20 Best Italian Restaurants In Sydney

Best Italian Restaurant in Sydney

Whether it’s pasta or pizza, Italian food is known for its rich and hearty flavours, and Sydney is full of it! Started by the top chefs in their respective fields who bring the best authentic flavour of Italian cuisine with them all the way from the beautiful land of handmade pasta or ricotta! From the best and most fulfilling starters to Neapolitan-style pizzas, you just name it, these top Italian restaurants in Sydney have it all for you. There are many fantastic Italian restaurants in Sydney, and we have listed the 20  best for you; whether you opt for a fine dining restaurant or an easy brunch, head over to one of these best Italian restaurants in Sydney! Without further ado let's get started with this delicious tour of a little Italy in Sydney!

1. Machiavelli

Location: 123 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.5/5

A lot has stayed the same in the famous Machiavelli Ristorante Italiano, one of the go-to Italian restaurants in Sydney. The collection of politicians and CEOs photographed for the Wall of Fame grows, and founder Giovanna Toppi has retired after 28 years of working to build an empire. Still, the decor and menu remain unchanged, right down to the Spaghetti Machiavelli. The food at Machiavelli is lovely, but the people-watching is even better. On any given day, you might spy a former or current prime minister, a TV anchor, or even the chairman of the media firm himself at his continuously reserved table. An absolute must-try at the restaurant is Penne Bolognese, Crumbed Calamari and Caprese Salad which are the signature dishes of this Italian restaurant in Sydney.

2. Ragazzi Wine and Pasta

Location: 1 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Price Range: £-££

Ratings: 4.4/5

Head over to Ragazzi for supper, and you will be amazed by both the service and the meal! The menu and restaurant might seem small, but it delivers large with ever-changing menus that are reasonably priced. You will be left wanting more after tasting these delicacies. The intimate setting is ideal for a date night or an after-work dinner. They also serve some exciting and unique wines to try by the glass to go with your food! This intimate and stylish Italian restaurant in Sydney is highly recommended as a pre-theatre or evening-out stop with a fantastic and diverse selection of wines. An absolute must-try at the restaurant is  Agnolotti Dal Plin and Panna Cotta which are the signature dishes at this restaurant in Sydney.

3. The Restaurant Pendolino

Location: Shop 100/412/414 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.5

Pendolino, located inside the Strand Arcade landmark right in the middle of Sydney's CBD, serves superb, vegan-friendly hand-crafted Italian cuisine in a luxurious, intimate environment. Enjoy modern Italian fine dining with daily fresh pasta cooked in their specialised pasta kitchen with a selection of carefully picked extra virgin olive oils. Feel luxe when they serve every meal that starts with a distinctive tasting plate, an elegant and sophisticated version of traditional antipasti. If you want a quick lunch, they also serve a 2-course menu. The 4-Course Vego Meal and Kingfish Tartare is an absolute must-try at this Italian restaurant in Sydney. Does Sydney sound like your city?

4. Bar Totti's

Location: Shop 4/330 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Price Range: £-££

Ratings: 4.3/5

Bar Totti's should be your go-to Italian restaurant in Sydney for a pre-event dinner. It is a large, popular restaurant serving interesting tapas-style meals. Walk in for an Italian espresso or a cocktail from this carefully curated chef's special menu. There are a variety of house-made antipasti to pick from, such as sardines and burrata, as well as grilled appetisers, such as king prawns and halloumi with beetroot. We recommend trying Totti's famous homemade wood-fired bread. Lamb Ragu Pasta, Baked Eggplant and Crab Pasta are the star dishes here and an absolutely must-try if you are planning to visit the restaurant soon.

5. Primi Italian

Location: 168 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Price Range: £-££

Ratings: 4.7/5

On York Street inside Club York, you will find the hidden Italian restaurant in Sydney. Primi Italian is known for its wonderful service and exquisite and affordable menu. You will constantly get amazing wine and cuisine recommendations from the staff. You will also discover a startling outstanding Italian cuisine and an impressive drink menu. Primi Italian Restaurant serves flavours and culinary traditions from around Italy. The head chef curates a detailed and authentic Italian menu with an Australian touch. The restaurant serves a variety of Italian dishes including pasta, risotto, soups, and other appetizers although Linguine Gamberi and Blue Swimmer Crab Ravioli is a must-try at this Italian restaurant as it stands to be a signature dish. 

