Well the atmosphere looked amazing! From the outside. We got there at 7:30pm and asked the blonde boy with the iPad if we had any chance of sitting our table of 9 any time soon. He told us that it may be a bit but we should be able to and he’ll put us on the waitlist. Within 20 minutes we went from 6th to 1st and then waited for another 45 minutes before one of us asked if we could sit in the outside area while we wait which we apparently could! But no one told us that as we waited on the other side of the street for ages when we could’ve already been eating and ordering food. My issue with all of this is while in the waitlist we watched multiple tables of 2,3,4 wait 5 minutes and get tables, my table communicated that we were happy to split up if need be but he placed us in the waitlist as 9 and didn’t give us the option. So by the time most of us went to order our food, the kitchen had close at 9pm and we just left. You need to work on your communication and be honest with people we would’ve left and gone to another place long ago if we had been told there was little chance or that we would need to split up for any chance at all. Oh and the best part? You can’t even book here for under 15 people. So you would assume that they could cater for groups above 4 and smaller then 15 then right? Wrong.
Jess Tall · 2026-01-11
This place exceeded all expectations! Very good prices for everything and everyone at our table enjoyed their food! Tamar was so lovely and very competent and helped us with any issues (albeit none) that we had! They also have a pretty cool game on their coasters which had our whole group hooked! It was so fun! Will definitely venture back south of the river to visit again!
Travis Chongsue · 2025-11-19
Happened on a park right outside, saw the crowd and checked out the menu - thought it might’ve been a misprint. An amazing price of $9 for fresh-baked bread, pasta, or pizza. Smaller servings are great so you can try lots of the menu. Will definitely go back!
aarrex101 · 2025-09-29
I visited Republic Economica in September 2025 on a Sunday afternoon with a friend to catch her cousin performing a live DJ set. We drove and managed to park right next to the venue, but it’s also super easy to get to by public transport with South Yarra Station just across the road. It has a really cool open front design, where you can see in from the street and people can sit at a bar style tabletop looking out. Inside, the vibe is cosy and welcoming, with comfy seating and a fun couch area right in the middle near the decks. They host local DJs every day, with the lineup posted on the wall, and I love how much they support up and coming talent. It gives the whole place a great community feel.
The menu is excellent and surprisingly affordable for South Yarra. They serve both coffee and alcohol from a beautiful bar setup, plus regular specials. My friend and I shared a margarita pizza with the most delicious puffy crusts and a proper wood fired flavour, along with a bowl of chips that were honestly some of the best I’ve had lately. The chips came with an amazing dip that I’m still thinking about. I also ordered a hot chocolate that arrived in the cutest cup and saucer set, which was such a nice touch. The venue itself is beautifully decorated, with greenery, nice lighting, and a really warm, atmosphere. Even the bathrooms are lovely, set down a corridor draped with fabric decorations and featuring a full-length mirror. Everything felt well looked after.
The staff were absolutely wonderful, so friendly and kind. I even accidentally knocked over a flower display, and they came over with nothing but understanding and good humour, which made me feel a whole lot better. Republic Economica is such a gem in South Yarra. Whether you’re into music and want to catch some live local DJ sets, or just want an affordable and tasty meal in a cosy creative space, the energy, service, and atmosphere are all fantastic! The music is pumping yet it’s still a great place to catch up and chat. I can see why it’s loved by the community and highly recommend stopping by!
Ashlee Jayde · 2025-09-22
What a find! We stumbled across this place after a walk along the Yarra and so glad we did. If you’re a student, you have to check it out. You’ve never seen restaurant prices like this. Granted the portion sizes are smaller but the food is great and the vibe is chill. Love it!
Cape Sunrise · 2025-06-10