Amatrice is the rising star in Melbourne’s competitive culinary scene.
If you haven’t heard of Melbourne’s Cremorne and you are a foodie, put it on your hit list. This pseudo industrial area is fast becoming home to some of Melbourne’s trendiest bakeries, bars and restaurants.
Melbourne is renowned for its rooftop bars, but rooftop restaurants remain a rarity. That’s where Amatrice steps in, raising the bar—literally and figuratively—with its sensational 10th-storey Italian dining experience.
Nestled atop the newly developed Cubitt Place in Cremorne, Amatrice offers an unparalleled combination of breathtaking views, innovative cuisine, and an interiors design that blends sophistication, modernity and comfort.
The morning after I ate there, I was desperate to go back – the experience there was so magnetic. A cross between a local corner Italian restaurant packed with delicious, clean food and and a truly global rooftop vibe.
From Stephenson Street, there’s little hint of the culinary gem above, aside from the recently opened Caffe Amatrice at street level.
This ground-floor café serves as a teaser for what’s to come, says co-owner Alex Brawn, who operates Amatrice with his wife Kelly Brawn and Dave Parker, also of the San Telmo Group.
An Unmatched Atmosphere
Designed by celebrated Melbourne interiors expert and design guru Brahman Perera (Entrecôte, Hopper Joint, Gigi), Amatrice is a study in multi coloured effortless modern opulence.
The indoor rooftop space is adorned with stunning deep-purple/red veined marble tabletops, plush velvet banquettes, and sculptural pendant lighting, all brought to life by bursts of greenery and olive trees that echo the lush rooftops of Soho House properties in LA.
The layout is fluid, offering several distinct spaces. The main dining room is a greenhouse-style marvel, completely encased in glass and shaded by a scalloped awning.
Meanwhile, the all-seasons terrace offers a wraparound garden, retractable roof, and year-round comfort—perfect for Melbourne’s unpredictable weather. For a more intimate experience, there’s a gorgeously intimate private 10-seat dining room and a smaller, cozy outdoor deck.
What truly sets Amatrice apart, are the panoramic views. Guests are treated to nearly 360-degree vistas, from Richmond and the Melbourne sports precinct to the distant Dandenong Ranges. I dined with my Melbourne based cousin who said he had never seen this side of Melbourne before.
While the daytime views are stunning, it’s the night time transformation that’s truly breathtaking.
A Menu Rooted in Roman Tradition
I am in love with the food. Every dish I ate was excpetional and offered a new twist on Italian.
Head chef Vincenzo Di Giovanniello (Bar Carolina, Osteria Ilaria) brings authentic Italian flavours to the table with a menu that pays homage to Roman culinary traditions while incorporating ingredients of impeccable provenance.
We started with a rose petal cocktail with sorbet that was absolutely stunning. Not too sweet, refreshing and fragrant – looked as gorgeous as it tasted.
The star attraction was the IGP-certified Campofilone pasta, imported from a small village in Italy’s Marche region. Known as the “champagne of pastas,” this delicate noodle is made with a high egg content and slow-dried for unmatched richness and texture. I have diabetes so pasta is generally off the menu, so this was a gift to be able to indulge in a high protein pasta with a melt in the mouth ragu that tasted absolutely delicious. The pasta itself was fine which again meant the texture was mouth watering.
Other menu highlights included the freshly shucked oysters with the best tart but fresh vinagerette I have ever tasted, the burrata with peache compute, pickled walnut, cucmber and beetroot, and black angus scotch fillet wiht smoked almond puree, purple carrot and red wine jus.
Our neighbours raved about therinky black fettuccine with prawns, stracciatella, and tomatoes.
Amatrice’s dedication to Roman classics is evident, with dishes like carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and griciaserved with imported spaghetti or mezze maniche (short rigatoni).
Desserts are equally creative and indulgent. We had the Blood Orange Cake with berries, sparlking tutti frutti, and a seed cracker.It was a burst of flavour and texture we loved.
Other standouts include bomboloni (raspberry-filled doughnut balls) and a playful tiramisu milk punch, pairing perfectly with the venue’s robust cocktail list.
I read about the olive martini, crafted with extra virgin olive oil and nasturtium pesto which I will try next time.
From Day to Night
Amatrice is a masterclass in versatility, transitioning seamlessly from a sunlit, glass-enclosed daytime retreat to a moody, vibrant hotspot as night falls. The retractable roof ensures the space remains inviting year-round, whether you’re sipping wine at the bar or enjoying a meal under the stars.
The design draws inspiration from LA’s Soho House rooftop, with olive trees lining the perimeter and a potted tree anchoring the dining area. This careful attention to detail creates a space that feels cosmopolitan yet approachable—sophisticated without being stuffy.
A New Era for Cremorne
Amatrice is just the beginning for Cremorne, an area quietly emerging as one of Melbourne’s most exciting dining destinations.
The team behind Amatrice has more in store, with upcoming projects including Baker Bleu rumoured to be coming to Cremorne, and a yet-to-be-announced concept nearby.
