The 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Melbourne

You will find some of Australia’s best Italian restaurants in Melbourne. In fact, some of the best the world has to offer on this side of the equator. And it’s not just my Melburnian snobbery that speaks.

Melbourne’s famous “pizzaiolos” Johnny Di Francesco (400 Gradi, 2014), Silvio Serpa (Pizzaly, 2016) and Michele Circhirillo (48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar, 2019) were crowned “Best in the World” at the “World Campionato “annual Della Pizza” in Parma, Italy – AKA, the Olympic Games of the making of pizzas.

And it’s not all about pizza, either. With 37% of Melbournians enjoying an enviable Italian heritage, you can guarantee that you can find all the basic Mediterranean dishes (and more) at one of these 10 impeccable Italian restaurants in Melbourne. For rich, hearty and authentic Italian cuisine, look no further.

RELATED: Best Pizza in Melbourne: Where to Find the Most Primo Slices in Town

Marameo

Marameo is the newest and self-proclaimed “cheeky” member of Joe Mammone’s Bar Carolina, Il Bacaro and Tetto family – in other words, a setting for some of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants. If ‘cheeky’ is the driving force behind their delicious variations of classic dishes and surprising combinations like Wagyu Tartar Cannoli, then this is my favorite in the family. Squid ink spaghetti, WA blue rock crab, chili, tomato, and fish roe deserve their own mention. Enjoy the playfully decorated interior or take a seat in the courtyard on a warm Melbourne night.

Address: 6 Russell Street, Melbourne
Contact: (03) 9639 7822
Hours: Mon – Thu (12-22pm), Fri (12-23pm), Sat (5.30pm-11pm)

Tipo 00

Tipo 00 offers a tasty selection of starters, but don’t be fooled; the main event is the pasta. It is actually in the namesake of the restaurant. “Tipo 00” is the specialty flour used in the creation of their delicious dishes. If you want to ignite all your senses, opt for the chef’s menu, it is a true religious experience. If you have any doubts, the chef in question, Andreas Papadakis has stepped out of Vue de Monde to offer Melbourne this little 42-seat CBD pasta temple.

Address: 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Contact: (03) 9942 3946
Hours: Mon – Sat (11.30am-10pm)

Park Street Pasta and Wine

Set in a sober Victorian terrace, Park Street Pasta & Wine is the best combination of Italian country flair and friendly local. Keep some of that freshly baked rosemary focaccia and whipped pork bacon appetizer, you’ll need it to wipe down the “Mafaldine” pasta, oozing cacio e pepe, black pepper and pecorino-romano sauce. The pasta of the day, made from local and quality ingredients, is regularly renewed for your greatest pleasure.

Address: 268 Park St, South Melbourne
Contact: (03) 9042 8871
Hours: Sun – Thu (11:45 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.), Fri – Sat (11:45 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.)

Café + Bar Di Stasio

The famous institution of Rinaldo Di Stasio has honored St Kilda for over thirty years. Di Stasio guarantees you a moment of indulgence and indulgence served by waiters in white jackets… but reserve it for a special occasion. The bill accumulates very quickly. The new CBD location “Cittá” ​​offers overlapping dishes in a completely unique and architecturally acclaimed gallery-like space. Think of Cittá as expressing the brutalist yet cosmopolitan haute couture world of Milan, and the location of St Kilda, as offering the enchanting and timeless beauty of Rome.

Address: 31 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Contact: (03) 9252 3999
Hours: Mon – Sun (11:30 am- until late)

Coffee and Cucina

Caffé e Cucina opened in 1988, the same year as Di Stasio. The dimly lit interior decked out in vintage prints is as cozy and warm as its traditional menu offering. The vitello alla milanese is as big as your head, and the tiramisu is perfect in all its glory. Take one of the coveted curbside spots for guaranteed entertainment. If it isn’t the Italian waiters who add drama and drama to your meal, it will be the colorful characters of Chapel Street walking past you.

Address: 581 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Contact: (03) 9827 4139
Hours: Mon – Sun (12-11pm)

Cucina by Zia Rina

If you’re looking for a trattoria that serves Italian food with all its heart, Zia Rina hands down a spot on our list of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants. The intimate space offers a rotating set menu based on the best seasonal produce from the Mornington Peninsula. Don’t be fooled by the concise menu, the price is right for the quality and quantity served. The ability to choose from local or Italian (or BYO) wines, makes this a very appealing nighttime date option.

Address: 857 High Street, Armadale
Hours: Tue – Sat (6 pm-10pm)

Rita’s

Rita’s is a consistently reliable and always tasty option for any night of the week. At Rita, semolina pizzas are the real heroes. In fact, the three founders and best friends have opened a branch next door to meet the demand for take out pizzas. Make sure to order a Bingo Bango; tomato, mozzarella, salami, pancetta, caramelized onion and olives, as well as the potato; garlic base, mozzarella, caramelized onion, taleggio, rosemary, truffle oil.

Address: 239 Johnston Street, Abbotsford
Contact: (03) 9419 8233
Hours: Tue – Thu (5 p.m.-9.30 p.m.), Fri – Sun (12 p.m.-9.30 p.m.)

Captain

It’s crazy to think that the ex-Attica, the team of Bar Liberty, (which won the best bar in Australia) only added Capitano to its inventory in 2018. It has become an institution. in a record time. Capitano is just a great all round vibe. It offers round and square pizzas, inspired by New York Italian cuisine. You’ll want to try everything on the menu, which makes Capitano perfect for a small group. Don’t leave without tasting the Rigatoni vodka sauce, the herb salad pizza and the ‘Roni squared with tomato, pepperoni, mozzarella and pickled pepper. Make sure to wash everything down with a Negroni if ​​you really want the full Italian dining experience.

Address: 421 Rathdowne Street, Carlton
Contact: (03) 9134 8555
Hours: Sun – Thu (5 p.m.-10 p.m.), Fri-Sat (5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.)

Idda Bar

If you’re trying to find the best Sicilian family secrets outside of Sicily, look no further than Bar Idda. Reflecting its hipster neighborhood, the interior is rustic and the food is unpretentious and utterly delicious. The credit goes to the Milinciani; layered eggplant in the oven, passata, buffalo mozzarella, basil, pecorino, as well as Maccaruni; whirled pasta, stewed beef and pork, grated pecorino. The fixed menu at $ 50 per person is a real bargain.

Address: 132 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Contact: (03) 9380 5339
Hours: Tue – Sat (11 am-3pm, 5 pm-10pm)

Umberto espresso bar

This Calabrian-inspired father-son duo from Thornbury brings you breakfast, lunch and dinner in a delicious’ 70s trattoria. And we’re talking about traditional Italian breakfast as it should be; stuffed cornetti and Genoese coffee. However, Umberto’s is getting a makeover by moving into a new three-story house in a century-old building, with a roof! Yet, exciting as the new digs are, it’s the old favorites that have kept customers coming back for more than a decade, including classic pasta con funghi, simmered osso buco, and delicious rotating panini.

Address: 917 High Street, Thornbury
Contact: (03) 9484 8654
Hours: Mon, Wed – Thu (11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm), Fri – Sun (10 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm)

If you’re looking to close the deal, try following Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants with 7 of the best nightlife wine bars in Melbourne. And if you’re more of NSW, take a look at Sydney’s best Italian restaurants.

Best Italian in Melbourne – Frequently Asked Questions