Best Italian Restaurants Dublin: 12 Places That’ll Make Your Belly Happy

In search of the best Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer? This guide will make your belly happy!

If you’ve read our guide to the best restaurants in Dublin, you’ll know that County Dublin is home to its fair share of incredible places to it.

And, while some Italian restaurants in Dublin tend to grab a good chunk of the attention online, the city is home to some hidden gems that dish up reasonably priced (and tasty!) food.

Below, you’ll find where to grab the finest Italian food in Dublin, from popular spots to several often missed restaurants. Dive on in!

What we think are the best Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer

The first section of our guide is packed with what we think are the best Italian restaurants in Dublin.

These are places that one of the Irish Road Trip team have munched away in at some point over the years and loved.

1. Sprezzatura (Rathmines + Camden Market)

You’ll find Sprezzatura in both Rathmines and the Camden Market where they’ve been combining Italian cooking expertise with Irish produce to make bellies happy for several years.

The menu at Sprezzatura is nice and compact, which is usually a good sign, as chefs are able to perfect a handful of dishes (going off the reviews they’ve achieved this!).

Food wise, there’s plates (cured meats, Wicklow Greens Salad, truffles, and more) and pasta (gnocchi, lasagne, fettuccine, squid ink tagliatelle and much more).

If you’re looking for the best Italian restaurants in Dublin to mark a special occasion, Sprezzatura’s got you covered (aim for the one in Rathmines, if you can!).

2. Antica Venezia (Ranelagh)

Ranelagh is definitely not lacking in good Italian food, and Antica Venezia is another of our favourites. Just a bit further down the main street, this unassuming place is home to a cosy, dimly lit interior with a friendly atmosphere.

Although they serve up some exquisite Mediterranean food, the seafood is the obvious winner at Antica Venezia.

From fresh fish to mussels and calamari, you’ll find mouth-watering dishes at reasonable prices. It wouldn’t be an Italian restaurant without some vino, and they have a long wine list to accompany your meal.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best brunch in Dublin (or our guide to the best bottomless brunch in Dublin)

3. Fellini’s Pizza Pasta (Deansgrange)

I’ve been to Fellini’s Pizza Pasta twice now, and I’d happily visit every couple of weeks for the next year without getting bored with their menu.

The food here is exquisite! Starts include everything from bruschetta and antipasto misto to arancini and calamari, while mains boats everything from perfectly cooked pizza to a generous number of pasta dishes.

If you visit, keep an eye out for the blackboard specials. Although I’ve yet to go for one (there’s a lot to get through on the menu here), I’ve seen plenty arrive into Fellini’s Pizza Pasta and go straight to the daily specials.

4. Pomodorino (Swords)

Located in the heart of Swords, Pomodirino is, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked and best Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer.

Here you’ll find everything from pasta dishes and wood-fired pizza to a wide range of appetizers and some of the finest Italian wines.

For starters, try the Tagliere Misto that includes imported Italian cured meats, dried tomatoes, cheese, and olives.

If you opt for a pizza dish, make sure to go for the one with buffalo mozzarella on top. As for the wine list, De Falco Negro from the Italian region of Puglia is an excellent choice.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best steakhouse in Dublin (11 places you can grab a perfectly cooked steak tonight)

5. Manifesto (Rathmines)

Manifesto is a lovely award-winning neighbourhood Italian in the heart of Rathmines, and they’re widely reputed to do the best pizza in Dublin.

The brainchild of chef-owner Lucio Paduano, Manifesto’s menu boasts a whopping 20 different pizzas, each of which is exceptionally well prepared.

Visitors here can expect only the freshest local ingredients combined with Italian cooking expertise. Manifesto’s kitchen is 100% coeliac friendly and they also offer pizzas with vegan mozzarella, too.

Other popular spots for Italian food in Dublin

Now that we have what we think are the best Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer out of the way, it’s time to see what else the capital has tucked up its sleeve.

If you’re still not sold on any of the previous choices, the section below is packed with some more highly-reviewed places to try Italian food in Dublin.

1. Da Mimmo (North Strand)

I’ve never been a fan of touristy Italian restaurants in Dublin (or anywhere else, for that matter), which is why I try to opt for family-run restaurants located outside of tourist/office hotspots.

This is why I’ve been returning to North Strand’s Da Mimmo time and time again (the food’s great too, of course!).

