Italian Elegance in a Port Melbourne Courthouse

Old-World Charm, Modern Italian Flair

Port Melbourne’s Ciao Cielo is the kind of spot that makes you want to settle in and stay a while. Set inside a 165-year-old courthouse, it’s a lesson in old-world charm meets contemporary Italian. Think towering ceilings, original stone walls, a crackling judge’s fireplace, and deep blue banquettes lining the dining room. Out back, the garden keeps things a little looser with a covered, heated courtyard and a custom-built woodfired oven turning out Neapolitan-style pizzas.

From Nonna's Kitchen to the Cielo Plate

Co-owner and head chef Bryan Nelson (A La Grecque, Stokehouse) gives a modern spin to Nonna Maria’s northern Italian recipes, blending technique with nostalgia.

Menu highlights include:

• Shark Bay scallop baked in-shell with garlic, herb crust and guanciale

• Fried zucchini flowers with pecorino and local honey

• Beef tartare with egg yolk, bottarga and potato wafers

• Squid ink spaghetti with Fraser Island spanner crab, chilli, garlic and lemon

• Penne with pork ragu bianca, crispy sage and prosciutto crumble

• Ciao Cielo’s signature tiramisu, served straight from the bowl, using a family recipe that dials up the richness with zabaglione and marsala

Sip Italian, Stay Local

The drinks list is equally considered. Sip a house-made limoncello straight, spritzed, or stirred into a martini. The wine list mixes local drops with Italian classics, and cocktails lean crisp, classic, and built for sipping. Keep an eye on happy hour: $10 spritzes from 4–6 PM every day.

The Garden: Woodfired and Laidback

Step into the outdoor courtyard and the mood softens. Here, it’s all about easygoing pizza and spritz combos. The dough ferments for 48 hours before being crisped to perfection in the woodfired oven.

Favourites include:

• Mortadella with honey, stracciatella, pistachio and chilli

• Burrata on a bianca base with cherry tomatoes, prosciutto and basil

And yes, Tuesdays are worth marking down: it’s $20 pizza day.

Events, Long Lunches & Late-Night Negronis

Ciao Cielo walks the line between polished and unpretentious. Whether you’re posting up for a long lunch, lingering over late-night negronis, or just ducking in midweek for a margherita and a glass of red, there’s no pressure—just consistently good food, warm service, and an atmosphere that doesn’t miss.