Seeing a gig at the Royal Exhibition Building during Now or Never? Find the best spots nearby for pre-show bevs and late-night bites.

Bars and restaurants near the Royal Exhibition Building

Lord Lygon Wine Bar + Dining

Lord Lygon Wine Bar + Dining

A neighbourhood wine bar and bottle shop within Zagame's House hotel.

Kazuki

Kazuki

A slow restaurant on a fast street, Kazuki strives for balance and simplicity.

Hakata Gensuke

Hakata Gensuke

Hakata Gensuke Carlton serves traditional Yatai-style ramen noodles.

The Curtin

The Curtin

Traditional pub with fried chicken, cold beer, and live music from local and international acts.

The Lincoln

The Lincoln

A historic Carlton pub that stands out for its high quality gourmet food.

Panda Hot Pot

Panda Hot Pot

Panda Hot Pot is Melbourne's largest premium Sichuan hot pot restaurant.

Torissong

Torissong

Torissong Japanese restaurant specialises in yakitori chicken skewers, seafood and ramen.

More to explore in Carlton

Leonardo's Pizza Palace

Leonardo's Pizza Palace

Old-school pizza in a vintage-style venue near Carlton's Lygon Street.

Fossey's Distillery Lygon

Fossey's Distillery Lygon

A boutique distillery and bar in the heart of Carlton.

Kahaani

Kahaani

Showcasing flavours from different regions across India.

Johnny's Green Room

Johnny's Green Room

A rooftop bar above King & Godfree with great views, tunes and Italian inspired food and drinks.

Capitano

Capitano

Casual Italian food with an excellent wine list.

The Carlton Wine Room

The Carlton Wine Room

Simple European food and an extensive wine list.

Carlton Yacht Club

Carlton Yacht Club

A fun and intimate cocktail bar nestled in the heart of Lygon Street.

Leonie Upstairs

Leonie Upstairs

Catch-ups or no-brainer date nights over premium Japanese sake and artfully-crafted temaki sushi.

Di Stasio Pizzeria

Di Stasio Pizzeria

Italian wood-fired pizzas and cocktails in an art-filled space.

Lagoon Dining

Lagoon Dining

Dishing up food that leans heavily on Chinese culinary traditions.

Dragon Hot Pot

Dragon Hot Pot

Choose your base stock, then pick from over 100 fresh ingredients to make your own unique hotpot.

Abla's Restaurant

Abla's Restaurant

Home of the queen of Lebanese cooking, Abla Amad, since 1979.

D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar

D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar

The authentic flavour of a Rome-style pizza without the cost of a plane ticket.

Donnini's Restaurant

Donnini's Restaurant

Authentic Italian eatery known for its handmade pasta and relaxed atmosphere.

Taquito

Taquito

This Mexican-inspired bar and dining venue makes every tortilla from scratch, by hand.

University Cafe

University Cafe

Excellent Italian meals and espresso since 1952.

Green Man's Arms

Green Man's Arms

Green Man's Arms is an enchanting pub serving vegetarian and vegan cuisine with Israeli flavours.

Bar Holiday

Bar Holiday

A hidden bar with casual Italian dining.

Paris Go Bistro

Paris Go Bistro

Classic French fare, including fish of the day, steak tartare and beef Bourguignon.

Agostino

Agostino

An Italian wine bar, bottle shop and cellar attached to King and Godfree on Lygon Street, Carlton.

Tiamo

Tiamo

Tiamo is a traditional Italian cafe serving classic Italian dishes for decades.

Jimmy Watson's

Jimmy Watson's

A piece of culinary history dating back to 1935, this could be Australia's first small wine bar.

Criniti's Carlton

Criniti's Carlton

Offering over 300 dishes, including wood-fired pizzas, pasta and seafood.

Last updated on Mon 2 Jun 2025

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