Ahhh, Italian. The language of love. It’s got to be the most popular kind of restaurant for everything—romantic dates, milestone anniversaries, casual catch-ups, or belt-loosening feasts that leave you in a carb-induced bliss.
Melbourne's Best Italian At A Glance
- Jump To The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
- Jump To The Best Italian Restaurants In Carlton & Lygon Street
- Jump To The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne's North
- Jump To The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne's East
- Jump To The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne's South
- Jump To The Best Italian Restaurants In The Suburbs & Further Afield
We've been dining suburb by suburb, checking out Melbourne's best italian, and you know what, some of it is in fact, in the suburbs. If you're after the best restaurants on Lygon Street, head over here, we've also got you covered for Melbourne's best pizza, cheap eats and our top recs for the best restaurants in the city.
Melbourne’s Italian dining scene is a treasure trove of trattorias, pizzerias, and osterias, each serving up plates of pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and antipasti that’ll make you feel like you’ve been whisked straight to nonna’s kitchen.
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Whether you’re after handmade gnocchi, creamy burrata, or a fiery diavola pizza, we’ve rounded up the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne to satisfy your cravings. Mangia, drink, and repeat—this is la dolce vita at its finest.
Keep on scrolling for a rundown on Urban List's picks for the best Italian restaurants Melbourne has for 2025.
The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne CBD
The CBD. It's got all of our favourite restaurants and more, including Melbourne's best Italian. If you're after something to eat that isn't Italian, check out our recs for the best restaurants in the CBD, and on Flinders Lane.
Trattoria Emilia
360 Little Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Trattoria Emilia | Supplied
Opening nearly a decade ago, Trattoria Emilia remains a cornerstone in Melbourne's Italian restaurants. The venue pays homage to the famed produce-rich region of Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. The menu here skews to the northern Italian palette; heartier and more decadent dishes grace the menu with roasted bone barrow with fermented porcini to the Tortelloni stuffed with prosciutto and mortadella.
INSIDER INTEL
- On Friday and Saturday night dinners, $80 will get you a three-course meal, or $95 for five
- Emilia is a one-hatted restaurant as of last year
- The team just opened a sister takeaway venue in the CBD all about the street-food tigelleria
The Hardware Club
43 Hardware Lane Upstairs, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: The Hardware Club | Lucia Bell Epstein
Part bar, part osteria, The Hardware Club puts a focus on 'Italian Specialities'. These regional dishes of the boot-shaped nation have a Cucina Povera-style with dishes like their now-famous roasted bone marrow toast with a salsa verde and fried capers, to chilli crab spaghetti with a Pangrattato to the Pappardelle Al Limone with caramelised lemon and shaved Pecorino Romano.
Bottega
74 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Bottega | Supplied
Bottega is known for its more audacious and exploratory tastes, cementing itself as a renowned italian restaurant Melbourne CBD can flex. The menu is a departure from your conventional trattoria. Instead of sugo-heavy pasta here you'll find dishes like wild Victorian mushroom risotto with black garlic and 30+ month aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese— a sharp and umami-rich delight to flat steak chargrilled with a red vermouth and shallot butter.
The Waiters Restaurant
20 Meyers Place, Melbourne CBD
What began as a place for Italian hospitality workers to eat after work in 1947 has blossomed into one of the city's most beloved restaurants. The Waiters Restaurant is also known as the Italian Waiters Club, and The Waiters Club, whatever you call it, it's all fantastic. Ascend the stairs into the atmospheric no frills dining room of Waiters, where tables are scarce but food is plentiful. Above the kitchen, the blackboard indicates what's on offer and what's sold out, be it the classic amatriciana or carbonara or a veal scallopine, any meal at waiters does not miss.
"My hot tip, go on a weekend when Bar Carlo downstairs is open. It's giving big Milano vibes, has bangin' drink specials and best of all you can get that apperitvo in before you get up to the restaurant," Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says.
