Those who've been following along Mercato Centrale's two-year journey to open its doors in Melbourne can pop a cork right now and say "saluti!" The famous Italian mega-market and food hall is now available to the public.
Read on to hear about the 23 artisan vendors that have opened up shop – and don't be surprised if you start to feel ravenous!
Right by the entrance on the ground floor, you can treat yourself to freshly baked bread and pastries from Il Forno by Damian Malone. The delectable goodies on offer are made from whole-grain flour that's been ground in-house using a traditional Austrian mill.
If you're after an even sweeter bite to eat, check out La Pasticceria by Alessandro Grillo and Vincenzo Marino for a range of Italian pastries and cakes with a modern twist. The perfect pairing, of course, is a locally roasted Lavazza coffee at Il Caffè by Jerry Lee.
Rather a heartier lunch instead? You'll be spoilt for choice with the carb-a-licious offerings at La Pasta Fresca by Angelo Sperlinga and La Pizza al Taglio by Nicolò Conenna. You've also got La Pizza Napoletana and La Pasta Fatta on level one, by the way, because can you ever really have enough pizza and pasta?
You've also got a range of delightful eats to choose from, like gluten-free risotto from Il Riso by Simone Garusi and sandwiches from La Piadina by Massimo Falcone. Or maybe you'd rather a perfect potato bun burger or some Nashvilel hot chicken from Lo Smash Burger by Tim Jordan, Nathan Zammit and Christian Calderon (also on level one).
Then afterwards, you can do a spot of fresh produce shopping at La Frutta e La Verdura by Biviano and Sons.
Meat lovers will make a beeline for the cold cuts and josper-aged meats from La Carne e I Salumi by Nikos Chatzopoulos, while seafood fans can get their fix at I Calamari Frutti by Paula and Gary Harding – a duo specialising in Sicilian-style calamari, or Il Pesce by George Milonas. Avid market shoppers will know George from his years of experience working at Queen Victoria Market!
And that's not all. Giorgio Linguanti over at La Mozzarella sources milk from grass-fed, free-range Gippsland farms, and his ricotta is the filling at I Cannoli by Dario Clerico.
Ready for dessert or a bit of gift-shopping? You're sure to find something to satisfy that sweet tooth from the range of bean-to-bar chocolates at Il Cioccolato by Alessandro Luppolo. The dreamy gelato counter at Il Gelato by Rovena Xeba has you covered for a scoop or two (or three), where you can also watch the entire churning process!
For a more formal sit-down dinner, make a booking at Il Ristorante by Jerry Kim a level up, who's combining handmade Italian ingredients – from the sourdough bread and pasta to balsamic vinegar, with locally selected cheeses and olive oils.
Need a nightcap?
L’Enoteca by Mark and Michelle Singarella provides a wide range of Australian, New Zealand, Italian, and French wines from sustainable, organic producers. La Distilleria by Michael Hickinbotham and Graham Jonas offers personalised spirits that hero local ingredients. For more bevvies, the cocktail bar serves a variety of traditional and unique cocktails, spritzes, and aperitivo in a cozy lounge setting.
There'll also be a DJ spinning tunes for the entire hall!
The third level offers a generous function space, designed to accommodate community gatherings, functions and foodie masterclasses. Head to the website for more info.
Looking for more Italian food? Check out our round-up of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne.