Bayside's Beloved Abbiocco Has Opened a New Pasta and Wine Bar in St Kilda

It's been winning over fans since opening its OG pasta and wine bar in Highett in mid 2020. But Abbiocco is about to earn itself a whole swag of new loyal followers, as it adds to the family with a second outpost, this time in the heart of St Kilda.

Abbiocco 2.0 has set up shop on Barkly Street, its light-filled space paying homage to its sibling with a mix of olive green tones, terrazzo flooring and timber slatting throughout.

The name references an Italian phrase that loosely translates to 'food coma', hinting at the kind of generous feasting situation that awaits you here. Familiar Italian flavours are given a creative, contemporary refresh and, while the menu shares a similar feel to that of its Highett counterpart, it's also a treasure trove of new additions, too.

Pasta is the hero, made fresh in-house each day. You might be in for prawn tortelli starring fennel and lemon thyme butter, pumpkin gnocchi with gorgonzola and wattleseed, or a pork sausage campanelle finished with chestnuts.

A strong antipasti lineup includes the likes of preserved lemon and baccala arancini, veal carpaccio matched to a rocket gremolata and black garlic, and even Abbiocco's own mortadella, served with veneti peppers and pistachios.

There's a hefty t-bone for those looking beyond a pasta fix, and revamped classics like mandarin bomboloni and lemon myrtle cannoli beckon from the dessert list.

Meanwhile, the wine offering celebrates Aussie drops alongside plenty from the homeland, with an impressive range pouring by the glass — you can just as easily match your after-work snacks with a Yarra Valley savarro by Soumah, as with the Caprili Rosso Di Montalcino sangiovese out of Tuscany.

A collaboration lager made with Bad Shepherd headlines a solid craft beer lineup, while cocktails sport a distinctly Euro lean; from the blood orange negroni, to a limoncello and grapefruit spritz.

Find Abbiocco's new outpost at 173 Barkly Street, St Kilda. It's open from 5.30–11pm Wednesday to Friday, 12–2.30pm and 5.30–11pm Saturday, and from 12–2.30pm and 5.30–10pm Sunday.