Osteria Illaria
367 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Osteria Illaria | Supplied
The first expansion from Tipo 00 came in the form of Osteria Illaria seven years ago. Located just a few doors down, the focus of Illaria was less on the pasta and to allow the team to explore the wide and varied flavours of Italian cuisine. The restaurant has a casual wine bar feel with a dining flanked by a large open kitchen, the menu although concise packs up a punch with off-beat combinations like Jerusalem artichoke with pickled radicchio and black shallot or stracciatella with mandarin, pistachio and rocket.
The Best Italian Restaurants In Carlton
Amore mio, Carlton is where it's at for Melbourne's best Italian. You have more restaurants literally than you can choose from. Don't fret about the touts unless you want to wangle a free garlic bread or a cheeky glass of wine in the house, we've got the top spots for you right here. And if you're after a complete guide to Lygon Street and the best restaurants on the strip, head over here.
Tiamo
303 Lygon Street, Carlton
There's a reason there's always a line at dinner time here. A true legend of Lygon Street, Tiamo is an Italian restaurant Melbourne institution that's been serving up top-notch cuisine for over 30 years. When one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne arises, Tiamo comes up. It's a fave of locals nd tourists, why? The price, the vibe, the food, it's the perfect combo of everything you want in an Italian restaurant. Plus they do wine by the carafe, there's always that .Grab a piping hot bowl of fresh pasta, some traditional honest-to-goodness Italian pizza, or even one of their three parmas. From fried chicken livers to a mixed seafood grill, there is plenty to choose from and a lot to love at Tiamo.
Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "Tiamo is my Lygon Street go-to, it's simply a must. So much so I had one of my first dates with my wife there and we make an effort to get back every year. Don't fret about the line, it moves pretty quick, grab a gelato next door if you're starving, it'll tide you over."
Kaprica
50 Grattan Street, Carlton
Image credit: Kaprica | Jana Longhorst
A severely underrated restaurant, Kaprica is the Italian haven that churns out not only some of the best pizza and pasta on the scene, but offers a tender and home-like dining experience. Tucked away off Lygon Street, inside you’ll find tables interspersed with cosy couches and coffee tables, warmly lit with an abundance of lamps and low-hanging lights.
Al Dente & Al Sapori
161 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Image credit: Al Dente | Sydney Low
Al Dente Enoteca and Al Dente Sapori on Nicholson Street in Carlton North pride themselves on a high-level execution of the classics—whether that be a Sicilian-leaning spaghetti with Moreton bugs, vongole and mussels or a simple yet impactful Torelloni Cacio e Pepe. The team's ethos here is affordable fine dining, and that's exactly what you'll find.
Johnny, Vince and Sam’s
306-308 Lygon Street, Carlton
Image credit: Johnny, Vince And Sam's | Supplied
NGL, we were wondering what Sooshi Mango were doing opening their own restaurant, it sounded like the set up to one of their gut-busting skits. But we're happy to eat humble (pizza) pie because Johnny, Vince And Sam’s has been killing it since they swung their doors open back in '23. You wouldn't read about it but they served up 25 tonnes of pasta and 50,000 arancini balls in just 18 months. Now, the guys have expanded upstairs to Level One, modelled after Nonna's "good room" of course with a cocktail bar, and a private dining space. The food is still exemplary and infinitely slurpable, with standout dishes like salsiccia sausage with braised broccoli rabe, traditional lasagne, and the nostalgic Vienetta. Paired with Italian-inspired cocktails like the Figroni and Gin Basil Smash, this Carlton gem is bringing Lygon Street back to life—one plate of pasta at a time.
Urban List Melbourne editor Navarone Farrell says, "The Saxa salt on the tables is the icing on the torta here, a nod to the trio's upbringing where it was a staple, and don't go past the orecchiette if it's on the menu, it's green, it's cheesy and it slaps."
