Via Lucia Mercato brings takeaway paninis, pastries and pantry goods to Eastern Road
Not every meal needs a reservation and a three-course commitment. Via Lucia Mercato, the new takeaway offshoot from the team behind South Melbourne restaurant Lucia, is now open at 11 Eastern Road with its own dedicated entrance.
Co-owners Frank Ciorciari and Anthony Silvestre have designed Via Lucia Mercato as a casual counterpart to their Mediterranean dining room next door. The concept grew out of their experience with Breadcetera in Malvern East, where they noticed demand for well-made food in a low-fuss, walk-in format.
Via Lucia Mercato
- 11 Eastern Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205
- Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm
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The mercato sits within the same building as Lucia but operates independently, built for morning coffees, weekday lunches and easy dinners to take home. It’s open to locals, nearby workers and anyone passing through South Melbourne who wants something decent without sitting down.
On the menu, coffee is brewed using Lavazza beans alongside a rotating lineup of pastries from Austro. Freshly prepared paninis are available daily, plus a selection of hot and cold dishes ready to grab and go. Each day features a different protein — think chicken schnitzel — paired with seasonal vegetables and a range of salads from mixed greens to grain and bean options, all designed to be mixed and matched.
Beyond the ready-to-eat stuff, Via Lucia Mercato doubles as a neighbourhood pantry. Shelves are stocked with Tarralinga Estate olive oil, Lello pasta and sugo, plus Blanc bread and butter. A liquor licence means you can also pick up a bottle of wine from European and Australian producers, including Ten Minutes by Tractor.
Ciorciari and Silvestre are behind a string of popular Melbourne venues including Riserva, Baia Di Vino and Lucia itself, which opened in South Melbourne in 2024. Via Lucia Mercato marks their latest pivot toward accessible, everyday food — a growing thread through the group’s work, following the Breadcetera opening in Malvern East.
For more information, head here.
