Rococo

The Verdict

Listers, we’d forgive you for thinking that St Kilda restaurant Rococo served some of the best Italian food in Melbourne and left it at that. But, in our breakfast-mad city, Rococo sets the benchmark for some of the best brunch in Melbourne, right in the heart of the cosmopolitan St Kilda strip, Acland Street.

Rococo has an infectious vibe, even before anything arrives. An Italian institution for lunch and dinner, its morning menu includes the super indulgent double smoked ham Benedict, smoked salmon with grilled asparagus, poached eggs and hollandaise, and light-as-air buttermilk pancakes with berry compote and Canadian maple syrup—the tastiest sweet breakfast in St Kilda! Or if you like to start the day with a healthy option, start with a superfood smoothie or fresh pressed juice, and the to-die-for porridge with caramelised banana and toasted nut crunch…a morning masterpiece!

Of course, Rococo still makes its name as one of the best southside Italian restaurants in Melbourne, with favourites including the Tasmanian salmon risotto, slow-cooked ricotta gnocchi, mouth-watering pizzas, expertly crafted pasta dishes and our pick of the bunch for a big feed, the Pollo alla Milanese. You’ll also find an epic Black Angus steak here too—grain fed and perfectly paired with a Margaret River Cabernet or a classic Burgundy.

For something more Mediterranean, try the Rococo antipasti menu; it includes an epic selection of arancini balls, salami, grilled or crumbed calamari, cured meats, one of the best saganaki dishes the city has to offer, and an exquisite wine and craft beer list to match. If you’re a pasta fiend, take it from us: A great selection of pastas perfectly prepared with flavour-bursting combinations give new life to all your favourite traditional dishes.

Whether it’s the best gnocchi, antipasti or brunch in Melbourne that you’re hunting for, let this smooth Italian delight you. Bellimissimo!

Image credit: Jenna Fahey-White for The Urban List