13 Italian restaurants in Melbourne guaranteed to fuel your fire

With slick new openings, classic cucinas and masterful high-end dining, there’s a lot to love in Melbourne’s Italian restaurant world.

Melbourne’s Little Italy has long magnetised the city’s visitors, but the lasting legacy of the city’s sizable Italian community extends well beyond the borders of Carlton. It created the blueprint for Melbourne’s world renowned cafe culture, and laid the groundwork for future generations of chefs to create Italian-inspired fusion food.

Today, Victoria’s capital, is awash with Italian eateries of every kind. From vibrant family-friendly pub-style osterie and glamorous Milanese-inspired CBD restaurants to cosy farm-to-fork Sardinian eateries. Eat your way around the city with this shortlist of Italian restaurants in Melbourne.

The shortlist

Best date spot: Di Stasio
Hidden gem: Da Noi
Hottest new opening: Elio’s Place

1. Studio Amaro

hands getting food on the plate using fork at Studio Amaro — Dig into specialty Italian pasta at Studio Amaro. (Image: Julia Sansone)

On a strip of Windsor’s Chapel Street, heaving with bars and restaurants Studio Amaro’s cool Dean Martin vibe is all its own. Sunny by day, moody by night, its sleek design shines in retro shades of olive, burgundy and mustard, with a wall of Amaro bottles shimmering in the light. Amaro? That’s the bittersweet Italian herbal aperitivo or digestivo (post-dinner) liqueur. You’ll find around 50 varieties to sip neat or in a cocktail.

Chef Daniel Migliaccio’s open kitchen is fired up. Scoop up the whipped ricotta with addictive house-made focaccia or indulge in a chunky curve of grilled pork and fennel sausage. Rigatoni arrabiata comes tomato-infused, chilli-laced and dotted with stracciatella. Mains are generous – saltimbocca, veal cotoletta (cutlet), fish – with Italian flourishes.

Post-dinner, head downstairs to the basement bar, where a DJ spins vinyl in a disco lounge.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Sultry

Location: 168 Chapel St, Windsor

2. Puttanesca Osteria

a hand slicing pizza at Puttanesca Osteria, Italian restaurants Melbourne — Devour one slice after another at Puttanesca Osteria. (Image: Supplied)

Puttanesca Osteria in Kew’s Clifton Hotel evokes a regional Italian eatery to a T. It sprawls across multiple rooms, with dark timbers, terrazzo floors, arched doorways and iconic film posters.

Culinary classics stud the menu (think crunchy arancini with melting centres, pillowy gnocchi, ‘mamma’s’ beef meatballs and Roman-style pizzas with crisp, charred bases), and there’s an inviting, family-friendly atmosphere too.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Family-friendly trattoria

Location: 99 High St, Kew

3. Luci

the sleek and modern dining interior of Luci restaurant in Melbourne — Luci is within the confines of the Grand Hall of the former 1930s Equity Chambers Building. (Image: Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street)

A fabulous space in the CBD – the Grand Hall of the former 1930s Equity Chambers Building – is home to Luci’s, where the polished marble, sculptural light fittings and tall ceilings offer a sleek and modern feel. Produce-driven, with discreet style and service, Luci has the polish of a Milanese restaurant. While the menu is Italian-inflected you’ll find other Mod Oz flourishes too, from crostini topped with prosciutto and Davidson plum to rabbit ravioli garnished with Geraldton wax oil.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Members lounge vibes

Location: 472 Bourke St, Melbourne

4. Officina Gastronomica Italiana

an exclusive wine selection at Officina Gastronomica Italiana — Pick wine off the shelf for a full-on Italian experience. (Image: @HiSylvia)

In a ritzy pocket of Hawksburn, surrounded by designer fashion stores and breathtakingly expensive baby boutiques, Officina Gastronomica Italiana (OGI) offers the full-on Italian experience, low-key and laid-back but lively all at once. Expect a rustic interior, all stripped-back brick and hard-edge timber stools, and a little bit of theatre from the Italian waiters.

