Renowned and celebrated for its diversity and multiculturalism, Vancouver is home to an array of the most popular international cuisines worldwide. Of the most sought-after cuisines on any given day is none other than Italian, from extensive selections and shapes of pastas to endless variations of pizzas and antipasti, the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver have something for everyone, for any meal of the day.
Whether you’re in the mood for a bustling Neapolitan-style wood oven pizzeria over in Vancouver’s Commercial Drive, or celebrating a special occasion at an upscale Italian steakhouse in the posh Century Plaza Hotel, one the 10 best Italian restaurants in all of Vancouver will satisfy your craving for Italian. The city’s Italian food scene will have you anywhere from the buzzing Chinatown area to the popular Stadium District, each exemplifying and encompassing the very best in recipes, flavors, and all things Italian.
To experience some of the very best Italian restaurants in Vancouver, head on over to OpenTable to book your table today.
The best Italian restaurants in Vancouver – read on for a curated guide
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver for pasta – make your way to Zambri’s in Victoria
Immerse yourself in a stylish trattoria situated in an eco-conscious building at Zambri’s. Renowned chef Peter Zambri, whom the restaurant is named after, uses seasonal and local ingredients that are showcased within his menu inspired by his Italian heritage. The marinated octopus is an antipasti starter for the table, as well as Zambri’s Cesare salad. The extensive selection of pastas like the tagliatelle with meat sauce or pizzas like the salsiccia made with house-made sausage, shaved fennel, tomato sauce and mozzarella are highlights from the menu. Taste your way through traditional wine offerings from regions like Lazio and Piemonte, or a beautiful cocktail like the Sicilian limoncello with vodka. The charming interior will seemingly transport you right to Europe, nestled within the beautiful and scenic Victoria. The lavish dining room setup sets the scene for the perfect romantic night out with your significant other, or for a special occasion with a group. Zambri’s is a classic night out that brings out the very best of Italy.
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For one of the city’s most historic corners – try Sempre Uno in North Vancouver
Sempre Uno which translates to ‘Forever One’, offers regional Italian fusion with live entertainment and a wonderful ambience, making for a lovely night out with family, friends, and your significant other. The selection of cheese and ham board is an eye-popping shareable for the table. A classic espresso martini is a true Italian way of getting the party started before a standout main course such as spaghetti in a seafood medley, or the mushroom and truffle risotto topped with pecorino. Finish off with a crispy tiramisu cannoli topped with chocolate shavings that is sure to be a hit. The making of a memorable night out is just steps away at Sempre Uno, one of the best Italian restaurants in the Vancouver area.
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For a bustling Neapolitan-style pizzeria – head over to Marcello Ristorante and Pizzeria in Commercial Drive
Marcello Ristorante and Pizzeria has been a neighborhood favorite for over 20 years. Italian-born chef Marcello Lombardo brought his native Palermitan cuisine to the bustling Commercial Drive area. The wonderful interior brings a feel of his homeland straight to the dining room, with Italian columns spread throughout, and a giant statue in the kitchen area. This is where the magic happens, as its storied wood fire pizza open brings a true sensory experience from the South of Italy. Try a wood-fired Neapolitan staple like the classic margherita pizza, or the capricciosa, topped with ham, salami, artichokes, mushrooms, and black olives. Don’t miss the signature Marcello’s pie topped with black olives, onions, capers, and anchovies. These Italian staples are a must to be washed down with traditional paloma or a famous Italian beer like the Peroni. Top your meal off with a cultural classic dessert like a panna cotta or a mascarpone cream which are sure to be the cherry on top of your mouth-watering dining experience.
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For Italian-Japanese fusion dishes – take a stroll to Kissa Tanto in Chinatown
Inspired by 1960 Tokyo jazz cafes comes Kissa Tanto, an Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. The delicate flavors of Japan combined with the wholesome Italian ingredients of the region is the perfect marriage of cultures on a plate, all under the roof of the chic interior decor of the House of Plenty. The tonno mantecato is a beautiful way to begin your fusion experience, a crispy Italian bruschetta topped with confit tuna, furikake, smoked potato, and tobiko. A must-try main is the spaghettoni pasta featuring wagyu ragu, Japanese curry, spiced breadcrumbs, and nut-fed pork. Taste your way through the regions of Japan and Italy featured in the extensive drink menu, from the amaro Long Island iced tea or an enticing cocktail like the My Private Tokyo, giving refreshing flavors of both storied cultures.
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For Italian tapas and traditional Neapolitan pizza – Bufala is the place to be in Kerrisdale and Edgemont
Located in Kerrisdale and Edgemont, Bufala is a pizza-focused gem that is regarded by Vancouver Magazine as “the beating heart of the Kerrisdale food scene”. The from-scratch, contemporary pizzas are made in an 800-degree stone oven, along with other traditional Italian small plates such as burrata with hazelnuts and creamy meatballs with ricotta cheese. Must-try pizzas include the sausage and sunchoke pie made with charred kale, and taleggio cheese, perfect for vegetarians. For the meat eaters, look no further than the pepperoni and honey pizza, a mouthwatering combination of crispy pepperoni, fermented Serrano ham, chilli honey, mozzarella and parmesan. For dessert, the traditional affogato, an espresso over vanilla gelato and almond biscotti crumble, makes for an outstanding choice, and is sure to satisfy that sweet tooth at the end of your meal.
