Late night bites for soccer fans

Friday 11 June 2010, 12.36 PM
By The Team | Posted in Events and Places

Being on the antipodean end of the world means that we’ll be keeping strange hours over the next few weeks as we’re gripped by World Cup fever. Whether you’re rugging up and heading over to Birrarung Marr to catch all the Socceroos action live on the big screen or your team loyalties lie elsewhere, all that late-night match exhilaration is going to require sustenance.

Here’s our handy guide to late night city eateries to keep you in the game.

Night-owls and early-birds, where else do you dine in the wee hours?

Chilli padi
Among the students cramming for exams, you can warm up with Chilli Padi’s authentic hawker fare till 5am from Thursday to Sunday. Stave off those winter chills with their spicy laksa soups, beef rendang and other Asian favourites. Unlike many Asian restaurants, they also have an excellent range of new world and old wines.

Supper Inn
This Melbourne institution has been serving night owls for nearly 30 years with good quality Cantonese food. Ignore the shoddy décor and look to the specials list for food that’s been sustaining chefs and clubbers after a hard night until 3am. I love their heart-warming rice congee, finger-licking good suckling pig and chill-salt quail.

Mamasita
This sassy newcomer on the Melbourne’s food scene has certainly made an impression from the nightly queues up the stairs. Purveyors of genuine Mexican taqueria food, try their delightful bite-size tacos of prawns, bursting with sharp flavours of lime and chilli.

Embassy Café
Open 24/7 – this is the ideal place to fill up after a big night and be guaranteed to get a cab afterwards. This is the pit stop for clubbers, cabbies, truckies – and now football fanatics. They’ve been honing their craft since 1962 and produce arguably one of the best burgers in Melbourne.

Canary Club
With Spain being one of the hot favourites to win the Cup, you may want sample some tapas or some larger raciones before or after the game. You can also imbibe on fabulous cocktails, Spanish wines and sherries to take you into the wee hours.

Cafe Trevi

Italians take their football very, very seriously so don’t get into a debate about the World Cup unless you are prepared for passionate discussion. What I would recommend however is their hearty minestrone soup or their No.1 crowd favourite: homemade veal parmigiana with its crunchy outer coating and tender meat inside topped with a splodge of mozzarella and tomato sauce and a Peroni.

Visit our website for more information about what’s happening in Melbourne during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including event details for the Football Australia Live Site presented by Optus at Birrarung Marr.

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