One of Brunswick Street’s longest running cafés is celebrating a major milestone next month, with Fitzroy favourite Marios turning 40.
The café will mark the anniversary on Tuesday 28 April with the launch of a special publication documenting its history, alongside complimentary prosecco and cake offered to diners throughout the day.
Opened in 1986 by Mario Maccarone and Mario De Pasquale, Marios quickly became a fixture of the Fitzroy dining scene. The café helped shape Melbourne’s early café culture, serving simple Italian dishes and quality coffee at a time when Brunswick Street was emerging as a hub for artists, musicians and performers.
To mark the occasion, the venue is releasing a large format magazine style book that explores the café’s four decade story through photos, essays and reflections from regular patrons. The publication will be available free to diners.
“I must confess, I love a cookbook as much as anyone, but really, how many recipes for Bolognese or Lasagna do we need in the world? Our story is more than just a few recipes. The ingredients of our success lie not just with great recipes.” said Mario Maccarone.
The book features contributions from a wide mix of well known Melbourne figures and long time regulars, including musicians Colin Hay, Dave Graney and Robert Forster, media personalities Red Symons, Jon Faine and Sam Pang, filmmakers Bruna Papandrea and Sue Maslin, writers Tony Birch and Sophie Cunningham, and journalist Gideon Haigh.
“Marios has all you could want, and all you would wish – it is always sufficient, never in excess, whether for two or for ten, whether at 8am or 8pm, whether celebrating, commiserating or simply communing. It’s where you can bring a pal or a stranger, a girlfriend or an ex, a parent or a child.” said Haigh.
Over the years Marios has expanded its influence beyond the café itself, including running the live music venue The Continental during the 1990s and launching Marios Groceries and home delivery during the COVID lockdowns.
The anniversary celebrations will begin at 10.30am with the official book launch, followed by complimentary prosecco and mini servings of the café’s long running chocolate, date and almond torte.
