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Restaurant

Bar Carolina

44 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Recommended by 61 people

Updated

Find Bar Carolina

44 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9820 9774
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Bar Carolina

South Yarra regulars turn to this Toorak Road room when dinner calls for Italian polish without the stiff pretense. Grab an aperitivo on the rooftop lounge before heading downstairs—where the open kitchen delivers fresh carpaccio, swimmer crab spaghetti, and a crisp costoletta alla Milanese. Tables sit close and the room hums, yet dialed-in acoustics keep table conversation effortless over shaken spicy margaritas and bottles of regional red.

  • Signature Italian Plates: Generous, well-executed classics anchored by blue swimmer crab spaghetti, creamy burrata, and a standout costoletta alla Milanese.
  • Curated Drinks List: A thoughtful wine list tuned for food pairings alongside balanced, shaken cocktails like the spicy margarita.
  • Conversation-Friendly Acoustics: A buzzing, polished dining room with engineered sound dampening that allows effortless table conversation.
RestaurantRestaurant

What's On at Bar Carolina

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Bar Carolina

From intimate celebrations and lively rooftop aperitivos to generous group feasts, experience refined contemporary Italian dining in South Yarra. Reserve your table today.

  • Effortless Conversation for Celebrations

    A dining room engineered for audible conversation ensures milestone dinners and shared celebrations remain effortlessly engaging without shouting over ambient restaurant noise.

    acoustics made it easy to enjoy conversation without shouting

    Clare D

  • Hospitality Tailored to Special Occasions

    Attentive, personable floor staff elevate special occasions with knowledgeable food suggestions and seamless wine pairings that put hosts completely at ease.

    Staff made us so welcome and wine and food recommendations/suggestions were so appreciated.

    Cathy Stewart

  • Spontaneous Bar Dining & Cocktails

    Welcoming walk-in hospitality allows spontaneous diners to settle at the bar for expertly crafted cocktails and house specialties without planning weeks ahead.

    The maître de arranged for table to be set for us at the bar and we enjoyed a cocktail whilst waiting

    Jennifer Reilly

  • Rooftop Apertivo to Dining Transition

    A distinct bi-level layout lets guests commence their evening with rooftop cocktails and vibrant DJ sets before transitioning downstairs for dinner.

    We arrived a bit early and had a cocktail upstairs on the rooftop first.

    Christina Scotto

  • Generous Feasts for Large Private Groups

    Private dining accommodations deliver abundant sharing plates and tailored wine selections, ensuring large gatherings are catered for without portion compromises.

    We had 19 people in the private dining room for lunch.

    Slow Time

  • Seamless Set Menu Coordination

    Paced set menus and attentive front-of-house execution ensure medium to large dining groups experience seamless course delivery from arrival to conclusion.

    We were a group of 8 seated in the front section on a set menu, and from the minute we walked in the service was on point.

    Michelle Kearns

Standout plates celebrated by diners across celebratory dinners, casual drop-ins, and shared feasts.

  • Swimmer Crab Spaghetti

    Arancini’s and swimmer crab were highlights.

    Cathy Stewart

  • Burrata

    Got the burrata and it seriously satisfied.

    Nick Chatz

  • Costoletta alla Milanese

    The clear highlight of the night was the costoletta alla Milanese—honestly out of this world. One of the best meat dishes I’ve ever had.

    Clare D

  • Puttanesca

    I ordered the puttanesca and WOW. I literally cleaned my plate. I’m a huge fan of puttanesca and this was honestly the best I’ve ever had.

    Christina Scotto

Other favorites

Crafted cocktails, savory sides, desserts, and pre-dinner rooftop vibes that complete the table.

  • Spicy Margarita

    I ordered the spicy margarita, which definitely packed a punch (exactly how I like it).

    Clare D

  • Kifler Potato Sides

    The kifler potato sides is also commendable. Crispy skin, perfectly cooked through and perfectly seasoned.

    Ainz (ainz_gourmet)

  • Upstairs Rooftop Cocktails

    We arrived a bit early and had a cocktail upstairs on the rooftop first. The DJ was amazing — she was playing such good music.

    Christina Scotto

  • Mousse

    the mousse, just yum.

    Jacqui Morel

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality touches that elevate dining from routine service to memorable hosting.

  • Discreet Milestone Desserts

    Waitstaff handle celebration details like surprise birthday desserts with seamless discretion to preserve the moment without disrupting dinner flow.

  • Hands-On Owner Welcome

    Owners and leadership personally greet diners at their tables and actively work the floor alongside staff during busy dinner services.

  • Thoughtful Walk-In Hosting

    On peak weekend nights, the maître d' actively arranges full-service dining setups at the bar so walk-in guests can immediately enjoy cocktails and dinner without reservations.

  • Rooftop DJ Aperitivo Transition

    Diners arriving early can transition upstairs to the rooftop lounge for curated aperitivo cocktails, bites, and live DJ sets before descending to dinner.

Before you head over

Practical guidance on timing, seating, and ordering for an effortless South Yarra night out—book your table to secure the full experience.

  • Aim Early or Bar-Side for Walk-Ins

    If visiting without a reservation, arrive early around 5:30 PM or ask for bar-side seating, where staff seamlessly accommodate walk-ins with cocktails and the full food menu.

  • Head Upstairs for Pre-Dinner Aperitivo

    Plan to arrive ahead of your dinner reservation to enjoy cocktails, bites, and DJ music at the upstairs rooftop lounge before heading downstairs to dine.

  • Order Substantial Mains to Share

    Rich, substantial dishes like the signature costoletta alla Milanese, burrata, and swimmer crab pasta are best ordered family-style to share across the table.

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