Invariably, one of my first suggestions is to start off somewhere in Fitzroy or Collingwood, wander into the city through one of our beautiful, manicured parkland gardens, grab a seat at whatever charming sidewalk table looks fun and popular, or venture down a cobblestone laneway and find a hidden cocktail bar—in short, let the city lead you where it may. In many ways, Serai is a classic Melbourne restaurant, located in a sunny vintage storefront down a charming laneway in the city center. Opened in the mid-1980s (the restaurant celebrated 40 years in 2026), when Brunswick Street was a wasteland of empty storefronts and hippy thrift shops, Marios helped to define the Melbourne café and our specific version of Italian eating.