Start the day with a breakfast bruschetta or just caffé e biscotti. Sample fresh panini, house-made pasta and salads for lunch. And indulge with dishes such as squid ink spaghettoni with spanner crab and chilli, or pumpkin ravioli with goat’s cheese and mustard fruit at dinner. It seems modest, but it’s super fresh and confidently cooked.

The wine focus is centred on Emilia-Romagna and features artisanal production.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegantly rustic

Location: 532/534 Malvern Rd, Prahran

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5. Al Dente Enoteca

a plate of pasta at Al Dente Enoteca — Savour elegant dishes at Al Dente Enoteca.

Al Dente’s main dining room, ‘Enoteca’, is an elegant and stylishly modern space with generously spaced tables; the second dining room (named ‘Sapori’) is for those who like to be a little more cheek-to-jowl.

Chef/owners Andrea Vignali and Davide Bonadiman focus on fresh, seasonal and local produce, though pasta is the standout star here (particularly the house signature, tortelloni cacio e pepe). After all, it was the success of Vignali’s Covid pasta delivery service that helped to launch this restaurant in 2021. But Al Dente offers much more, with dishes that riff on regional Italian classics while incorporating unexpected ingredients, like exquisitely fresh burrata paired with heirloom beetroot, cashews, and merlot vinegar; Victorian dry-aged duck served with Kakadu plum; and kangaroo tartare with mustard, capers, and applewood smoke. You’ll also find an interesting wine list and attentive service.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Chic and inviting

Location: 161 Nicholson St, Carlton

6. Di Stasio

the Italian restaurant interior of Di Stasio in St Kilda — The classic fine Italian diner stands out for its sophisticated interior. (Image: Di Stasio St Kilda Photography)

Take your pick – the original in St Kilda, the cool Carlton iteration or the modish Spring Street version. Di Stasio restaurants set the bar high (and they’re a little bit spendy).

Di Stasio St Kilda has burnished its food and service credentials over decades with a classic, high-end Italian menu.  Di Stasio Pizzeria in Carlton is younger, even a little hip, with its pasta/pizza menu and leafy, sculpture-studded courtyard. Di Stasio Città is the arty, Milan-channelling, hard-edge city outpost in Spring Street. It’s über-chic and you’ll find no surprises on the menu,but it’s all faultlessly executed.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Fine dining

Location: 45 Spring Street, Melbourne (Di Stasio Città)

7. Alta Trattoria

Italian dining at Alta Trattoria, Fitzroy — This Italian restaurant draws diners for its cosy understated luxury. (Image: Alta Trattoria)

If you’re not familiar with Piedmont’s cuisine, this is your opportunity to get acquainted. Alta Trattoria is resolutely understated with white tablecloths, simple chairs and quality glassware – just as it might be in Italy. Piedmontese favourites feature on the menu… anchovies, vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce, originally from this region in Italy’s northwest) and rabbit, all expertly prepared and precision plated. Don’t leave without trying the tajarin – an egg-rich pasta made from thin ribbons of dough. Piedmont is famed for its wines, and they shine on this tightly curated list.

Cuisine: Piedmontese

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Schmick

Location: Ground Floor Rear/274 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

8. Figlia

the Italian wine bar at Figlia, Melbourne — The elegant wine bar provides a laid-back atmosphere for all-day drinks. (Image: Supplied)

A new offshoot of Melbourne’s pizza royalty, Tipo 00 Figlia has plenty of knockout sourdough pizzas on the list. They really are bubbly and charred, light and loaded with excellent, though sometimes unexpected, toppings. Think wild boar sausage or cavolo nero with stracciatella and fermented cabbage.