Scopri
191 Nicholson Street, Carlton
A sleeper for best Italian restaurant Melbourne, Scopri doesn't need to make any noise—those who know, know. The restaurant at the city end of Nicholson has long stood as some of the finest representation of Melbourne-based Italian cuisine, from the renowned spaghetti alla vongole with bottarga to the Galletto Alla Grilia—chargrilled spatchcock and field mushrooms. There's also a full set menu that showcases the hits and a few specials.
The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne's Northern Suburbs
There was a time Melbourne's north was the land of pilaf, kebabs and cheap eats, but no longer. With a strong food scene in Brunswick East and (obvi) Fitzroy and Collingwood, the northern corridor is quickly becoming a go-to spot for dining, and especially for Italian cuisine.
Figlia
335 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Image credit: Figlia | Kristoffer Paulsen
The latest of the Tipo 00 and Osteria Ilaria famiglia, this trattoria on Lygon Street in Brunswick East retains all the swagger and excellence we've come to expect from the team behind some of the best Italian restaurants Melbourne has on offer. Figlia is more casual in its approach, here you'll find an eclectic mix of small plates or 'stuzzichini'— but it's the pizza that is the star with perfectly crisped crusts straight out of the oven.
INSIDER INTEL
- You can try your luck at walking in, but bookings are your best bet
- $70 will get you the chef’s menu: a selection of snacks, shared small plates and one pizza for every two people
- The space is primed for group bookings, and you can hire the entire place for private functions for up to 85 people
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Bar Rosella
229 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Image credit: Bar Rosella | Supplied
Bar Rosella is all charm. It's a simple and welcoming space on the Smith Street end of Gertrude Street. Inside there's a home-style feel despite the beautifully spaced interior, what adds to the level of comfort is the selection of Puglia-based specialities from the hearty rigatoni with a wagyu beef ragu to pork neck with fennel and vincotto.
Umberto Espresso Bar
917 High Street, Thornbury
Image credit: Umberto Espresso Bar | Supplied
Umberto’s is a laid-back Osteria with and a familial-style range of Italian dishes. Named after owner Marco Finanzio’s Calabrian-born father, the welcoming diner on High Street features a reliable selection of favourites from well-executed penne All'Amatriciana to a hearty Osso Buco with fried polenta—there are also rotating specials which are chalked up on the wall-wrapping blackboards each night. As far as Italian restaurants in Melbourne go, this one is up there as one of the best.
Bar Idda
132 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Image credit: Bar Idda | Supplied
A true Northside gem and one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne, Bar Idda on Lygon Street, serves up delicious Sicilian cuisine in a homely, authentic environment. The flavours of the southern-most island of Sicily differ from the mainland and often take on a more Middle-Eastern and even African tinge—dishes like the Purpetti Dolce is a prime example with beef meatballs with an almond, pine nut, currant, and cinnamon mix tossed through a passata.
Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca
15 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Image credit: Rocco's | Annika Kafcaloudis
Now a beloved Italian bistro, Rocco's Bologna Discoteca and ‘Italian Maccas’ aesthetic burst onto the scene, winning hearts and filling stomachs all over town with its hefty meatball sub and accompaniments. Continuing through 2025, Rocco's on Gertrude Street Fitzroy continues to swoon, with their lively date nights featuring pasta and soft serve to their full chef's selection of favourites.
The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne's East
The leafy east. We've got some bangin' neighbourhood Italian diners in Melbourne's east, from white tablecloths and exceptional service to fun and funky, there's stacks on offer.
Mister Bianco
26-28 Cotham Road, Kew
There’s a reason Mister Bianco upsized to a bigger space a couple of years back, and that’s because it’s hands down the best Italian restaurant in Melbourne’s east. Jospeh Vargetto has been working his magic in Kew for around 15 years now and at the heart of his offering is some seriously elevated modern Italian fare with some nods to southern Italian staples. Our picks on the menu, start with some fun little bites like nduja stuffed and deep-fried olives, and work your way up to gnocchi with crispy mortadella, or spanner crab spaghettini. If you can’t decide the chef’s menu at $95 is exceptional value and takes all the thinking out of the situation—it’s okay, we’ve all had those nights. We also love that there’s a reason to linger with Bianchetto, a Americano-Italian lovechild where you can happily enjoy a negroni or spritz.
The Best Italian Restaurants In Melbourne's South
Southside has got the vibiest Italian spots in all of the city. Studio Amaro is a night out in itself and you can go influencer or footy player spotting at Rossi, all while chowing down on some of Melbourne's best Italian. Read on for more recs...
Rossi
169 Greville Street, Prahran
Image: Rossi | Arianna Leggario
Rossi is the sleek, industrial-chic Italian osteria from Nick Young (of Good Company Bar Group fame) that’s become a go-to for Melbourne’s cool crowd. With moody lighting, luxe marble tables, and a lush green courtyard, this Greville Street hotspot is as stylish as it is delicious. The menu is a love letter to elevated Italian fare (and Nick's nonna, she's had a bit of input, bless) featuring antipasti like melt-in-your-mouth salumi and charred focaccia, alongside standout dishes like the crab spaghettini and fiery diavola pizza. Don’t miss Mussel Mondays or their Wednesday gnocchi and wine nights, where $35 gets you a hearty feed and live jazz. Also you can't walk past their Martini Di Passione, their most popular bevvy (more than 150 fly out the pass some nights) and it's their very classy take on a pornstar martini.
As Urban List editor Navarone Farrell puts it, “Rossi is where all the cool kids go to eat, drink, and be seen—but the food is so good, you’ll forget to post about it. Well, you won't, but you know. Also, if you're not in the mood for sitting in they do that bangin' pizza takeaway.”
Studio Amaro
168 Chapel Street, Windsor
Image credit: Studio Amaro | Julia Sansone
Studio Amaro pays tribute to Melbourne's legacy of Italian cuisine with a concise menu featuring beloved dishes from various regions of Italy. Inside the Chapel Street trattoria, you'll find contemporary twists to classics like fried mozzarella, sourdough focaccia, rigatoni with spicy arrabbiata sauce, veal cotoletta, and a 1kg T-bone steak with an Averna amaro-infused pink peppercorn sauce.
INSIDER INTEL
- Upstairs find an Italian restaurant, downstairs a vibey listening lounge
- There's over 40 bottles of Amaro, including different blends from all over Italy
- The downstairs lounge launched Radio Amaro, a Soundcloud account where you can get a taste of the type of audio selections
Bar Carolina
44 Toorak Road, South Yarra
Image credit: Bar Carolina | Supplied
Bar Carolina’s pride and joy is the woodfire Josper oven, imported directly from Spain. Chefs Akela Nevelli and Vincenzo Di Giovanniello are pretty liberal with the old Josper, blazing mains like Negroni salt-crusted barramundi or beastly 700g rib eye steaks. If you’re after less fare meat-leaning dishes, there’s also handmade pasta and delicious vegetarian entrées available.
Cicciolina
30 Acland Street, St Kilda
With its casual vibe and contemporary decor, Cicciolina is an obvious choice if you’re looking for one of the best St Kilda restaurants. With chef Virginia Redmond at the helm since its inception in 1993, the Cicciolina menu focuses on using the best of Melbourne's seasonal produce to make inspiring modern Italian dishes. From rich mushroom risotto to chargrilled wagyu scotch fillet, there’s something for every palate at Cicciolina’s.
The Best Italian In The Suburbs & Further Afield
Totti's
176 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne
Image credit: Totti's Lorne | Supplied
Another outsider of the conventional city limits, Totti's earns its way on the best Italian restaurant Melbourne list in more ways than one. The famed Sydney venue has transformed the downstairs of the Lorne Hotel into a bustling trattoria, a destination for the cult-followed flatbread and burrata. The full menu features Italo-centric dishes centred around the produce available to the Great Ocean Road and Otway region, from whole-roasted fresh fish, sirloin, rib-eye steaks and more.
Main Image credit: Studio Amaro | Jana Langhorst
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