A modern neighbourhood trattoria where handmade pasta, Northern Italian wines and slow hospitality come together.

Alta Trattoria: Fitzroy North’s Northern Italian Heart

Alta Trattoria brings the quiet confidence of Northern Italy to the backstreets of Fitzroy North. The space is warm, intimate and unhurried, the kind of dining room where the food speaks louder than the design. Co-owners Jamie McBride and chef David Micallef have built something rooted in simplicity and trust, a restaurant that treats pasta, wine and service with equal care. It feels personal, familiar and unmistakably Melbourne in its understatement.

The name “Alta” references the alpine regions of Italy, but the spirit is local — driven by fresh produce, honest cooking and the ritual of eating well without pretension. Step inside and you’ll find a place that feels instantly lived-in, like it has always belonged to the neighbourhood.

Handmade Pasta and Piedmont Influence

The menu shifts with the seasons, but pasta is always the centrepiece. Sheets of egg dough are rolled and cut daily, filled with slow-cooked ragùs and delicate purées that balance richness with restraint. The tajarin, a thin ribbon pasta traditional to Piedmont, comes glistening with butter and parmesan, while the agnolotti del plin — small folded parcels filled with veal and pork — might be the best version in the city.

Beyond pasta, the menu leans toward open-fire simplicity. Think grilled fish with lemon and herbs, slow-braised meats, and vegetables kissed with olive oil and salt. Desserts stay classic, often panna cotta or a perfectly bitter tiramisu. The wine list is heavy on Italian varietals, with a clear nod to the producers of Barolo and Barbaresco, alongside smaller local names that echo that same elegance.

Simple Room, Slow Rhythm

Alta’s fit-out feels deliberately modest: timber tables, white walls, soft light and a steady soundtrack that fades into the background. The open kitchen anchors the room, where cooks move at an unhurried pace that sets the tone for the entire evening. The service matches the cooking — thoughtful, gentle and quietly assured. Nothing is rushed, nothing is forced, everything lands when it should.

In a city full of loud openings, Alta Trattoria whispers. It’s a restaurant that values connection over concept, craft over hype. For those who understand the beauty in small details — a perfectly cooked noodle, a pour of Nebbiolo at the right temperature, a table that feels like home — Alta delivers something close to perfect.