Carlton is one of Melbourne’s most historic neighbourhoods & a must-see for visitors. In this Carlton neighborhood guide I’ve rounded up the best things to do and the best restaurants, bars & cafes in Carlton. Whether you’re exploring Melbourne’s Little Italy on Lygon Street, checking out the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition Building or dining at one of the best restaurants in Melbourne, there are so many things to do in Carlton!

I’ve lived in Melbourne for nearly a decade and love hanging out in Carlton, especially with friends and family who are visiting Melbourne. I love the neighbourhood’s historic Victorian terrace houses, lively Lygon Street and the charming wine bars, cafes & bookstores dotted throughout the neighbourhood. 

Where is Carlton?

Carlton is on Melbourne’s northside, located just north of the Melbourne CBD. Just east of Carlton, you’ll find other must-visit Melbourne neighbourhoods like Fitzroy and Collingwood.

How to get to Carlton

From the northern end of the Melbourne CBD, you can walk to Carlton. You can also take the #1 tram from the Melbourne CBD to Carlton.

A bit of Carlton history

The lands today known as Carlton are home to the Wurundjeri clan of the Woi-worung peoples, who have a connection to the land going back tens of thousands of years.

Carlton is one of Melbourne’s most historic neighbourhoods, and was founded under its current name at the start of the Victorian Gold Rush in 1851, which brought millions of people from around the world to Melbourne, and to Victoria.

In the early 20th century, the rise of fascism in Italy, the economic fall out of World War II saw mass emigration and the introduction of immigration quotas for Italians to the USA, made Melbourne an attractive destination for Italian immigrants. More than 170,000 Italian migrants settled in Australia in the 1950s.

The focal point for Italian immigration to Australia was in Carlton, which became known as Little Italy. By 1960, 25% of Carlton’s population was Italian. Italian immigration shaped Melbourne into the city it is today, planting the seeds of what would become Melbourne’s world famous restaurant & cafe culture.

The Best Things to Do in Carlton

Carlton Gardens & Royal Exhibition Building

One of the best things to do in Carlton is to stroll through the landmark Carlton Gardens. The 19th century Carlton Gardens is one of the most beautiful gardens in Melbourne, a classic example of Victorian garden design. The gardens are beautiful year-round, and are home to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition Building. Built in 1880, the Royal Exhibition Building is one of the few 19th century international exhibition halls remaining.

Readings Carlton

You can’t visit Carlton without dropping into the flagship location of Readings, one of Melbourne’s most beloved bookstores. At least, I can’t! Readings is one of the best bookshops in Melbourne and this location in particular is one of my favourites.

Melbourne Museum

The Melbourne Museum is one of the best things to do in Carlton with kids. The Melbourne Museum is a great introduction to Melbourne’s history, as well as being home to a number of natural history artefacts, like dinosaur skeletons, and Phar Lap, Australia’s most famous race horse.

There’s also a set which recreates the historic slums of “Little Lon” on Lonsdale Street, and a set from the iconic Australia TV soap, Neighbours. I still remember my first trip to the Melbourne Museum, with my grandparents on a trip to Melbourne when I was 8 years old!

The Best Restaurants in Carlton

Carlton Wine Room

Carlton Wine Room is one of Melbourne’s darlings. Housed in an elegant 19th century building, Carlton Wine Room is a Melbourne institution and one of the best restaurants in the city for the sort of unfussy dining that Melbourne is known for. I’ve visited Carlton Wine Room more than once, and it’s one of my first recommendations to visitors & friends visiting Melbourne for a classic Melbourne restaurant.

Epocha

Tucked away on the city fringe in a Victorian terrace house, Epocha flies under the radar, but is a Melbourne institution. Co-owner Angie Giannakodakis is a local legend in Melbourne’s hospitality scene, and can be frequently found on the restaurant floor, greeting guests like they’re old friends – which, given her tenure in the industry, they could well be. Epocha is a European-inspired restaurant, and has been serving share plates since before they were cool.

