Da Guido La Pasta enters its next chapter

After 10 years on Lygon St,
Da Guido La Pasta is entering a new chapter, with owner Mirco Cossavella using the milestone to reimagine the Carlton restaurant while preserving the Italian hospitality at its heart.

Words by

SEAN CAR

The restaurant has recently completed a major renovation and refresh, transforming the venue into a more refined and contemporary dining room built around handmade pasta, an expanded wine program, Murano glass décor and a stronger connection to its Venetian heritage.

For Mirco, the 10-year anniversary marked more than a birthday. It represented the completion of a journey that began in the difficult period after COVID, when he started taking on greater responsibility for the restaurant before officially becoming sole owner in January 2025.

“The renovation wasn’t simply about making the venue look newer,” Mirco told Inner City News. “It was about creating a dining room that truly reflects the level of food and service we now offer.”

“We wanted to build a genuine fine dining environment while preserving the warmth and hospitality that Da Guido has always been known for.”

Mirco has been connected to Da Guido for many years, having led the kitchen as head chef since 2018. That meant the evolution of the restaurant was not about replacing its identity, but building on it.

“The goal was never to change the restaurant’s identity,” he said. “It was to build on its foundations and elevate every aspect of the experience.”

“We still want every guest to feel like they’re being welcomed into an Italian home, but now with the refinement, attention to detail and creativity of a modern fine dining restaurant.”

The renovation includes Murano glass chandeliers and decorative pieces handcrafted in Venice and imported specifically for the venue.

For Mirco, those details are central to the story of Da Guido, whose original mother restaurant has roots in Jesolo, near Venice, where Ristorante Da Guido has been welcoming guests for more than 30 years and is still operated by Guido’s son.

“For us, they represent much more than decoration,” Mirco said. “They create a direct connection between Melbourne and our Venetian heritage, reminding guests where our story began while giving the restaurant a timeless elegance that reflects our vision today.”

On Lygon St, a precinct with one of Melbourne’s richest Italian food histories, Da Guido is aiming to offer something distinct.

Mirco said the restaurant had enormous respect for the area’s traditions but believed each generation should contribute something new.

At the centre of that experience remains handmade pasta, supported by seasonal produce, local producers and an Italian-focused wine list.

The kitchen is now shaped by two chefs with experience in Michelin-starred venues, but Mirco said the influence was not about making food more complicated.

“The biggest lessons weren’t about making food more complicated,” he said. “They were about discipline, consistency and respect for ingredients.”

The kitchen also embraces a zero-waste philosophy, producing preserves, vinegars, kombucha, pickles and ferments in-house to maximise ingredients and build deeper layers of flavour.

Mirco said chefs Andres Serrano and Martim Coloni were central to that evolution, with Andres driving the kitchen’s focus on discipline, sustainability, local producers, kombuchas, ferments, preserves and zero waste, while Martim ensures the kitchen runs smoothly day to day.

“Handmade pasta remains the heart of Da Guido,” Mirco said, “but we present it with techniques and ideas that reflect modern Italian cuisine without losing the traditions that inspired it.”

With its new look, Mirco hopes regulars and new diners immediately sense that Da Guido is offering something different from the classic Lygon St restaurant experience.

“I want every guest to feel looked after from the moment they arrive,” he said.

“For Carlton, I hope Da Guido becomes known as a restaurant that respects the precinct’s incredible history while confidently contributing to its future.”

Da Guido La Pasta is located at 130 Lygon St, Carlton. •