Buon Appetito: The Best Italian Restaurants in Brisbane

For food that feels like home, Italian dining is the way to go. Hearty and flavourful meals made with high-quality ingredients (and a whole lot of love) are the Mediterranean specialty, so why not partake in an indulgent night out enjoying the simple pleasures in life: good company, good food and good wine?

Whether you visit a glamorous restaurant on James Street or a quiet suburban affair, we’ve found the best options for dining from a banquet or a la carte at Brisbane’s best Italian restaurants.

For a decadent, home-style feast, be sure to book a table at one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane.

FIRMA

The Emporium Hotel’s Signature Restaurant transforms into FIRMA this August, offering a fresh take on traditional Italian dining helmed by chef Alba Rizzo.

Evoking memories of Southern Italy, FIRMA uses freshly sourced and local ingredients to craft elevated comfort food, Mediterranean style. Inclusive of any dietary requirements, the Emporium continues its commitment to top-tier hospitality with this authentic new iteration of its principal dining destination.

Dine a la carte on slow-cooked ossobucco, risotto Milanese, pork agnolotti and soft polenta, or opt for the $60 or $120 set shared menus.

The tiramisu dessert trolley is a must-try part of the experience, as are the martini and negroni drinks trolleys.

Emporium Hotel, 267 Grey Street, South Brisbane

Como Restaurant

Drawing inspiration from beloved regions throughout Italy, Como Restaurant envelops diners in the laid-back, yet refined essence of Lake Como. When you step into this new restaurant in Brisbane, you’ll instantly feel comfortable and relaxed, in the intimate booth seating or perched at the bar. Mood lighting sets the tone for a cosy date night or a catch-up with your closest confidantes.

The menu offers delicate bites to share, wood-fired pizza, and pasta plates that will linger in your mind long after you leave. With meals inspired by family recipes and humble traditions, you’ll enjoy food with heart and soul when dining at Como. 

119 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane

Establishment 203

Establishment 203 is a sophisticated new venue that delivers an elevated, international standard of dining to the Brisbane scene. With none other than the absolute connoisseur of beef, Chef Ben O’Donoghue at the helm, expect exemplary steak offerings, Italian pasta pairings and trademark cocktails.

Ben draws on his love of Italian cuisine, European travels and time spent at London’s famous River Cafe to craft the absolute best steak dining experience in the country.

Using traditional techniques with modern equipment, the kitchen houses Queensland’s first Michelin-quality MKN induction cooking suite, alongside live wood-fired Mibrasa cooking stations to ensure incredible flavour with every bite.

6 Marshall Street, Fortitude Valley

Pilloni

Pilloni aims to transport you to the breezy Sardinian Island, and we’ll happily visit any time we feel like a holiday in the Mediterranean. Most of the dishes here have been flame-kissed for that iconic flavour, and the kitchen works with producers, growers and hunters to use only the best ingredients.

All of the traditional focaccia, bread and pasta are made fresh daily in-house, so you know you’re in for a melt-in-your-mouth moment at this Italian restaurant in Brisbane.

166 Hardgrave Road, West End

Bianca

Elegant, refined, Italian glam… that’s Bianca. This upmarket eatery on James Street is the effortlessly cool girl next door and it’s no surprise why. The food is utterly incredible and the rustic, tiled aesthetic of the fittings makes the perfect backdrop.

Bianca is the best Italian restaurant to book for a chic meal out with your besties, for no other reason than to have a wonderful time.

Shop Am5 Ada Lane, 46 James Street, Fortitude Valley

Mosconi

Head into Mosconi and you’ll find food, wine and hospitality with heart… all the things that make it one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane! Inhabiting one of Brisbane’s old ex-WWII buildings, the space has been revamped into a chic, two-level wine bar and restaurant with gorgeous European decor.

When you’re not drinking in the finer details, you’ll be diving into stunning plates of meats, seafood, pasta, risotto and more.

164B Arthur Street, Fortitude Valley

1889 Enoteca

One of the best spots in Brisbane for authentic Italian dining is 1889 Enoteca, located on the fringe of Brisbane city in Woolloongabba. The food and wine are inspired by the flavours of Rome and the kitchen here allows the local produce to truly shine with their traditional cooking methods. Dine from land or sea, with our pick of the menu landing on the Cicale Di Mare, a dish of Moreton Bay bugs, basil pesto cream and sundried tomatoes.

The wine list is equally as uninterrupted and considered, with natural wines (vini naturali) taking centre stage. These wines are made in the ‘old way of doing things’, with minimal intervention, small crops and indigenous yeasts.

Taste the difference for yourself the next time you’re hunting down one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane.

The Moreton Rubber Building 10 – 12 Logan Road, Woolloongabba

Elementi

A Brazilian, a Colombian and a Sicilian walk into a bar… and soon after one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane is born. Elementi offers an eclectic and ever-evolving dining experience to each guest who enters their Paddington establishment. Plating up dishes like the Polpo, grilled octopus on fennel puree served with green olives, charme radicchio, jalapeno parsley emulsion and mandarin oil, the menu at Elementi promises to keep you inspired and keep you guessing.

This restaurant celebrates Italian culinary traditions through their attention to detail, use of premium local produce and tidbits taken from their diverse backgrounds to elevate your experience to new levels.

257 Given Terrace, Paddington

Antica

A local favourite in the bustling dining precinct of Wilston Village, Antica is one of the best new Italian restaurants in Brisbane for a mid-week dinner. Antica means ancient or ‘in the manner of the ancients’, a nod to their traditional style of cooking Neapolitan-style pizza. Owners Luke and Mike began their journey with the world’s first mobile pizza oven, housed in a 1962 Volkswagen Kombi van. The ‘Pizzantica’ van was soon looking to put down roots after the demand for a permanent location was heard from their customers. Thanks to the demand, now we have easy access to some of the best Italian food in Brissie.

1 / 70 Kedron Brook Road, Wilston

Rosmarino Ristorante

What began as a plan for an intimate wine bar plating up perhaps a few cheese boards and some prosciutto, quickly evolved into a 175sqm restaurant as the dream for Rosmarino Ristorante took shape and became one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane.

Pouring from a curated wine list to complement your meal, your dining experience at Rosmarino is bound to be well-rounded and perfectly balanced.

6 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley

Ristorante Tartufo

For an authentic Naples feast, visit this classic Italian restaurant in the heart of Fortitude Valley.

Everything at Tartufo is done with heart and steeped in tradition, from the quality ingredients they use to their cooking methods, all the way down to how they run their kitchen.

This Italian restaurant in Brisbane is popular for its degustation, but the à la carte menu is so expansive that you never have to order the same thing twice!

The next time you need to book a family meal or a group dinner, make a reservation at Ristorante Tartufo for a hearty serving of classic Italian comfort food.

1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley

Bar Tano

In Brisbane’s premier dining precinct, James Street, the scents of delicious wood-fired pizzas (made in a pizza oven imported from Napoli) will have you thinking you’ve stepped into the streets of Sicily. The oh-so-sleek Bar Tano features an illuminated central bar, a buzzy atmosphere and accents of dark green marble. Inspired by Milan, Bar Tano is a casual spot to drop in and enjoy a martini or a coffee, and some traditional Italian eats.

DJs and sax players keep vibes high on Friday and Saturday nights and the delicious dishes of meatballs, croquettes and focaccia are matched only by the signature cocktail list. This was an easy pick for our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane.

15 James Street, Fortitude Valley

Gemelli James Street

Gemelli – Italian for twins – is the brainchild of twin brothers who opened Gemelli Italian in the hopes of sharing the home-style family recipes they grew up enjoying. The Gemelli team have a few of Brisbane’s best Italian restaurants under their belt, with Bar Tano in their stead as well as their two locations.

They even have share-style banquet menus for $75 and $100 per person respectively for anyone who is looking to experience all the biggest hits.

15 James Street, Fortitude Valley

Sasso Italiano

This neighbourhood trattoria pairs Italian eats with natural wines. Serving up old-style faves in a family-style way, the seasonal menu has everything from fresh pasta to crudo and pizzas cooked in their bespoke Marana Forni woodfire oven.

With a kitchen helmed by Amalfi-born, Gabriele Di Landri, Sasso Italiano might just become your new favourite Italian. The gorgeous decor and warm, welcoming hospitality are what make the Sasso experience one of our favourites in Brisbane. Mangia, mangia!

4/148 Logan Road, Woolloongabba

New Farm Deli

New Farm Deli is an absolute Brisbane institution for authentic Italian dining. Having been completely refurbished following a devastating fire in 2019, the Deli has been thriving ever since with droves of regulars and new diners alike descending upon the New Farm-based restaurant every weekend.

The hefty menu is full of traditional classics, but we love poring over the cabinet treats to see what the sandwiches or piadines of the week entail. Make sure you save room for dessert, the limoncello cake and vanilla slice are worthy of a visit on their own!

Be sure to stroll through the shelves to take home high-quality and authentic ingredients to recreate the magic at home.

