Restaurant
The Waiters Restaurant
20 Meyers Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Find The Waiters Restaurant
20 Meyers Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Plan your visitAbout The Waiters Restaurant
Up a steep flight of stairs in Meyers Place awaits an unpretentious trattoria serving classic homestyle Italian. No printed menus, no prices, and no tablecloths—just tight communal tables and chalkboards packed with cucina casalinga. City workers crowd in for hearty bowls of Rigatoni Amatriciana before an evening show, mopping up rich tomato sauce with warm herb bread. It gets loud and pleasantly chaotic, with house wine poured into water tumblers alongside a slice of coffee-dusted tiramisu.
- Upstairs Laneway Classic: Past an unassuming laneway door, a steep staircase leads to a compact dining room running since the 1940s.
- Chalkboard Menu: Dishes are written on wall chalkboards with no printed menus or prices displayed.
- Communal Homestyle Dining: Generous pasta and veal mains share space on tight tables where parties often sit side by side.
What's On at The Waiters Restaurant
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Key Dining Advantages
Why diners choose The Waiters Restaurant for classic Italian in Melbourne's CBD
Hearty Homestyle Italian Cooking
Classic pasta and hearty meat dishes are prepared simply with rich, consistent flavours.
Great old school Italian restaurant with great homestyle food.
Mark Pohl Unpretentious Value and Portions
Generous servings of fresh pasta and traditional mains deliver exceptional quality and value without unnecessary frills.
food done extremely well with generous portions and great atmosphere.
Zane Zhao Storied Local Culinary Institution
Dining here offers the satisfaction of stepping into a long-standing, storied Melbourne institution.
A meal here connects you to a Melbourne culinary and cultural icon.
Paul Taylor Hidden Destination for Visiting Guests
Tucked away in Meyers Place, it provides a distinctive, off-the-beaten-track dining experience to share with guests.
I had dinner at The Waiters Restaurant (Italian Waiters Club) last night with some friends visiting from Sydney and it didn’t disappoint.
Ben Robinson Dependable Pre-Theatre Dining
Its central location and prompt service make it a dependable stop for dinner before an evening out.
Great place for a quick reliable meal before going elsewhere to enjoy your night’s entertainment.
Patrizia Bordignon Tucked-Away Upstairs Sanctuary
An intimate second-floor dining room accessed via laneway stairs creates a cozy, transportive sanctuary above the CBD.
after heading up a steep set of stairs you’re welcomed into the cosy sanctuary that is the restaurant.
Tali Ane F
Most popular items
Homestyle pasta and classic main dishes from the chalkboard menu
Rigatoni Amatriciana
Gorgeously delicious Rigatoni Amatriciana
Jenn P Tortellini Bolognese
perfectly cooked pasta with rich, flavourful bolognaise that hit the spot
Ben Adams Gnocchi Gorgonzola
Had the gnocchi Gorgonzola and it was amazing and a generous serve.
Crystal Kranz Saltimbocca
I had the saltimbocca which which delicious.
Patrizia Bordignon
Other favorites
Classic Italian starters, sides, and house-made desserts
Tiramisu
Tiramisu’s a standout.
Green Sea Shells Mag: Wellness by KK Garlic Bread
garlic bread
Maneesha Singh Herb Bread
divine herb bread
Jenn P Panna Cotta
The Panna Cotta is as rich as it is light - highly rate.
Catherine Ponsana
Before you head over
Essential advice for ordering, accessibility, and seating at The Waiters Restaurant
Check chalkboard dishes and pricing with staff
Menu offerings are listed entirely on wall chalkboards with no printed prices or printed menus. Ask staff about specific item costs or dish descriptions if you want pricing certainty before ordering.
Prepare for a steep stair ascent
Access to the restaurant is up a steep flight of stairs off the laneway, meaning step-free access is unavailable for guests with mobility restrictions.
Anticipate shared communal seating
During peak hours and busy seatings, the compact dining space frequently requires parties to share tables with other diners.
Explore more places in Melbourne
Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.
Similar places
More places for the flavours and food you enjoy.
- Lina's PizzaHawthorn · Italian, Pizza, Takeaway, Restaurant
- De Bortoli Wines Yarra Valley Cellar Door and RestaurantDixons Creek · Italian, Winery, Restaurant
- The Forge PizzeriaBallarat Central · Pizza, Italian, Restaurant, Takeaway
- Paladinos Pizza & PastaWestmeadows · Pizza, Italian, Restaurant, Takeaway
- Ciao Mamma!Brunswick · Italian, Restaurant
- Dawson Neighbourhood ItalianKew · Italian, Restaurant, Bar
Discover more in Melbourne
Explore another side of the city's food and drink.
- IDESCollingwood · Fine Dining, Bar
- Antique BarElsternwick · Cocktail Bar, Bar, Coffee
- Baahubali Indian RestaurantArmadale · Indian, Restaurant
- Lady Lavender's Tea RoomBunyip · Restaurant
- La Cucina BeaumarisBeaumaris · Italian, Restaurant
- Hoo•gahBendigo · Coffee, Cafe
- Kangaroo Flat HotelKangaroo Flat · Bar, Restaurant
- PAIK'S BIBIM KOREAN RESTAURANTMelbourne CBD · Korean, Restaurant
- Coffee Staines - CaféBeechworth · Carvery, Coffee, Cafe, Takeaway
- The 18th Amendment Bar, GeelongGeelong · Bar
- MeatworkscoSouth Melbourne · American, Barbecue, Restaurant
- Sticks & Stones CafeEmerald · Australian, Coffee, Cafe, Restaurant, Takeaway

























