The best Italian restaurants in Melbourne

What is it? Melbourne’s a town with no shortage of excellent pasta, but most of us can agree: when Tipo 00 hit the scene in 2014, the applause from Italian food lovers was deafening. This modern restaurant from chef Andreas Papadakis is named after the finely ground flour used to make pasta and pizza, and in 2022 it was named one of the best Italian restaurants in the world. 

Why we love it: Tipo 00 really is dishing up the crème de la crème of sauced-up carbs and we don't want it to ever stop. Gorge on stracciatella with fermented honey and grilled ox tongue for starters, squid ink pasta and the puttanesca market fish for mains, and then finish on a sweet note with the famous 'Tipomisù'. You'll thank us later.

Time Out tip: A must-try dish is the tagliolini al nero.

Address: 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Starters $17-29, pasta and risotto $38-60

What is it? Launched in 1995, Caterina’s Cucina e Bar is a Melbourne institution for traditional regional-inspired Italian lunches with a modern spin. 

Why we love it: Lunch can be a lengthy affair or simply done espresso-style, the latter being the case for many a passing city worker. More than 400 Australian, French and Italian wines make up the enticing vino list. Pasta classics such as pansoti and strozzapreti are reimagined, and regional dishes such as sopa coada and baccalà alla vicentina are a delicious reflection of the chefs’ classical training.

Time Out tip: Order a jar of baccala mantecato – a Venetian specialty of dried salted cod paste whipped with extra virgin olive oil and garlic – to take home.

Address: 221 Queen Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Starters $18-34, pasta $33-47, mains $48-62, plus wines, sides and dessert or Italian cheese

What is it? The grand Mural Room at this swanky Italian fine diner is one of Melbourne’s last bastions of lavish European dining charm and every dish the waiters ferry out of the kitchen is a five-star knockout. A true legend in Melbourne's dining scene.

Why we love it: No, this isn’t luxe for less, but you’ll be feeling no pain with the Grossi family's crowd-warming approach to elevating to Italian food at its loftiest heights – think perfect pasta, swoon-worthy starters and ‘carne e pesci’ dishes to please the most fastidious of meat lovers, all paired best with excellent sourdough and a drop from that fabuloso European wine list, of course.

Time Out tip: Happy to splash out? Opt for the seven-course set menu ($260) to get the full experience. 

Address: 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Set menus range from $95 to $260, plus additional charges for wine pairings.

What is it? At this refined Italian diner in Carlton, dishes change with the seasons to focus on local quality produce and regionally inspired Italian flavours. 

Why we love it: Twirl your fork around pappardelle with boar ragu, smoked daikon, candied walnuts and dark chocolate (yes, you read that right), and the crowd favourite since Al Dente’s inception – the tortellini cacio e pepe. The desserts are just as fantastical, with creations like lait e miel (milk and honey) and chocolate, hazelnut, coffee and truffle, playing unique riffs on authentic Italian flavours.

Time Out tip: Start with a panzerotti pomodoro, the tastiest pizza pocket in town. 

Address: 161 Nicholson Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: $130 for a four-course set menu, $75 for paired drinks

What is it? Il Bacaro serves up a modern twist on classic Venetian fare in its small, crowded restaurant. 

Why we love it: Subtle creativity and high-end dining are the name of the game here, and it works. From ocean trout tartare with buttermilk, chiva and sambuca to wild boar reginette, dishes are playful and thought-provoking while delivering on authentic Venetian flavours.

Time Out tip: Order the Moreton Bay bug spaghettini, which may be one of the simplest dishes on the menu but is also one of the most well-loved.

Address: 168-170 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Set menus range from $85 to $99 a person

What is it? Nestled in Little Italy at the top of Bourke Street, Bottega is an incredibly romantic venue – must be the chocolate coloured carpet and the dim lights. We suggest you bring a hot date to match the hot decor. 

Why we love it: Genuinely Italian head chef Gabriele Olivieri's lunch menu runs 20 dishes long, but you'll have to pick from a smaller selection for a bargain – think truffle-dressed wagyu carpaccio or baked prawns with XO ‘Italiano’, and a wild garlic pesto-slathered casarecce pasta with confit rabbit.