Merthyr Village, 900 Brunswick Street, New Farm

Massimo

Eagle Street’s most authentic Italian eatery is serving up a taste of Abruzzo and one of the best views in Brissy. Having reopened late last year, you can expect house-made pasta, bouncy focaccia and ocean-caught seafood from kingfish to chargrilled octopus and showstoppers like lobster. Enjoy Amalfi Coast-style eats and cocktails with a glittering view of the Brisbane River, with the coveted Riverside CBD location.

Banquets and progressive lunches served alongside bottomless boozy treats make Massimo one of our favourite new spots for a leisurely lunch. Be sure to keep an eye on their events calendar for special Italian opera nights!

123 Eagle Street, The Riverside Centre, Boardwalk Level, Brisbane City

Beccofino

It’s impossible to look past Beccofino when exploring Brisbane’s very best in Italian. With an indulgent menu spanning pizza, pasta, antipasto and desserts, this Teneriffe-based restaurant has been keeping hungry stomachs happy for years.

A popular haunt for date night or simply midweek dining, our favourite dish at Beccofino has to be the Rigatoni alla Vodka, a creamy tomato-based sauce that fills your soul as efficiently as it does your belly.

Make sure you order their ever-popular calamari… and get ready for this to become your new favourite pizza place! Take a stroll along the Teneriffe Riverwalk after your meal to digest and enjoy the waterfront view and fresh air.

10 Vernon Terrace (Corner of Florence Street), Teneriffe

OTTO Ristorante

For an experience steeped in excellence, OTTO is the one. Meals are minimalistic yet perfectly balanced, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine through. The staff are attentive and dedicated to ensuring a positive experience, which has created a loyal following of regulars and rave reviews for this South Bank restaurant.

A no-brainer for our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane, OTTO has recently relocated to a gorgeous waterfront location that makes for dreamy afternoon dining.

Sidon Street, South Bank

Osteria Epoca

Steeped in family traditions, Osteria Epoca functions not only as a restaurant but also as a cafe, bar, provisions store and deli. With a concise yet decadent dinner menu (porchetta, anyone?), this authentic Italian experience will make you feel right at home.

Don’t be deceived by Osteria’s suburban location, this is easily one of the best-hidden gems for Italian eats in Brisbane.

This Italian restaurant serves up lunch, dinner and drinks, so it makes for the perfect pitstop or weekday plan to wind down and enjoy good food in great company.

17 Orontes Road, Yeronga

Popolo

Another long-standing Brisbane favourite, Popolo is one of South Bank’s most popular dining destinations. Popolo means “people” and this is the mantra of the restaurant, with hearty meals designed to be shared, enjoyed and lingered over.

The location is the final component that secures Popolo as one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane, with its sparkling views of the Brisbane River.

 3 Sidon Street, Brisbane

Il Verde

Located in the bustling King Street dining precinct, Il Verde focuses on using seasonal and sustainably sourced produce to create mouthwateringly authentic Italian dishes. This welcoming restaurant aims to make dining out accessible for all, making it a definite addition to our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane.

With hearty portions of pasta, risotto or a classic pizza, the flavours of these expertly crafted dishes will have you returning time and time again.

2 King Street, Bowen Hills

La Lupa

Refusing to settle for anything less than the best, La Lupa’s head chef Valentina Vigni sources the organic, stone-milled flour for their pizzas from Italy to ensure it retains the nutritional value that it naturally possesses. Inspired by central Italian cuisine, this West End restaurant plates up meals that look as good as they taste.

Taking pride in the maturation of their dough, each detail of your meal is finessed to perfection behind the scenes.

Begin your dinner with antipasti to share, then delight in a variety of pizzas and handmade pastas to suit any taste buds, paired with natural wines.

321 Montague Road, West End

The Verve

Known as an Italian steakhouse and for its impressive drinks list, The Verve has relocated to a new spot in the Brisbane CBD while renovations take place. This is a great spot for winding down the work week on Friday night with its relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Verve’s menu easily caters to gluten-free and vegetarian patrons and the staff are known to be incredibly accommodating.

As one of the best Italian restaurants in Brisbane, local regulars have followed The Verve to their new location, so that they need not miss out on dishes like their truffled mushroom risotto or slow-roasted cherry tomato gnocchi.

Hotel Orient, Level 1, 560 Queen Street, Brisbane

Once you have worked your way through Brisbane's best Italian restaurants, it’s time to check out our round-up of the best new restaurants in Brisbane, or skip to more Mediterranean eats with our guide to the best Greek restaurants in Brisbane. You can thank us later.