Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney: 20 Top Picks Rated

Ask ten Sydneysiders where to find a proper plate of pasta and you’ll collect twelve answers, a couple of mild arguments and at least one person swearing their local in the Inner West beats everything else. Fair enough. Italian cooking has been part of how this city eats for generations, and the choice today stretches from a $20 pizza in The Rocks to a long lunch with the Opera House in your eyeline.

The roots go back a long way, too. Waves of Italian migrants shaped suburbs like Leichhardt, and you can read more about that history on the Italian Australians page on Wikipedia. What matters for dinner tonight is simpler: which places are actually worth the booking?

This guide covers twenty Italian restaurants across Sydney that diners rate highly on Google. Each entry has a street address, the Google rating, a typical price per person and a short note on what people order and rave about. We’ve been honest about the weaker points as well, because no kitchen is perfect and a little warning saves you a disappointing night.

How we ranked Sydney’s Italian restaurants

The order below follows Google rating first. When two restaurants share the same score, the one with more reviews sits higher, since a 4.8 from nearly five thousand people tells you more than a 4.8 from forty. Prices are the per-person bands shown on Google and usually cover food plus a drink or two. A few venues don’t publish a band, and we’ve marked those as not listed rather than guess.

One caveat worth stating: a rating reflects a crowd, not a critic. Ragazzi sits at the bottom of the table with a 4.4, yet it’s a busy, well-loved pasta bar. Treat the ranking as a guide to what the public thinks, then match the restaurant to your night out.

Italian restaurants in Sydney at a glance

Here’s the whole shortlist in one place. Tap an address to open it in Google Maps.

#	Restaurant	Suburb	Google rating	Price pp	Address
1	Primi Italian	Sydney CBD	4.8 (4.8K)	$40-80	168 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
2	I Maccheroni, Italian Osteria	Woollahra (Paddington border)	4.8 (1.2K)	$60-160	3 Jersey Rd, Woollahra NSW 2025
3	Como Italian Restaurant The Rocks	The Rocks	4.8 (900)	$60-180	Bay 7 & 8, Campbell’s Stores, 7-27 Circular Quay W, The Rocks NSW 2000
4	Antica Dining	North Sydney	4.8 (800)	Not listed	196 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060
5	Civico 47	Paddington	4.8 (600)	$80-180	47 Windsor St, Paddington NSW 2021
6	Capriccio Osteria	Leichhardt	4.7 (2.2K)	$40-60	159 Norton St, Leichhardt NSW 2040
7	Palazzo Salato	Sydney CBD	4.7 (1.3K)	$60-160	201/203 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
8	Sicilian Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria The Rocks	The Rocks	4.7 (1.1K)	$20-60	17 Playfair St, The Rocks NSW 2000
9	Postino Osteria	Summer Hill	4.7 (930)	$60-140	2 Moonbie St, Summer Hill NSW 2130
10	Scala Lane	Sydney CBD	4.7 (500)	$60-160	36 Wynyard La, Sydney NSW 2000
11	Fontana	Redfern	4.7 (300)	$60-80	Level 1/133A Redfern St, Redfern NSW 2016
12	Rovollo Restaurant and Wine Room	Sydney CBD (Martin Place)	4.7 (250)	$60-160	Tenancy 7.11/25 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
13	Bottega Coco Barangaroo	Barangaroo	4.6 (3.6K)	$40-140	Shop 1 T3.01/300 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
14	Alberto’s Lounge	Sydney CBD	4.6 (1.6K)	$60-140	17-19 Alberta St, Sydney NSW 2000
15	Lana	Sydney CBD	4.6 (1.2K)	Not listed	Level 1/5-7 Young St, Sydney NSW 2000
16	Neptune’s Grotto	Sydney CBD	4.6 (560)	$80-160	Loftus Lane & Young Street, 44 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000
17	Grappa The Rocks	The Rocks	4.6 (230)	Not listed	107-109 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000
18	Grana	Sydney CBD	4.5 (2.4K)	$60-140	Ground Floor/5-7 Young St, Sydney NSW 2000
19	Pellegrino 2000	Surry Hills	4.5 (1.2K)	$60-160	80 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
20	Ragazzi	Sydney CBD	4.4 (2.3K)	$40-120	Shop 3/2-12 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000

Ratings and review counts were taken from Google at the time of writing and move around constantly. Prices are in Australian dollars.