Time Out tip: With starched white tablecloths and well-trained service staff, this restaurant’s a little fancy so do your part and dress the part.

Address: 74 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: $125 for the four-course chef’s menu (includes a glass of Italian bubbles)

What is it? Di Stasio Città sees Ronnie Di Stasio – the city's one-man answer to the Medici family – return to the neighbourhood where he pioneered Rosati in the heady days shortly before the fringe benefits tax and the stock market crash cruelled the excesses of the 1980s. And the augurs are good.

Why we love it: It’s a place of arrestingly clean-lined brutalism – concrete walls and pillars, a remarkable terrazzo floor, video installations by artists Reko Rennie and Shaun Gladwell playing on loop with the same mesmeric qualities as the TV in the corner of the RSL. White-jacketed bartenders shake things behind a slab of white marble. Red leather chairs make like a mid-century Thornbury espresso bar, a younger Di Stasio’s stomping ground.

Time Out tip: Planning a swish event? Find out your options with Di Stasio at the website.

Address: 320 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: Stuzzichini $7.50-22, pasta $42-51, mains $54-63, plus wines and dessert

What is it? Bar Olo is the snazzy new Carlton wine bar from the Scopri crew, playfully named after the Piedmont grape varietal. 

Why we love it: Both locals and curious passersby have been smitten from the moment its mysterious sheer white curtain was first swept back in April 2024. Whether it's for an excellent dinner or snacks and happy hour wines, this is the place to be. 

Time Out tip: Whatever you do, don’t skip the prawn sandwich. This one is sensational.

Address: 165 Nicholson Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: Snacks $18-31, pasta $28-31, plus wines

What is it? Alt's menu is not your standard showcase of traditional Italian ingredients. Mossy green ribbons of pappardelle come topped with shavings of abalone, and you’ll spot diverse ingredients like kumquat, romesco, dashi jelly and edamame also making unexpected appearances in several dishes. 

Why we love it: Alt isn’t just different, it’s downright delicious. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Korean-born chef eschews added salt in his cooking, instead building his dishes from a savoury base of housemade chicken stock. This is modern Italian food, reinvented with a multicultural edge – and it works.

Time Out tip: Slip into this sleek diner for a midweek business lunch. It’s moody, sophisticated and the food will impress.

Address: 30 Niagara Lane, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Small plates $25-30, pasta $32-48

What is it? At first glance, Lucia might seem like polished corporate dining – safe, stylish and formulaic. But beneath the sleek façade lies a restaurant brimming with technical precision and genuine heart. It’s fine dining without the pretentiousness: creative, playful and accessible. From start to finish, Lucia offers an experience that’s as relaxed as it is refined. 

Why we love it: Hospitality veterans Frank Ciorciari and Anthony Silvestre have reimagined fine dining with Lucia, bringing it back to its roots. Here, you can forget about degustations or hushed dining rooms where speaking above a whisper feels taboo. Instead, Lucia delivers all the flair and showmanship of upscale dining in an approachable and relaxed setting.

Time Out tip: You must try the viral chocolate, bourbon and coffee dessert. Its presentation lives up to the Instagram hype: bourbon coffee is poured over a meringue, creating hypnotic swirls before pooling at the base. It’s mesmerising to watch – and even better to eat. 

Address: 11 Eastern Road, South Melbourne 3205

Expect to pay: Snacks and starters $10-30, mains $40-59, plus sides, drinks and dessert

What is it? Scopri offers a seasonal rotating menu consisting of produce from its own biodynamic farm in the Macedon Ranges. 

Why we love it: Italian favourites such as antipasti, grilled octopus with nduja and rabbit agnolotti punctuate the menu, while the duck ragu fettuccine is one of the restaurant's most popular orders. Also boasting an impressive wine cellar, this restaurant is definitely one you have to book ahead for. It's been a family favourite for over a decade now.

Time Out tip: Love Scopri? Then you’ll probably also love its sister wine bar, Bar Olo.

Address: 165 Nicholson Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: Antipasti and starters $36-40, mains $47-49 ($120 for a 600-gram bistecca)

What is it? Lagotto is a delightfully handsome Italian restaurant, designed by Flack Studios and boasting a rich burgundy terrazzo with marble inlays. Sunlight bounces off the restaurant’s timber and peachy pink walls, and the vintage Italian aesthetics evoke an old-timey cinematic glamour. 

Why we love it: There are countless restaurants in Melbourne where you can enjoy exceptional takes on classic Italian recipes, but where Lagotto stands out is in its playfulness. From pairing tuna with strawberries and kefir to pouring rare spirits from the motherland, the restaurant’s generosity and creativity are to be commended. 

Time Out tip: Get the gnoccho fritto to begin, a pastry that when plunged into boiling oil, puffs up like a golden pillow. Lagotto’s vertical stack incorporates blankets of velvety parmesan curd, tangy pickles and a slice of translucent prosciutto, before being dusted with briny parmesan snow. The warm, salty prosciutto fat seductively renders on the tongue, and the delicate gnocco crumbles on first bite.

Address: 1 York Street, Fitzroy North 3068

Expect to pay: Snacks $14-16, starters $28-34, pastas $43-70, fish and meat $70-150, plus drinks and dessert

What is it? This elegant wine bar and restaurant opened in 2023 above Boccaccio Cellars, a 60-year-old bottle shop and Italian grocer run by the multigenerational D'Anna family. 

Why we love it: Ascending the stairs, constructed from pale pink marble that perhaps intentionally resembles mortadella, feels like you’re being let in on a secret – push open the door to reveal a sleek, buzzy venue you’d never know existed from ground level. Housemade pasta has transitioned from a novelty to an expectation in Melbourne’s dining circuit, but a well-done variety will always rise up and the ones at Enoteca (for example, the flawless rigatoni all'amatriciana) are a stellar example. 

Time Out tip: By the glass, there are premium pours served via Coravin and available in tiered serving sizes hovering around $30, plus a standard offering starting around $15. Staff are well-informed to guide you through, with in-depth tasting notes and suggestions tailored to your preference and budget.

Address: Level 1/1046 Burke Road, Balwyn 3103

Expect to pay: Starters $24-32, pasta $32-42, plus wines

What is it? Centonove features a menu of classic Italian meals with a modern flair, and an interior decor to match. 

Why we love it: The meals are as perfectly presented as the elegant room at this hatted restaurant, and the award-winning wine list certainly plays its part. It's arguably one of the best restaurants in Kew, and a definitive Melbourne classic. 

Time Out tip: Centonove has a small eight-seat private wine room with 2,500 bottles of vino – perfect for celebrating a wine lover’s birthday.

Address: 109 Cotham Road, Kew 3101

Expect to pay: $89-109 for a set menu experience

What is it? Located on High Street, just minutes from Armadale Station, is an endearing Italian joint that hasn’t sacrificed authenticity for southside palates. 

Why we love it: The overall atmosphere is one of comforting nostalgia – complete with soft opera and candlelit tables. What runs the risk of contrivance instead feels like a heartfelt love letter to Southern Italy.  

Time Out tip: Be sure to let the restaurant know about any dietary requirements, as this is a set menu-only venue.

Address: 857 High Street, Armadale 3143

Expect to pay: $88 for the set menu

What is it? Formerly known as the local coffee haunt DOC Espresso, this famous Lygon Street venue from Melbourne's respected DOC Gastronomia crew has recently transformed into a northern Italy-inspired osteria. Note that you can still get your espresso fix during the day.

Why we love it: Longtime fans of the Italian empire (which also includes DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar and DOC St Kilda) will be pleased to know that DOC's signature tiramisu hasn't gone anywhere, though the rest of the menu has been given a contemporary Italian-style glow-up, which took six months to develop. Highlights include arrosticini, fresh pasta, authentic polpette and chicken saltimbocca.

Time Out tip: The ultra-saucy lasagna at this restaurant is one of our faves around Melbourne. So comforting!

Address: 326-328 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: Starters $12-25, fresh pasta $28-42, mains $36-38

What is it? Nestled in Prahran, but crucially, on Malvern Road instead of bustling Chapel Street, Officina Gastronomica Italiana (or simply Officina) exudes rustic charm and humility and screams of 'local fave'. Owner Claudio Casoni previously operated espresso bar Officine Zero in the space, but after commandeering the store next door, he opened Officina. Not only has it doubled in size, but it has also doubled in offerings. 