Johnny, Vince & Sam’s

Johnny, Vince & Sam’s is a new Italian restaurant on Lygon Street, inspired by Italian-Australian nostalgia. The maximalist, 70s fitout is kitsch and cosy, and creates the perfect ambience for a meal in Melbourne’s Little Italy. Homestyle, Italian dishes are generous and designed to share. A very Instagrammable spot, with style and substance.

Agostino

Agostino styles itself as a wine bar, but the menu is so strong I recommend going for lunch or dinner. Agostino is on Lygon Street, in the King & Godfree building, which is still owned to this day by the owner’s nonno, Carlo, who immigrated to Melbourne from Italy in the 1950s. Agostino has some of the best pasta in Melbourne, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given its history! 

D.O.C Gastronomia Italiana

D.O.C. is a pizza & mozzarella bar renowned across Melbourne for having some of the highest quality Italian food in the city. The name stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which is an Italian quality standard for food & drink products that are the best in class from the region they come from.

D.O.C. highlights these best-of-the-best products, whether it’s olive oil, cheese, wine, vinegar or prosciutto, across its menu, and has its finger on the pulse of what is happening in Italian dining, today. D.O.C. has been in Melbourne for 20 years, and now has seven locations across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and Sydney, but the Carlton location is the original – and arguably, the best.

The Best Bars in Carlton

Jimmy Watson’s

For a slice of Melbourne history, check out Jimmy Watson’s, which is one of the first wine bars in Australia. Founder Jimmy Watson purchased a former 1890s wine saloon, and his legacy continues today, with the bar run by his son, and now his grandson. This is a warm, convivial establishment that hasn’t had a renovation since the 1960s, and feels a bit like stepping  back in time. There’s a no frills rooftop upstairs, which is lovely on a sunny day.

Heart Attack & Vine

Heart Attack & Vine is a Venetian wine bar on Lygon Street, and one of my favourite bars in Carlton. Open for pastries & coffee in the morning, and wine & cicchetti (Venetian tapas) in the afternoon and evening, it’s a classic Carlton spot.

Milk The Cow

Milk The Cow is a licensed fromagerie & wine bar, which offers cheese flights matched with wine, sparkling wine or whiskey. Milk The Cow is one of the best bars in Carlton for visitors to Melbourne. Milk the Cow also has a location in St Kilda, but the Carlton location is more charming.

Johnny’s Green Room

Johnny’s Green Room is a new rooftop bar atop the recently renovated King & Godfree Building. With views over the treetops and rooftops of Carlton, Johnny’s Green Room is the perfect spot for a drink on a sunny day. There are snacks and woodfired pizzas, making it a great spot for lunch.

The Best Cafes & Gelato in Carlton

Seven Seeds

Seven Seeds is one of Melbourne’s best coffee roasteries, and their Carlton cafe & roastery is their flagship site. Drop into the industrial-chic cafe near Melbourne Uni for breakfast and excellent coffee.

King & Godfree

The deli on the ground floor of King & Godfree is perfect for a casual, cafe-style lunch in Carlton. 

Brunetti Classico

Brunetti is a landmark Italian cafe & patisserie, with an extravagant cabinet full of Italian sweets, pastries and cakes. Stop for a coffee & cannoli, but be prepared to battle crowds – it is permanently busy on weekends.

Pidapipo

Pidapipo is not Italian, but it is home to the best gelato in Carlton. Pidapipo is a popular gelato shop featuring South American flavours. We always end up here every time we visit Carlton!

Where to stay in Carlton

There aren’t many hotels in Carlton, but there are a few options available via Booking.Com.

• $ – Essence House Carlton
• $$ – The Little Royal Carlton Gardens Studio
• $$$ – Zagame’s House

Is Carlton a good area to stay in Melbourne?

Yes! Carlton is in very close proximity to the Melbourne CBD, and is one of Melbourne’s most famous neighbourhoods. It is a great area to stay in Melbourne for visitors. It’s a short walk from Carlton to Fitzroy & Collingwood.

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