Posted by When I first moved to Melbourne in 2004, Carton was primarily known for Lygon St’s endless parade of pasta and pizza restaurants – and many of these were of questionable quality! But these days it’s a different vibe altogether, with the suburb now home to a more diverse community. Whilst the Italian community still flock here in force, they’ve been joined by university students, young hipsters and professionals who have been drawn to Carlton by its walking proximity to the the city, the ever growing night time entertainment options and its genuine village feel. Nowadays you’ll discover Carlton is a hive of international restaurants, some fabulous wine bars and of course the legendary Italian pasta joints that still call Lygon St home.
After you’ve discovered Carlton, check out Travis’ guide to the hotspots in Melbourne City or venture southside for a taste of beach culture in St Kilda.
This Guide to Carlton was updated in December 2025.
Just Coffee..
Market Lane Coffee | 176 Faraday St
Another outlet of this local hero of the Melbourne coffee wave, this one is in a cramped room at the front of a heritage terrace house. The Carlton cool cats come here for fantastic coffee and don’t you dare ask for a skinny latte, as they only serve organic full cream milk. Coffee is the main game here, but you can pop next door to Baker D. Chirico for some pastry treats. Market Lane Coffee
Parco Canteen | 2 Argyle Place
A tiny power-substation that’s been reborn as a cute canteen, Parco sits on a traffic island across from Argyle Square Park and offers takeaway or some limited alfresco seating. The coffee is as good as any in Carlton and their simple but delicious snacks will have you coming back for more – their breakfast banh mi is quite the delight and will cure the nastiest of hangovers! Parco Canteen
Breakfast & Brunch…
Vertue Coffee Roasters | 8 Raffa Place
Tucked away in a laneway, this cool cafe in a warehouse conversion is well known by the local hipsters. The coffee is first rate, but the inventive brunch menu is just as fabulous – offering a diverse selection that swings across different cuisines. The prawn toast is a standout. Vertue Coffee Roasters
D.O.C Espresso | 326 Lygon St
Almost like it’s been picked up from Rome and dropped into Lygon St, D.O.C has that frenetic, somewhat chaotic Italian vibe, made all the more authentic by its team of handsome young Italian waiters. The pavement dining area is popular in the mornings, they serve a short and simple breakfast menu plus a selection of lovely filled focaccia and piadina. Later in the day it morphs into a bar serving rustic pizza and pasta dishes. D.O.C Espresso
Good Measure | 193 Lygon St
This chilled coffee house has a simple vintage decor that children of the 70’s will recognise, complete with vinyl records spinning on the turntables. They keep the offering simple too, just good quality coffee, some tasty sweet treats and a choice of three filling sandwiches. Whilst the daytime vibe is rather languid, the pace picks up Friday to Sunday nights when it morphs into a cocktail bar. Good Measure
Seven Seeds | 114 Berkeley St
In Carlton’s university precinct, this chic industrial style café is the headquarters for the growing Seven Seeds coffee empire. It’s a big venue but constantly busy, the crowds flocking here not just for the excellent coffee but for the modern, flavoursome cafe fare too. Seven Seeds
Lunch & Dinner…
Bar Olo | 165 Nicholson St
Bar Olo brings a touch of old-world elegance to a quiet strip on the Carlton-Fitzroy border. Behind curtained windows, warm lighting, timber panels and a marble bar set the tone. The Italian-leaning wine list is generous by the glass, with over 20 options by the glass and a few Victorian stars too. Cocktails are clever riffs on classics—don’t miss the salted butter martini. Silky handmade pasta, lasagna croquettes and nightly specials make this a standout spot for both drinking and dining. Bar Olo
D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar | 295 Drummond St
One of Melbourne’s best spots for authentic Italian style pizza, though the antipasto menu and gorgeous Italian waiters are just as delicious as the pizzas. It’s usually very busy and the Italian service can sometimes be a little, um, Italian… but that’s half the charm! D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar
Leonardo’s Pizza Palace | 29 Gratton St
An older retro Italian restaurant has had a brilliant conversion into one of the city’s hipppest pizza joints. With timber panelled walls and a number of pokey rooms, it’s straight from the 70’s but with excellent thin pizza’s (some of which go with the retro theming) and often a DJ spinning tunes. Leonardo’s attracts a young and fun crowd to this quiet little corner of Carlton. Leonardo’s Pizza Palace
Capitano | 421 Rathdowne St
A relaxed eatery by the team behind Bar Liberty in neighbouring Fitzroy, Capitano offers up easy-going yet more than a little interesting Italian fare that delights with every dish. The menu works for both a light snack or a hearty meal, kicking off with a handful of grazing plates (the golden beetroot should not be missed), then moving onto house-made pasta and chewy, thick slices of pizza. The wine list is mainly Italian, with a few Australian varietals added to the mix. The dining room has a homey, congenial vibe and both the food and wine are quite good value for the quality you’ll receive. Capitano
Di Stasio Carlton | 224 Faraday St
There are two immediate surprises to be had here; that one of Melbourne’s Italian hospitality icons, Ronnie Di Stasio, took almost 30 years to open a venue in Carlton, and that this is his first restaurant that serves pizza! The sparse yet glamourous interiors are dotted with striking artworks and sculpture, with the three individual dining rooms lending an elite club atmosphere to the space. Like all his venues, the service is refined and serene and the menu features a range of beautifully executed Italian classics, but it’s the wood-fired pizzas that steal the limelight here, utilising their own handmade cheeses, tomatoes grown in the Yarra Valley and specially milled flour, there’s nothing left to chance here. Di Stasio Carlton
Carlton Wine Room | 172-174 Faraday St
A refined neighbourhood bistro, there’s simplicity in the design (expansive windows, white walls, dark timber floor, classic Brentwood style chairs) as well as in the concept – a place for good drinking with delicious food. The menu starts with Appellation Oysters, then quickly moves to a short list of delicate snacks, followed by some heartier bistro favourites – but if you can’t decide there’s a daily tasting menu on offer. The wine list runs to around 100 bottles, including some reserve gems, so luckily their switched on sommeliers are always on hand to guide you with your selection. Carlton Wine Room
Lagoon Dining | 263 Lygon St
Lagoon brings a much needed modern Asian diner and bar to the Lygon St strip. Downstairs offers more a buzzy bar vibe (complete with open kitchen), whilst the upstairs dining room is just as lively but at a more relaxed pace, with the décor on both levels achieving a clever balance between seductive and quirky. The food takes its cues from Chinese, but with elements of other Asian cuisines thrown into the mix, with a good dash of spice in most of the dishes. An impressive wine list matches well with the food. Lagoon Dining
Tiamo | 303 Lygon St
A Lygon St stalwart with 40+ years history, this warm and homey restaurant serves simple, authentic Italian fare – their pasta is comfort food at its absolute best. It’s a beautifully chaotic place, with from-the-heart Italian service and a constantly frenetic level of activity. Tiamo
Drinks…
Heartattack and Vine | 329 Lygon St
An Italian leaning wine bar with a simple but slick interior and a relaxed pavement dining area on Lygon St. The wine list is short and punchy, but quite lovely, but even better is the Italian cicchetti (small snack) menu and the lunchtime porchetta rolls. Heartattack and Vine
The Lincoln | 91 Cardigan St
Carlton locals love this laid-back old corner pub that’s had just the right amount of spit & polish given to it. There’s an interesting array of craft beers on tap and the wine list is a notch above your usual pub list, the bar food comes out of the kitchen of the adjoining more upmarket restaurant so it’s very good quality snack food, and the bar staff are incredibly friendly. The Lincoln
Sunhands | 169 Elgin St
Sunhands is a charming all-day spot tucked off Lygon Street, effortlessly shifting from sunny daytime café to low-key wine bar (Thursday to Saturday nights). Housed in a heritage corner shop with minimalist charm, the shelves of Aussie wine steal the show. The succinct list spans orange wines to homegrown fizz, with limited by-the-glass options encouraging bottle sharing. Chilled vibes, jazzy tunes, oysters, Gilda’s, and indulgent fried chicken make it the perfect, grown-up hangout—wrapped up by 10pm. Sunhands
Bar Bellamy | 164 Rathdowne St
It’s rare that a venue’s website authentically describes its personality, but they succinctly and perfectly capture it in these few short sentences; “Bar Bellamy’s name means ‘good friend’ and we aim to be just that for you. A warm neighbourhood spot where the bistro and cocktail menus change with the seasons. Whether it’s the first aperitif for the night, you’re catching up with some loved ones over dinner or we’re your last port of call on your way home; come in, pull up a stool and spend time with a good friend.” And the best thing, they make good on their promises with warmth, grace and informed service at this Carlton newcomer. Bar Bellamy
Lord Lygon Wine Shop | 66 Lygon St
In Zagame’s House Hotel, this intimate wine bar has a beautiful fitout, with 300+ Australian and international wines on offer and a tempting snack menu of small bites, salumi and cheese. Wines to take away are also on offer. Lord Lygon Wine Shop
Gelato & Food Stores…
Pidapipo | 299 Lygon St
Pidapipo’s popularity can be seen in the long line up the street on a Saturday night, with punters patiently waiting for their fix of artisanal gelato, made from scratch in small batches right on the premises. Bellissimo! Pidapipo
Lavezzi Gelateria | 334 Lygon St
Lygon St will never be short of Gelato shops, so you’ve just gotta try them all to work out your favourite. This relative newcomer has a modern look but uses traditional methods to make its creamy gelato, with flavours and even the temperature of the ice creams changing with the seasons. Lavezzi
Brunetti Classico | 380 Lygon St
Melbourne’s iconic Italian temple of food – a huge food store where bigger is definitely better, its offerings include a pastry section, pizza bar, coffee station, gelato counter and all other things Italian. The decadent Roman décor certainly helps put you in the mood too. Usually quite busy and just a little chaotic, it’s worth a visit even if you are not in the mood to eat. Brunetti Classico
Baker D. Chirico | 178 Faraday St
This petite outlet deals in the same Artisan baked breads, Italian inspired pastries and other delicious sweet treats. The lines out the door on a Saturday morning are evidence of how good just about everything that the Baker makes is. Baker D. Chirico
Where to Stay…
The Melbourne CBD is an easy walk from Carlton and offers hotels for every taste and budget, but if you are keen to really immerse yourself in the village vibe of Carlton, fortunately there are a few hotels ideally located right in the thick of things, with Zagame’s House the pick of the bunch.
Zagame’s House | 66 Lygon St
A former motor inn that’s been given a very swish and ‘very now’ makeover, their super stylish rooms are a lovely place to rest your head at night, with supremely comfortable beds and powerful showers. Their Wine Bar, Lord Lygon, offers over 300+ wines, whilst Carlton’s best restaurants and bars are virtually on your doorstep. Zagame’s House
Featured Photo: ‘Family Dinner’ – Tiamo, Carlton
Travis. 
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