Why we love it: Where Officine Zero was a daytime café haunt, Officina is a triple threat, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Officina is where you go when you want to prioritise a happy stomach over flashy gimmicks because, at the end of the day, that's what it's all about. 

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the vitello tonnato.

Address: 532/534 Malvern Road, Prahran 3181

Expect to pay: $79-100 for lunch and dinner set menus

What is it? Lygon Street's most popular traditional Italian restaurant is named Johnny, Vince and Sam’s, after the three iconic characters created by Australian-Italian comedy trio Sooshi Mango. 

Why we love it: Their bustling restaurant draws on the lovably daggy charm of traditional nonno and nonna-style deco (think floral carpets, crystal cabinets and art prints depicting Jesus and the Last Supper) and unpretentious old-school Italian recipes. The food? Definitely not as sophisticated as some of the other fare on this list, but just as heartwarming and authentic as a nonna's hug. The pizza and pasta here will steal your heart.

Time Out tip: We love the pasta ‘with a'de meatballs’, washed down with a glass of sangiovese.

Address: 306-308 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: $75 per person for a share-style set menu

What is it? What we have here is not so humble as a traditional osteria, but rather one of Melbourne’s best contemporary Italian restaurants and special-feeling enough to warrant a celebratory booking. 

Why we love it: Whatever its place in the pantheon of Melbourne’s eating and drinking scene, we sure are happy to welcome it to the family. From the stunning Italy-spotlighting wine list to the considered, well-paced food menu, this spot has all the drawcards you need for a lavish long lunch in the CBD.

Time Out tip: Start with the deceptively simple porcini mushroom croquette, priced at just $7 a pop.

Address: 367 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: $65 per person for a two-course lunch menu, plus wines

What is it? In a word, Marameo is fun. With a rotating program of playful seasonal specials and chilled-out vibes, this is an Italian restaurant that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Why we love it: Marameo's hot $50 date night special is vailable every Wednesday night, and the tasty steal includes half a litre of wine; housemade rosemary focaccia with salami, prosciutto and mortadella; baked cavatappi with Bolognese ragu and pecorino béchamel; garden leaves with fennel and radish; and zeppoli doused in chocolate sauce.

Time Out tip: Check out the website for more specials.

Address: 6 Russell Place, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Starters $12-27, pasta $32-44, mains $39-65

What is it? The folks at Commune Group, responsible for fellow southside gems Firebird, Hanoi Hannah and Tokyo Tina, have added to their collection yet another ambitious project: a two-level Italian dining and drinking space alluringly christened Studio Amaro.

Why we love it: The multi-purpose venue isn't just another place to wine and dine, thanks to a generous focus on music and DJ residencies. Think disco, funk and plenty of Euro nostalgia. On the food and drink front, expect no-nonsense aperitivo drops, a sharp selection of wines and beer (and rivers of amaro, of course!), and classic Italian staples designed for sharing. 

Time Out tip: Head down to the basement bar for an amaro and some tunes after dinner.

Address: 168 Chapel Street, Windsor 3181

Expect to pay: Antipasti $10-28, pasta $34-41, mains $38-48, plus wines or cocktails

What is it? This beloved classic trattoria showcases the traditional cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. 

Why we love it: Dive into the citrusy delights of Amalfi lemon spaghetti with spanner crab, mint, smoked chilli and a light bisque, or go for the heartier mortadella and prosciutto-filled tortelloni with parmesan sauce and aged balsamic vinegar from Modena. We’re big fans.

Time Out tip: You can also now pop in for lunch, where the restaurant turns into Emilietta to sling traditional flatbread sandwiches. 

Address: 360 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: $110 for the five-course tasting menu

What is it? This groovy and popular Italian-style joint excels in many things, but none more so than the cult-favourite meatball sub. Rocco’s crew billed them the ‘Italian Maccas’ and the best part about that is you’ll be too full and satisfied after to consider any fast-food chaser.