6. Fratelli Paradiso

Location: 12-16 Challis Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011, Australia
Price Range: ££-£££

Fratelli Paradiso: 4.4/5

This Italian restaurant in Sydney, with immaculate charm and great cookery, is located on one of Potts Point's most beautiful streets. A team of primarily Italian waitstaff organising diners frequently waits on the street behind tables and greets locals like long-lost friends. The wines are primarily Italian, with special pours on the menu. In the face of the modern dining scene, that Italian restaurant in Sydney has a modest dining room with a huge chalkboard on one wall that has been present for years! This is the local's go-to Italian restaurant in Sydney when it comes to knowing what exactly you will be receiving and that it'll be excellent to eat and enjoy. A must-try at this Italian restaurant in Sydney is Scampi Pasta, Squid Ink-Pasta and Fried Calamari. Apart from this, the restaurant includes an array of dishes included in its authentic Italian cuisine. 

7. BISTECCA

Location: 3 Dalley St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.7/5

The underground restaurant Bistecca is dedicated to Florence's famous T-bone steaks. Every menu element has been considered, with some unique eccentric features to keep you engaged. Although the name of this Italian eating establishment is visible from Bridge Street, you enter from the back way, down a staircase, and find yourself in a dimly lit pub, another world pub. The staff is very welcoming and explains your reservation. The interior is continental-themed, with geometric tiles, a bistro-themed dining area, and a visible cooking space.  Focaccia and In-house Steak is the signature dish at the Bistecca and is also why the restaurant is renowned in Sydney.  Bistecca is an Italian word for steak in English. The restaurant offers an array of steak dishes to choose from.

8. Macchiato Wood Fire Pizza and Coffee Roasters

Location: Shop 2/338 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Price Range: £-££

Ratings: 4.3/5

Macchiato is your one-stop solution for a long brunch or a quick meal! This Italian restaurant in Sydney is open from early morning until late at night, so if you're in a hurry and looking for a quick bite, they sell brekkie assortments, wraps, sandwiches, and hot/cold drinks to go during the day. The star of the show is the spaghetti marinara which is delicious and can easily serve three people. Macchiato woodfire pizzas will fit your criteria, and the price range is reasonable for gourmet pizzas! Try the "immunity drink" to wash down your pizza; the drink is critical and refreshes your palate. One of the best and most liked dishes at the Macchiato Wood Fire Pizza and Coffee Roasters is Arancinis, Seafood Pasta and Pizza Carnivora. There are more than just Italian restaurants in Sydney! Check out our list of the 30 best restaurants the city offers! 

9. A Tavola

Location: 348 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4/5

Find delectable cuisine coupled with exceptional wines and beverages at A Tavola. It has a lovely ambience in the back of the restaurant and a community-long eating table near the door. This Italian restaurant in Sydney is a terrific place for a romantic or business dinner. From Bucatini in a gutsy red sauce to rigatoni in a creamy pork and veal ragu, the entire menu of this restaurant is based on their enormous hearty bowls of Italian-style pasta. They also have a range of exquisite Italian wine lists and cocktail menus. Burrata and Baked Alaska Tiramisu is a star dish at the restaurant. The restaurant also serves the tastiest Handmade Pasta with Truffle Butter. This dish features tagliatelle or fettuccine which is cooked to perfected and tossed in a rich truffle butter sauce. 

10. Fortuna Drink And Eat

Location: Shop 1/247 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia

Price Range: £-££

Ratings: 4.5/5

Head to Fortuna Drink and Eat to treat yourself after a long week! Have a bottomless brunch at this vibrant Italian restaurant in Sydney. This all-day Italian diner offers breakfast as a fresh and cheerful breakfast place from 7 a.m. every day before transforming into a laid-back Italian restaurant by night. This new addition to Darlinghurst is about presenting a range of healthy, good-quality Italian food at a reasonable price. Fortuna is a modern Italian restaurant located in the brightest part of the city. Be it day or night; we ensure this Italian restaurant in Sydney will soon become your go-to spot! Spiced Pear Porridge and Funghi Bruschetta is one of the most liked dishes at this Italian restaurant in Sydney. 

