From the scores of family restaurants along Carlton’s Lygon Street to the upscale bars and restaurants in the CBD, narrowing down a list of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne isn’t easy.
Handmade pasta, Roman- and Neapolitan-style pizzas and house-churned gelato are just a few of the specialities you’ll find at these hotspots. While the flavours are distinctly Italian, many restaurants choose to source ingredients locally, bringing the best of Melbourne and Italy together on your plate. Some menus take the roots of Italian cuisine and bring modern creative twists to the table, while others stick to traditional techniques and flavours of different regions. Plus, with wine lists that include bottles from local Victorian vineyards and the finest wine regions of Italy, it’s easy to find that perfect pairing.
Whether you’re after a pleasantly crowded, family-friendly atmosphere to enjoy a casual meal or refined fine dining − or something in between − you’ll find a warm welcome and excellent food at each of these restaurants.
Skip the line and grab a seat at Melbourne’s top Italian restaurants − book your table on OpenTable today.
Discover the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne with our guide below
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne – head to D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar in Southbank, Carlton, and Mornington
At D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar, simplicity shines, with a classic menu that pays special attention to each ingredient. The menu carefully explains the flavours and textures of each cheese and salumi − buttery burrata, tangy robiola − and how they’re made and aged. Sourced from D.O.Cs (Designation of Controlled Origin) and P.D.Os (Protected Designation of Origin), these stellar ingredients ensure the most traditional Italian flavours and cooking techniques. While the tasting boards are a great way to appreciate the unique flavours, these ingredients are also used as toppings on mouthwatering pizzas. Continue the traditional flavours and end the meal with a D.O.C tiramisu, made using traditional Savoiardi biscuits and Montenegro liqueur. The modern-rustic vibe of the locations in Southbank, Carlton and Mornington – as well as the coffee joint in Carlton – strikes an easy balance between casual and refined, perfect for every occasion.
📍 Southbank — Check availability
📍 Carlton — Check availability
📍 Mornington — Check availability
📍 Carlton — Check availability at D.O.C Espresso
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in southeast Melbourne – head to Grazia Restaurant in Glen Iris
The menu at Grazia Restaurant is based on recipes that have been passed down through generations (with a few modern tweaks). A soothing colour scheme of green and brown creates a relaxing atmosphere for diners to enjoy traditional dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. Start things off with share plates of Roman-style focaccia and gamberoni alla griglia (grilled prawn). Pizzas at Grazia are Roman-style, with a crispy, thin crust. Before being cooked, the dough is fermented for up to 72 hours to provide optimal digestion. Home-made vanilla ice cream and house-churned artisan gelato are always an easy option for dessert, but a unique offering from Grazia is the Sfingi Siciliani, Sicilian-style doughnuts served with pistachio chantilly and vanilla gelato.
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For one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants – try Il Solito Posto in the CBD
One of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne’s CBD, Il Solito Posto literally means ‘The Usual Place’, and that’s exactly what it is for many Melbourne diners. Located in a sub-basement on Collins Street, it offers three different dining areas. At The Bar, you can enjoy a drink and some light antipasti, perfect for dining alone or with a partner. The Caffeteria has a fast-paced atmosphere, offering a casual experience that’s ideal for a quick bite to eat. Head one step lower to The Trattoria, if you’re looking for something a little more formal, where you can settle in. It offers breakfast (including Italian scrambled eggs, served with pancetta, Roma tomato and parmesan). For lunch and dinner, try flash-fried prawns with chilli and house-made gnocchi with salami and salted ricotta.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne – book at Gilson in South Yarra
Start your evening out at Gilson by building your own antipasti platter from the range of cured meats, marinated olives and wood-fired flatbread. The pizza and pasta menus are short and sweet, with both classic and creative toppings (mortadella & pistachio and pepperoni & chilli honey are two of the more unique pizzas on the menu). The pizzas are wood-fired for a classic smoky flavour. Gilson is also one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne for celebrations, with a private upstairs dining room with a balcony overlooking the treetops for warm weather and an open fire for cold weather. Groups of eight or more can enjoy a set menu with a choice of two pizzas and two pastas along with antipasti and sides. The overall focus is on classic Italian dishes and every meal is created using locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce.
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Simplicity shines at the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne – like Rococo in Hawthorn, St Kilda and Point Cook
Opening the first outpost in 2005, Rococo’s menu prioritises honest, simple Italian dishes that use fresh produce to create classic flavours. With prosciutto from Parma and salami from Calabria, you can taste the classic flavours of Melbourne at the Hawthorn, St Kilda and Point Cook restaurants. Wine bottles on shelves and hanging pizza boards create a cheerfully cluttered atmosphere that makes enjoying a shared social meal easy. Some diners gather for casual drinks over a platter of carefully curated antipasti, while others come for the doughy handmade pasta or the steak that’s aged for six weeks to get that perfect flavour. With a kids’ menu that includes gnocchi and an extensive vegan menu with spaghetti ‘bolognese’ and spiced cauliflower pizza, Rococo has something for everyone to enjoy.