Don’t underestimate the rest of the menu, though. You could make a meal of the stuzzichini (snacks) and antipasti. Crispy little cacio e pepe arancini, roasted carrots with mascarpone, octopus skewers, fresh oysters and polenta focaccia. Secondi might include a whole fish or a hearty wagyu steak. The fit-out treads between wine bar, bentwood-chair bistro and low-key industrial, but is definitely welcoming. It also has an Italian-leaning wine list, including carafes.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Refined yet convivial

Location: 335 Lygon St, Brunswick East

9. Bar Idda

the exterior of Bar Idda, Italian restaurant in Melbourne — Bar Idda is a family-style trattoria in Melbourne.

Well before White Lotus alerted many to the charms of Sicily, Bar Idda was flying the flag in its cute corner store in Brunswick. This cosy, family-style trattoria continues to nail its Sicilian menu with food that feels genuinely cucina casalinga.

From the juicy green Sicilian olives and crunchy arancini to twirly pasta with a slow-cooked beef and pork ragu, you feel in safe hands. There’s fresh fish, of course, and meatballs with that particular Arab influence of pine nuts, currants and cinnamon that weaves through Sicilian cuisine.

The salad with chicory, celery and sultana is a must. Nonna would never let you leave without dolce, so order up. A tiramisu-flavoured cannolo (or two) is possibly the way to go. Sicilian wines are on the list.

Cuisine: Sicilian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: 132 Lygon St, Brunswick East

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10. Elio’s Place

lunch and dinner share plates at Elio’s Place, Italian restaurants Melbourne — Tuck into European-inspired share plates at Elio’s Place. (Image: Steven Chau)

An all-day bistro in the heart of the city, Elio’s Place transcends Europe’s borders with its laidback menu, though it’s heavily skewed towards the Bel Paese. Come for the daily aperitivo ‘hour’ (3-5pm) and stay for the share plates: creamy burrata bathing in crispy chilli oil and scattered with sweet pickled onions; crunchy crostini slathered with nduja and ricotta; lamb skewers on a bed of punchy salsa verde.

Housed within a heritage-listed, six-storey former warehouse, this Flinders Lane eatery has good bones. Its interiors are dimly lit, awash with timber and superbly cosy, like a slice of Europe tucked into Melbourne’s laneways.

Cuisine: European

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Smart casual

Location: 1/238 Flinders Ln, Melbourne

11. Da Noi

the dining interior of Da Noi, Italian restaurants Melbourne — Da Noi has been pleasing palates with fresh Sardinian pasta since 1991. (Image: @timsonmez)

This small, South Yarra stalwart is something of a local’s secret, quietly going strong since 1995. If it weren’t for the shop window, where this Sardinian restaurant’s fresh pasta is often handmade, then perhaps even fewer people would be privy to its charms.

Choose from a la carte or a set six-course menu here. Traditional dishes that might land on your table include culurgiones (stuffed pasta), porceddu (roast suckling pig), or fregola (small, toasted pasta grains). And did we mention that Da Noi even boasts its own smallholding? Much of the fruit, veg, eggs and meat that grace your plate have been sustainably and ethically sourced from the family farm in the upper Goulburn Valley.

Expect pressed white tablecloths, candlelight, wooden chairs and walls lined with art.

Cuisine: Sardinian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Cosy

Location: 95 Toorak Rd, South Yarra

12. Rosa’s Canteen

Italian dining at Rosa’s Canteen, Melbourne — Find a range of indulgent plates from the Sicilian menu. (Image: Rosa’s Canteen)

Rosa’s Canteen has amassed a loyal following over the last decade, known for its authentic, honest, homestyle Italian cooking in the thick of the city. Despite its location, this Sicilian-inspired eatery offers some respite from the CBD’s busy streets, its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the treetops, allowing light to pour in.

Much of the kitchen’s produce is plucked from chef Rosa Mitchell’s family farm, and fresh herbs, fruits and veggies receive equal billing on the menu: whipped ricotta with pickled zucchini, chilli and mint; spaghetti aglio olio with anchovy, cherry tomato and garlic; eggplant involtini with tomato, celery, radish and ricotta.