The 20 best Italian restaurants in Sydney

1. Primi Italian

Address: 168 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.8 (4.8K reviews) | Price: $40-80 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Primi sits on Clarence Street and earns its top spot the honest way: nearly five thousand diners have rated it, and the score still holds at 4.8. That kind of consistency is rare for a restaurant doing a full CBD lunch and dinner trade.

The room is warm and busy, with a wall of wine bottles that looks good from any seat. Regulars talk about the chef’s pasta specials, which have included lobster and squid ink spaghetti, along with a rib eye in mushroom sauce, zucchini flowers and a seafood risotto. The lamb ragu rigatoni gets its share of praise too. A couple of reviewers reckon it’s on the pricey side, but most say the service keeps pace with the kitchen. It’s closed on Sundays, so plan for a weekday or Saturday.

2. I Maccheroni, Italian Osteria

Address: 3 Jersey Rd, Woollahra NSW 2025

Google rating: 4.8 (1.2K reviews) | Price: $60-160 per person | Area: Woollahra (Paddington border)

Tucked down a quiet street where Paddington blurs into Woollahra, I Maccheroni feels like somebody’s favourite local rather than a restaurant chasing a crowd. There are only a couple of tables outside, and the dining room is small enough that the lighting and the soft music do half the work.

The cacio e pepe is the dish people bring up first, and plenty of diners say they’ve thought about it for months afterwards. Seafood and traditional pasta fill out the menu, and staff will happily suggest a wine to go with each course. Lunch here can turn into an all-afternoon affair, and one group of three reported a bill around $520 with cocktails and wine, so budget accordingly. It’s one of the few places on this list open on Sundays, though it closes at 5pm that day.

3. Como Italian Restaurant The Rocks

Address: Bay 7 & 8, Campbell’s Stores, 7-27 Circular Quay W, The Rocks NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.8 (900 reviews) | Price: $60-180 per person | Area: The Rocks

Few Italian restaurants anywhere in Australia can match Como’s setting. It occupies one of the old sandstone stores along Circular Quay West, so you eat beside heritage walls with the Opera House sitting across the water.

Visitors rave about the grilled king prawns, a blue eye cod dish with wild carrots and cauliflower sauce, the cacio e pepe and a wagyu main. It’s open seven days, which makes it handy for a post-ferry lunch. To be fair, not every reviewer is convinced: one diner felt the ravioli portion was small for the price and said they were paying for the view. If the outdoor tables are free on a warm evening, grab one.

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4. Antica Dining

Address: 196 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060

Google rating: 4.8 (800 reviews) | Price: not listed on Google | Area: North Sydney

Antica is housed in a two-storey house on Miller Street that’s been restored in an art deco style, and the leafy outlook from the window tables is a pleasant change from the glass towers nearby. Diners describe the atmosphere as elegant without being stuffy.

The kitchen turns out house-made pasta such as fagottini filled with prawn, plus a beef tartare, a T-bone, a scotch fillet and a lamb backstrap that gets repeated recommendations. Lunch is a smart way in: a two-course pranzo espresso is on offer, and the wine list leans Italian. Google doesn’t list a price band, so check the current menu before you book. Closed Sundays.

5. Civico 47

Address: 47 Windsor St, Paddington NSW 2021

Google rating: 4.8 (600 reviews) | Price: $80-180 per person | Area: Paddington

Civico 47 occupies a Windsor Street address that already had a long Italian dining history, and it carries that sense of occasion well. The room is quiet, softly lit and made for slow dinners.

