15 authentic Italian restaurants in Liverpool you need to try

Mamma Mia! There’s nothing like grabbing a bowl of pasta for a catch up meal with your mates, or sitting down to sumptuous seafood for a special dinner with your other half.

We’re so lucky with all the Italian Restaurants in Liverpool we have. They’re authentic, the service is fantastic… and they serve up some of the tastiest food going!

Maybe it’s the warm welcome you’re guaranteed to get or their understanding of the importance of family and friends.

Either way, we’ve got loads of great, authentic Italian eateries in Liverpool, and here are 15 you might just want to visit soon…

Carlisi (Allerton Road & Dale Street)

Ciao, buongiorno, Bella, amore… ok so most of us may not speak authentic Italian, but you can certainly eat authentic Italian at Carlisi.

If you’ve not had an introduction to Sicilian street food firstly… where have you been? And secondly, now is your time!

The family run Sicilian bar on Dale Street serves up freshly made bar snacks, including their famous arancini, sandwiches, and sharing platters using only the finest Italian ingredients.

The Allerton restaurant gives Carlisi a chance to create a new and expanded menu – including some of the brother’s own family pasta recipes.

They’re passionate about bringing the flavours of their hometown to the people of Liverpool. They even import oranges and lemons from their family’s farm for use in their own brand of Carlisi Gin – named after their hometown of Agrigento. 

For more info click HERE.

Gino D’Acampo (Old Hall Street)

The unique thing about this Gino’s is that it is situated within INNSiDE Liverpool, part of the Meliã Hotel Group. The restaurant boasts a beautiful modern open plan with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Old Hall Street.

Not only that, there is also a 360 Sky Bar on the top floor with unrivalled views of Liverpool and the River Mersey. You can order from the cicchetti menu at the top, enjoy a cocktail or even indulge in Gino’s Italian take on afternoon tea whilst taking in the view. And if a 360 Sky Bar wasn’t enough, there’s also a Secret Garden terrace, which is a serious sun trap.

You’re spoilt for choice!

More info here.

Justino’s Ristorante and Bar (Aigburth Road, Aigburth)

It’s chic and it’s stylish; and this Italian go-to could hold its own among the best in the city centre. The family run restaurant on the corner of Aigburth Road aims for that quality dining experience in great surroundings, without losing any of the cosiness and friendly feel you’d hope for. They aim to giver diners ‘the taste of your holidays’ and they do that with an extensive menu – plenty of pasta and mouth-watering meat and seafood specials – along with carefully selected wines from Valpolicella, the famous Abruzzo region, Benevento and Sicily.

See the menu and book your table here.

San Carlo (Castle Street)

This restaurant has always been a popular choice in Liverpool, but now after a £3.5m refurbishment, it’s definitely one not to miss! The award-winning restaurant group’s story started in Sicily and now has restaurants in Liverpool, London, Birmingham and event Manchester Airport! When it comes to the food, the team use the finest ingredients to make fresh pasta, pizza and more. San Carlo really is a little piece of Sicily on Castle Street.

See the menu and book your table here.

Cucina di Vincenzo (Woolton Road, Childwall)

Another fab family-owned and run restaurant serving classic Italian food inviting you to ‘celebrate, create lasting memories and share quality time with loved ones in our warm, relaxed and beautiful home away from home’.

Owner Vince opened Cucina in 2016 continuing a family legacy which began when his grandfather Francesco Margiotta immigrated to Edinburgh in 1904 and opened a café – Vince’s daughter Gabriella Margiotta is one of its chefs (and an Instagram favourite).

You will find perfect pasta dishes, and fresh meat and fish favourites like Spiedini di Pesce, chargrilled skewer of prawns, scallop, monkfish, with garlic butter and saffron risotto.

See the menu and book your table here.

La Famiglia (Stanley Street)

Definitely one of the busiest Italian restaurants, La Famiglia serves lunch and dinner six days a week! It’s a small family business where you’ll find a mix of Italian tradition and more contemporary Sicilian-inspired cooking. They make their own pasta, pastries and cakes daily – which is a definite plus – and they’ve got an Aperitivo Bar where you can soak up the atmosphere drinking classic cocktails – try the Bramble; Sicilian lemon gin, crème de mure and fresh lemon.

