10 Best Italian Restaurants in Leeds That Are Finger-lickin' Good!

Italian cuisine remains extremely popular in Leeds, with restaurants serving traditional classics and dishes that allow us to explore the taste of various regions of Italy. The next time you and your buddies crave some creamy pasta or oven-fresh pizza in Leeds, you don’t have to hunt for the best place to find Italian food in Leeds. We have listed down some of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds to make your search easier. The savoury dishes and satisfying desserts are prepared with meticulous care and attention to detail.

1. Viva Italian Restaurant

Average rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££ - £££
Address: 9-11 Bridge End, Leeds LS1 7HG

Viva Italian Restaurant is a lavish restaurant located in the Leeds city centre. One of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds city centre, Viva is just a few minutes from the train and bus station, making it easily accessible for the guests. The restaurant’s menu has a wide selection making it an ideal place to wine and dine. La Pasta will tantalise your taste buds with rich, creamy Spaghetti, Risotto, Lasagne and Tagliolini. Mama Mia Pizzas will satisfy your Pizza cravings.

Must Try: Bresaola della Valtellina, Battuta di Pollo alla Milanese, Filetto ai Gamberoni

2. Gusto Italian

Average rating: 4.0/5
‍Price: ££-£££
Address: Gusto Italian 10 Greek Street, Leeds, LS1 5RU

Gusto offers first-class Italian cuisine in a very pleasing ambience. The restaurant is different from the other Italian Restaurants in Leeds as it has a lovely Grey Goose terrace for the guests who want to dine alfresco. Gusto Italian has over 12 restaurants across the UK serving ‘Gusoto’, meaning tasty food, for decades. Pan-Seared King Scallops from ‘To Start and to Share’ from the menu are the perfect meal start and a great appetiser. The restaurant is hyperconscious about our vegan buddies. The mains, bread and nibbles, starters and even pizzas have vegan variations so that no one is shaken off. Is this the best of Leeds? We will wait for your taste buds' judgement.

Must Try: Gusto Dough Petals, Pan-seared King Scallops, Truffled Mushroom Fettuccine

3. Salvo’s 

Average rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: 115 & 107 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3PX

With a vision to bring a piece of Italy to Leeds, Salvatore Dammone started Salvo’s in 1976. One of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds, Salvo’s is now run by the second and third generations of the Dammone family. The menu even includes a separate section for gluten-free and vegan lovers. If you stop by on your hunt for the best pasta places in Leeds, be sure to try their Ragu di Bologna pasta - veal ragu with rich pork, aged Parmesan and pappardelle. Don’t forget to try the after-drinks and desserts after the meal.

Must Try: Ragu di Bologna, Ravioli d’agnello, Polpette Meatballs

4. Zucco

Average Rating: 4/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: 603 Meanwood Road Leeds LS6 4AY

Zucco is a unique Italian restaurant in Leeds which changes its menu daily according to the availability of fresh and seasonal ingredients. The authentic basic menu remains the same, while there are additional dishes for you to try. It offers a wonderful dining experience and is one of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds. Keep some space for the dessert too! With deeply-flavoured pasta dishes and meat cooked to perfection, you can certainly add Zucco to the list of best pasta places in Leeds!

Must Try: Platter Di Mare, Baked Figs, Spaghetti All Vongole, Ox Cheek

5. Culto - Italian 

Average Rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: 97 Stainbeck Road, Leeds, LS7 2PR

Culto will give you a relaxed dining experience with a wide selection of Italian dishes. The antipasti are great for the start and include Caponata Sicilian, Insalata Mista, Insalata Mista, and much more. Culto is also one of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds. If you’re looking for the best pizza in Leeds, check out the Carmelo, Calzone Culto, and Nuni, which gives a great blend of spice and flavours. There is a takeout option as well for busy diners. 

Must Try: Arancini Ripieni Cotto e Mozzarella, Linguine Rosse, Linguine Mediterraneo, Diavola, Petto di Pollo Alla Griglia

6. Pizza Fella 

Average Rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: 114-116 Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7NL.

Pizza Fella is a perfect stop for you if you are looking for the best pizza in Leeds. You can try out their amazing authentic Neapolitan pizza cooked hot and fast with the finest ingredients. You can expect some Fella Faves coming your way. The Fella Faves include Funghi, Margherita, Goats cheese and pesto, Spicy and flavourful Nduja, Capricciosa and much more. Vegan peeps also have a great selection of curated dishes. Don’t forget to select a Calabrian gelato to complete your meal.

Must Try: Neapolitan Pizza, Nebrodi, Calabrian gelato

7. Stuzzi

Average Rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: 7 Merrion Street, Leeds LS1 6PQ

Stuzzi is also listed in the list of best Italian restaurants in Leeds as it has its unique place in Leeds for Italian restaurants. The name Stuzzi comes from Stuzzichini, which are typically salty and light appetisers that will not overpower your meal. Why settle for just one Stuzzichini? You can try out several instead of just choosing one. The tapas shared among the diners are the main attraction of Stuzzi. The desserts, or ‘docli’ as the menu says, offer tempting desserts. You can finish it off with the Piatto do Dolci, an assortment of the restaurant’s confectionaries. 

Must Try: Piatto Misto, Asparago, Cannoli, Piatto do Dolci

8. Trattoria II Forno

Average Rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££
Address: 85 Town St, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5BP

Trattoria II Forno gives you that perfect classic Italian taste with a cheerful and perky vibe. The restaurant is well known for its family-friendly atmosphere and sizzling hot wood fires making it one of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds. You will take extra time to select from the menu as there are a lot of scrumptious dishes to pick from. There is a special kid’s menu, so the kiddos are not left out.

Must Try: Beef Lasagne, Risotto Frutti Mare, Insalata di Pollo

‍9. Da Vito Ristorante

Average Rating: 5/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: Da Vito Ristorante, 3 York Pl, Leeds LS1 2DR, United Kingdom

Da Vito Ristorante is also one of the Italian Restaurants in Leeds, allowing you to discover true Italian delicacies. The menu is just mama mia featuring the minestre, carni, antipasti, and pesce. If you are a fish lover, this restaurant is a perfect place for you, as there is a separate fish section on the menu. Along with this, there are early bird discounts as well. So what are you waiting for? End your search for the best Italian food in Leeds at Da Vito Ristorante. 

Must Try: King Prawns Soup, Funghi all’Aglio, Gnocchi al Dolcelatte

10. Livin Italy

Average Rating: 4.5/5
Price: ££-£££
Address: Granary Wharf, Leeds, LS1 4BR

Livin Italy is also a well-known and one of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds. The restaurant started as a family business dating back to the 80s in Milan. The menu is beautifully presented in the form of an Italian newspaper and includes almost everything you can ask for when looking for Italian food in Leeds - Street Food, Pasta, Panini, Meat and Fish, Antipasti, and Pizza. Be ready to drink like a fish with incredible cocktails and wines. 

Must Try: Arancini Carbonara, Fried Polenta, Friarelli

So there you have it! We hope our list of the best restaurants in Leeds will guide you to the best places to find Italian food in Leeds! Treat your taste buds with rich Lasagna, Spaghetti, Bruschetta and other mouthwatering Italian food in Leeds. If you’re craving the best pizza in Leeds, these Italian restaurants in Leeds will certainly have what you are looking for. Do visit these pasta places in Leeds and let us know which dish you liked the most in the comments below. After relishing some ottimo pasta and pizza in Leeds, take a stroll around the city and check out these things to do in Leeds.