11. Pellegrino 2000

Location: 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

Price Range: £-££

Ratings: 4.5/5

Infamous and Aussie's fave, Pellegrino 2000,  is the go-to Italian restaurant in Sydney for fresh pasta, focaccia, fritto misto, and more. You'll want to book to sit in the retro-inspired dining room or, even better, the candle-lit dine-in wine cellar downstairs, which is housed on a two-story old terrace. The entire restaurant is adorned with framed vintage photographs, packages of pasta, bottles of olive oil, and fresh tomatoes, and furnished with a warm palette of gold, burnt orange, and red, taking inspiration from Italian garage-style bistros. Fried Zucchini, Prawn Ravioli Focaccia and Truffle Butter are some of the must-try dishes if you are planning to visit this Italian restaurant in Sydney.

12. Alberto’s Lounge

Location: 17-19 Alberta St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.6/5

Alberto's Lounge is an Italian restaurant in Sydney where you will find it all, wonderful food, good music, good wine, and good company! It's an Italian restaurant and bar that pays homage to the Italy of Lygon Street as well as the alleyways of Rome. The restaurant has a very welcoming ambience which makes it an excellent place to do both casual dinners and celebrate special occasions with friends and family. The chefs aim to bring flavours from throughout Italy's regions that are always fresh and delightful. You will find gelato and ricotta daily at this Italian restaurant in Sydney. Squid Ink Prawn Linguine, Sardine Pate and Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi and the list goes on for the star dishes at this restaurant as it has some of the most lip-smacking dishes in its cuisine.

13. Kindred

Location: 137 Cleveland St, Darlington NSW 2008, Australia
Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.8/5

If you are a vegetarian or want to take a break from meat, turn to Kindred; this Italian restaurant in Sydney is one of those places that we all look for - a relaxing atmosphere, attentive service, a diverse variety of food at affordable rates, and an extensive wine list. They have many plant-based alternatives for their Italian menu that frequently vary, with popular dishes' ingredients rebalanced based on what's in season. The Italian restaurant in Sydney is tiny and intimate, with dark lighting and a wooden interior. It offers a cosy, pleasant atmosphere, and the staff is quite friendly.  The menu offers a wide array of dishes from starters to desserts. Spaghettini, Lamb Rump and Chicken Liver Parfait is the dish that gets all the limelight as the star dish at the restaurant.

14. Pizza Madre

Location: 2/205 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204, Australia
Price Range:  ££-£££

Ratings: 4.4/5

Pizza Madre is a clean, sophisticated, and tasty all-vegetarian and vegan Italian restaurant in Sydney pizza. A Negroni, a wild-ferment beer, and a Neapolitan-style sourdough pizza produced without a single ingredient imported from Italy are available at Pizza Madre. Seating is available in two rooms as well as outside. It's up to you to sit outside with a busy street view or have an intimate meal inside, where you can see directly into the kitchen and the pizza oven. The pizzas are made using seasonal, high-quality ingredients that are classically prepared and faintly Italian with vegetarian toppings. Four Cheese Pizza with Honey and Eggplant Salad have the spotlight among all the rest of the dishes on the menu as it is one of the most liked pizzas on the menu given its authentic Italian taste. Given Pizza Madre’s loyal following, the restaurant has attained the pinnacle of being one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney.

15. Matteo

Location: 20 Bond St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Price Range: £-££

Rating: 4.2/5

Matteo is a colourful and vibrant Italian restaurant in Sydney. Feel the big-city energy while you feast on the unmatched traditional Italian cuisine. The interior is contemporary urban with wonderful Northern Italian dining situated in the heart of Sydney CBD. Our menu is modern Italian. Try their handmade pasta, stone-baked bread, and traditional wood-fired pizza. Their beverage menu is inspired by Italian traditions and features a selection of traditional wines, drinks, and beers with a Downtown touch. A must-try at this Italian restaurant in Sydney is Gnocchi, Beef Carpaccio, and Squid Ink Risotto. 

16. Pilu at Freshwater

Location: On The Beach, Moore Road, Freshwater, Warringah, South Wales 2096, Australia

Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.6/5

Located in the suburb of the city, Pilu at Freshwater is a preferred Italian restaurant in Sydney. It was established in 2004 by renowned Italian chef Giovanni Pilu and his wife Marilyn. The restaurant has successfully earned a celestial reputation for its authentic Sardinian cuisine and breathtaking views at Freshwater Beach. The main motive why Giovanni started this restaurant is to bring his passion for Sardinian food to life and offer a menu that showcases an array of flavours and ingredients of the specific region. The restaurant boasts a warm and elegant ambience which adds to why it is a liked food destination by people in Sydney. The restaurant offers a lot of vegetarian options as well which makes it easier for vegan/ vegetarian people.  The star dish at this restaurant is the amazing slow-roasted Milandra suckling pig. 

