Stella, a multi-storey Italian hospitality venue, is now open in South Yarra. Set on the corner of Chapel and Grosvenor Street, you’ll discover a different dining experience on each level, from a private basement dining room, to a fabulous rooftop garden. Enjoy tasty Italian food with a modern Australian twist, along with a collection of signature drinks. This venue is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
Stella Restaurant and Bar
Stella is owned by Ali Mousavi, whose father owned Italian restaurants for over 40 years. Helping Mousavi deliver the dream is Executive Chef John Park (Vue de monde, 400 Gradi) and Venue Manager Paul Mitchell (Grossi Florentino).
The basement features a private dining room that can hold up to eight guests. This underground space features a green marble table and a back-lit wall of Italian reserves.
The ground floor presents itself as the main dining rom and kitchen. It seats up to 60 guests, and is centred around a Golden Onyx sculptural Marana Forni pizza oven. It also has comfy plush green banquettes and osteria-style seating to create a trattoria vibe.
Meanwhile, on level one, you’ll enjoy social drinks and bites. Fitting up to 50 people, this space includes a marble fireplace and a canopy light installation with 500 suspended bottles.
Finally, up on the rooftop, you’ll enjoy sunset cocktails by the vertical garden. Graze on plates of antipasto while looking out at the view. The roof is retractable, so you can enjoy it in all kinds of weather. The rooftop fits up to 60 people.
What’s on the menu?
Whether you’re looking for a quite bite or a sophisticated meal, you’ll find something delicious on the Stella menu. Feast on fresh, house-made artisan pasta with seasonal sauces, as well as regionally-influenced staples and contemporary twists.
Start your meal with oysters, burrata, beef tartare, kingfish crudo and more. If you’re up for sharing, there’s also Salumi boards and plates of antipasto.
Enjoy pizza, with both classic and adventurous toppings, made from recipes passed down through generations. Tuck into favourites like Margherita and Pepperoni, as well as Capricciosa and Pork Sausage.
As for pasta, try a decadent Tagliolini granchio, served with blue swimmer crab and caviar, or opt for a Pappardelle Funghi, which is loaded with champignon, enoki, truffle and more.
Meat-lovers will enjoy an 800g T-Bone steak, served with warm burnt onion agrodolce and mustard. Meanwhile, if you prefer veggies, opt for the Vegetarian Saltimbocca, which is made from smoked scamorza, broccolini, zucchini, mushroom béchamel and grana padano.
Drinks at Stella
Sip on at least 200 local and Italian wines, as well as a signature cocktail list, with Mediterranean-inspired twists and Italian classics. Try the Stella Royale, a signature spritz of blackberry Cassis, hibiscus syrup, elderflower and prosecco. Taste concoctions mixed with house-made, barrel-aged Negroni. There’s also a selection of spirits, sparkling and Italian-brewed beers.