A small, warm Little Bourke Street pasta bar that many locals rate as Melbourne's best — handmade pasta done with real precision, like the squid-ink tagliolini and duck-and-porcini gnocchi. A friend sends you here over any red-sauce tourist joint. Caveats: it's closed Sundays and the room is tiny, so book ahead or aim for an off-peak walk-in at the bar.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sat 11:30–22:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Free Tram Zone — Elizabeth/Bourke Street tram stops 2 minutes away; Flagstaff and Melbourne Central stations both within a 7-minute walk |
| Time needed | 1.5-2 hours |
| Best time to go | Late lunch around 2pm or an early 5:30pm dinner for walk-in bar seats |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.5/10- Value8.0
- iconic6.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level4.5
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility9.0
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to book Tipo 00?
- For dinner, yes — the room is small and prime slots go days to weeks ahead. They keep some bar seats for walk-ins, so arriving solo or as a pair right at opening or mid-afternoon often works.
- Is Tipo 00 open on Sunday?
- No — it trades Monday to Saturday, 11:30am to 10pm, and rests on Sunday. Plan your pasta pilgrimage accordingly; a surprising number of visitors get caught out.
- What does Tipo 00 mean?
- It's the grade of finely milled Italian flour used for pasta and pizza dough — a chef's in-joke that tells you exactly what the restaurant worships. The name is the menu's mission statement.
- Is Tipo 00 good for vegetarians?
- Yes — there are always meat-free pastas (the mushroom-driven dishes are standouts) and the kitchen handles requests gracefully. Vegans should flag ahead since egg pasta and butter are the house currency.
- How much does Tipo 00 cost?
- Pastas sit in the $30s-40s, so a two-course dinner with a glass of wine lands around $80-100 a head. There's also a tasting-style option if you want the kitchen to drive. Fair value for the standard — this is destination pasta.
- What's the difference between Tipo 00 and Osteria Ilaria?
- Osteria Ilaria is the sister restaurant next door from the same team — broader European menu, slightly roomier and easier to book. If Tipo is full, Ilaria is the smart fallback, not a consolation prize.
- Can I eat at Tipo 00 without a booking?
- Often, yes — bar and counter seats are held for walk-ins. Your best odds are a late lunch around 2pm, or being at the door at 5:30pm before the booked crowd lands. Friday and Saturday nights without a booking are a gamble.
- What should I order at Tipo 00?
- The squid-ink tagliolini and the gnocchi with braised duck and porcini are the signatures people cross town for. Start with a smaller antipasto, do a pasta each, and share a third if you're hungry — portions are proper but not enormous.
Nearby in Ask Melbourne
- Brother Baba BudanCafé0.02 km · 0 min walk
- Captains of IndustryCafé0.03 km · 0 min walk
- Manchester PressCafé0.05 km · 1 min walk
- MjølnerRestaurant0.19 km · 2 min walk
- Two ConversationsCafé0.26 km · 3 min walk
Where to stay near Tipo 00
Compare hotels & stays on Booking.com · doesn’t affect the Friend Score