Hi! Welcome to FunEmpire 👋
We take pride in finding the best local experiences, activities and services. We only recommend what we love, and hope you love them too. Learn about our story.
Italian Restaurant Melbourne
Looking for a delicious Italian meal in Melbourne? Look no further! We have compiled a list of the 10 best Italian restaurants in Melbourne. From classic dishes like pasta and pizza, to modern twists on italian cuisine, these restaurants will leave you wanting more. So why not try them all?
1. Grossi Florentino
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | https://www.florentino.com.au/ |
| Address | 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 |
| Phone | 03 9662 1811 |
| enquiries@grossiflorentino.com | |
| Operating Hours | 7am-12am Monday to Saturday |
Grossi Florentino serves exquisite high dining. They take pleasure in providing excellent service, and as such, you’ll receive 10/10 service from beginning to end. Because the menu of Grossi Florentino is divided into three courses, we hope you brought your appetite with you.
2. Capitano
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | http://www.capitano.com.au/ |
| Address | 421 Rathdowne Street, Carlton VIC 3053 |
| Phone | (03) 9134 8555 |
| eat@capitano.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 5:30pm-9:30pm Wednesday and Thursday, 5:30pm-10pm Friday, 12pm-10pm Saturday, 12pm-9:30pm Sunday |
Capitano provides friendly food and drink in a clean, safe environment. The goal of the menu at Capitano isn’t to draw attention away from your companions; rather, it’s to lubricate and satisfy them. The inspiration for Capitano’s vodka sauce is Italian-American, and it may be found on one of two pasta dishes. But fundamentally, Capitano is all about Melbourne.
3. Zia Rina’s Cucina
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | https://www.rinas3143.com/ |
| Address | 857 High Street, Armadale VIC 3143 |
| Phone | 9500 2014 |
| rinas.armadale@gmail.com | |
| Operating Hours | 6pm-10pm Wednesday to Saturday |
Zia Rina is a fantastic Italian restaurant in Melbourne that deserves a spot on our list of the Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants. The cozy area offers a changing set menu based on the finest seasonal fruits from the Mornington Peninsula. Don’t be fooled by the simple menu; the pricing is correct for the quality and amount provided. The choice to drink local or Italian wines (or BYO), makes it a very appealing date night choice.
4. Arlechin
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | http://arlechin.com.au/ |
| Address | Mornane Place Melbourne, VIC, Australia 3000 |
| Phone | Visit their website for more details |
| info@arlechin.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 5pm-1am Tuesday and Wednesday, 5pm-3am Thursday to Saturday |
The Arlechin, a laneway bar with a long marble bar and room for 40 people, features the rest of the Grossi cellar behind glass, like a votive offering to Bacchus. Even if you want to go to bed at 10PM, the midnight spaghetti will coexist with your plans. A delicate twirl of meticulously al dente spaghetti with a flavor burst of sauce, salty large capers, and sweet basil leaves.
5. Rosa’s Canteen
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | http://rosascanteen.com.au/ |
| Address | Cnr Little Bourke & Thomson, St, Melbourne, 3000 |
| Phone | 03 9602 5491 |
| eat@rosascanteen.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12pm-9pm Monday to Friday |
At Rosa’s Canteen, they serve a sincerely rustic, no-frills Italian cuisine that you can sense doing good for your body and soul. Its simplicity is its strength. The cauliflower fritters are a hint and a smile at Rosa as she is known and adored throughout the community. The grilled chicken livers, interleaved with fat cubes of fried bread, are just as tasty in the antipasti section.
6. Cicciolina
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | https://cicciolina.com.au/ |
| Address | 130 Acland Street, St Kilda, Victoria 3182 |
| Phone | 03 9525 3333 |
| enquiries@cicciolina.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12pm-1am Monday to Saturday, 12pm-11pm Sunday |
Cicciolina has long been a favorite with Melbourne’s locals. As a result, it is highly sought after, so you’ll have to arrive early to reserve a table. You could, however, enjoy some Italian wines at Cicciolina’s excellent bar while you wait.