17. LuMi  Bar & Dining

Location: LuMi Bar & Dining, 56 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont, Sydney, South Wales 2009

Price Range:££-£££

Ratings: 4.5/5

A contemporary Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant, it is situated in Pyrmont which offers picturesque waterfront views and a modern dining experience. This place is regarded as one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. Started by Chef Frederico Zanellato and his wife, Michela, the restaurant’s unique concept blends traditional Italian Cuisine with Japanese flavours and creates a unique experience that leaves the customers in awe. The menu at this Italian restaurant in Sydney is a true reflection of Chef Frederico’s extravagant culinary skills and the expertise he has gained over the years of practice. The star dish at this restaurant stands to be their signature dish, “Kingfish and Chrysanthemum” which features a kingfish with delicate chrysanthemum flowers. 

18. Ormeggio at The Spit

Location: D’Albora Marinas, Spit Road, Mosman, New South Wales 2088

Price Range: £££-££££

Ratings: 4.4/5

Ormeggio at The Spit is an award-winning Italian restaurant in Sydney. Situated in the Mosman suburb of Sydney, the location of this venue wins everyone’s heart. Placed right at the waterfront of Middle Harbor, it offers stunning views of the water and the natural beauty around it. Started by Chef Alessandro Pavoni, he brings his passion for Italian cuisine to the table. The name Ormeggio is directly translated to “mooring” in Italian which is amazing considering the restaurant’s stunning location. The venue offers a defined dining experience that focuses on contemporary Italian dishes and showcases a range of local flavours. Mare e Montri is the star dish at the restaurant which involves flavours from the sea and the mountains and blends in the seafood with seasonal produce. The restaurant's commitment to excellence and attention to detail has earned it numerous awards and accolades, solidifying its position as one of Sydney's top Italian dining destinations.

19. Beppi’s

Location: 21 Yurong St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Price Range: ££-£££

Ratings: 4.2/5

Beppi’s is an iconic Italian restaurant in Sydney with a rich history. It is a well-known and one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Sydney. Having opened in the year 1956, the restaurant is named after its owner Beppi Polese that brought his amazing culinary skills from Italy and shared it with the people of Sydney with utmost happiness. Situated in the lively neighbourhood of East Sydney, the restaurant is known for its traditional Italian menu and warm hospitality. The restaurant is now operated by the Polese family and the chef’s descendant. It offers a wide range of menus to choose from which includes homemade pasta, fresh seafood, juicy meats, and rich desserts. Given its prolonged popularity and history, Beppi’s has gained a very loyal following over the years and has made it one of the top Italian restaurants in Sydney. Osso Bucco Milanese and Spaghetti Alla Marinara are some of the best and most praised dishes at Beppi’s.

20. Buon Ricordo

Location: 108, Boundary St, Paddington, New South Wales 2021

Price Range:££-£££

Ratings: 4/5

A renowned Italian restaurant in Sydney, Buon Ricardo was founded by Armando Percuoco, an Italian chef and his wife, Gemma. Located in Paddington, the restaurant offers a wide range of Italian cuisines and has exceptional services to offer. Opened in the year 1987 and the restaurant has operated for over 3 decades now and has gained a loyal following and customer that makes it one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. One of the signature dishes at the restaurant is the “Fettuccine Tartufovo” which has now become an iconic dish in Sydney. It features homemade fettuccine pasta served with a rich truffle-infused egg sauce and is presented with the perfect garnishing. After the pandemic that caused havoc in 2020, this Italian restaurant in Sydney had to sadly close its door but it still remains one of the most popular Italian restaurants in the city. 

We hope this list serves you any help, head over to any of these 15 best Italian restaurants in Sydney for your next dinner date or when you want to try something new! Also, check out these blogs to explore the best cafe and bars in Sydney. If you really planning to move to make sure you check out our blog on Sydney housing guide for Students and student accomodation in Syndey.