Rooftop Bar · Carlton · Melbourne
Johnny's Green Room
A Tuscan styled terrace above Lygon Street's Little Italy, with skyline views, Italian cocktails, and a roof that opens when Melbourne allows.
The Pitch
Little Italy, Four Floors Up
Johnny's Green Room sits on the roof of the King and Godfree building at the corner of Lygon and Faraday Streets, the heart of Carlton's Little Italy. Time Out describes the relaunched terrace as a year round day party with a Tuscan accent.
The names behind it explain the polish: Karen Martini directs the kitchen, bar veteran Matt Bax writes the Italian leaning cocktail list, and Hope St Radio programs the DJs. A Dion Hall redesign lifted capacity to 260 under a semi retractable roof.
Who would hate it? Anyone allergic to a queue. Weekend golden hour draws lines down Lygon Street, and Tripadvisor reviews vent about the door at peak.
The Room
A Terracotta Terrace with a Lid
Dion Hall's refit reads as a Tuscan terrace: terracotta tones, greenery, long communal tables, and the CBD skyline stacked behind the Carlton rooftops. Concrete Playground points to the semi retractable roof that keeps the terrace running through all twelve months.
The Drinks
Aperitivo Hours, Extended
Matt Bax keeps the list Italian accented: spritzes, amaro builds, and a tight wine page that leans Italian varietals from Victoria. Cocktails sit around A$24, with spritzes under A$20.
Order the house spritz at golden hour and an amaro cocktail once the DJs start. Skip arriving at 6pm on a Saturday without a booking; the queue reviews exist for a reason.
The Crowd
Golden Hour Believers
Afternoon brings Carlton locals and university crowds stretching an aperitivo; weekends shift to a dressed up day party pace as Hope St Radio's DJs take over. The Rooftop Guide rates the skyline angle among Melbourne's best.
What regulars say:
- Time Out frames the relaunch as day party energy with a serious Karen Martini food program.
- Tripadvisor reviewers praise the Carlton views and chilled pace, while flagging patchy service and weekend queues.
- Concrete Playground highlights the retractable roof that makes it a genuine winter rooftop.
Who it is for:
- Golden hour drinks with the skyline as the backdrop
- Groups who want food that outclasses standard rooftop snacks
- Avoid if queues kill the mood; Loop Roof in Melbourne trades the scene for an easier door
The Verdict
Where It Lands
Carlton's best reason to leave street level. Book ahead, land before sunset, and let the spritz and the skyline do the work.
Good to Know
Visit Information
Getting there: Rooftop of King and Godfree, corner of Lygon and Faraday Streets; trams 1 and 6 stop a block away.
Timing: Afternoons into evening, busiest Friday through Sunday; book or arrive before 5pm on weekends.
Cost: Cocktails around A$24, spritzes A$19, plates from A$16; no entry charge.
Pair This Bar With
More Nights Out
Own or manage a bar in Melbourne?
Sponsored listings, newsletter placements, and city guide partnerships put your venue in front of the right audience.
Worth Going To
Keep Exploring