📍 Hawthorn — Check availability
📍 St Kilda — Check availability
📍 Point Cook — Check availability
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For an underground feel at one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants – try Cecconi’s Flinders Lane in Melbourne’s CBD
There’s a New York feel to this basement restaurant on Flinders Lane, known for its boutique restaurants and bars. Don’t miss the sign shrouded by plants and make your way downstairs, where tables surround a central kitchen so diners can watch the chefs at work. Cecconi’s Flinders Lane offers a combination of relaxed simplicity and high-quality dining. Here, Venetian-inspired food comes to Melbourne in the form of beef carpaccio served with roast mushrooms and ricotta and charred prawns served with garlic chips and crispy capers. The bistecca (traditional Florentine steak) menu offers diners the choice between several cuts and types of meat, including grain-fed Wagyu and grass-fed striploin. Pair your meal with a selection from the carefully curated wine list or a hand-crafted cocktail. Don’t forget to check out Cecconi’s newly opened branch in Toorak.
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For one of the very best pasta restaurants in Melbourne – stop by Maccaroni Trattoria Italiana in Melbourne’s CBD
Maccaroni Trattoria Italiana truly embodies the feeling of Italian trattorias − small with a relaxed, rustic atmosphere. Using traditional recipes, this Manchester Lane restaurant brings classic Italian dishes to the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. The highlight here is handmade pasta, served alongside prawns and squid ink, slow-cooked Bolognese and mushrooms with truffle sauce. There are also plenty of classic pizzas (thin-crust Roman style), three different types of gnocchi (classic, filled and beetroot) and a range of traditional antipasti dishes, like bruschetta with mortadella & pistachio. The kids’ menu offers four different pasta sauce options, which can be served with spaghetti or penne. Diners can expect warm, genuine service, a pleasantly noisy atmosphere and simple Italian flavours with a hand-crafted touch.
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For a sustainable touch at one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants – spend an evening at Trattoria Emilia in the Melbourne CBD
Trattoria Emilia brings both the flavours and the hospitality of Italy to the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Rustic and refined, traditional with a touch of modernity, this restaurant is built on finding the perfect balance. Locally sourced ingredients are used to hand-craft each dish from scratch, and a sustainable approach allows the chefs to use 99% of the supplies that come into the kitchen. This sustainable, seasonal approach means the menu changes throughout the year but a few popular options, including tortellini in chicken broth and salumi with gnocco fritto (crisp pockets of fried dough), are often available on the menu. The five-course tasting menu lets diners entrust their meal to the chefs, perfect for those nights when you just can’t decide. Plus, with a vegan menu that includes ravioli, risotto and sorbet, everyone can enjoy a night out at one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants.
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For modern fine dining at one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants – book at Di Stasio in the CBD, Carlton and St Kilda
While many of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants are loved for their casual, family-friendly atmospheres, Di Stasio is the place to go if you’re looking for an Italian fine dining experience. Expert waiters − in white jackets and bow ties − will help you make the difficult choice between each day’s specials. The St Kilda menu is refined with dishes like lasagna pasqualina and carpaccio crudo (raw beef) that can be enjoyed in the warmly lit main dining room or in the private dining room. Things are a little more laid back at the Carlton spot, and the handmade jersey milk mozzarella that tops the signature Margherita isn’t to be missed. You can find the CBD outpost (known as Città) at the ‘Milan end’ of Spring Street. Grab a seat at the bar for the perfect solo dining experience and take in the atmosphere that comes alive with film, music, paintings and, of course, food.
📍 CBD — Check availability
📍 Carlton — Check availability
📍 St Kilda — Check availability
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For one of the very best Italian restaurants in Melbourne – try Treviso Bar & Dining in Melbourne’s CBD
Specialising in northern Italian cuisine, Treviso Bar & Dining, a semi-underground laneway gem pulls quadruple duty as a bar, restaurant, wine shop and function space. If you come for a meal, you’ll find unique weekly specials alongside signature highlights like the Treviso pizza, topped with tiger prawns, smokey bacon, chilli and mozzarella, and handmade saffron tagliatelle served with Hokkaido scallops and calamari. After booking your spot on OpenTable, you can use Treviso’s website to pre-order your meals by 10 am on the day of the booking and the starters will be brought out as soon as you arrive. With checkerboard flooring and vintage-style wine posters on the walls, Treviso Bar & Dining creates a chic, welcoming environment, perfect for after-dinner drinks or a sit-down meal with friends.
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These options are easily among the best Italian restaurants Melbourne has to offer. Of course, there’s no need to choose between D.O.C’s specialty cheeses and Maccaroni Trattoria Italiana’s handmade pasta. All you need to do is decide which one to try first.
