There simply would be no Melbourne Food & Wine Festival without a whole lotta of tasty Italian-themed events. Do you like it hands-on? How about a little mozzarella masterclass on a floating bar? Is pork and dancing more your jam? How about a little rooftop porchetta to the tune of Italo disco. From Sicily to Piedmont, it’s time to mangia mangia, Melbourne – here are 11 ways to hook in.
A Ligurian Feast by Alta Trattoria
Drawing on his years working at Michelin-starred Balzi Rossi in Ventimiglia, Alta Trattoria’s chef McKay Wilday will take you on a journey to the Ligurian coast. The combination of exquisite seafood and the bountiful array of produce is what draws Wilday to Liguria, and why he believes Melbourne is the ideal setting to showcase the Italian region’s simple and honest approach to cooking. Using Victoria’s finest produce, this four-course feast will showcase classic Ligurian dishes such as trofie al pesto, pansotti al preboggion, cappon magro and coniglio alla Ligure. Alongside the feast, there will be a selection of Ligurian wines curated by the Alta Trattoria team.
Sunday 23 March, Alta Trattoria, Ground Floor Rear 274 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Festa di Sicilia
Be immersed in the rich culture and traditions of Sicily. Food will be served family-style on long, brightly decorated tables, evoking the feel of a lively Sicilian street market. Festa di Sicilia is about the experience. The feeling of being transported to a sun-drenched island where life is lived to the fullest. The sounds of Sicilian folk music will fill the air, and the bar will be serving a selection of Sicilian-inspired cocktails, including the classic Aperol Spritz.
Sunday 23 March, Orlo, 44 Oxford St, Collingwood
Caterina’s Does Venetian Street Food
Caterina’s has been a long lunch mainstay for nearly 30 years. Now, for the 2025 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, they fling open their doors for the ultimate Venetian grab-and-go lunch. Slip through the iron gates and select classic street food dishes from the Veneto to take away, such as vitello tonnato-stuffed tramezzini and cicchetti with salt cod, and eat on the street like the Venetians do.
Tuesday 25 March, Caterina’s Cucina e Bar (Basement), 221 Queen St, Melbourne
An Evening in Roma
Welcome to Flour Child, where traditional pizza meets modern bar culture. At the start of the class, be greeted with a glass of wine, and then delve into the dough-making process from mixing, rolling and stretching to toppings, cooking and tasting. Each pinsa boasts a crust that’s perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and puffy on the inside, thanks to a long, slow prove and a unique blend of flours. At this masterclass, learn how to nail this style of dough and enjoy eating the results.
24–27 March, Flour Child St Kilda, Level 1, 77 Acland St, St Kilda
Tram del Vino!
A hop-on, hop-off tram tasting taking in The Alps, Toorak Cellars and Milton. The tour will be hosted by a guest conductor, and each stop will be a wine tasting from a different region of Italy with snacks to match. Salute the day with a glass of lambrusco at The Alps, taste the central Italian regions at Toorak Cellars and finish in the south at Milton for a pizza and vino. A fun, interactive day out.
Sunday 30 March, Toorak Cellars, 18 Beatty Ave, Armadale
To Roscioli with Love
Who’s coming to Rome? The Enoteca Boccaccio team loves Rome and especially Roscioli – so much so that whenever they get the chance to head back to Roma, Roscoli is the first restaurant they book. Classic Roman food with a twist. As part of MFWF, the team at Enoteca Boccaccio transport you back to Rome with their take on classic Roman food with an EB twist.
24-26 March, Enoteca Boccaccio, Level 1 1046 Burke Rd, Balwyn
Amatrice x Tommy’s Booze Pasta Festa
In this singular pasta experience, you’ll drink a delicious aperitivo by Tommy’s Booze with spectacular views at Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant, before sitting down to enjoy three courses at Caffe Amatrice including the refined and delicious maccheroncini di Campofilone al ragu, then round out the evening with a special Tommy’s Booze x Amatrice cocktail made especially for the event. You’ll take a souvenir home, too, in the form of a small goody bag including a bag of pasta imported all the way from Campofilone.
Thursday 27 March, Amatrice, 16 Stephenson St, Cremorne
Cecconi’s La Famiglia Day
Cecconi’s is reviving its famous La Famiglia Day. Visit their new location in Toorak for an afternoon of classic Italian dishes served to share, where family is welcomed and dancing is encouraged. A spritz on arrival and live music playing classic Italian tunes all day will keep things moving before a generous three-course lunch is served. Dress to impress, but make sure you can move.
Saturday 22 March, Cecconi’s Toorak, Level 1, 489 Toorak Rd (access via Jackson St), Toorak
Maialata
It’s ultimate Roman street party – on a rooftop. Get a taste of la dolce vita at Johnny’s Green Room, the rooftop gem atop the legendary King & Godfree building. Feast on an endless supply of Italian porchetta buns accompanied by pickled chilli slaw. Vegetarians will enjoy a salt-baked celeriac rendition featuring Tuscan spices, lemon, chilli, black garlic, slaw and almond mayo – all served Roman street food-style from the outdoor kitchen. Sip your way through a selection of Italian wines, beers and ciders as you take in the stunning skyline views and groove to Italo disco beats.
Sunday 23 March, Johnny’s Green Room, Level 2, 293-297 Lygon St, Carlton
A Taste of Capretto: From Paddock to Plate
Meredith Dairy, renowned for its legendary marinated goat cheese, is a leader in ethical farming and sustainable food production. Driven by a commitment to use every part of their herd, they’re expanding beyond dairy to promote the delicious, and often overlooked meat of the dairy goat. At this exclusive multi-course lunch, you’ll get to try capretto, a traditional Italian delicacy of milk-fed kid, rarely found in Australia. Set in Meredith Dairy’s newly opened café and store in the heart of the township of Meredith, this event will spotlight the paddock-to-plate journey, with a special focus on the exceptional dairy capretto.
Friday 28 March, Meredith Farm Produce Cafe, 30 Staughton St, Meredith
Italo-Victorians Do It Better
Part masterclass, part lunch, this exciting event sees chef Rosa Mitchell (Rosa’s Kitchen) and winemaker James Scarcebrook (Vino Intrepido) present a long lunch of shared dishes and shared stories. The chef and the winemaker will discuss the importance of the regions of Italy and Victoria and guests will have the chance to chat with them about both over matched wines. At the end of the meal you’ll take home a gift bag of preserves made by Rosa and a bottle of Vino Intrepido wine.
Saturday 29 March, Rosa’s Canteen, 1 Little Bourke St, Melbourne