Bombetta

The Verdict

Bombetta wouldn’t be out of place on Bourke Street (let’s be honest, it’s way too cool for Hastings Street). This little Italian gem is every ounce urban chic, with black subway tiles, high ceilings and polished concrete floors throughout the air-conditioned, split-level venue. We’re low-key obsessed with the copper façade on the wine fridge and genuinely considered stealing the Campari poster to take home with us.

And the menu is just as relaxed as the vibe. They’ve embraced the Italian philosophy of using just a couple of quality ingredients and letting them shine. The flavours aren’t for the faint-hearted, with loads of lemon, garlic, chilli and herbs.

It’s hard to go past the classic pizza, but the seafood linguine is already a favourite with the locals. We promise, you’ll have trouble deciding what to order. Book a table for all your mates, so you get to try as many things as possible. Our hot tip? The starters double perfectly as substantial nibbles, so just order one of everything and you can thank us later.

Image credit: Amy Higg for The Urban List