Calgary is host to some outstanding Italian restaurants. From the land to the sea, Italian restaurants bring comforting dishes and stellar meals to Calgary‘s food scene. Sit down with your group and order family-sized platters of antipasti to share, enjoy a memorable date night in intimate candlelight spots or grab a slice of pizza after work – whether you’re looking for fine dining or contemporary Italian fare, the best Italian restaurants in Calgary have a table for you.
Enjoy cuisine inspired by the southern Italian coastal culture, or relax under crystal chandeliers as you experience the best Brussels sprouts of your life, and visit the only restaurant in Calgary certified by the Neapolitan Pizza Association for flame-charred perfection.
Read on for 10 exceptional Italian restaurants in the city and grab a table before you, with OpenTable.
The best Italian restaurants in Calgary – read on for a guide
For one of Canada’s 100 Best New Restaurants – don’t miss LUPO Italian Ristorante and Patio in Banff
Embodying the spirit of a bustling Italian marketplace, LUPO Italian Ristorante and Patio was ranked number 6 on Canada’s 100 Best Top New Restaurants in 2023. Observe as the chef hand-stretches pizza dough and rolls fresh pasta to serve with seafood and grilled meat. The plates are generous and satisfying, don’t skip the fried mozzarella sticks with tomato sauce and the spicy LUPO meatballs soaked in rich sauce, that melt with every bite. When you’re in the mood for poultry enjoy the stuffed chicken breast with broccolini, roasted potatoes, and prosciutto.
Complete your Italian experience with ‘The James’ tiramisù, made from decaffeinated coffee with mascarpone and espresso vodka. Sip a coconut dragon fruit margarita made with vodka and pomegranate juice in the warm dining room featuring tall wooden ceilings that give off a forested Canadian feel, and gaze out to mountain views on the patio when the weather allows. For outstanding food in a welcoming environment, visit LUPO Italian Ristorante and Patio in Banff.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Calgary for traditional cuisine – book a table at D.O.P. in Downtown Calgary
D.O.P. in Downtown Calgary offers traditional Italian family recipes with a Canadian twist. Step into home-cooked goodness at this little Italian gem, and enjoy the romantic and cozy ambience enhanced with soft music and whimsical wall decorations. Start with whipped ricotta served with olive oil and light fresh bread and white anchovies with pickled onions and olive oil for a memorable umami taste. The tender veal chop parm comes with piping hot smoked mozzarella and nduja and is a highlight of the menu, along with the lamb and veal meatballs, made from a classic family recipe. For one of Calgary’s best pasta dishes, the tagliatelle with black pepper, cheese, and truffle is a must-try. Ask your server for the perfect wine pairing to go with your meal. Whatever Italian cuisine you crave, you’re sure to find it at D.O.P. in Calgary.
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For a trip to the Southern Italian coast – try Barbarella in Calgary
With flavors that take you to the Southern Italian coast, Barbarella combines fresh local ingredients with coastal Italian cuisine in an impressive dining room boasting towering glass windows, and a bustling open kitchen. Start with seafood and order the oyster on the half shell where lemon, hot sauce, and passionfruit combine for an invigorating marine twist, and share a tomato and hazelnut dip with focaccia. Pasta enthusiasts will appreciate the saffron butter ricotta and pistachio ravioli with sun-dried tomatoes. Pizza is highly recommended: try the ‘nduja and eggplant pizza with arugula, parmesan cream, and smoked mozzarella. For a lighter meal, order the chicken parmesan sandwich with provolone cheese and marinara sauce on ciabatta bread, served with fries. Make sure to stop by Barbarella in Calgary, where ingredients from the Pacific Northwest become coastal Italian fare.
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For family-sized platters the whole table can enjoy – visit Mercato – Mission and Mercato – MWest
With overflowing family platters designed for sharing, look no further than Mercato – Mission and Mercato – MWest. The menu blends traditional quality with fresh, modern ingredients for a signature taste that will keep you coming back for more and is intended for sharing. Start with the crispy risotto and mozzarella arancini balls with tomato sauce, fried until they’re golden brown. Experience a classic Roman dish with the rigatoni carbonara, drenched in an egg sauce with cheese, pepper, bacon, and a poached egg, for a journey through flavor. Order the risotto selection with mushrooms, truffle oil, creamy rice, and parmigiano, or embrace your love of beef with the bistecca Fiorentina with arugula and lemon. With an excellent wine list and cold martinis, Mercato offers a vibrant and warm atmosphere for your next get-together. Try the shareable menu at Mercato for a fantastic time with family and friends.
📍 Mercato – Mission — Check availability
📍 Mercato – MWest — Check availability
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For your next tour of the best Italian restaurants in Calgary – visit Bonterra Trattoria in Calgary
Chef Joseph Laverge draws inspiration from the beauty of Italy, at Bonterra Trattoria. Serving contemporary Italian cuisine, fresh and simple ingredients are given a creative elevation with amazing flavor. Begin your culinary trip to Italy with housemade focaccia served with cultured butter and pair it with a ham and cheese board featuring prosciutto di parma, crostini, melon, mustard, and honey. If pasta beckons, have the tagliatelle alla bolognese with parmesan and parsley in a traditional meat ragu. For brunch, go all the way with the bistecca steak and chive eggs, softly scrambled with smoked pancetta, toast, and fried potato. Finish with a sweet treat and enjoy the blueberry and lemon panna cotta. Make sure to partake in the extensive wine list, and don’t hesitate to ask your server for suggestions. Grab a seat on the terrace and surround yourself with sweetly scented plant life. Relax in the casual atmosphere of the dining room, or book a private room for your next gathering at Bonaterra Trattoria.
