The best Italian restaurants in Manchester

The best Italian restaurants in Manchester

Tamsin Spargo, Thatsup
Tamsin Spargo

Fresh Neapolitan pizzas, creamy risotto, comforting plates of pasta – it's no surprise that Italian food is a real crowd-pleaser. Its popularity means that there are numerous restaurants around the city specialising in this kind of cuisine, from homegrown pizza heroes to family-run trattorias. When you're looking for a fantastic Italian restaurant in Greater Manchester, we can help you with some suggestions. Plan a delicious meal with our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Manchester.

  1. The best Italian food in Manchester
    1. 1
      Giovanni's Long-standing favourite
    2. 2
      Vincenzo Trattoria Inclusive Italian menu
    3. 3
      Gusto Italian Smart Sicilian restaurants
    4. 4
      Salvi's Casual Italian dining
    5. 5
      Tre Ciccio Southern Italian flavours
    6. 6
      Double Zero Leading local pizzeria
    7. 7
      Riva Blu Glamorous dining
    8. 8
      Rigatoni's Passionate about pasta
    9. 9
      San Carlo Elegant Italian eateries
    10. 10
      Ornella's Kitchen Local pasta hotspot
    11. 11
      Lucky Mama's Bold and bright
    12. 12
      Piccolo Food with a view
    13. 13
      The Pasta Factory All about pasta
    14. 14
      Noi Quattro Real Neapolitan pizza
    15. 15
      Proove Pizza Naples in Didsbury
    16. 16
      Ciaooo Get some carbs down you
    17. 17
      Sicilian NQ Experience Sicily in Manchester
    18. 18
      Vero Moderno Popular restaurant in Salford
    19. 19
      Ortica Make it plant-based
    20. 20
      Manno a Bocca Pizza from Rome
    21. 21
      Piccolino Breezy and refined
    22. 22
      Cibus Regional recipes
    23. 23
      Puccini Timeless family restaurant
    24. 24
      Italiana Fifty Five Sleek spot for flamboyant food
    25. 25
      Gino D'Acampo Elegant restaurant from a TV chef

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The best Italian food in Manchester

Giovanni's – Italian restaurants
Giovanni's
Giovanni's – Italian restaurants
Giovanni's
Giovanni's – Italian restaurants
Giovanni's
Giovanni's – Italian restaurants
Giovanni's
Giovanni's – Italian restaurants
Giovanni's
Giovanni's – Italian restaurants
Giovanni's

Giovanni's

Long-standing favourite

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. 

Vincenzo Trattoria

Inclusive Italian menu

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.

Smart Sicilian restaurants

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.

  • Landmark House, Station Road, Cheadle Hulme 4 Lloyd St, Manchester City Centre

Casual Italian dining

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.

  • 60-67A High St, Manchester City Centre/Northern Quarter Deansgate Square, Owen Street, Manchester City Centre Corn Exchange Manchester, Manchester City Centre

Southern Italian flavours

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.

  • 16-18 Market Pl 4a Moss Ln
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton – Italian restaurants
Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza Chorlton

Leading local pizzeria

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.

  • 368 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy 55 Spring Gardens, Manchester City Centre

Riva Blu

Glamorous dining

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.

Rigatoni's

Passionate about pasta

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.

Elegant Italian eateries

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.

  • 42 King St W, Manchester City Centre Selfridges Manchester Exchange, Exchange Square, Manchester City Centre House of Fraser, King Street West, Manchester City Centre Selfridges Manchester Exchange, Exchange Square, Manchester City Centre Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel, Hale Road Selfridges Manchester Trafford London Road 1 St Peter's Square, Oxford Road, Manchester City Centre
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen
Ornella's Kitchen – Italian restaurants
Ornella's Kitchen

Ornella's Kitchen

Local pasta hotspot

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 bright

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.

  • 565 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy 217 Monton Road, Salford
  • Website

Piccolo

Food with a view

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.

The Pasta Factory

All about pasta

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

Real Neapolitan pizza

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

Naples in Didsbury

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.

Get some carbs down you

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. 

  • 93-95 Shudehill, Manchester City Centre 62-64 Swan St
  • Website

Sicilian NQ

Experience Sicily in Manchester

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 – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno
Vero Moderno – Italian restaurants
Vero Moderno

Vero Moderno

Popular restaurant in Salford

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.

Ortica

Make it plant-based

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.

Manno a Bocca

Pizza from Rome

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.

Breezy and refined

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.

  • 8 Clarence Street, Manchester City Centre 214-215 Ashley Rd 207 Moss Ln 6 Lapwing Ln

Cibus

Regional recipes

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.

Puccini

Timeless family restaurant

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.

Sleek spot for flamboyant food

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.

  • Unit 4, Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester City Centre 3-11 Liverpool Rd, Manchester City Centre/Castlefield 651a Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester
Gino D'Acampo Manchester – Italian restaurants
Gino D'Acampo Manchester

Gino D'Acampo

Elegant restaurant from a TV chef

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. 

Italian restaurants – About the guide

Italian restaurants in Manchester - Our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Manchester is updated regularly. If you know of a great Italian restaurant in Manchester that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to the best Italian food in Manchester. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.