Dry-aged duck keeps cropping up in reviews, alongside beef carpaccio, mafalde pasta, a mushroom pastry and a chef’s truffle menu when the season suits. Dessert fans mention the lemon pistachio cake. A few diners found service a touch slow at the start of the night, though they still left happy. Opening days are limited, with Tuesday to Saturday trade only, so don’t turn up on a Sunday or Monday expecting a table.

6. Capriccio Osteria

Address: 159 Norton St, Leichhardt NSW 2040

Google rating: 4.7 (2.2K reviews) | Price: $40-60 per person | Area: Leichhardt

Norton Street has been Sydney’s Little Italy for as long as most locals can remember, and Capriccio sits right in the thick of it. It’s the best-value pick in the top ten, with a price band that suits a regular weeknight rather than a once-a-year splurge.

The Amalfi pizza is the order that people repeat, and the beef carpaccio rarely misses either. Other reviewers point to ravioli with butter, sage and hazelnuts, grilled octopus with crispy potatoes and a proper tiramisu. When the truffle menu runs, the pasta gets special mention. Sunday lunch is a relaxed option. Closed Mondays.

7. Palazzo Salato

Address: 201/203 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.7 (1.3K reviews) | Price: $60-160 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Palazzo Salato is the grown-up sibling of Ragazzi, and the fit-out shows it. The interior gets plenty of compliments, and so does the fact that bread arrives without an extra charge, which is no longer something you can take for granted in the city.

Start with snapper crudo, stracciatella with anchovies or Wagyu bresaola, then move to the mafaldine, which one diner called among the best pastas in Sydney. The ricotta gnocchi with black truffle is another favourite, and there’s a chocolate tart and gelato to finish. A traditional tasting menu around $90 has been reported by diners, though menus change. Bookings fill fast. Closed Sundays.

8. Sicilian Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria The Rocks

Address: 17 Playfair St, The Rocks NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.7 (1.1K reviews) | Price: $20-60 per person | Area: The Rocks

Here’s the cheapest sit-down option on this list, and it’s in one of the most tourist-heavy corners of Sydney. That combination usually spells trouble. Not here: more than a thousand people have given it a 4.7.

Diners praise the garlic bread, the pizza, the gnocchi and a steak that surprised a few people at this price. It’s also a handy stop for gluten-free eaters, with a decent range of options, though you should confirm your needs when ordering. Walk-ins have been squeezed in on busy Saturday nights, and it’s open every day of the week.

9. Postino Osteria

Address: 2 Moonbie St, Summer Hill NSW 2130

Google rating: 4.7 (930 reviews) | Price: $60-140 per person | Area: Summer Hill

Postino lives inside Summer Hill’s old post office, and the building does a lot of the talking. The bar area is theatrical, and the whole place feels like a proper night out in the Inner West.

The saltimbocca with veal sirloin has fans, and the mini meatball pasta, spaghetti chitarra con pallottine, turns up on plenty of social feeds. Opinions on the pasta seasoning are split: one recent diner found it under-flavoured while another thought it great value. Themed Postcard dinners run now and then, and there’s free street parking nearby, which counts for a lot in Sydney. Open every day.

10. Scala Lane

Address: 36 Wynyard La, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.7 (500 reviews) | Price: $60-160 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Scala Lane is the sort of hidden spot you only find if someone tells you about it. It’s tucked into Wynyard Lane, with an open kitchen and low jazz in the background.

The burrata is a highlight for many, along with kingfish tartare, beef carpaccio, lobster pasta and a ragù. The tiramisu arrives with some theatre. One reviewer who tried an $88 per person banquet found the flavours good but the portions small, so it’s worth asking about sizes before you order. Closed Sundays, and Saturday is dinner only.

