Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

Bistra

157 Elgin St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Recommended by 0 people

Updated

Find Bistra

157 Elgin St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9000 5607
HoursMonday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Bistra

Bistra brings European bistronomy to Elgin Street—stripping away stiff dining room protocol for warm Carlton energy. Tables sit elbow-to-elbow over chicken liver pâté and seared scallops before guests split charred steak or the menu's fixture: a cheeseburger flanked by fries. Sommelier guidance anchors the cellar list, though weekend lunch quietly opens a $30 BYO allowance for bottles brought from home.

  • Weekend Lunch BYO: Guests can bring cellar bottles during weekend lunch for a $30 corkage fee alongside a sommelier-curated list.
  • Signature Bistro Mains: Elevated comfort anchors the savoury mains with a permanent cheeseburger, seared steaks, and spinach ricotta dumplings.
  • Unpretentious Occasion Dining: Intimate, high-energy room paired with attentive table service suited for date nights and birthdays without rigid ceremony.
RestaurantBritishFrenchItalianRestaurant

What's On at Bistra

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Bistra

From cellar-worthy weekend lunches to convivial shared dinners in Carlton, discover why diners return to Bistra—reserve your table today.

  • Refined Dining Without Stiff Pretension

    Bistra delivers fine-dining technique and composed dishes in an approachable setting where celebrations feel special without stiff formality.

    The food is absolutely exceptional without all the fuss of over the top dining.

    Eva Walsh

  • Balanced Modern Bistronomy

    The kitchen balances classic European bistro foundations with sharp, contemporary touches that elevate familiar dishes.

    the menu brings a touch of innovation without going too far from tradition

    Maria Pitino

  • Weekend Lunch BYO Policy

    Diners can bring prized vintage bottles from their own cellars during weekend lunch service for a modest corkage fee.

    Plus, they do BYO’s on weekend lunch, which puts Bistra on a “unicorn” restaurant list for me.

    Aaron Tan

  • Sommelier-Led Wine Pairings

    Dedicated sommelier guidance ensures both delicate entrees and robust steaks are thoughtfully matched from an extensive list.

    A special mention must go to the in-house Sommelier, whose expertise in selecting the perfect wine to complement our meal enhanced our dining experience incredibly.

    christopher sferrazza

  • Effortless Shared Feasting

    Generous portions and warm front-of-house staff make it seamless to share entrees, pastas, and mains across the table.

    very accommodating of sharing plates.

    Katie Larkin

  • Lively European Bistro Energy

    Crisp white linens and close, lively seating evoke the spirited intimacy of a classic Parisian neighbourhood bistro.

    the tiny space between tables took me back to a nice bistro in Paris.

    dontwaitdate

Bistra's most acclaimed menu staples, celebrated for classic technique and generous execution.

  • Steak

    Steak had a fantastic sear, super tender, and had an extremely generous portion of chips.

    Angus Harrison

  • Cheeseburger

    The burger is insanely delicious!! Perfection.

    Rebecca Crawford

  • Spinach & Ricotta Dumplings

    The ricotta dumplings were divine, exquisitely matched with a glass of French Chardonnay (staff suggestion) - I’m going to be dreaming of this combination for weeks to come.

    Millie Crawford

  • Chicken Liver Pâté

    our fav was the chicken liver pate.

    Katie Larkin

Other favorites

Complementary sides, distinctive pours, and inventive desserts round out the meal—reserve your table to taste the full spread.

  • Kiwi and Rhubarb Trifle

    My favourite dish was the kiwi and rhubarb trifle.

    Sally Krutsch

  • Banana Cake

    the banana cake was decadent and a beautiful end to the meal.

    Rowdy

  • Fries

    the fries were crisp on the outside with a fluffy interior, seasoned to perfection.

    christopher sferrazza

  • Orange Wine

    Had a great glass of orange wine from the menu too.

    Cosmo

Beyond the menu

From spontaneous birthday gestures to attentive sommelier guidance, Bistra pairs European bistro charm with genuine warmth. Reserve your table to experience it firsthand.

  • Complimentary Birthday Granita

    Diners celebrating a birthday have received a complimentary granita at the close of the meal as an unprompted celebratory gesture.

  • Impromptu Celebration Candle

    When conventional cake candles are unavailable, the floor team improvises by supplying a dining candle to ensure the moment is properly marked.

  • Dedicated Sommelier Table Consultations

    The in-house sommelier provides attentive tableside consultations, steering guests through custom glass and bottle pairings tailored to their meal.

  • Patient Specials Recitation

    Waitstaff patiently recite and explain daily specials as often as needed, treating detailed inquiries as an engaging dialogue rather than an interruption.

Before you head over

Essential advice to make the most of your visit to Bistra. Reserve your table in advance to secure your spot.

  • Request Upstairs for Extra Space

    Downstairs offers a lively, classic Parisian bistro feel with tight table spacing; request seating upstairs if you prefer more elbow room and a slightly quieter volume.

  • Target Weekend Lunch for BYO

    Take advantage of the venue's rare $30 corkage BYO policy by booking during weekend lunch, or rely on the on-duty sommelier for spot-on pairings from their cellar list.

  • Share Mains to Save Room for Dessert

    With generous portions of chips alongside the steak and burger, sharing savory courses across the table ensures you still have room for desserts like the rhubarb trifle.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues