A legacy of elegance

There aren’t many restaurants in Melbourne where someone will open the door for you, hang up your coat, pull out your chair and gently fold a napkin onto your lap—but at Florentino, that old-world charm still holds strong.

History meets modern design

First opened in 1928, the iconic Italian restaurant received a contemporary refresh in early 2013 by architects Mills Gorman, who also designed the interiors at owner and chef Guy Grossi’s nearby salumi bar, Ombra.

Upstairs, an Italian renaissance

Florentino’s fine-dining experience is housed upstairs, above Florentino Grill and Cellar Bar on Bourke Street. The grand upstairs dining room pays homage to the Renaissance, with dark wood tables, tall leather-backed chairs, black marble features and dramatic murals selected by original owner Rinaldo Massoni.

Indulgent dishes, timeless service

But it’s the food where Florentino truly shines. The kitchen leans into rich tradition, plating elegant, indulgent dishes like venison carpaccio, lardo-filled ravioli, honeycomb tripe, roast partridge, suckling pig and hand-cut fettuccini with rock lobster. Service is polished, warm and impressively unobtrusive.

For those who want to linger

All guests dine on a three-course menu, but for a truly special experience, opt for the Gran Tour—a five-course degustation paired with thoughtfully selected wines from Australia, Italy and France.

Made for slow dining

It’s the kind of meal best enjoyed slowly, over hours. If you’re short on time, the Veloce lunch menu is designed for busy city diners—but if you can, linger. It’s what Florentino was made for.