Cuisine: Sicilian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Tranquil and welcoming

Location: Shop 8, Rear of/500 Bourke St, Melbourne

13. Grossi Florentino

the dimly lit dining at Grossi Florentino, Italian restaurants Melbourne — Grossi Florentino serves up intricate dishes in an intimate space. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Among the oldest restaurants in all of Australia, Grossi Florentino (known as Café Florentino until its takeover by the Grossi family in 1999) has been going strong since the 1920s. Few restaurant experiences in Australia compare to dining upstairs here: lined with murals, forged wrought iron lighting, timber panelling, and chandeliers, this imposing space feels almost like a place of worship.

The menu commands similar reverence, each dish intricately composed and full of rich ingredients: risotto with Moreton Bay bugs, Cape Grim short rib with red wine sugo, caviar with ricotta hotcakes.

Downstairs, the buzzy Grill restaurant is inspired by Tuscany, and a more casual entry to the Grossi empire.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Stately

Location: 80 Bourke St, Melbourne

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The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boast some of Victoria’s most stunning natural scenery, making them a prime destination for outdoor experiences.

There’s something very special about the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. A mix of rugged bush, mist-laden rainforest, gardens bursting with vivid blooms and a network of rivers and waterfalls, the landscapes here are layered and diverse. Late summer is a particularly good time to visit, when the days are long and the region’s outdoor offerings are ripe for sun-soaked adventures.

The best part? Despite being only an easy one-hour drive from Melbourne, the area feels a world away from the hustle. You’ll be greeted by a slower pace with fewer travellers and more room to move – allowing you to truly switch off and take it all in.

From rail trails to rainforest walks, this is where you’ll find nature at its most rewarding.

1. Warburton

Biking around Warburton is one best natural experiences in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. — Hit the trails at Warburton Mountain Bike Destination. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Perched at the top of the Yarra River, surrounded by pristine national park, the town of Warburton is a haven for nature lovers. It’s known for its towering redwoods, found in the Californian Redwood Forest just 15 minutes out of town. You’ll be in utter awe of these giant trees, some of which reach heights of up to 55 metres.

The Warburton Rail Trail is another way to experience the town’s natural beauty. This flat, 40-kilometre route goes all the way to Lilydale and is ideal for a stroll or cycle past native bushland, wineries, farmland and parts of the Yarra.

If you want to up the pace a little, head to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, which encompasses 160 kilometres of purpose-built tracks amid wild bush terrain. For something a little more laid-back, the Rainforest Gallery is a standout spot for a wander. The gallery features statuesque Mountain Ash and Myrtle Beech trees, moss-covered logs and tree ferns, and a 40-metre elevated walkway that brings you right into the centre of the forest canopy.

2. Yarra Glen

Yarra Glen is a beloved food and drink destination, but it offers far more than excellent produce and top-notch wines.

A highlight is Alowyn Gardens, which stretches over seven acres. Inside, you’ll find nine different gardens with vivid floral and seasonal displays, plus a nursery featuring exotic plant species. The Wisteria Arbour is a crowd favourite, a curved walkway connecting the different gardens with a display of cascading lilac blooms.

Intersecting with the Warburton Rail Trail, the first stage of the Yarra Valley Trail runs from the gateway town of Lilydale to Yering Station. A more manageable track of just 7.5 kilometres, it takes you through rolling farmland and pockets of native bush, with ample opportunities for wildlife-spotting.

If you’re travelling with kids, McKenzie Reserve is a non-negotiable stop. The reserve encompasses a skate park, plenty of open grass to stretch little legs, and a nature-inspired adventure playground to suit every age and every energy level.

3. Healesville

One of the best natural experiences in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges is seeing a Koala upclose. — Get up close and connect with koalas. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Healesville is the region’s best place to meet local wildlife. It’s home to Healesville Sanctuary, where you can get up close to kangaroos, koalas, emus, dingoes, reptiles and more. Beyond giving you front-row access to these gorgeous creatures, you’ll appreciate the scenic charm of the tracks and trails that meander through the wildlife park.

