The best lasagne in Melbourne

Homestyle Italian comfort food with a glass of red is winter’s ultimate pleasure. Here’s where to find Melbourne’s best lasagne, whether you like yours traditional, vegan or with ten different kinds of cheese.

Grossi Cellar Bar

Guy Grossi’s take on this Italian dish might just be Melbourne's most famous lasagne. Experience it in the laid-back sophistication of the Cellar Bar at Grossi Florentino. The short, cafe-style menu favours pasta. And the rich bolognese sauce – an old family recipe – sings in the lasagne.

Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar

Simple and authentic Italian fare that has barely changed since the ‘50s. That’s the promise at Bourke Street icon Pellegrini’s. Take a seat at the long, curved bar and order a slab of homemade lasagne. Al dente pasta, layered with a generous serving of meat and topped with a dusting of parmesan.

Marameo

Why settle for just one type of cheese in your pasta when you can have ten? Pasta palace Marameo’s 10 cheese lasagne is not for the faint-hearted. The vegetarian dish is loaded with wild and local mushrooms. The earthy flavours perfectly balance out all that cheesy goodness. Gluten-free pasta is also available.

Lasagna Lab

This spot is so dedicated to the beloved Italian dish – it focused the entire menu around it. Lasagna Lab experiments with creative twists on the traditional recipe. A must-try are the new lasagne pockets. Think melt-in-your-mouth fillings encased in a crispy lasagne sheet. The king salmon and prawn pocket is balanced with the perfect amount of zest. Or if you're after a classic slice, order the bolognese lasagne with wagyu ragu.

Di Stasio Citta

Who needs meat when you have Di Stasio Citta's dreamy veggie sensation? The pasta masters' lasagne pasqualina has delicious layers of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes. The result is a golden, cheesy, fine dining take on a homestyle dish.

Funghi e Tartufo

A vegan, a coeliac and a low-fodmapper walk into an Italian restaurant. Sounds far fetched? Not at Funghi e Tartufo, where all the dishes are plant-based and there’s plenty of gluten-free and low-fodmap options on the menu. Indulgent Italian comfort food for everyone, finally! The lasagne, stacked with meatless sauce, is a favourite among diners.

D.O.C Espresso & Delicatessen

While known for their award-winning pizza, the team at D.O.C also have a dedicated pasta spot, D.O.C Espresso & Delicatessen. The lasagne is a little slice of Emilia-Romagna in Melbourne. Made in the traditional way with fresh pasta sheets, dollops of bolognese and a thick béchamel. It’s finished with a generous serving of parmigiano and can be ordered gluten-free.

Tiamo

From one Lygon Street icon to another. Don’t be deterred by the line snaking out the door of Tiamo, it’s well worth the wait. This quintessential Italian spot serves up a cracking lasagne. Layers of pasta are dripping with lashings of Bologna sauce and gooey béchamel. Order a side of garlic and herb focaccia to mop it all up.

La Camera

A double-meat number, this is lasagne just like Nonna used to make. La Camera dials up the flavour of Nonna Chiara’s lasagne with both pork and veal. They throw in a sprinkling of garlic and herbs, mozzarella for that stretch, and finish it off with parmesan. This dish is best enjoyed alfresco on the balcony overlooking the Yarra River.