Di Stasio Carlton

Forget the standard Carlton pizza joints. This is high-stakes, high-glamour dining. Unapologetically opulent—and yes, commanding a shocking premium with notoriously strict booking rules. Portions here are refined, not massive. But Melbourne’s fiercest pasta purists gladly pay the toll for this transportive slice of the *dolce vita*. The insider move? Request a table in the breathtaking courtyard, anchored by a 17th-century fountain, and let the charismatic Maitre D’ run the show. Expect flawless, strictly *al dente* pasta, arguably the city's elite gluten-free pizza crusts, and impossibly creamy pistachio cocktails. Fiercely traditional Italian fare crafted with absolute *sprezzatura*. Bring a heavy wallet—and an appetite for the spectacular. *Buon appetito.*