11. Fontana

Address: Level 1/133A Redfern St, Redfern NSW 2016

Google rating: 4.7 (300 reviews) | Price: $60-80 per person | Area: Redfern

Climb the stairs on Redfern Street and you’ll find Fontana, a warm, close-knit dining room that’s popular with locals. The menu is written in Italian, and staff are happy to translate.

The house ricotta with garlic bread is the dish people won’t shut up about, with beef tartare bruschetta, a cotechino dish and prawns close behind. A couple of reviewers found some plates on the salty side, but the dessert and service get consistent praise. One table of three spent about $150 on food only. Dinner service runs Tuesday to Saturday, with a Saturday lunch session too.

12. Rovollo Restaurant and Wine Room

Address: Tenancy 7.11/25 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.7 (250 reviews) | Price: $60-160 per person | Area: Sydney CBD (Martin Place)

Rovollo is a newer name, with fewer reviews than most on this list, but the 4.7 is strong. It goes for a theatrical, moody look that suits date nights and group dinners alike.

Menu highlights include a kangaroo tartlet with horseradish and cured yolk, yellowfin tuna crudo, beef tartare, a seafood platter and a steak. A 24-layer chocolate cake closes things out. It runs late from Thursday to Saturday, and it’s closed Sundays.

13. Bottega Coco Barangaroo

Address: Shop 1 T3.01/300 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.6 (3.6K reviews) | Price: $40-140 per person | Area: Barangaroo

With more than 3,500 reviews, Bottega Coco is the most-reviewed Italian on the list. It works from breakfast through dinner, which is unusual for a restaurant in this class.

Pizza is the main game, and the Regina topped with heirloom cherry tomatoes, prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella gets plenty of mentions. Osso buco on saffron risotto and a steak on toast at breakfast also earn praise. It copes well with big groups and prams, according to one family that dined here during a festival crowd. Waterfront views help, and bottomless brunch is available.

14. Alberto’s Lounge

Address: 17-19 Alberta St, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.6 (1.6K reviews) | Price: $60-140 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Alberto’s Lounge is half restaurant, half bar, and it plays the music loud enough to make the evening feel like an event. The menu is built for sharing, which the staff explain up front.

Order the focaccia, kingfish crudo, a pappardelle with beef ragu and finish with the tiramisu or pistachio and dark chocolate gelato. A wheelchair user noted the tables near the entrance were cramped and the footpath slopes, so call ahead if access matters. It opens from 5pm Monday to Thursday and runs until midnight.

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15. Lana

Address: Level 1/5-7 Young St, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.6 (1.2K reviews) | Price: not listed on Google | Area: Sydney CBD

Lana sits upstairs from Grana and plays a more polished, date-night game. The kitchen mixes Italian ideas with a few Asian touches, which explains dishes like prawn toast and potatoes with salted egg and kaffir lime sharing the menu with burrata and rigatoni.

The rigatoni with a hint of chilli gets repeat orders, and so does the warm focaccia. A white chocolate take on tiramisu is more divisive, with one diner finding it sweet. Service is attentive, according to diners who walked in without a booking on a packed weeknight. Dinner every night but Sunday, with lunch on Thursday and Friday. Google doesn’t show a price band.

16. Neptune’s Grotto

Address: Loftus Lane & Young Street, 44 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.6 (560 reviews) | Price: $80-160 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Neptune’s Grotto sits below street level, and it’s dim enough that one reviewer apologised for their photos. The small menu is the point, and the kitchen rarely wastes a dish.

Agnolotti del plin in cream has been on the menu a long time, and it shows. Duck ragu pasta, cotoletta alla Bolognese, fried olives, gnocco fritto and tuna caponata also get mentions. Open daily until late, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

17. Grappa The Rocks

Address: 107-109 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.6 (230 reviews) | Price: not listed on Google | Area: The Rocks

Grappa The Rocks took over the old Rockpool site, and the sandstone heritage building makes a handsome dining room. The owners also run the Leichhardt original, so the hospitality is polished.

