• 25 new Melbourne CBD cafes, bars and restaurants

Lights, camera, action – stage shows are back, baby. As you rediscover Melbourne's theatres and music venues, or embrace the Comedy Festival madness from March 30, you might find you need to practice a little artistry of your own to find dinner before or after the show. Whether you're a late-night supper person or love a speedy pre-theatre bite, this hitlist will deliver. Or you can make the most of the many all-day gems around Melbourne, where quality snacks and a spot at the bar are never too much trouble.

Pepe's Italian & Liquor

A quick pre-show stop at this glamorous mid century-styled bar might involve beef carpaccio or the stuffed Sicilian bread, sfincione, made here with olives and cherry tomatoes. Or you can call in later for a bowl of pasta, a nightcap and a wedge of lemon cheesecake. 275-285 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, pepesitalian.com.au. Open Tue-Sun noon-late.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Is there a better place to match the glamour of a night at the theatre? Gimlet's kitchen opens from noon onwards, too, so you don't have to make a rushed 5pm dinner booking. Meanwhile, the bar has its own menu of speedy snacks and, on Fridays and Saturdays, the supper menu is there from 10pm to 1am for late-night gelato, steaks or cheeseburgers. 33 Russell Street, Melbourne, gimlet.melbourne. Open 7 days noon-late.

City Wine Shop

Always reliable, always easy, this stalwart of all-day dining doesn't bother with boring distinctions like "lunch" or "dinner". Wine is always open, cheese is always perfectly ripe, and the cod roe with blini is always a winner. Simply show up and let the pros do their thing. 159 Spring Street, Melbourne, citywineshop.net.au. Open Mon-Sat noon-midnight, Sun 3pm-midnight.

Punch Lane

Don't waste precious minutes on decisions: make a beeline for the two-course pre-theatre menu ($55) at this Melbourne mainstay. Right now, it's a snack of pickled kohlrabi with wagyu tartare, followed by fish of the day with saffron mash, romesco and mussel escabeche. 43 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, punchlane.com.au. Open Tues & Wed 5pm-late, Thu & Fri noon-late, Sat 3pm-late.

Il Bacaro

Make that bowl of pasta something truly special and call into this time-honoured city institution. Accessorised with the likes of Moreton Bay bug, bottarga, zucchini flowers and only the best D.O.P parmesan, the spaghetti, filled pastas and other shapes are a theatre-lover's go-to. 168-170 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, ilbacaro.com.au. Open 7 days noon-3pm, 6pm-10pm.

Seafood Street

Talk about theatre-friendly hours! This Cantonese favourite from some of the crew behind Ling Nan opens for pensioner-hour dinners and keeps the fire burning until (very) late at night for all your claypot, XO pipi and snow crab needs. 167 Russell Street, Melbourne, 03 9041 0605. Open 7 days 5pm-2am.

Lucy Liu

It's fitting that the restaurant with the same name as an actor loves pre-theatre dining. Happily taking bookings from as early as 4.30pm, Lucy Liu can also accommodate walk-ins. For the Comedy Festival, the kitchen are offering a special of line-caught local snapper served sashimi-style with kombu soy and a 2 Brothers rice lager ($24). 23 Oliver Lane, Melbourne, lucylius.com.au. Open 7 days noon-late

Hero

Just a scramble across the road from The Forum, Karen Martini's ultra-smart spot has a whole wall of portraits of movie greats that will add to your cultured state of mind. Head here for classics like vitello tonnato, roast chook and bombe Alaska done right. Level 1, ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne, heroacmi.com.au. Open Wed-Sat noon-late, Sun noon-4pm.

Bar Lourinha

Crunchy baccala fritters that channel Portugal, grilled calamari on ink-blackened couscous or perhaps just some house lardo and green olives: Bar Lourinha serves our favourite kind of fast food. 37 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, barlourinha.com.au. Open Tue 4pm-11pm, Wed-Sat noon-late.

Fancy Hank's

Don't be fooled by the low-and-slow barbecue that's the mainstay at Hank's. The crew has perfected the art of getting smoked meat onto tables quickly and they offer an array of platters to suit different appetites and group sizes. Select pre-theatre when booking for the speedy treatment. 1/79 Bourke Street, Melbourne, fancyhanks.com.au. Open Wed-Sun noon-late.