Central-Italian cuisine: the best places to taste it in Melbourne

The Moat

82/100 (1457 ratings)

Restaurants

International

Vegan Options

European

Italian

Northern-Italian

Southern-Italian

Vegetarian Friendly

Southern-Italian

Australian

Central-Italian

European

Gluten Free Options

Italian

Vegan Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Gluten Free Options

Breakfast

Dinner

Lunch

Drinks

After-hours

Ribs

Curry

Meatballs

Salad

Lamb

Sit down

European

Italian

Northern-Italian

Central-Italian

Southern-Italian

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Serves Alcohol

Full Bar

Outdoor Seating

Dinner

Drinks

Mid-range

"Best food and cosy atmosphere. So many good wines to choose from, an outstanding menu' and a superior design makes this place one of the best in..."

Andrew Canessa

"Really loved it here. Great food and drinks but most importantly really great staff that made the night fantastic. Thanks guys! Will definitely come..."

Lee Ton

"What a groovy place... The Moat hosted and I performed as part of the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The staff not only were..."

Kim Da Cruz

"Those chicken and feta balls are something else!! Amazing dish, we added a bowl of roasted potatoes and it was all perfect. Lovely wait staff,..."

Kerry Alderuccio

"Great place.. great food and wine selection..awesome service and very relaxing atmosphere..highly recommend..."

Derek Voce

"It's a great place,love the food the staff are friendly and it has a great atmosphere ....oh and a good..."

Dean Austin

"This place is amazing 10/10. Cannot fault them. Food, price & staff amazing. Cannot wait to go..."

Rach Wil

"I love it !! the food is delicious , very good selection of wine. Excellent service and the bartender makes the best espresso martini in..."

Ilanit Bard

"Amazing food and amazing staff! How does it better than..."

Jovana Ohis

"Amazing food and a wonderful staff. Girls made us feel so special with their hospitality. Keep it up....."

Manvinder S Kang

"The Moat is a lovely hidden restaurant that is below street level. This makes it a little dark and moody, so it's a great atmosphere for a date..."

Morgs71

"Such a lovely small hidden gem!The food was well seasoned, great portion and you pay for what you get! Would definitely recommend for duos..."

Van Nguyen

"J’s score 3.5 stars. J caught up with her sister here (early in the week) for dinner quite a while ago. Chosen by little Sis - not the sort of..."

Prof. Pinky@LunchLab

"Penang Duck Curry I am so glad we chose the Penang duck curry, it’s a little pricey but trust me it’s SO GOOD. We were kind of worried..."

Kathy Chen

"3.7A cold Monday night in Melbourne but it was lovely and warm inside The Moat. The decor was warm and inviting too. It’s predominantly..."

Two Sheds

"Cute hidden bar on the busy Lonsdale Street. I love their outdoor seating especially at night (beautiful strings of lights). Instagramable...."

Gece

"Could not recommend this place enough. My friends and I recently threw a surprise birthday dinner here. The staff were so beautiful and..."

Whitney.grewal

"Quiet, sophisticated, classy, with all the mood lighting.Perfect date casual spot or place to have an initimate catch up over a range of..."

Cocktail Life

"Great service, underground restaurant with olden day European vibes. Must get the deboned lamb entree. Braised beef was pretty good too, tasted like..."

Miilu

"I love the Moat. Having been a customer for over three years and an employer for 1 year (2016), I can vouch for the high quality food, drinks and..."

LJ Donnelly

"This is one of Melbourne's best kept secret! Warm, cozy atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious, honest food that is always fresh and..."

Anna

"Awesome and cozy restaurant in the heart of Melbourne.Lamb ribs were the highlight of the night.The brisket was very tasty as..."

Andrewcanessa

"Had rice with chicken ribs.Chicken was not good，that tasted like frozen one and I think it must be.Wifi is provided！Average..."

Alexis Chan

"Decor was modern but cozy inside the underground bit, lovely and open and breezy in the outside umbrella-covered bit. Staff were friendly and gave..."

Om Nom Nom

"Favourite place to relax from the intense CBD, delicious food, respectful staff and an overall quality experience. Only complaint is that I live too..."

Mark

"Great food and great service! always love seeing the friendly faces here. The old school atmosphere makes it a great hang out spot. Always..."

Bobby Sedrick

"Great atmosphere, plenty to look at, very inviting indoors area plus a comfortable outdoors area for the warmer nights. Friendly staff who give..."

N

"Hidden underneath the State Library, you need go to the basement then can find it. The decoration of the restaurant was pretty old-fashion and..."

Jianierrrrrr

"An impromptu dinner with friends found us wandering the streets in search of sustenance. We eventually settled on the Moat as the hunger pangs became..."

Good Food Good Mood

"The manager was very courteous and understanding when our original booking of 10 people for the set menu was hijacked by unreliable people in our..."

Matt Fishbeck

"“Going underground (going underground), we’ll let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow”The Moat is a truly unique..."

