A Tuscan styled terrace above Lygon Street's Little Italy, with skyline views, Italian cocktails, and a roof that opens when Melbourne allows.
Johnny's Green Room sits on the roof of the King and Godfree building at the corner of Lygon and Faraday Streets, the heart of Carlton's Little Italy. Time Out describes the relaunched terrace as a year round day party with a Tuscan accent.
The names behind it explain the polish: Karen Martini directs the kitchen, bar veteran Matt Bax writes the Italian leaning cocktail list, and Hope St Radio programs the DJs. A Dion Hall redesign lifted capacity to 260 under a semi retractable roof.
Who would hate it? Anyone allergic to a queue. Weekend golden hour draws lines down Lygon Street, and Tripadvisor reviews vent about the door at peak.
Dion Hall's refit reads as a Tuscan terrace: terracotta tones, greenery, long communal tables, and the CBD skyline stacked behind the Carlton rooftops. Concrete Playground points to the semi retractable roof that keeps the terrace running through all twelve months.
Matt Bax keeps the list Italian accented: spritzes, amaro builds, and a tight wine page that leans Italian varietals from Victoria. Cocktails sit around A$24, with spritzes under A$20.
Order the house spritz at golden hour and an amaro cocktail once the DJs start. Skip arriving at 6pm on a Saturday without a booking; the queue reviews exist for a reason.
Afternoon brings Carlton locals and university crowds stretching an aperitivo; weekends shift to a dressed up day party pace as Hope St Radio's DJs take over. The Rooftop Guide rates the skyline angle among Melbourne's best.