Stuzzichino

Tripling up as a cafe, restaurant and Italian spuntini or snack bar, Stuzzichino is the kind of default destination for casual dining and drinking that every neighbourhood needs. Here the good folks of Carlton are the grateful recipients of Stuzzichino’s impeccable sense of Italian hospitality, with the kitchen specialising in piadinas, a kind of Italian flatbread topped with fresh ingredients and perfect friends with a glass from the bar. Stuzzichino’s Lygon Street premises themselves are a joy, with bar stools and outside seating imparting a truly Italian character. Stuzzichino is helmed by Angelo Gibaldi, a veteran of the Melbourne hospitality scene who cut his teeth in several prestigious restaurants and the culinary culture of Sicily before opening up his own passion project. Besides superb coffee, beverages, the signature piadini, Stuzzichino also offers classically-structured Italian meals, making this spot a catch-all for a foodie tour of the bel paese.