Florentino

Florentino, an Italian restaurant with history on Bourke Street

Florentino is an Italian restaurant located at 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne (Victoria). Its offering is spread across several venues: Florentino Dining Room, Café Florentino, Cellar Bar, Ombra and Arlechin. The business presents itself as a new edition of a long-established venue, maintaining the classic elegance associated with Italian dining.

Venues and dining offering

The restaurant operates with different concepts within the same group:

• Florentino Dining Room: main dining room with lunch and dinner service.
• Café Florentino: café venue with lunch and dinner service.
• Cellar Bar: bar with extended hours, from 11:00 until late.
• Ombra: listed as permanently closed.
• Arlechin: listed as temporarily closed.

The offering is completed by reservations, events and vouchers, according to the information on the website.

Recognition and current status

The venue has been awarded two hats (16/20) by The Age Good Food Guide 2026. Among the latest news featured on its website are a Sunday Roast at Florentino Dining Room, an Aperitivo Hour at Cellar Bar, a Menu del Giorno at Café Florentino and participation in Negroni Week at Cellar Bar.

History

The history of the site dates back to 1918, when wine importer Samuel Wynn opened a shop at 78 Bourke Street, which evolved into Café Denat, a French restaurant originally established on Exhibition Street in 1893. In 1928, Rinaldo Massoni leased the business and renamed it Café Florentino, introducing an Italian dining style. In 1934 he acquired the adjoining property and expanded the restaurant, creating the upstairs Mural Room, decorated with murals by pupils of the artist Napier Waller. After Massoni's death in 1941, his son Leon and his business partner George Tsindos continued the business; in the 1950s The Cellar was added and, shortly afterwards, Bistro Grill. George Tsindos ran the venue until 1979, followed by Branco Tocigl and then by Floyd and Lorraine Podgornik, under whose stewardship restorations and changes were carried out. Since 1999, the Grossi family has been at the helm for 27 years, reaffirming its place in Melbourne's culinary history. The current chapter is presented as a new edition that seeks to protect the legacy and allow it to evolve.

Opening hours

Florentino Dining Room: lunch Friday to Sunday from 12:00; dinner Monday to Sunday from 17:30. Café Florentino: Monday to Sunday, lunch from 12:00 and dinner from 17:00. Cellar Bar: Monday to Sunday, from 11:00 until late. Ombra: permanently closed. Arlechin: temporarily closed.

Reservations and contact

The restaurant has a reservation system and a contact form for special requests. The address is 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000. The contact phone number is 03 9021 5242 and the email address is reservations@florentino.melbourne.