Why we love it: Rocco’s famous pork and veal meatballs, which also make an appearance in the mainstay spaghetti on the menu, are smothered in sugo, salsa verde, parmesan and signature white-sauce, making this a sandwich you won't forget for some time. Rocco’s combines the warmth of an Italian mom-and-pop restaurant with a menu that is elevated comfort food – every dish is meticulously curated and crafted with care.

Time Out tip: Finish on a sweet note with Rocco’s house soft serve.

Address: 15 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy 3065

Expect to pay: Around $15-25 for the meatball sub (depending on what size you get), $26-36 for pasta

What is it? This is an intimate, traditional ristorante where the inspiration for Sunday lunch comes directly from their grandmother's recipe books from the old country. 

Why we love it: Warm service, authentic flavours, great wine – this old-school spot ticks all the boxes. You'll feel as if you've just jetted off to some charming village in Italy.

Time Out tip: There’s a special bruschetta of the day here, so make sure you try it.

Address: 581 Chapel Street, South Yarra 3141

Expect to pay: Snacks $9.50-16, starters $40-60, mains around $60, plus salads or sides and drinks

If you follow the line of cool kids down the busy Brunswick East end of Lygon Street, chances are they’ll lead you straight to Times New Roman. The sister venue of Fitzroy North’s Good Times – aka the northside’s favourite purveyor of cheap pasta and late-night feasting – this newish joint has quickly built up a cult following of its own, thanks in no small part to bowls of the good stuff being available from just $6.66 (yes, really!).

Why we love it: Obviously, a major drawcard here is the affordable pricing model. But it also scores high for vibes, decor (a fair notch more elevated than Good Times) and satisfying comfort pasta.  

Time Out tip: Yes, you really can get Cheezels in full or half box servings ($6/$3). Because why not?

Address: 66 Lygon Street, Brunswick East 3075

Expect to pay: Around $20-25 for a few dishes, and most glasses of wine are under $13.

What is it? Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant is a welcome venture from the Amatrice team, following the successful launch of their casual sister venue Caffé Amatrice. Leading the kitchen is head chef Vincenzo Di Giovanniello (Bar Carolina, Osteria Ilaria), who brings his expertise in pasta perfection and an exciting menu that draws inspo from a diversity of Italian regions and traditions. 

Why we love it: From the impressive sweeping views to the insanely good quartet of Roman pastas (carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana and griche) on offer here, this has date night written all over it.

Time Out tip: Want to know more about the name? Amatrice imports all of its dry pasta (made using traditional techniques, pristine mountain water and local Italian grains) directly from the towns of Amatrice and Campofilone. 

Address: Level 10/16 Stephenson Street, Cremorne 3121

Expect to pay: Appetisers $6-8, small plates and pasta $28-33

What is it? Here they're doing the kind of devotedly rustic, no-frills Italian food that you can feel doing you good, body and soul.

Why we love it: The strength in this restaurant is its simplicity. The rich crumbed mussels with spring pesto are a nod and a wink that this is Rosa as she is known and loved. Just as good under the list of antipasti are the ox tongue skewers.

Time Out tip: Our must-order dish at Rosa’s is the housemade pappardelle with chicken livers and marsala.

Address: Shop 8, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Antipasti $10-32, pasta $34-42, mains $38-49

What is it? Little Black Pig and Sons is churning out some outstanding Italian food right now, with a fortnightly-changing menu and consistently excellent service. 

Why we love it: How does handmade agnolotti of roasted butternut, leek, truffles and parmigiano reggiano with burnt butter and sage sound? Or whipped buffalo ricotta with spicy Calabrian n'duja, poached pair, olive oil and homemade piadina? Molto bene? Then you’ll love the hearty 'cucina povera'-inspired Italian fare at this well-loved gem in Heidelberg.

Time Out tip: If you’re ordering from the à la carte, definitely order the slow-cooked rolled pork belly. It’s a showstopper.

Address: 48 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg 3084

Expect to pay: $130 for a five-course tasting menu, $195 for matching wines

What is it? Walking down Hardware Lane means running the gauntlet of cheek-by-jowl waiters trying to entice potential diners into their venues with proffered 15-page illustrated menus. But not all venues rely on their front-of-house to charm the masses on the hoof, and restaurants like the Hardware Club prove this with one-page menus full of straight-up hits.

