Napier Quarter

By day, you’re savouring the city’s most famous anchovy toast at a sunny table out front. Come evening, cafe morphs into candlelit wine bar, one with European leanings and a distinctly Melbourne soul. Lightly pickled and fermented vegetables – maybe cucumber, beetroot and radish, depending on the week – make a bright opening act.

The menu pleasantly surprises with the pairing of saffron and bottarga in a golden risotto: rich, floral, saline. Thin slices of lamb leg are draped over a velvety tahini sauce that’s offset by the tang of pickled red onion and anchovy.

You can’t go wrong on a wine list that highlights small and local producers, including Central Victorian drops from Little Reddie. You might stop in for just a glass and a snack, but odds are you’ll soon find yourself sighing over a ginger cake with mont blanc-style frosting.

Good to know: Stay at the minimalist guest house upstairs for the full experience.

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Last visited: May 2025