All day Italian at Verde Alexandria, with room to spare
Darlinghurst Italian favourite Verde has a second home in Verde Alexandria, a big café, restaurant and events space on the corner of Collins and Bourke Street. Five-metre ceilings, a five-metre bar, and a sunny terrace give the family-run team plenty of room to stretch out. Expect classic cars on display and the same honest Italian cooking Verde built its name on.
Few places can swing from a 7:30am coffee to a long Italian lunch to a full-blown launch party without missing a beat, and Verde Alexandria does all three. The room is big on drama, with that five-metre bar and a rotating display of classic and super cars parked behind the rope, but the cooking stays grounded.
Owner Antonio Ruggerino and chef Davide Rebeccato keep the menu seasonal and simple, with house-made pasta and quality Australian produce doing the heavy lifting. The aperitivo list leans into Negronis and spritzes, making it easy to stay longer than planned. Claim a seat on the terrace on a sunny day, pair a plate of pasta with something from the Italian-led wine list, and let the afternoon slip away.
Quick Bites
EAT: The crab spaghettini, a Verde regular that has followed the team from Darlinghurst.
DRINK: Ask for the Tommy’s all’Arrabbiata, a tequila cocktail with clarified tomato and chilli.
PLAY: Book one of the five semi private rooms for a group of 16 to 90 and make a night of it.
VIBE CHECK: Milan style, family warmth
