+39 Pizzeria

The verdict

It’s hard to believe there’s a slice of Italy living in Melbourne CBD, but at Italian restaurant +39 Pizzeria, that’s exactly what you’ll get! Not only is the restaurant the original home of the Nutella doughnut in Melbourne (which they unfortunately no longer sell—hey, they’ve got to keep surprising us!), it’s also one of the best Italian restaurants in the Melbourne CBD for a midweek lunch, a relaxing evening meal, or a weekend banquet of authentic Italian flavours.

While the Little Bourke Street restaurant has always been known for serving mouth-watering pizzas, delicious seasonal pastas, and a fantastic array of Italian desserts (think tiramisu, sweet ricotta filled cannoli, and melt-in-your-mouth pannacotta), their new menu has stepped things up a gear to include incredible Italian cheeseboards and charcuterie, refreshing summer aperitifs, and expertly made lunchtime options for those in need of an Italian fix in a hurry.

Drop in for a drink, either after work or during the weekend, and you’ll be able to sample imported Italian craft beers, Love On The Rocks (a delicious gin and blood orange concoction), or the house special – the Aperitivo 39, which combines prosecco, Aperol, apricot nectar, and orange bitters in a refreshingly unique summer tipple. If you’re peckish, the +39 Pizzeria team have put together some new antipasti plates, including Lo Stendino, a charcuterie and cheese platter that comes suspended on string, reminiscent of the aging process of Italian meats. Looking for the best charcuterie in Melbourne? This just might be it!

But while +39 Pizzeria is pushing boundaries, their food is still some of the most authentic in the city, making it the best Italian restaurant in the Melbourne CBD for a feed of pasta, pizza, and insalata. Our stand out dishes include the ravioli aperto – open calamari, prawn and crayfish ravioli inspired by the Italian master, Gualtiero Marchesi – and the cheekily named White Lover pizza, which comes topped with fresh fior di latte, parmesan, leg ham, Berksrite sausage, cream, and basil. The perfect summer pizza for enjoying with a bottle of +39’s new house wine, produced in collaboration with local wineries to taste just like Italy’s finest.

Better yet, you can order pasta, pizza and more from one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne for home delivery, thanks to Suppertime - which means the +39 kitchen has teamed up with the service to offer you its authentic Italian cuisine seven days a week. Whether you feel like dining in Little Italy, or want Italy to come to you, +39 Pizzeria has you more than covered. 

Image credit: Jenna Fahey-White/Sabine Legrand for The Urban List