Those that visit Da Mimmo will be treated to a fix of high-quality Italian food. Their wood-fired pizza with classic options like basil and mozzarella is delicious.

The Sicilian pasta alla Norma with ricotta cheese is also a big crowd-pleaser. With a daily two-course lunch menu special for €8.50 (check in advance), the food at Da Mimmo not only delicious, but it’s also reasonably priced.

2. Il Vicoletto (Temple Bar)

As you’ve probably gathered at this stage, there is no shortage of fabulous Italian restaurants in Dublin and Il Vicoletto is up there with the best of them.

This boutique Italian dining establishment offers a traditional Italian menu with homemade pasta dishes and authentic foods from the Romagna and Tuscan regions.

Try the ravioli with ricotta cheese, sausage, and mozzarella or order a portion of scaloppine alla romano (veal with sage, prosciutto, and potatoes).

Did I mention their extensive wine list with imported favourites like Barbera, Dolcetto, Barolo, Brunello, Chianti, and Supertuscan? It’s spectacular!

Il Vicoletto is widely regarded as one of the best Italian restaurants in Dublin City Centre for good reason. Get yourself here sharpish!

3. Gigi (Ranelagh)

Gigi is one of the most popular Italian restaurants in Dublin, and it’s well worth travelling to get to, as the reviews online will attest. 

Aside from an extensive collection of imported Italian wines, this neighbourhood restaurant in heart of Ranelagh Village is famous for its antipasti bar and handmade pasta dishes.

Tagliatelle alle cozze is a popular order, as well as the ravioli special with mascarpone and potatoes. Don’t leave this place before trying their chocolate mousse with cranberry crisp and orange sorbet.

Related read: Check out our guide to the tastiest Irish food in Dublin (11 Irish restaurants that’ll tantalise your tastebuds this weekend)

4. That’s Amore (Monkstown)

Although I’m yet to visit That’s Amore in Monkstown, I have it on good authority that this place is an absolute stunner.

The owners, Silvia Leo and Marco Valeri, run this casual Italian deli and import most of the ingredients from Italy.

So, what’s so special about this restaurant? The pizza here is hand-stretched, the signature specials change daily, and the food is mind-blowing and reasonably priced. Order the antipasti misto or go for the homemade gnocchi and you’ll leave with very happy tastebuds.

5. Rosa Madre (Temple Bar)

I am a big fan of seafood pasta and Rosa Madre in Dublin is always there to take care of my craving for this exceptional dish.

They also specialise in fresh fish with options like gamberi in spicy spinach, calamari, and the mighty lobster tonnarelli.

Back in 2018, Rosa Madre won an award for the ‘Best Italian Restaurant in Dublin’ and it’s also ranking high in our guide to the best seafood restaurants in Dublin, too.

6. Ragazzi Gastro Market (Dalkey)

Located just off the main bustle of Castle Street in Dalkey, Ragazzi Gastro Market is a no-nonsense but insanely tasty Italian that serves up Italy’s greatest culinary hits.

You’ll find a range of specials along with a tasty selection of paninis. They even do their own pizza – The Ragazzi – that features King Prawns, Spinach, Tomato and Mozzarella.

This is one of the best Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer when it comes to price, with pasta dishes coming in at between €12 and €14 and pizzas costing between €11 and €14.

7. Aprile Stillorgan

Located just a stone’s throw from Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Aprile is a tastefully decorated Italian restaurant with a beautiful marble bar.

The extensive set menus will set you back about €20 and include a variety of tasty Italian dishes.

From starters like garlic bread with melted mozzarella to mains that include pasta dishes like ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese, everything you order at the Aprile Restaurant is stunningly delicious.

Italian restaurants Dublin: What ones have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some great Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let us know in the comments section below and we’ll check it out.

FAQs about the best Italian food in Dublin

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What is the best pasta in Dublin?’ to ‘Which are the most authentic?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best Italian restaurants in Dublin?

In our opinion, the best Italian Dublin has to offer are Fellini’s Pizza Pasta, Manifesto, Antica Veneziaand Sprezzatura. 

Where does the best pasta in Dublin?

Da Mimmo, Il Vicoletto and That’s Amore are three of the more popular Italian restaurants Dublin has to offer when it comes to pasta.