A moody Italian pasta room and wine bar in Brunswick East that nodded to the long running Cafe Romantica before it. It has now closed.
Published Mar 18, 2026 By Marcus Webb Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 Address Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Melbourne VIC 3057 Nearest Transit Tram 1 along Lygon Street; a short ride north of Melbourne University Hours Permanently closed. The site reopened in 2026 as Daphne, a new venue from the Etta team. Good For Date night, Handmade pasta, Natural wine Wine bar Italian Brunswick East Handmade pasta Closed Visit Bar Romantica Suggest an edit Ask the editors This venue has permanently closed. See the nearby bars below for where to go instead.
Bar Romantica was a moody Italian pizza and pasta spot with a wine bar at its heart, set in Brunswick East on the old Cafe Romantica site. The new owners gave the 24 hour diner legacy a fresh identity while keeping the name's nod to the past.
Time Out Melbourne praised the room's red booths and the American oak bar that took centre stage up front. The venue has since closed; for the record and for alternatives, see our Melbourne bar guide and the best wine bars worldwide roundup.
The front room held a beautiful American oak bar, with red booths giving the space a cosy, low lit feel. Concrete Playground read it as a warm, romantic room built around handmade pasta and a tight wine list.
The wine offer ran from traditional pours to new school natural wines by the glass, plus hard to find European bottles on an extended list. For other wine led rooms, see the Melbourne wine bar guide and our bars near me hub.
In its run the room drew a Brunswick East local crowd, the kind that books a date night around handmade pasta and a bottle of something natural. Concrete Playground read it as warm and romantic rather than loud.
That neighbourhood following carried over the goodwill of the long running Cafe Romantica before it. With the venue now closed, that crowd has moved on to the Etta team's replacement, Daphne, on the same site.