Pellegrini's

Open since the 1950s, Pellegrini’s is a Melbourne institution. The tiny time capsule serves espresso and classic Italian dishes all day long, with waiters in all-white plonking down bowls of spaghetti bolognese and glasses of watermelon granita like they’ve done a thousand times before. It sometimes feels like they’re doing you a favor just by serving you, and they kind of are: seating is limited, and you’re competing with some seriously dedicated regulars. Nabbing a seat though will set you up perfectly for a fuel-up between tourist sites in the city.