7. Scopri
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | http://scopri.com.au/ |
| Address | 191 Nicholson Street, Carlton, 3053 Vic |
| Phone | 03 9347 8252 |
| info@scopri.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12pm-10pm Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm-11pm Sunday |
Scopri’s cozy and elegant atmosphere is ideal for a third date or a long-overdue catch-up. Choose from the Tagliolini with local rock lobster, cherry tomato, and saffron, or the Galletto-Alla-Griglia, which includes chargrilled spatchcock, baby leeks,
8. Emilia
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | https://www.emiliamelbourne.com.au/ |
| Address | Rear of 360 Little Collins Street |
| Phone | (03) 9670 7214 |
| info@emiliamelbourne.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12pm-3pm and 5pm-10pm Wednesday to Friday, 5pm-10pm Saturday |
Emilia is ideal for those lunchtime escapes from the workplace. You’ll enjoy some of the finest Italian Melbourne has to offer with bolognese that’s freshly cooked every day, as well as spinach and ricotta ravioli. Just keep an eye out for sauce stains on your shirt.
9. Il Bacaro
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | http://www.ilbacaro.com.au/ |
| Address | 168-170 Lt Collins St, Melbourne, 3000 |
| Phone | 03 9654 6778 |
| info@ilbacaro.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10pm Monday to Saturday |
In its little, packed restaurant, Il Bacaro offers a contemporary spin on traditional Italian cuisine. We’re talking about seared quail with caramelized figs and blue cheese ice cream, as well as roasted duck breast and baked duck leg with blueberry and coco beans. Subtle creativity and high-end dining are the name of the game here.
10. Tipo 00
| Key Services | Italian cuisines |
| Website | https://tipo00.com.au/ |
| Address | 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 |
| Phone | +61 03 9942 3946 |
| eat@tipo00.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 11:30am-10pm Monday to Saturday |
Tipo 00 does not only do pasta, but it does it exceptionally. The squid-ink tagliolini, or the al dente asparagus and sage tortellini, drowning in Parmesan sauce for the adventurous. This is where you’ll find Melbourne’s best Italian restaurant for pasta lovers.
11. Di Stasio Citta
| Key Services | Italian Cuisine, Full Bar Available, Table Booking Recommended, Indoor Seating, Serves Cocktails |
| Website | https://www.distasio.com.au/citta/ |
| Address | 45 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9070 1177 |
| info@distasiocitta.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 10PM Daily |
On Spring St, opposite the Treasury Gardens, between Collins St and Flinders Lane, is a unique environment envisioned, built, and curated by Di Stasio. Cittá is a culmination of a problem and ideas Rinaldo has grappled with his whole life. This is a business initiative, but it also expresses and brings together Italo-Australian history, culture, location, and legacy. It’s a chance to celebrate Rinaldo’s effect on Australia’s hospitality, cultural, and creative environment via a reinvigorated celebration of Melbourne and the CBD, where it all started, and of his spiritual and family home, Italy. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Italian and Australian fusion
- Located in the heart of Melbourne CBD
- Unique environment
Customer Testimonial:
“What a delightful experience! We felt like royalty with so many friendly knowledgeable staff looking after us. Delicious cocktails, both traditional and modern and a stunning menu showcasing modern versions of Italian classics. Definitely coming back.”
Lachlan Fenwick
12. Bar Carolina
| Key Services | Italian Cuisine, Takeaway Available, Full Bar Available, Table Booking Recommended, Indoor Seating, Serves Cocktails |
| Website | http://barcarolina.com.au/ |
| Address | 44 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9820 9774 |
| info@barcarolina.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 11:30AM – 11PM Tuesdays – Saturdays | 11:30AM – 10PM Sundays |
As soon as you step onto Bar Carolina’s terrazzo flooring, you’ll get the strong sense that you’ve been transported to the beaches of Italy. This restaurant, which is owned by the same individuals as Il Bacaro, serves some of the finest Italian steak and seafood in Melbourne (more on them later). In addition, as implied by the name of the institution, there is a bar at Bar Carolina where you may satisfy your wine and cocktail needs. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Transportive Italian beach vibes
- Seafood and steak specialties
- Wine and cocktail bar
Customer Testimonial:
“Stunning ambiance and modern Italian dining. It is one of our favourite experiences in South Yarra.”
Sonia Vachalec
13. Osteria Ilaria
| Key Services | Mushroom Croquette, Zucchini Flower, Wagyu, Gnocchi, Starters, Duck, Italian Cuisine, Feed Me Menu |
| Website | https://www.osteriailaria.com/ |
| Address | 367 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9642 2287 |
| eat@osteriailaria.com | |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 10PM Mondays – Saturdays |
The establishment, pronounced Oste’ria, is a place where you can kick back, relax, and enjoy some of the best contemporary Italian cuisine and drinks from all over the globe. One of the most iconic dishes in Italian cuisine is pasta. Not here, not at Osteria Ilaria. Osteria Ilaria’s menu contains classic Italian dishes like lamb cutlets and duck, as well as dishes from other European cuisines and a sourdough bread that has been fermented for 48 hours. We believe you can afford to go one night without spaghetti with all the other options on the menu. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Contemporary Italian
- Affordable
- Lamb cutlets and duck
Customer Testimonial:
“First time at this restaurant and everything was perfect. The experience partnered with the food and drinks was just amazing. Ask for their specials as it’s not on the menu. Would definitely come back again. The mushroom croquettes are a must try.”
Anya Boediman- Suwanto
14. Baby Pizza
| Key Services | Polenta Chips, Ravioli, Pastas, Pizzas, Cocktails, Wine, Comfortable Seating Area, Happy Hour |
| Website | https://www.babypizza.com.au/ |
| Address | 631-633 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9421 4599 |
| eat@babypizza.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 10PM Daily |
Baby is a south-side favorite because it combines the flavor and pleasure of Italian cuisine with the laid-back Australian manner. Baby is a casual, all-day classic with a neighborhood ambiance, using the best seasonal fruit and hand-sourced ingredients. Baby focuses heavily on the vivacity and flavor of Italian cuisine. Baby is unique on our finest Italian restaurants in Melbourne list for two reasons. To begin, the store’s mozzarella is the richest and stringiest since it is made by hand. The second reason is that they are one of the first establishments we’ve found that offers breakfast all day. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Casual Italian
- Handmade mozzarella
- Breakfast all day
Customer Testimonial:
“They make a great neapolitan style pizza and their pasta dishes are also good. The quality of ingredients they use are good and the standards are decent as well. I also love the ambiance and the theme of the restaurant.”
Raihan Adam
15. Park Street Pasta & Wine
| Key Services | Homemade Pasta, Organic Ingredients, Italian Cuisine, Full Bar Available, Outdoor Seating |
| Website | https://parkstreetpasta.com.au/ |
| Address | 268 Park St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9042 8871 |
| ciao@parkstreetpasta.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 10PM Tuesdays – Saturdays |
In a historic corner property at 268 Park Street, Park Street Pasta & Wine is South Melbourne’s welcoming osteria. Five days a week, master chef Angus Cadden prepares seasonal Italian dishes from 20 regions. Pasta is prepared in-house, and Italian, foreign, and local wines are offered. Their facility has a small bar and dining area, plus a second dining room upstairs that serves as a private event space. Outside is a terrazzo area and temporary open-air eating deck with festoon lights, umbrellas, and heaters for the winter. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Small and cosy
- In-house pasta
- Private event space
Customer Testimonial:
“I love the atmosphere there. Favorite of the night was the panna cotta. Pasta was nicely made but for me it will be even better if they added in a little bit more flavor. Worth going especially for a date night.”
He Qijing
16. Lupo
| Key Services | Gluten Free Options, Serves Cocktails, Indoor Seating, Vegan Options, Elaborate Menu, Fresh Food |
| Address | 300 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9419 2202 |
| info@luporestaurant.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 6PM – 11PM Wednesdays – Thursdays | 12PM – 3PM Friday – Sundays |
Pickett (Estelle, Matilda) reopened Saint Crispin as Lupo in 2019. Pickett’s nontraditional Italian restaurant blends his passion of handmade pasta and untraditional ingredient pairings. The spanner crab lasagne combines crab, scallop, basil, and dawn lime (a golden citrus fruit). Squid-ink linguine with sardine vinaigrette and bottarga. Or Japanese dashi with Yukon gold potato tagliatelle and garum, a fermented Roman fish sauce. Using chickpea-flour rigatoni, most pasta recipes may be made gluten-free. Gluten-free spaghetti is vegan, but ask about vegan sauces. The restaurant will add black truffles to any meal for $25. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Handmade pasta
- Unique ingredient pairings
- Gluten-free and vegan options
Customer Testimonial:
“Visited Lupo for birthday dinner. Excellent experience from start to finish. Really nice menu, not too pricey, lots of tasty options. Very strong wine list, the sommelier is excellent, super knowledgable and engaging. “
Evelyn Tang
17. Oster
| Key Services | Homemade Brioche, Modern European Cuisine, Breakfast, Full Bar Available, Serves Cocktails, Vegetarian Friendly |
| Website | https://www.ostereatery.com.au/ |
| Address | 76-78 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9428 0749 |
| info@ostereatery.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 5:30PM – 11PM Tuesdays – Saturdays |
Ostr’s hosts have decades of expertise in exquisite dining in Melbourne and across the world. Chef Nicola Romano hails from Brescia, Italy. Osvaldo Tognella from Milan hosts the front of house. These two have jobs, but like with any traditional osteria, they may do anything. Nicola may bring you a plate, collect your dishes, or wash them. Osvaldo uses tweezers to rearrange food on the dish and polishes wine glasses and irons napkins. They both have global fine-dining experience. Dublin to Japan, Middle East, East Brunswick, Yarra Valley. They’re seasoned. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Experienced hosts
- Fine-dining experience
- Wine list
Customer Testimonial:
“A cute little restaurant on bridge road, perfect for a date or a small group dinner. I had the risotto and it was delicious. Their tiramisu tastes like heaven and its a must must must try. Super friendly staff and chef. I’ll be going again for sure.”
Saad Humaid
18.Agostino
| Key Services | Italian Cuisine, Takeaway Available, Full Bar Available, Natural Wine, Serves Cocktails, Onsite Retail |
| Website | http://www.agostinowine.com/ |
| Address | 297 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9347 1619 |
| ciao@agostinowine.com | |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 10PM Mondays, Wednesdays – Sundays |
Grandma Carlo started working at Frank Agostino’s Swanston Street grocery business in the 1950s. Carlo stocked King & Godfree with Italian favorites like parmesan cheese, olive oil, salumi, and wine, and it quickly became a destination for both homesick Italians and those trying new pleasures. Nonno never sold at King & Godfree. Carlo’s tradition, passion, and community spirit are honored at Agostino’s wine bar. Relaxed, modern, and adaptable Bartenders pour cocktails and aperitivi. Shop for Italian wine and Australian-made Italian varieties, or enjoy it with a meal or little snacks. Their meals and service include authentic Italian tastes and charm. This is why they are one of the finest Italian restaurant Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Italian wine
- Italian groceries
- Aperitivi
Customer Testimonial:
“Great service, great wines, great atmosphere. The waiters are more than that, they’re fantastic at guiding you through the food and drink menu and making your time as great as it can be. We were delighted by the food and sharing is definitely best. The wine is amazing!!”
Daniel Whitehurstz
Italian Restaurant Melbourne
If you’re looking for the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne, look no further than our list of ten. We’re confident it will provide a good starting point to find your new favorite Italian restaurant in this beautiful city that’s filled with so many delicious options!
If you want to read more interesting articles, follow the links below:
