Kent Hotel

A simple yet elegant bistro on Melbourne's Rathdowne Street, Kent Hotel is distinguished by its grand stone building and al fresco area out front that is reminiscent of bustling European cities during summertime.

At Kent Hotel, less is more in their paired back bistro that basks in the beauty of uncluttered space. Where nothing is surplus whilst also avoiding the risk of looking sterile, Kent Hotel still manages to strike a warm note with dark wooden bistro furnishings, and a few plants that breathe life into the whole design.

So, whether you're sheltering from the heat indoors or soaking in the city's comings and goings on the terrace outside, know that you're in for a culinary treat with the whole of Italy at your fingertips. First, we must pay tribute to the country's finest creation: the pizza. Available with gluten-free bases and vegan cheese, classic Capricciosa, fig and blue cheese, squidgy eggplant and lashings of Napoli sauce are there for the taking.

Other mains that aren't pizza include the unbeatable chicken parmigiana, prawn linguine with the surprising addition of chili sambal, and the mighty porterhouse steak with chips, red wine jus and herb butter. Plus, armed with a wine list longer than Italy's endless attributes, take your pick of reds and whites from Victorian, South Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, and enjoy the wonderful South Pacific in a wine glass.