Pellegrini's Espresso Bar

Italian espresso bar unchanged since 1954; order off the wall

⚠ Closed Sundays

Hours: Mon–Thu 8 am–9 pm, Fri–Sat 8 am–10 pm, closed Sun (City of Melbourne What's On)
Budget: A$30–45 pp
Address: 66 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Opened in 1954 by two Italian brothers, it turns up in every story about Melbourne coffee. The long counter, the dishes written on the wall and the heritage neon sign have barely changed in 70 years. There's no printed menu: staff tell you what's on, and meals, desserts and drinks land at roughly flat prices. Spaghetti and lasagne come with bread refilled for free; finish with tiramisu or a granita.