Pasta is made fresh daily, there’s a wood-fired pizza bar and a barramundi hot pot has drawn comment, as has a seafood risotto. Diners often mention owner Charlie Colosimo working the floor and chatting with tables. Open daily. No price band is listed on Google.

18. Grana

Address: Ground Floor/5-7 Young St, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.5 (2.4K reviews) | Price: $60-140 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Grana is one of the city’s busier pasta rooms, with pasta made on site and an open dining room that glows under warm lights. It’s a good place for a group or a birthday.

Reviewers like the focaccia with whipped truffle parmesan, the beef tartare, lamb shoulder, burrata and a spaghetti with mussels and smoked tomato. A few found some dishes oily or salty, and one thought the tiramisu soggy. It’s open every day, and bookings are a smart idea.

19. Pellegrino 2000

Address: 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Google rating: 4.5 (1.2K reviews) | Price: $60-160 per person | Area: Surry Hills

Pellegrino 2000 has the feel of a neighbourhood trattoria with a cult following. Tables are small, and the downstairs wine cellar is lit by candles.

Truffle-scented focaccia and butter, burrata and an eggplant dish start things off. Then come prawn ravioli, calamarata al nero di seppia and bucatini all’amatriciana. The banana cream caramel dessert gets rave reviews. Book ahead. It’s open daily, with Sunday lunch available.

20. Ragazzi

Address: Shop 3/2-12 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000

Google rating: 4.4 (2.3K reviews) | Price: $40-120 per person | Area: Sydney CBD

Ragazzi has the lowest score here, but a 4.4 across more than two thousand reviews isn’t a warning sign. It’s a small wine and pasta bar in Angel Place with a deep wine list and a menu that changes regularly.

Diners talk about the pansotti with prawn, mafaldine, lumache, beef crudo and a truffle ball. It opens late Monday to Saturday, until midnight, and shuts at 10pm on Sunday.

Best Italian restaurants in Sydney by occasion

Date night

Go for Civico 47 in Paddington, Lana in the CBD or Neptune’s Grotto if you like it dark and moody. Fontana in Redfern suits couples who’d rather share a few plates over a long evening, and its staff are good at explaining the Italian-language menu.

Big groups and birthdays

Grana, Bottega Coco and Alberto’s Lounge are set up for sharing and for noise. Bottega Coco coped with a family group and prams during a busy festival night, according to one diner, and Grana’s open room has space for a crowd. Whatever you pick, book early and mention the headcount.

Cheap eats that still taste proper

Sicilian in The Rocks ($20 to $60) and Capriccio in Leichhardt ($40 to $60) offer the best value on the list. Primi also sits at the friendlier end, from $40.

Harbour views

Como at Circular Quay West has Opera House views from its outdoor seating, while Bottega Coco gives you the Barangaroo waterfront. Both are open on Sundays.

Pizza

Capriccio’s Amalfi pizza has a loyal following, Bottega Coco’s Regina is a crowd-pleaser and Grappa runs a wood-fired pizza bar in the old Rockpool space.

Which Italian restaurants are closed on Sunday or Monday?

Opening days trip people up more than anything. According to Google, these venues close on at least one day, so check before you travel.

Restaurant	Closed	Notes
Primi Italian	Sunday	Open weekdays and Saturday
Antica Dining	Sunday	Lunch and dinner on other days
Palazzo Salato	Sunday	Books out, reserve early
Scala Lane	Sunday	Saturday is dinner only
Rovollo	Sunday	Late nights Thursday to Saturday
Lana	Sunday	Lunch on Thursday and Friday only
Capriccio Osteria	Monday	Sunday lunch available
Civico 47	Sunday and Monday	Open Tuesday to Saturday
Fontana	Sunday and Monday	Saturday has a lunch sitting

The rest, including Como, Sicilian, Postino, Neptune’s Grotto, Grappa, Grana, Pellegrino 2000, Alberto’s Lounge, Bottega Coco, Ragazzi and I Maccheroni, trade on Sundays. I Maccheroni closes at 5pm that day.