The Dear Luncher

"Superb service from the wait staff, 'feed me' menu had delicious variety and was great value. Missed out on their happy hour but something to look..."

James Day

"Tucked away on the side of the State Library, this gem was a cosy relief from the cold evening air. Dined inside, warm lighting and buzzing..."

Smitten Kitten

"Amazing food to die for. Excellent service. Nice decor and ambience. The banquet 'Feed Me' menu had more food than we could eat - we absolutely had..."

Matthew Nulty

"A cozy & intimate escape from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne CBD, this (literally) underground restaurant has a simple yet well considered (&..."

Retno Widyanti

"I've been here countless times and still love this place.Though I do prefer this place during off-peak periods just cause it's quieter.Food..."

Chee Ching Low

"If you ever wonder where to go eat on Friday or Saturday night - the moat.Music at the door step extensive drinks menu, wonderful..."

Latteme

"Moat is a cosy little resturant nestled underneath the state library. The set up is very vintage and old fashioned. They have amazing good..."

Sheemal Visun

"Exceptionally good share-plate style food at surprisingly reasonable prices. Good drinks list, especially happy hour from 4.30-6pm. Highly..."

Ben

"Underground bar beneath the Wheeler Centre is a smallish but stylish venue that has a literary feel. Always busy "outside" and an intimate "inside."..."

Ghannah_au

"The Penang vegetable curry was amazing, the salmon light and fresh, the dark chocolate tart decadent with a really interesting raspberry and aniseed..."

Theresa

"Moat is the perfect literary cafe and wine bar. Hidden beneath the State Library of Victoria and the Wheeler Centre (another must visit place), Moat..."

Tomas

"A good nice environment if you want to have a romantic date! Sadly I'm single. But the food is pretty nice and the ambience is second to..."

Rifan Thamrin

"Dropped by for a quick lunch, ordered the blowtorched salmon and the chicken ribs followed by the chia seed pudding. Flavours were great and so was..."

Duala

"Listed as one of the top ideal spot for a date night on Zomato, The Moat offers hearty European/French inspired dishes w beautiful romantic ambience...."

J88

"I've been here a few times for lunch and I absolutely love their decor and lighting. It's a nice escape from the city - however, it does get quite..."

Ms V

"My most fav restaurant/ bar / cafe / hangout spot. I bn going there for last 4 years & never disappointed me. It use to be quite but now ppl..."

MelbfoodCritic

"I thoroughly enjoyed dinner here. Staff were helpful, the space is very "hipster-cool" and trendy. Reasonably priced for a decent meal too. I had the..."

Beth

"Super adorable intimate little place. Was here for a friends birthday dinner, waiters all super nice and very accommodating. The food was excellent..."

Xin Shina Gao

"I was looking for a quiet place to catch up with an old friend and the moat perfect. Located in a convenient spot, hidden away from (sometimes) city..."

Zhitian Zhang

"Pretty little place in the basement! I like places with simple and small menu and sufficient vegetarian options :) this place ticked all the boxes!..."

Divya Sharma

"Great little bar hidden below street level on little Lonsdale St with some good food and drinks and even better service. Nice little spot for a quick..."

Steve Levon

"Great for after work or lunchtime dining. Reasonably priced, good house wines and solid vegetarian/vegan options! Happy hour is worth a look too if..."

Michelle

"Luckily, this venue is right across from my university. One of my three favourite coffee places in the CBD, it also features a beautiful ambient..."

Ebonybedwards

"The moat is a lovely restaurant in the heart of the city, though I'm unsure if this is a place I'd come back again. While I enjoyed the dishes I..."

Kell

"Had dinner with a group of 5, ordered a range of plates to share meaning we managed to get through a good deal of the menu! Everything was..."

DL

"Loved this place below the State Library. The lemon and herb baked ricotta with caponata and crispy bread was so smooth and flavourful blended..."

J0yy173

"We recently discovered this gem of a place and loved it so much we had to share this with you! The Moat is located in the CBD and is tucked away..."

One Piece Left

"Tucked away in Little Lonsdale is The Moat. A all day basement Resturant in a 19th century bluestone building known for their European dishes. As you..."

Jen

"Very cosy and snug decor with a variety of tapas and share type dishes with fresh rich ingredients.I quite enjoyed the sardines, olives,..."

JW

"Seem to specialise in tapas and light foods, they do excellent antipasto and cured meat type fare, good to pair with their nice wines. Maybe not for..."

Jimmy Chew Food

"Cozy establishment with friendly staff. The ricotta was delightful and very refreshing. The beef brisket was excellent - flavour of the beef is great..."

Christian Kearsley-Pratt

"I had a thoroughly enjoyable lunch here recently. I found it so lovely and relaxing, right in the City Centre but manages to create a cosy space with..."

Bluebell 22

"1.5 points for the environment, 1.5 for the service, .5 for the food. Got the chicken wings from the afternoon menu, they were obviously a little bit..."

Zakibites

"Was treated to a dinner here by my girlfriend for my birthday a few weeks back. This place was picked by her over all other joints in Melbourne and..."