To see even more birdlife, head over to Badger Weir for a picnic. Situated among soaring Mountain Ash trees and tranquil waterways, the area supports several bird species, including crimson rosellas, Australian king parrots and the elusive lyrebird. Barbecue facilities are available, and several tracks leading to Badger Weir are pram-friendly.

Fernshaw Picnic Area, located in the Yarra Ranges National Park, is another idyllic setting for picnicking and short walks, also encircled by Mountain Ash trees. Compared to Badger Weir, though, Fernshaw provides a slightly more secluded experience, making it ideal for quieter outings.

4. Olinda

Cloudehill Gardens is a beautifully curated, year-round garden destination featuring nine terraced gardens filled with seasonal blooms and lush plant varieties. — Wander through terraces of ever-changing blooms. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Sitting more than 600 metres above sea level, the Dandenong Ranges have an enchanted feel and are shrouded in lush rainforest filled with tree ferns, mossy trunks and lingering mist.

The town of Olinda is one of the finest places to experience this unique environment in all its verdant glory. At the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens, rhododendrons reign and drape the gardens in a riot of colour every spring.

The nearby Cloudehill Gardens are well worth visiting any time of year. In each of the garden’s nine terraces, you’ll find an array of plant varieties that bloom and transform across the seasons, including weeping Japanese maples that have been growing here for nearly a century.

Besides being a haven for arbory enthusiasts, the nearby RJ Hamer Arboretum is a spectacular spot to enjoy panoramic views. Here, more than 150 tree species grow and overlook the neighbouring Yarra Valley and Great Dividing Range.

5. Emerald

A lady eating with the view of Emerald Lake Park. — Enjoy a lakeside picnic at Emerald Lake Park. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Set just behind the Dandenong Ranges, the foothills town of Emerald has a slightly more open feel, featuring rolling hills and open bushland. The town sits on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, with a patchwork of forested reserves and accessible bush trails on the Emerald side.

You can also take to the water at nearby Aura Vale Lake, which is popular for sailing, canoeing, fishing for eel and perch, and picnicking on the grassy banks.

The stand-out, though, is Emerald Lake Park, a sprawling green with multiple recreation zones. Across 52 hectares, there are walking tracks, playgrounds, paddleboats, a model railway, fishing sites and a family-friendly wading pool that comes to life every summer. The park also lies adjacent to the iconic Puffing Billy, making it a perfect stop if you’re travelling on the historic steam train.

Start planning your next adventure at visityarravalley.com.au

13 Italian restaurants in Melbourne guaranteed to fuel your fire

With slick new openings, classic cucinas and masterful high-end dining, there’s a lot to love in Melbourne’s Italian restaurant world.

The shortlist

1. Studio Amaro

2. Puttanesca Osteria

3. Luci

4. Officina Gastronomica Italiana

5. Al Dente Enoteca

6. Di Stasio

7. Alta Trattoria

8. Figlia

9. Bar Idda

10. Elio’s Place

11. Da Noi

12. Rosa’s Canteen

13. Grossi Florentino

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The best trails and natural moments around Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boast some of Victoria’s most stunning natural scenery, making them a prime destination for outdoor experiences.

1. Warburton

2. Yarra Glen

3. Healesville

4. Olinda

5. Emerald

With slick new openings, classic cucinas and masterful high-end dining, there’s a lot to love in Melbourne’s Italian restaurant world.

The shortlist

1. Studio Amaro

2. Puttanesca Osteria

3. Luci

4. Officina Gastronomica Italiana

AI Prompt

5. Al Dente Enoteca

6. Di Stasio

7. Alta Trattoria

8. Figlia

9. Bar Idda

10. Elio’s Place

11. Da Noi

12. Rosa’s Canteen

13. Grossi Florentino

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22 of the best accommodation in Melbourne

The world’s first rotating Snowtunnel is coming to Australia

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The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges boast some of Victoria’s most stunning natural scenery, making them a prime destination for outdoor experiences.

1. Warburton

2. Yarra Glen

3. Healesville

4. Olinda

5. Emerald