Where to eat Italian in Sydney, area by area

CBD and Barangaroo

Most of the list is within a short walk of each other: Primi, Palazzo Salato, Scala Lane, Rovollo, Alberto’s Lounge, Lana, Grana, Neptune’s Grotto and Ragazzi. Afterwards, a dessert detour to Chinatown is easy, and our guide to Emperor’s Puffs in Sydney explains why the queues still form.

The Rocks and Circular Quay

Como, Sicilian and Grappa all sit within a few minutes of each other, which makes this the easiest area to compare for yourself. Expect tourist crowds at peak hours and book ahead on weekends.

Inner West and Leichhardt

Capriccio on Norton Street and Postino in Summer Hill anchor the west side. If you’re making a day of it, our local’s guide to the best cafes in Marrickville is a good coffee stop on the way. For the wider story of Italian cooking, the Italian cuisine entry on Wikipedia shows how regional it really is.

Eastern suburbs and inner city

I Maccheroni, Civico 47, Pellegrino 2000 and Fontana all sit here, and they suit long, slow dinners more than quick lunches.

North Shore

Antica is the lone North Sydney pick, and it’s on Miller Street, right by St Leonards Park. Taking a walk through there before a lunch booking is a nice plan. If you’re exploring further around the harbour, Clifton Gardens Reserve in Mosman is a good swim or picnic spot.

Booking and budget tips for Italian dining in Sydney

Book the popular ones, such as Palazzo Salato, Pellegrino 2000 and Primi, several days ahead for weekends. Walk-ins do work at some places, especially early in the evening or at lunch, but don’t count on it.

Tipping isn’t expected in Australia, though many diners leave a little for good service. Public holiday surcharges of 10 to 15 per cent are common, so check the booking terms. Wine can push a $60 meal well past $100, and set menus or banquets can look good value until the extras land.

If you have dietary needs, tell the restaurant when you book. Several kitchens on this list have handled vegetarian, allium-free and gluten-free requests well, but a quick message avoids awkward surprises.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Italian restaurant in Sydney?

By Google rating and review volume, Primi Italian on Clarence Street leads with a 4.8 from almost 4,800 reviews. I Maccheroni and Antica Dining share the same score from fewer diners.

Where can I find authentic Italian food in Sydney?

Head to Norton Street in Leichhardt, long known as Sydney’s Little Italy, and book Capriccio Osteria. For the migrant history behind it, see Italian Australians on Wikipedia.

What is the cheapest good Italian restaurant in Sydney?

Sicilian in The Rocks lists $20 to $60 per person, and Capriccio sits at $40 to $60. Both hold a 4.7 on Google.

Which Italian restaurants suit a romantic dinner?

Civico 47, Lana and Neptune’s Grotto are the moody, low-lit picks.

Are there Italian restaurants with harbour views?

Como at Circular Quay West looks across to the Opera House, and Bottega Coco faces the Barangaroo waterfront.

Which Italian restaurants are open on Sunday?

Pellegrino 2000, Grana, Alberto’s Lounge and Ragazzi all trade on Sundays, among others. See the closing-days table above.

Do I need to book an Italian restaurant in Sydney?

For weekends, yes. Palazzo Salato and Pellegrino 2000 fill quickly. Sicilian has squeezed in walk-ins on busy nights.

Where can I get a good Italian dinner and then something sweet?

Eat in the CBD at Scala Lane or Primi, then see our Emperor’s Puffs guide for a Chinatown dessert.

Disclaimer

This article is general information only. Google ratings, review counts, price bands, addresses and opening days were checked when this was written and change often. Dish names and menus rotate. Please confirm details directly with each restaurant before booking. No venue paid to be listed, and the ranking reflects public Google ratings rather than a formal review of each restaurant. Dietary and allergy requirements should always be confirmed with the venue.

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