James Helsham

"Went to this place for a friend's birthday; we had a really great time. The food is really tasty, the waitress was very enthusiastic and the wine is..."

Food

"I have such mixed feelings about this place. The atmosphere and food is great, and top notch coffee and wine, but they have odd customer service..."

Bexchum

"Great food and drink, the Cuban chicken for 2 was awesome. It was a little loud inside but it was very busy. Wait staff were attentive and gave great..."

Mj

"The Moat is awesome. It is located underneath the state library and is booked themed throughout. The decor is adorable, and the light is moody,..."

Karma Clarke

"Best place in Melbourne to retreat from the wintery cold and indulge in a hearty meal.Went with a group of seven and it was easy to book..."

Rasabear

"Delicious lamb & eggplant ragout served in atmospheric underground setting. A hidden gem. Great service. Very pleased that when I requested bread to..."

C.gribble

"Had a lovely afternoon there a week or so back served by a delightful waitress with short black hair. We returned the following week with another..."

Graham

"The Moat is hidden within the corner basement of the State Library and Wheeler Center. Cosy and elegant, the underground feeling creates an intimate..."

Hungrycookie

"The Moat had some of the best food I have tried in Melbourne. It had perfect flavour combinations, fresh ingredients, great textures and just the..."

The Portly Pumpkim

"Food is consistently amazing! Highly recommend this..."

Mitchincognito

"Awesome shared meal. Brought a group of 21 people and had an awesome shared platter meal. Left the menu entirely to Rosie, which was a smart move...."

Llevin2

"Good food...service a little slow. I tucked into the Moat for lunch earlier in the week. The place is pretty cool and cosy housed underneath the..."

Miss D

"Prompt service and friendly atmosphere. A great place for an inexpensive light meal before events at the Wheeler Centre, better than anything else..."

Gunung2

"Brilliant dinner experience. Same day booking for an odd time -- sure, no problem. Booking changed from four to five people -- easy, no problem. We..."

Daniel Reeders

"Delish & Delightful. Thanks for a fabulous night, our overseas guests were truly impressed! The personal service we received coupled with the..."

Jill

"Tea Time. Love the tea and coffee and the atmosphere is amazing. The style makes it seem like something out of Harry Potter. The service is always..."

Chelsea MaC

"Can’t fault my experience here; great food, excellent vibe on a cold winter night, top service and delicious food & drinks. The old fashioned that..."

S C

"Great little discovery this one. The restaurant bar is located down stairs in a basement under the state library. Awesome eclectic relaxed vibe,..."

Paul Fisher

"Wonderful restaurant with a quiet but nice atmosphere. Friendly and attentive service. The food was delicious and they have an excellent cocktail..."

Siobhan Parker

"So good to have Melbourne open again!! We hadn't been to The Moat for about six months but as usual it didn't disappoint. For all you plant lovers,..."

Robert Frandsen

"Great service. Waitress very engaging and helpful. Happy hour menu from 4 to 6 pm. Felt like a Harry Potter film set. Very eclectic..."

Tania Hogan

"Nice place to sit and chat with friends. The outdoor was covered with big umbrellas (from the rain) and heater was provided to keep warm...."

Lilian Yap

"EXCELLENT ! what an awesome find ! beautiful food and amazing staff - nothing was too much trouble, we were made to feel genuinely welcome, and just..."

jennifer wilson

"The go to place for winter soul food. Had the lamb shoulder with some mash; prawn papardelle and a few glasses of mulled wine tonight. So..."

Reset

There are 4 restaurants

Cuisine

Dietary restrictions

Meals

Structure

Dishes

Central-Italian cuisine: the best places to taste it in Melbourne

Ranking

Sort A-Z

near you

Filters

Ian Hawkins

Don

Mr. Tokyo Curry

Erika Cristofori

Emily

Laith De Marchi

Sophie

Pb3068

Murray Tognolini

Matt

Rennie

Laura Duggan

Geoff Hopkins

Sebdan

Edwar Kartio

Explore Nonstop

Elisa Ngo

Michelle Newell

Nica

Armina

Divya Sharma

Dolores Maria Castro Ferreira

Andrew Canessa

Lee Ton

Kim Da Cruz

Kerry Alderuccio

Derek Voce

Dean Austin

Rach Wil

Ilanit Bard

Jovana Ohis

Manvinder S Kang

Morgs71

Van Nguyen

Prof. Pinky@LunchLab

Kathy Chen

Two Sheds

Gece

Whitney.grewal

Cocktail Life

Miilu

LJ Donnelly

Anna

Andrewcanessa

Alexis Chan

Om Nom Nom

Mark

Bobby Sedrick

N

Jianierrrrrr

Good Food Good Mood

Matt Fishbeck

The Dear Luncher

James Day

Smitten Kitten

Matthew Nulty

Retno Widyanti

Chee Ching Low

Latteme

Sheemal Visun

Ben

Ghannah_au

Theresa

Tomas

Rifan Thamrin

Duala

J88

Ms V