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Restaurant

Umberto Espresso Bar

917 High St, Thornbury VIC 3071, Australia

Recommended by 51 people

Updated

Find Umberto Espresso Bar

917 High St, Thornbury VIC 3071, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9416 8449
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Umberto Espresso Bar

High Street locals head to Umberto Espresso Bar for generous plates of al dente pasta and an easy neighbourhood pulse. The kitchen turns out rich ragu with polenta, tender calamari fritti, and bowls of casarecce served with bread to mop up every drop of sauce—proper fare that multigenerational Italian families happily bring their grandparents in for. Up above the ground dining room and courtyard, an upstairs wood-panelled room with its own vinyl turntable hosts milestone family dinners, while Gigi Rooftop catches the afternoon light for post-work spritzes.

  • Authentic Pasta Tradition: Bowls of al dente casarecce and rich ragu served with bread to mop up the sauce, earning approval from multigenerational families.
  • Analog Private Events: A dedicated wood-panelled upstairs room complete with a vinyl record collection, tailored for smooth milestone gatherings.
  • Gigi Rooftop Drinks: Upstairs open-air setting for after-work spritzes, house snacks, and low-intervention drinks looking over the strip.
  • Thoughtful Kitchen Care: Warm floor staff proactively adjust kitchen courses for sensory needs and dietary requirements without fuss.
RestaurantItalianCoffeeRestaurantCafeTakeaway

What's On at Umberto Espresso Bar

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Guests Choose Umberto Espresso Bar

Experience authentic regional Italian cooking, attentive event hosting, and multi-level spaces in Thornbury.

  • Effortless Milestone Celebrations

    The upstairs wood-panelled private dining and function room offers a seamless setting for milestone celebrations, complete with an analog record player and vinyl collection.

    what a fabulous venue to host such an event. Organising it was seamless

    Claudia Giarrusso

  • Dedicated Private Event Hospitality

    Dedicated event planning and warm banquet floor service ensure hosts can unwind knowing receptions and parties proceed without a hitch.

    The staff went above and beyond to ensure everyone was looked after, allowing us to simply enjoy the celebration with family and friends.

    Daniel De Sanctis

  • Traditional Al Dente Pasta & Scarpetta

    Pasta dishes are prepared true to Italian tradition, cooked al dente with rich homemade sauces and served with bread to mop up every drop.

    Both our pasta dishes were cooked Italian style - al dente with authentic home made sauces. Portions were good and one of the few places that still serve bread to mop up the sauce!

    Liliana Di Lizio Barbieri

  • Thoughtful Dietary & Sensory Accommodation

    The kitchen accommodates bespoke dietary and sensory requirements ahead of time with genuine care, making challenging group meals effortless.

    Restaurant had called earlier to advise they were able to modify the menu and make something he would eat. Thank you is an understatement for your kindness and willingness to adapt

    Kate De Marco

  • Rooftop Drinks at Gigi

    Featuring Gigi Rooftop alongside courtyard and dining areas, the venue offers an open-air upstairs perch ideal for post-work drinks and snacks.

    they have a rooftop space which is perfect for a drink after work and some snacks.

    Dan Bowden

  • Transportive Regional Italian Ambience

    From warm wood decor to authentic dishes like marinara and gnocchi, the dining rooms evoke genuine nostalgia that feels like a trip to Italy.

    Gorgeous decor and ambience up in the galeria. Very attentive service from Mattia and delicious food! We shared Calamari, marinara, gnocchi and carbonara and it felt like we were back in Italy.

    Marnie Buckwell

Customer-favourite homestyle pastas and signature house classics

  • Meatballs

    The pork & veal meatballs are outstanding, so tasty & in the most amazing red sauce

    Simone Fet

  • Calamari

    The calamari fritti were tender and delicious..easily the best we’ve had anywhere.

    Liliana Di Lizio Barbieri

  • Casarecce al Ragu

    The Casarecce al Ragu is absolutely divine EVERY SINGLE TIME.

    Teresa

  • Pasta marinara

    The pasta marinara was absolutely delicious

    Fish Whiting

Other favorites

Traditional desserts, Italian aperitivi, and antipasti to begin or finish your meal

  • Tiramisu

    Tiramisu was the best.

    Paul and Jennie Collins

  • Aperol spritz

    Aperol spritz👏 -true Italian 🇮🇹.

    Liliana Di Lizio Barbieri

  • Stuffed zucchini flowers

    I also adore the stuffed zucchini flowers

    Teresa

  • Bruschetta Trio

    We tried the bruschetta Trio

    Ebony Zappone

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful details and tailored hospitality that elevate dining at Umberto Espresso Bar

  • Upstairs Vinyl Record Player & Collection

    The upstairs wood-panelled private function room comes equipped with an analog record player and an curated vinyl collection for guests to play during private events.

  • Proactive Menu Modification & Sensory Care

    The kitchen proactively calls ahead of dining to modify recipes and prepare tailored off-menu meals for guests with sensory sensitivities and fussy eaters.

  • Traditional Bread Service for Scarpetta

    Pasta dishes are intentionally accompanied by bread service to let guests do 'scarpetta' and mop up rich homemade sauces.

  • Dedicated Milestone Planning & Coordination

    Dedicated event planning coordinators like Marsha and Olivia oversee milestone celebrations and handle complex dietary requirements ahead of time for stress-free hosting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you book a table or private event space?

Yes, Umberto Espresso Bar accepts reservations for lunch and dinner, and private event bookings can be made for milestone celebrations, parties, and functions in their upstairs private dining room.

What are the portions like?

Guests highlight generous, hearty portions across the menu—from pasta dishes and arancini to meatballs and banquet courses—with bread served alongside to mop up rich sauces.

Can the kitchen accommodate special dietary requirements or picky eaters?

The team accommodates dietary needs and menu modifications when arranged in advance, adapting dishes for guests with specific requirements or sensitivities.

Is parking available and what should guests know about accessibility?

Street parking is available along High Street and surrounding neighbourhood streets, with free street parking options nearby. Note that access to the upstairs private function room involves stairs.

What seating areas and spaces are available?

Beyond the ground-floor dining room and courtyard seating, Umberto features an upstairs gallery, a wood-panelled private function room with a record player, and the Gigi Rooftop space for drinks and snacks.

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