Why we love it: Every dish we’ve ever tried at this CBD jewel gets a big green tick. Hit snacks include a cacio e pepe crispy cheese toastie, roasted marrow bone toast and fried squid with chilli vinaigrette, while the fresh spaghetti with chilli crab and confit tomato always hits the spot for a main.

Time Out tip: If you love spicy food, get the pasta all'assassina (a dish originating in Puglia, where pasta is cooked in a pan, like risotto, rather than being boiled). To make it, the chef fries up yesterday’s spaghetti strands as if they were Hokkien noodles, serving them lightly charred, swaddled in a chilli sauce and topped with a hearty orb of mozzarella to douse the fire beneath.  

Address: 43 Hardware Lane Upstairs, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: $70 for a set menu

What is it? This romantic South Yarra fine diner has everything you want in a good date night Italian restaurant: soft lighting, charming service and, most importantly, really good food. 

Why we love it: Chef Pietro Porcu was inspired by his childhood experiences growing up on a farm in Sardinia. His menu is based on the produce that’s available on the day, and that’s the beauty of Da Noi; it’s an ever-evolving feast that moves with the whim of the kitchen.

Time Out tip: Learn more about the farm at the website.

Address: 95 Toorak Road, South Yarra 3141

Expect to pay: $135 per person for the set menu

What is it? This lively Sicilian joint, where the music pumps and the snacks come out thick and fast, has fast become a Lygon Street favourite. You’ll want to book nice and early – there’s not a day Bar Idda isn’t packed. 

Why we love it: For a crash course on Sicilian food, turn your menu over – Bar Idda, along with sketching out a map of the region, has provided an illustrated timeline. There are plenty of delicious meat and seafood-driven dishes to enjoy, but don't overlook the mulinciani – a sumptuous eggplant bake with passata, buffalo mozzarella, basil and pecorino. 

Time Out tip: Keen to learn some Sicilian family secrets? Book in at the restaurant for a sausage and salami-making class.

Address: 132 Lygon Street, Brunswick East 3057

Expect to pay: Snacks $6-13, starters $18-20, mains around $18-$30, plus salads or sides and drinks

What is it? Melanzane parmigiana? Foil butter sachets? Unapologetically old school with mod-Melbourne lines, this little bistro is hammering out pan-Italian classics like they’re going out of style.

Why we love it: Whilst the echo factor and city location mean that by day it's all business, by night it’s a soft-lit haven for a casual rendezvous. Order the veal and amaretto agnolotti if it’s still on the menu and thank us later. 

Time Out tip: Don’t sleep on the pizza here, either. 

Address: 41 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Snacks $5-17, pasta and pizza $25-39

What is it? Cicciolina is an indispensable bastion of southside dining: an ace of Acland Street. 

Why we love it: St Kilda has changed since Cicciolina opened in 1993. The section of Acland Street that Cicciolina sits on, a one-time boho hotspot, is now reduced to a cut-copy mall. Stars of the menu may sound uncomplicated and a little retro, but that's part of its assured charm. Cicciolina is an institution, not a revolution. 

Time Out tip: If you’re feeling extra, start on the crab soufflé with a Champagne and chive velouté.

Address: 130 Acland Street, St Kilda 3182

Expect to pay: Starters $30-35, pasta and risotto $40-47, mains $52-77, plus dessert and drinks

What is it? It’s all in the sense of occasion. It’s the make or break factor of great dining, and it's something Ronnie Di Stasio’s mainstay Italian has been nailing for decades.

Why we love it: This is a restaurant that’s well and truly earned its reputation as one of Melbourne’s greats. White-jacketed veteran waiters guide you through a list of daily specials where the finest seasonal produce is showcased in refined dishes. Think Italian truffles, lobster and daily made fresh pasta. Pop a bottle of sparkling and settle in for a long lunch. 

Time Out tip: We recommend the handmade pasta with crab deluxe. 

Address: 31 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda 3182

Expect to pay: Starters $30-38, risotto and pasta $52-58, mains $55-62, plus sides and drinks

What is it? Renowned for its handmade pasta amongst those in the know, Donnini's keeps it simple with an elegant fitout, sharp, knowledgeable service and a crowdpleasing roll-call of Italian dishes.

