Restaurant News

A year after it was gutted by a fire, Leonardo’s Pizza Palace is finally reopening in Melbourne

The Carlton favourite has been dearly missed. It’s celebrating its much-anticipated return with a big old pizza party this weekend.

By Callum McDermott
Leonardo's pre-fire. Photo: Natalie Jurrjens
When it was announced in 2018, everyone instantly knew Leonardo's Pizza Palace was going to be a hit. Right place, right time, right people. The Italian restaurant, originally by the crew behind South Yarra favourite Leonard's House of Love, just had it.
So it opened, it was a smash, and it's one of the main reasons Melbourne has spent the last four years infatuated with a unique concoction of disco, Italian food, vinyl floors and vertical timber panelling. (cc: 1800 Lasagne, Rocco's Bologna Discoteca, Connie's Italian Diner et al.)
Then came the pandemic, which Leonardo's weathered better than most (pizza likes lockdowns). When Melbourne began to saunter out of restrictions, the palace was back to its best: peddling pizzas, picnic-perfect Pina Coladas, and more. It was back. Until a fire, believed to have been sparked by an electrical fault in the kitchen roof, gutted it a year ago.
"We're Leonardo's Pizza Palace, so without the pizza it's not much of a palace," co-owner Guy Bentley told Gourmet Traveller at the time.
But its owners committed to reopening. And although refurbishing and restoring the space took longer than anticipated, this Friday, Leonardo's is finally returning, in its full unabridged glory. Bookings are open now. Happy hour will be running all weekend long, which means $12 Negronis, $12 jugs of beer and $14 Pina Coladas. Plus, a three day assembly of DJs curated by Wax O Paradiso.
Leonardo's Pizza Palace will reopen on Friday July 15. Book here.
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