di Palma's
This family-run restaurant has served comforting Italian favourites since 1988. Settle into one of its 135 seats for family-recipe gnocchi, traditional desserts and a 100-strong list of local and international wines. Or take a bottle and one of its heat-and-eat meals to go.
Restaurant
Grazia
Hit this elevated Italian spot for 72-hour fermented pizza cooked in an imported Roman oven. Plus, house-made pastas and larger Italian plates. Behind the bar, the team mixes spicy Margaritas using house-infused jalapeno tequila.
Bar
Enoteca Boccaccio
Watch chefs prepare Italian dishes at this upstairs wine bar, from the team behind the longstanding family-run grocer downstairs. Select a drop from two cellars’ worth of imported Italian wine. And consult the official head of cheese on the extensive selection of formaggio.
Restaurant
Sincero
This upscale pasta bar serves Italian classics – but not as you know them. Come for new takes on dishes like eggplant parmigiana, served here with cheese foam and basil powder. Plus, a sommelier with Michelin cred.
Restaurant
Amatrice
This moody, Brahman Perera-designed spot has some of the city's best views, but the real magic starts at sundown. The mostly regional menu includes Roman classics, bite-sized lasagne and the heritage-protected “champagne of pastas”.