See the menu and book your table here.

Casa Italia (Stanley Street)

The Casa Italia Pizzeria and Pastificcio is one of Liverpool’s longest-established restaurants, well known in the city for more than 40 years. A popular, authentic Italian restaurant, it’s known for its fresh ingredients, generous portions and great value, which mean it’s always a favourite.

It’s proud of visits from the likes of Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher, Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams over the years – a testament to its reputation for good Italian food – but one very special person keeps a regular eye on the Casa, and that’s Eleanor Rigby who ‘lives’ opposite!

See the menu and book your table here.

Villa Romana (Wood Street)

Traditional home-cooked Italian food, in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It’s got a fab range of delicious Italian cuisine including freshly made pasta, grilled and pan-fried meat and fish dishes, antipasti, specialty breads and salads.

Villa Romana said:

“Our dedicated team of skilled chefs have worked tirelessly to perfect the art of providing guests with a true taste of genuine Neapolitan pizza, hand made in our kitchen and cooked to perfection.”

It has an extensive wine list from exquisite, imported Italian wines to several fantastic house choices.

See the menu and book your table here.

Amalia (Campbell Square)

Situated off Duke Street in the heart of Liverpool, Amalia offers contemporary Italian cuisine, in a great setting. Founders Miguel and Antonio have been working together since 2007.

Amalia is Italian for industrious and hardworking – which they say reflects in their work, food and presentation – and it’s also a beautiful, Italian flower that captures the essence of the restaurant! Always a favourite, the award-winning restaurant has a great menu – and a Calzone Challenge for those who brave enough accept it. Eat the whole pizza and you get it for free!

See the menu and book your table here.

Riva Blu (Castle Street)

The Castle Street restaurant boasts an open kitchen, cocktail bar, and a large outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco dining! Riva Blu is also a great spot for a special occasion or event, with its large space. When it comes to food and drinks, you’re spoilt for choice. The menu changes seasonally, but there is always a brilliant range of pizza, pasta and antipasti dishes.

Book a table here.

The Italian Club & Italian Club Fish (Bold Street)

The Italian Club Family is a group of deli restaurants and bakeries and in each of them you’ll find delicious dishes and products served in the ways Italians would eat them at home. Executive chef proprietor Maurizio Pellegrini says: “I wanted to bring a bit of Puglia to Liverpool.”

The ‘A La Carte’ menu offers a choice of dishes, well complemented with daily ‘specials’, which reflect local and seasonal availability. “All our dishes are homemade and may sometimes take a little longer to prepare… but the wait will be worth it!” they say.

The Italian Club Fish or ‘Fish Club’ as it has become known to fans is essentially a ‘Fish Caffé‘ – a marriage between Scottish and Italian styles, heavily influenced by the Crolla family’s heritage in Scotland and Picinisco, and Maurizio’s home town on the Puglian coast.

They serve fantastic fish and chips as well as incredible seafood pastas!

See the menu and book your table here.

Trattoria 51 (Old Hall Street)

Trattoria 51 began as a delightful Italian restaurant on Southport Promenade almost 10 years ago when Attilio arrived with cooking experience from around the world, and matched his fresh authentic Italian flavours with excellent value.

His seafood is renowned, he reckons his pizzas and pasta are just like you’d enjoy in Italy and he loves to add fresh specials every day.

The success of the Southport restaurant led to the opening of Trattoria 51’s second Italian restaurant in Old Hall Street Liverpool, with a full range of Italian favourites, from Polpette to Penne.

See the menu and book your table here.

L’Olivetto (Rose Lane, Mossley Hill)

Great family-run independent with owners Shoonagh De La Cruz and husband Kevin striving ‘to bring the best in Italian cuisine and hospitality’. Prides itself on being fab for both adults and those with kids, and there’s an extensive menu of pizzas and pastas as well as fish, meat and chicken dishes – and they do a much-praised Sunday Roast.

Recommended dishes include their lasagne, their Filleto di Bistecca and their Pollo Cacciatora.

See the menu and book your table here.

Need more restaurant inspiration? Head to our Food section here.