Where to eat and drink in Carlton during Now or Never festival - What's On Melbourne

Bars and restaurants near the Royal Exhibition Building

Cocktails lined up on a bar.

Lord Lygon Wine Bar + Dining

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

A ceramic shallow bowl filled with clear broth and small portions of food, garnished with flower petals and caviar.

Kazuki's

Bringing the sensibility of native Japan to a menu that sings with the best Australian produce.

White bowl of meat, noodles and egg.

Hakata Gensuke

Hakata Gensuke Carlton serves traditional Yatai-style ramen noodles.

Curved interior bar of The Curtin Hotel, with pictures on wall.

The Curtin

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

Two friends seated across from each other at an indoor table at The Lincoln, laughing and enjoying their meal in front of an open fire.

The Lincoln

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

Chinese hot pot in yin and yang shape with small plates of ingredients around it.

Panda Hot Pot

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

Chairs and tables surrounding kitchen area and counter with stools.

Torissong

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

Overhead view of three plates of food on a table including satays, fried fish and a rice dish.

D’Penyetz & D’Cendol

Enjoy authentic halal Indonesian dishes and dessert at the Carton branch of this global chain.

More to explore in Carlton

Customers dining outside under an awning at a pizzeria.

Garfield Pizzeria

Serving simple, ingredient-led pizzas with seasonal toppings.

Interior of Leonardo's Pizza Palace.

Leonardo's Pizza Palace

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

The trio of comedians of Sooshi Mango, in character costumes, eating food off plates they hold in their hands, one drinking a glass of red wine, in a lounge room like setting.

Johnny, Vince & Sam’s Ristorante

Italian recipes, décor and ambiance from the Sooshi Mango trio.

People eating in booths in an Italian restaurant.

Capitano

Casual Italian food with an excellent wine list.

Roast chicken pieces on a plate.

The Carlton Wine Room

Simple European food and an extensive wine list.

Diners seated at tables at an outdoor rooftop bar in the fading evening sunlight.

Johnny's Green Room

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

A table loaded with dishes of food including rice, meat, curry and vegetables.

Kahaani

Showcasing flavours from different regions across India.

View onto a wooden bar, with bottles behind the counter, bar stools, hanging lights and decor on the walls.

Carlton Yacht Club

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

A woman sitting at a restaurant cutting in to a pizza.

Di Stasio Pizzeria

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

Overhead display of seven plates of food on a black table.

Lagoon Dining

Dishing up food that leans heavily on Chinese culinary traditions.

Bowl of various Chinese-style vegetables.

Dragon Hot Pot

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

Lebanese biscuits and coffee.

Abla's Restaurant

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

The exterior of D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella restaurant in Carlton, showing a typical Victorian-era corner building.

D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar

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

Long row of tables and chairs on wooden floor leading to front window, artwork on wall.

Donnini's Restaurant

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

Plate with four different tacos. A drink and other plates are in the background.

Taquito

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

Cafe exterior at night with uplit windows with classical pediments on 1st floor and cafe windows, passing cars and signage at ground level.

University Cafe

Excellent Italian meals and espresso since 1952.

Salads, bagel and bowls of savoury food.

Green Man's Arms

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

Woman in trench coat on outdoor table looking up at chalkboard menu on brick wall and wooden window service nook of Bar Holiday.

Bar Holiday

A hidden bar with casual Italian dining.

Split-level restaurant interior with white napery, banquette seating and balustrade.

Paris Go Bistro

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

Outdoor diners under gas heaters on Lygon Street.

Tiamo

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

Table and bar at Jimmy Watson's.

Jimmy Watson's

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

Dishes of pasta and pizza on a wooden table with drinks.

Criniti's Carlton

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

Last updated on Thu 18 Jun 2026

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