Why we love it: Sure, it's a little pricier than some other Italian restaurants on the strip – but you get what you pay for. It was all the way back in 1952 that this family started its multi-generational hospitality business, and the fact that it's stood the test of time is testament to their dedication to their customers. Around 70 years and four generations later, Donnini's is still one of the classiest traditional Italian restaurants in the area.

Time Out tip: To read more about the Donnini family’s history and interesting 70-year-long culinary heritage in Melbourne, visit the website.

Address: 320 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053

Expect to pay: Starters $17-35, pasta $37-46, mains $43-62, plus wine or cocktails and dessert

What is it? Nearly decades in the business and Marios, a classic Italian restaurant open from morning until night, is still going strong on Brunswick Street. 

Why we love it: Take the window seat and order a heaping bowl of spag bol or slick fettuccine pesto with some house wine for a classic Fitzroy experience. We love the service here; the black vest-clad waiters are old-school and can often be seen chatting to regulars.

Time Out tip: Sit outside to bask in the vibrant Fitzroy energy.

Address: 303 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy 3065

Expect to pay: Breakfast dishes around $17-24, starters $12-38, pasta around $24-30, mains $36-39, plus wine or an affogato for dessert

What is it? A number of quality locals in Kew have been raising the dining bar in recent years, but close to the pinnacle is Mister Bianco – owner and chef Joseph Vargetto’s ode to anything Sicilian you can legally put in your mouth. 

Why we love it: The restaurant's produce is sourced locally from around Victoria, with the menu a constantly evolving offering that covers all corners of Sicily, including some beloved favourites of Vargetto’s. We love his sensational polpette della Mamma, handmade pasta dishes and classic liquor-spiked Italian desserts. Simply delicioso.

Time Out tip: Be sure to visit the restaurant’s sister bar Bianchetto on one of its cosy movie night screenings.

Address: 26-28 Cotham Road, Kew 3181

Expect to pay: Starters $16-32, pasta $39-43, mains around $48-49, plus dessert and drinks

What is it? The sister venue of Cecconi’s Flinders Lane – a family-owned Italian institution, operating for almost 20 years – is a masterclass in restaurant design sophistication.

Why we love it: Inspired by the charm of traditional Milanese galleries and arcades, the architect has created a beautiful space – complete with a Gio Ponti-style staircase, red marble and Venetian touches. A bespoke wine cabinet displays Cecconi’s premium wine selection, guiding patrons to the bar and restaurant beyond.

Time Out tip: Order the bucatini cacio e pepe.

Address: Level 1/489 Toorak Road, Toorak 3142

Expect to pay: Starters $15-36, pasta $36-58, mains $62-69, bistecca $75-95, plus dessert and wine

What is it? Il Solito Posto is a CBD institution, renowned for serving up good classic Italian. 

Why we love it: It was the very first Melbourne restaurant I dined at after moving to the city from Perth, and a real eye-opener in terms of the excellent quality Italian cuisine that can be found around Melbourne. Almost a decade later, it's still often buzzing on Saturday nights.

Time Out tip: If you’re a sweet tooth, save room for the insanely delicious melting chocolate pudding.

Address: Basement/113 Collins St, Melbourne 3000

Expect to pay: Pasta and risotto $26-$41, mains $35-$53, plus dessert and drinks 

What is it? Since new owners took over the restaurant in 2023, Park Street Pasta and Wine has further cemented itself as a South Melbourne favourite for locals.

Why we love it: Head chef Tommaso Bartoli and sommelier Matteo Balbo are the ultimate dream team at this delightful corner osteria. Pasta is handmade in-house ‘fatto a mano’ and covers vastly interesting and creative ground, such as the ravioli with stracchino cheese, asparagus, popcorn cream, burnt chive oil and speck powder, or the mezze maniche with fresh seafood in a yellow tomato sauce. A neat selection of Italian, international and local wines only adds to the fun.

Time Out tip: Why not hire a Park Street chef and host a super spesh supper club party at your own home?

Address: 268 Park Street, South Melbourne 3205

Expect to pay: Starters $14-28, pasta $38-44