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For fine dining Italian fare – visit Luca in Beltline
Crystal chandeliers sit over a sharp, mood-enhancing dining room accented with pops of soft blue and green at Luca, one of the best Italian restaurants Calgary offers, with attentive servers sharing their knowledge of food and drinks to offer a memorable fine dining experience. You might not consider Brussels sprouts an essential item, but when you dine at Luca they are. Shaved Brussels sprouts are topped with toasted almonds, grana padano, and maple truffle vinaigrette for an unforgettable take on this traditional vegetable. Pasta lovers will find everything they’ve dreamed of in the fettuccine with porcini cream, truffle pesto, and wild mushrooms. Meat fanatics won’t want to miss the Canadian beef tenderloin served with seasonal vegetables and buttermilk potatoes beneath a red wine demi glaze. Allow sweetness into your life with the mascarpone mousse tiramisù dusted with amaretto-cocoa. When you’re hungry for a homemade feast in contemporary Italian elegance, make sure you try Luca in Beltline.
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For top-notch Neapolitan pizza – don’t miss Pulcinella in Kensington.
Visit the only restaurant in the city certified by the Neapolitan Pizza Association (APN) – Pulcinella – and enjoy one of the best pizzerias in Calgary. Chef Domenic Tudda earned his certification as a master chef in Italy and brings a passion for the pizza and pasta of Naples to all his food. Pulcinella pizza is crafted from carefully selected ingredients like Italian double zero flour, toppings fresh from the farm, and aromatic cheese and olive oil. Start your meal off with steamed mussels with ‘nduja sausage, rapini, capers before moving off to a Napoletana-style pizza marinara, charred to perfection. If you’re in a meatier mood, try the cotto pizza topped with prosciutto cotto ham. Pasta fans can’t miss the veal tortellini with sage, mortadella, pistachios, and mascarpone cream. The wine cellar is well stocked and attention to detail is apparent in the food. With a crisp white dining area, Pulcinella in Kensington is a good fit for groups and special occasions.
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For a home-style treasure at one of the best Italian restaurants in Calgary – try Sorella in Calgary
A passion for life is woven throughout the menu at Sorella. Named after the Italian word for ‘sister’, Sorella greets every guest as if they were family. The menu is designed for sharing, and an extensive wine and cocktail list invites leisurely stays. Begin with an order of burrata, with arugula, basil oil, roasted tomatoes, and grilled bread. Continue with pappardelle with an herb pistou – similar to pesto – with ricotta and toasted pine nuts, and pack in the protein with bistecca cooked to a perfect tender juiciness. Complete the meal with an olive oil cake under macerated Italian plums with whipped ricotta and honey. Menu items are adjusted throughout the year to incorporate seasonal ingredients. The softly colored modern dining room, the friendly attentive staff and the relaxing casual vibe make Sorella the perfect spot for celebrating a special occasion.
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For Italian fine dining in the historic Dominion Bank building – book a table at Teatro Restaurant in Calgary
Visit Teatro Restaurant and experience one of the best Italian restaurants in Calgary. ‘Teatro’ is the Italian word for theatre, and this restaurant was named in honor of the Calgary Arts and Theatre District in which it is located. Settle into a fine dining ambience of intricately molded Italian columns and spacious seating. An open kitchen is visible from the dining area where you can watch the magic happen. Start with bread that arrives freshly baked every morning. Teatro boasts an award-winning wine cellar with over 10,000 bottles and more than 1000 labels. Wine connoisseurs will be at home under tastefully chosen art resting on soaring walls. Savour seared scallops with watercress and truffle butter. Expand your tasting horizons and try foie gras with apple and brioche. Embrace seafood in the Teatro lobster lasagna with scallops and prawns. An excellent choice for your main course is the pepper-crusted tuna with trout roe crema, potato rosti and green peppercorn. When you want to taste opulence, go for the chef’s tasting menu and enjoy an elaborate five-course meal. Accept your sweet tooth and order the hazelnut cheesecake with orange sorbet and espresso tuile. Semi-private and private dining rooms are available.
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For an innovative fusion of French and Italian cuisine – stop by The Market Bistro in Canmore
Beside the majestic Three Sisters mountain range is a restaurant that blends French and Italian cuisine to become one of the best Italian restaurants near Calgary. Experience flavor at The Market Bistro, a 3-time winner of the Travelers’ Choice award. Share a starter of Argentinian garlic prawns and soak up the buttery sauce with focaccia. Carnivores will want to try the pulled pork flatbread topped with red onion, tomatoes, and mozzarella. When you’re in a pasta mood, order the spaghetti puttanesca with capers, prawns, and anchovies for a world of satisfying taste. The chicken marsala is suggested for every poultry fan – with fingerling potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and wild mushroom sauce, this juicy entree will make your day. End the meal with a tangy and sweet lemon pie for a refreshing treat that you surely deserve. The restaurant boasts an unmistakably warm Canadian style for a cozy meal and a mountainside patio to be enjoyed on warmer days with a cocktail or a glass of wine.
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The Calgary area offers diners top-notch Italian cuisine with a special flair for freshness. Listen to soft music as you bite into a juicy meatball made from an old family recipe, in one of the best Italian restaurants in Calgary. Gaze out at the Three Sisters mountains in Canmore with a glass of wine over sauteed prawns. For every taste and budget, Calgary offers the right Italian restaurant for your next dining experience.
