The best Italian restaurants in Manchester

Open since 1984, Giovanni's is Manchester's oldest independent Italian restaurant. This classic dining destination feels crisp and elegant with white tablecloths and leather furniture. Fresh and seasonal dishes made with carefully-selected produce are served here. Expect options like arancini, steak, pasta, and pizza. An extensive international wine list is also available. 

You can have a relaxed meal at family-run restaurant Vincenzo Trattoria. Italian classics like pizza and pasta are on the menu, plus there are options for gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diners. It's a cosy and inviting space with a stylish look thanks to exposed brickwork, comfortable banquettes, and a shower of flowers draping from the ceiling.

Gusto Italian offers a polished space for an Italian meal. The restaurants serve Sicilian dishes in smart surroundings; the place is ideal for casual meals as well as big gatherings. The à la carte menu includes antipasti, pizza, pasta, and steak, plus there are alcoholic and alcohol-free cocktails to choose from.

Salvi's operates a number of venues around the city, serving traditional Italian dishes in a setting that's refined. Indoor and terrace seating is available at each of these casual restaurants. The menu includes favourites like pizza and pasta, plus there are classic cocktails and wines produced all over Italy. There's also an on-site deli for Italian ingredients.

Tre Ciccio serves authentic dishes from southern Italy, including award-winning signature pizza. Italian-style roast chicken is another dish this place is known for. The main menu also includes dishes like ravioli, or you can opt for a set menu of seasonal flavours. This rustic venue feels like a traditional trattoria, and offers indoor and outdoor seating.

Double Zero was voted the UK's best pizzeria in 2023, so it's worth checking out if you're looking for authentic Neapolitan cooking. This local restaurant is casual and relaxed, offering indoor and outdoor seating in a contemporary space. A wide range of pizzas, plus starters and desserts, are on the menu here.

Head to the Corn Exchange to eat at Riva Blu, a refined southern Italian restaurant with a glamorous vibe. It has luxe interiors, a spacious terrace, and an on-site cocktail bar, with pops of blue throughout the venue. A set lunch menu is on offer whilst the main menu features dishes like calamari, Neapolitan pizza, pasta, and steak.

There are a couple of Rigatoni's locations in Manchester where the focus is on rigatoni. The place is rustic and demonstrates a real passion for Italian cooking. The menu is concise but packed with flavour – house-made rigatoni with various sauces is the main draw but focaccia toasts and fried treats like a deep-fried mozzarella sandwich are also on offer.

There are multiple San Carlo venues around town that offer contemporary Italian dishes in refined and elegant settings. Many of the venues offer outdoor seating and fantastic views of the city. Diners can sample Venetian-style small plates and favourites like pasta, pizza, and gelato. Cocktails and Italian wines are served as the ideal pairing.

Ornella's Kitchen opened in 2022 in Denton and is now considered one of Manchester's hidden gems. This Italian eatery is compact and bustling with minimal decor. Brunch is served here but the place is best-known for its generous ciabatta sandwiches and freshly-prepared pasta with familiar and inventive sauces. Pasta meals for kids are also available.

Bold and modern restaurant Lucky Mama's is popular for eating-in and takeaways, and has a bright and colourful dining room. Pasta made on-site each day is on the menu but the place is particularly popular for its crisp Roman-style pizza. Gluten-free, halal, and vegan dishes are all available. Sweet or savoury doughballs are a great way to add to your meal.

Italian food is served all day at Piccolo. It's a smart and classic space with big windows for impressive city views and intimate booths to nestle into. Southern Italian cuisine is on the menu; there's a lunch menu plus the main offering with antipasti, pizza, pasta, and grilled meat dishes. Families and large groups are welcome at this restaurant.

Check out The Pasta Factory if fresh pasta is your go-to comfort food. This is Manchester's first authentic pastificio, serving fresh handmade pasta with various sauces. You can also join a pasta masterclass here to learn how to do it yourself. This venue is bustling and rustic and also has an on-site deli where you can buy Italian ingredients.

Noi Quattro brings authentic Neapolitan cuisine to Manchester. There's a straightforward and bustling dining area but you can also get takeaways from this spot. A varied range of classic pizzas are served here, including vegan options. There's a deli for buying authentic ingredients and the venue also hosts events like pizza masterclasses.

Proove Pizza brings an authentic Neapolitan experience to Manchester. The restaurant uses traditional Italian methods for preparing its dough, topping it with imported ingredients before baking in a Neapolitan oven. Starters and desserts are also available at this relaxed local restaurant, which boasts indoor and outdoor seating. Gluten-free options are also served here.

Independent and buzzy eatery Ciaooo specialises in Neapolitan pizza and is known for its burrata-topped pizzas in particular. Children's meals and gluten-free and vegan pizzas are served too in a straightforward dining space. Ciaooo also runs a restaurant that only sells garlic bread loaded with extra-tasty toppings ranging from pesto to nduja. 

Experience an authentic taste of Sicily in the Northern Quarter at Sicilian NQ. This friendly trattoria has a rustic and contemporary style with a tiled bar, exposed brickwork, and wooden furniture. The menu is a changing selection of Sicilian street food and treats, including small plates, pasta, gnocchi, and a big choice of sweet desserts.

Vero Moderno is a top choice for Italian food in Salford and is often frequented by Manchester City players. The place is well-known for its welcoming atmosphere that makes diners feel right at home. The menu is full of popular Italian dishes like pasta, pizza, and Italian sausages. Bottomless brunch and an Italian Sunday roast are served too.

Vegan diners don't have to miss out on Italian dishes thanks to Ortica Italian Plant Based. This family-run restaurant and deli has a friendly atmosphere and a sleek rustic appearance. Enjoy light breakfast options here or opt for a Roman-style pinsa, hearty pasta, or light snacks alongside cocktails or Italian beer.

Visit Manno a Bocca in Sale to try out authentic Roman-style pizza. The restaurant has outdoor seating and a spacious interior decorated with photographs and film posters. Pizza dough is fermented for at least 24 hours before being topped with tasty ingredients. The menu also includes antipasti, salads, and pasta, as well as meals for children.

There are a number of breezy branches of Piccolino around town. These refined eateries serve classic Italian dishes in an airy and contemporary environment. The restaurants also boast spacious terraces for outdoor dining. Guests can choose from antipasti, pasta, pizza, and meat and seafood dishes, including steak. Private dining is also available.

Regional and seasonal Italian cuisine is served at Cibus, with classic dishes on the menu as well as lesser-known options. You can sample pizza, pasta, and meat and fish dishes here, with Italian craft beer as the ideal complement. The restaurant space is classic and charming with red checked tablecloths and outdoor seating.

Family-run restaurant Puccini is a timeless space with a colourful green exterior that certainly stands out. Authentic Italian recipes are served here, including options like antipasti, pizza, pasta, and steak. A set lunch menu offering two or three courses is also available at this restaurant, plus Italian wines are served to complete any meal.

There are a few branches of Italiana Fifty Five around town, each with a sleek and sophisticated interior and a menu of authentic Italian dishes. This place is well-known for its tagliatelle flambéed tableside in a cheese wheel. Other pasta dishes are also available, in addition to pizza and meat and seafood. Italian wines are served to complement a meal.

Opened in 2024, Gino D'Acampo Manchester is an elegant restaurant from the celebrity chef. The space has floor-to-ceiling windows and heaps of botanical touches in the decor. Diners can sample authentic dishes from all over Italy, along with more than 50 varieties of Italian wine and classic and original cocktails.