A soccer lover’s guide to Carlton
The Beautiful Game is coming to Australia by way of the International Champions Cup. To get you in the mood for the Melbourne leg of the tournament, follow our guide to Carlton – the heartland for Melbourne football fans
Eat like an Italian at... 01 Tiamo
This is the place to go for big plates of pasta just like Nonna used to make, and tumblers of table wine. This joint has been serving Melbourne since the ’70s, and they sure love their football (Melbourne Victory fans get a discount after home games). It’s boisterous, bustling, and a little bit ramshackle with its wooden bar polished smooth by a multitude of elbows. 303 Lygon St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 5759. www.tiamo.com.au. Daily 7am-11pm.
Grab a pre-match dinner at... 02 Markov
Tucked away from the busy Lygon Street strip, Markov is a laid-back restaurant that suits anything from a pre-movie dinner to a mid-week burger and pint. The bar is a maze of dimly lit little areas and there are bar stools scattered around for strategic people-watching on a Sunday afternoon. 350-352 Drummond St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 7113. www.markov.com.au. Daily 5pm-late.
Grab a coffee at... 03 DOC Espresso
Luckily, since the International Champions Cup matches are happening here in Melbourne, you won’t have to pull an all-nighter. Catching all the action can still get tiring though, so make sure you grab a coffee at this café. These guys regularly screen matches, so if you’re lucky you might get catch one. 326 Lygon St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 8482. www.docgroup.net. Mon-Sat 7am-9.30pm; Sun 8am-9pm.
Debrief over a few pints at... 04 The Lincoln
Huddle in for a post-match debriefing session at the Lincoln (nominated for the People’s Choice award at Time Out Melbourne’s 2015 Pub Awards). This pub sits in the middle of Melbourne Uni territory in Carlton, and while most of these pubs are competing for the cheapest parma and pot deal, the Lincoln is where you’ll find the grad students and professors tucking into top-notch pub fare that’s made to be shared. 91 Cardigan St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 4666. www.hotellincoln.com.au. Sun-Thu noon-11pm; Sat noon-midnight.
Learn about Melbourne’s Italian heritage at... 06 Museo Italiano
Carlton’s love of soccer has a lot to do with its Italian community. Museo Italiano is a partnership between the Italian Historical Society and CoAsit, an organisation that provides welfare to Italian immigrants. Together they tell stories of the first ItalianAustralians when Carlton became fondly known as ‘Little Italy’. You can experience the journey Italians took to the New World. 199 Faraday St, Carlton 3053. 03 9349 9000. www.museoitaliano.com.au. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat noon-5pm.
Need a latenight treat? Make a beeline for... 07 Brunetti
There’s a reason why Brunetti’s been around for decades. Sure, it’s a chain, but they do get the Italian coffee culture right. The café is open late daily so if you’ve got the munchies at half-time, browse Brunetti’s expansive cabinets, where you’ll find everything from pizza slices to biscotti to go with your coffee. 380 Lygon St, Carlton 3053. 03 9347 2801. www.brunetti.com.au. Sun-Thu 6am-11pm; Fri, Sat 6am-midnight.
Get your team colours at... 05 Forza Italia
Are you a Real Madrid guy? Or maybe you go for AS Roma? Show your colours and stop by Forza Italia before match night so your mates know which team you’re going for. The Lygon Street store specialises in Italian teams, so you might have some difficulty finding a Manchester City scarf. 204 Lygon St, Carlton 3053. 03 9654 6660. www.forzaitalia.com.au. Mon 10am-9pm; Fri, Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm.
Grab a nightcap at... 08 Gerald’s Bar
Rathdowne Street’s Gerald’s Bar has long been the go-to local bar for Carlton residents. A typical night sees couples out on date night, business folk hashing out deals and locals catching up over a few Spanish-style small plates. Your wine typically comes with a recommendation and a back story. If, however, you prefer to be left in peace to mull over a chilled Chablis, they will promptly fill your glass with the discretion of an Edwardian butler. 386 Rathdowne St, Carlton North 3054. 03 9349 4748. www.geraldsbar.com.au. Mon-Sat 5-11pm.