Stalactites

Stalactites has stood on the corner of Lonsdale and Russell Streets since 1978, in the heart of the city centre's Greek precinct. The Konstandakopoulos family opened it to serve the Greek food they grew up with, and the restaurant still describes itself as the same corner, the same family and the same recipes. It originally traded around the clock, became part of the city's nightlife, and is still open late every night of the week.

The menu centres on spit-roasted meat. Souvlaki and gyros are the core order, alongside slow-cooked lamb and grilled meats, and the dips, including tarama and eggplant, are made from scratch. The restaurant holds Coeliac Australia accreditation and offers gluten-free options, which is worth knowing if you eat gluten-free. In 2019 it created a souvlaki named after the Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas, revived in 2022 with proceeds going to the mental health organisation Beyond Blue, and the restaurant has long been popular with visiting Greek tennis players.

Opening hours are long. Stalactites is open from 11am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and from 11am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. It closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are needed only for groups of six or more at lunch or eight or more at dinner from Sunday to Thursday. No bookings are taken after 4pm on Fridays or Saturdays, or on public holidays and long weekends, and booked tables are limited to two hours.

Takeaway pickup is available through the restaurant's ordering system, and delivery is handled through DoorDash, so check the current pickup times on the website before ordering. The owners also created Hella Good, a souvlaki takeaway next door, in 2017.

This is a budget-friendly choice that works for families, groups, students and anyone eating late after a show or an evening in the city's bars. Russell Street also leads south to Flinders Lane and north towards the Old Melbourne Gaol, so it is easy to fit into a day in the city centre. For enquiries, call (03) 9663 3316 or email [email protected].