📍 Kerrisdale — Check availability
📍 Edgemont — Check availability
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For two of the best Italian restaurants and bars in Vancouver – visit Frankie’s Italian Kitchen and Bar and Frankie’s Jazz Club in Stadium District
Over at the Stadium District, diners looking for a fun night out of Italian cuisine and music can hit up two different hot spots located across the street from one another. Frankie’s Italian Kitchen and Bar is your first stop for Italian comfort food. Start your meal off with crispy fried squid, served with lime tartar sauce, and topped with chilli flakes. As your main, you can’t go wrong with housemade pasta, like the alfredo tagliatelle with sauteed chicken and parmesan cream sauce. After your meal, head on over across the street to Frankie’s Jazz Club, where you can enjoy jazz and blues from local and international artists over cocktails, or even more bites if you’re up for it. Whether you’re in the mood for an Italian beer like a Moretti or a signature cocktail like the Vino Limone made with vodka, sparkling lemonade and a float of red wine, the spirits will be high, and the music will be bumping over at Frankie’s Jazz Club.
📍 Frankie’s Italian Kitchen and Bar — Check availability
📍 Frankie’s Jazz Club — Check availability
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For one of Vancouver’s top Italian restaurants for a romantic dinner – don’t miss Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca in Yaletown
Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca is a romantic and modern Italy hot spot in Vancouver’s Yaletown, a collaboration from iconic local chefs Julio Gonzalez Perini and Michael Mameli. Hailing from one of the city’s top stellar Italian spots, the two chefs bring a fine dining touch to Italian staples. The black tagliatelle pasta dish is the epitome of just that – an elevated take on a familiar favorite, topped with Caribbean lobster, prawns, garlic and tomato. Start your meal off with foie gras parfait or goat cheese on greens before moving to a free-range chicken breast served with ham and fontina cheese and a side of gnocchi. Add to that a small plate of creamy mascarpone polenta and freshly baked focaccia for a memorable Italian meal. The gorgeous and dimly lit interior sets the perfect scene for a charming night out for a special occasion or with a romantic date. Whether you’re looking for Italian classics or elevated takes on familiar staples, Lupo is the ideal spot.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver for a fine dining experience – visit C | PRIME – Modern Italian Steak and Wine in West End
Regarded by Pendulum Magazine as “Vancouver’s best kept secret for Italian fine dining” is C | PRIME – Modern Italian Steak and Wine, an Italian steakhouse housed in the iconic Century Plaza Hotel. Executive chef Behshad Zolnasr honed his craft at numerous MICHELIN-starred restaurants worldwide before being at the helm of C | Prime where he pays homage to the steakhouse experience and Italian cuisine under one roof. The elegant menu at a budget-friendly price is highlighted throughout C | Prime’s menu. The selection of prime cuts includes gold-grade wagyu, porterhouse, and tomahawk with a choice of sauces. For those looking for a taste of Italian classics, the crab tortellini in a creamy lobster sauce and ricotta gnocchi with carrot pesto and pecans are standout main options. Diners are encouraged to top the experience off with a gander at the dessert menu, with the lemon semifreddo sandwich or the tiramisu with vanilla liqueur paired with a dessert wine. Immerse yourself in an elevated dining experience at C | Prime for that special occasion you’ve been looking forward to celebrating. Breakfast is served until noon and is the perfect way to start a day with breakfast poutine, cinnamon waffles, bagels and pastries.
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For a local neighborhood favorite – step into Tutto Restaurant and Bar in Yaletown
At Tutto Restaurant and Bar in Vancouver’s Yaletown, you can try a little bit of everything in this modern Italian destination that features the finest ingredients across the Italian provinces. The elegant flare in its interior decor is a lovely touch for a night out with work friends and family, housed in a historic brick building from the early 1900s. Go for a timeless classic such as pasta with creamy bolognese sauce and don’t miss the hearty pizzas like the honey truffle topped with ham, and fior di latte mozzarella. The happy hour features a marked-down selection of popular finger foods, pastas, and pizzas, along with staple drinks like Negroni and Aperol spritz, making for an ideal place to raise a glass over that new promotion, engagement, or birthday.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver for pizza – book at Nicli Antica Pizzeria in North Vancouver
Stretching across four generations of the Nicli family is Nicli Antica Pizzeria in North Vancouver, a stellar pizzeria housed within a former horse stable and jail. Honoring culinary traditions, the gorgeous Edgemont Village location all of the favorites and classics of Italian heritage and cuisine. The rustic-meets-modern dining room has a charm and ambience to it that is ideal for a casual night out with friends and family around some top-notch Italian favorites. The beef carpaccio with horseradish aioli paired with daily house-baked fluffy focaccia is a lovely way to start tasting your way through its impressive menu. Make your way through the extensive selections of pizzas like the Iberica, with chorizo and pistachio sauce, the beef salami pizza with mushrooms and truffle oil or the signature pie with pea pesto, pistachios and lemon zest. Try top-notch traditional pasta dishes like meatballs spaghetti or go for something special like the bell-shaped pasta with cherry tomato, vodka and guanciale sauce – a must-try wonderful main selection for a special occasion. No meal is complete without dessert, don’t skip the Nutella and mascarpone cheesecake and the lemon tart with raspberry coulis and candied hazelnuts. The generational Italian eatery makes for a lovely night out in North Vancouver, offering anything one could hope for in pursuit of Italian familiar favorites.
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Vancouver’s rich diversity and multiculturalism continues to be highlighted throughout its array of international cuisines in the food scene. Being one of the most popular go-to options globally, the Italian food scene thrives throughout Vancouver’s top areas in the city. From traditional and classic Italian gems that stay true to its very heritage, to Italian Japanese fusions and Italian steakhouses, the options are endless and enough to last a lifetime.
Whether you’re celebrating that milestone or on that first date, this list of the 10 best Italian restaurants in Vancouver has you covered for any occasion, on any given day or night. The highlighted restaurants will take you on a culinary journey throughout Italy’s stunning regions and provinces, and will certainly be a satisfying sensory experience.
For those in the mood to try any of the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver’s food scene, your table is just a click away on OpenTable.
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