Pepe's Italian & Liquor

Off Exhibition Street, Pepe’s Italian & Liquor serves up a mid-century Roman daydream right in the Melbourne CBD. Retro interiors. Moody, warm lighting. A lush outdoor garden that feels miles away from the concrete grind. Theatre-district regulars know to snag a booth here for the pre-show rush—the floor staff run a fiercely tight ship, delivering flawless, fast-paced service with absolute sprezzatura. On the plates? Unadulterated, carb-heavy comfort. Generous bowls of mafaldine, a deeply rich 12-hour slow-cooked lamb pasta, and their famously punchy spicy vodka rigatoni. City creatives constantly pack the dining room for the tuna crudo laced with fresh mint, blistered Margherita pizzas loaded with sweet San Marzano tomatoes, and cocktails as sharp as the vintage decor. Always order the garlic-butter focaccia. Always finish with the tiramisu. Che capolavoro.