Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar

Pellegrini's Espresso Bar has been serving coffee at 66 Bourke Street, near the corner of Crossley Street in the city's theatre district, since 1954. It was opened by the brothers Leo and Vildo Pellegrini, Italian migrants who had worked at Florentino's, another Bourke Street restaurant, and from the start it served espresso made in the classic Italian style on an imported machine. The City of Melbourne's visitor guide calls it a Melbourne institution, unchanged in decades, and that is a fair description.

The fit-out is the main attraction for many visitors. The 1950s styling has been kept largely intact, with mirrored walls, red vinyl stools and a long marble counter where customers sit side by side. Outside, the curved neon Espresso Bar sign is heritage-listed, and the National Trust of Australia classified the bar in 2014.

The menu is short and traditional. Alongside coffee, the kitchen serves Italian staples such as spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, ravioli and minestrone, and the bar is known for its watermelon granita, a non-alcoholic iced drink. That short menu makes it a good stop for a simple lunch, a pre-theatre meal or a coffee break while exploring the eastern end of the city.

Pellegrini's has also had its share of sadness. Sisto Malaspina, one of its owners, was killed in a stabbing attack in 2018. Today the bar is owned by his widow Vicki and son David, who bought out the share held by Nino Pangrazio in 2020, keeping it in the hands of the same family.

No bookings are taken, so turn up and wait for a seat at the counter. The City of Melbourne listing points out that the long bar is a place where you sit alongside other customers, so expect to share elbow room at busy times. According to the City of Melbourne listing, opening hours are 8am to 9pm from Monday to Thursday and 8am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and the bar is closed on Sundays. Prices are moderate, and the setting suits solo travellers, couples and anyone with an interest in the city's post-war Italian heritage. Its position in the theatre district makes it a natural choice before an evening show.