The 16 best Italian restaurants in Boston to try right now
For the top antipasti and pastas around town, consult our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Boston
Scores of hungry diners seeking out the best pizza in Boston simply head to North End, the city’s “Little Italy.” But the best Italian restaurants in Boston, serving the kind of crave-worthy pasta and specialties that lead to packed reservation books, can actually be found all over the metro area. So, the next time you’re searching for Italian fare after checking out some of the best Boston attractions, consult our handy little guide. And, in true Italian spirit, don’t forget to have yourself a nice glass of red at one of the best wine bars in Boston before dinner.
RECOMMENDED: See the best restaurants in Boston
1
Restaurants, Italian
Coppa
Owners Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette lure casual, stylish crowds to their Italian nook in the South End. Expect to sit elbow-to-elbow with your neighbor in the shoebox-sized dining room; a little more space can be had on the packed sidewalk patio. The popular wood-fired pizzas, robust pastas, and small-plate bar snacks make it worth the tight squeeze. Italian-only wines and craft beers keep the atmosphere festive.
South End
2
Restaurants, Italian
Giulia
Chef-owner Michael Pagliarini and his staff pamper their guests with friendly, professional service and killer pastas, which are prepped daily on a custom-made table that accommodates large groups at night. Brick walls and candlelight keep the vibe romantic and rustic. The all-Italian wine list pairs well with the menu, some of which is inspired by the chef’s travels to Italy.
Porter Sq
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3
Restaurants, Italian
Bar Mezzana
Fans of modern, coastal Italian fare have been making the trek to this hot spot in the South End’s Ink Block complex. There’s a menu of delicate crudo that changes daily, and an assortment of crostini and antipasti provides fun, shareable options for groups. House-made pasta options may include duck egg raviolo or lobster paccheri. Whenever the weather allows, tables on the sunny sidewalk patio prove popular.
South End
4
Restaurants, Italian
Sportello
Hidden away above the street in Fort Point, Barbara Lynch’s sleek iteration of a classic diner offers up supremely tasty, trattoria-inspired Italian cuisine. (Don't miss out on Lynch’s signature tagliatelle bolognese.) Sit at the large communal counter that showcases the action in the kitchen, or grab a bite to-go and find a bench along the channel for a waterside picnic.
Seaport District
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5
Restaurants, Italian
Erbaluce
At his cozy Bay Village restaurant, Chef Charles Draghi believes in letting key ingredients speak for themselves; the ever-changing menu reads like an ode to the Earth’s bounty. The kitchen places a focus on local, seasonal ingredients and Piemontese flavors. Italian wine lovers encounter several hard-to-find labels included in the inviting wine list. (The restaurant’s named for a white Piedmontese varietal.)
Bay Village
6
Restaurants, French
No. 9 Park
While No. 9 Park - the restaurant that put Barbara Lynch on the map - is not a conventional Italian restaurant, it does serve perhaps the city's most famous pasta dish: prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie gras, almond, and vin santo. Other notable Italian à la carte offerings are likely to include delicate crudo, buffalo mozzarella, and a couple of pasta dishes such as duck sausage cappellacci.
Beacon Hill
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7
Restaurants, Italian
SRV
Boston’s first Venetian-style osteria and wine bar, SRV (“Serene Republic of Venice”) balances its focus between modern interpretations of Venetian cicchetti (small plates) and spectacular pastas. The kitchen mills their own pasta flour in-house, using organic durum wheat berries. Adventurous groups can opt for the Arsenale menu, which puts the entire table in the hands of the kitchen. An exclusively Italian wine list complements the menu, and those looking for something stronger can opt for Italian-influenced cocktails.
South End
8
Restaurants, Italian
La Morra
Housed on Route 9 near Brookline Village, this cozy restaurant serves Northern Italian specialties with aplomb. Most tables start with orders of cicchetti (little plates of pickled vegetables, Tuscan meatballs, and arancini), before moving on to homemade pastas and hearty entrees such as wood-grilled Cornish hen under a brick or pan-roasted striped bass. The restaurant’s nightly four-course prezzo fisso menu is one of the best deals in town ($40, plus $20 for wine pairings).
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9
Restaurants, Italian
Bricco
This dark, suave neighborhood pioneer of alta cucina remains one of the North End’s primo see-and-be-seen spots. (Seats by the sidewalk windows are always in demand.) The varied, crowd-pleasing menu features scores of familiar comfort faves as well as creative, seasonal plates. Also notable: one of Hanover Street’s best late-night menus, served until 2am on weekends.
North End
10
Restaurants, Italian
Sorellina
Even more striking in its black-and-white stripes than older sibling Mistral, stylish Sorellina could double as a modern design showroom. One of the city’s priciest Italian menus is equally glamorous, with luxurious ingredients featured throughout. Equally splurge-worthy, the varied wine list is perfect for expense account-powered dinners.
Back Bay
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11
Restaurants, Italian
Posto
Davis Square’s go-to spot for upscale pizzas, Posto makes its mozzarella in-house, and each wood-fired pie is made according to guidelines laid out by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. But Posto is more than just a pizza joint; it’s a cozy Italian restaurant that works just as well for a first date as it does for a group dinner with friends. The menu offers classic Italian favorites such as meatballs made with “nonna’s recipe,” gnocchi with braised beef short ribs, and veal saltimbocca.
Somerville
12
Restaurants, Italian
Prezza
Prezza combines the urbane musculature of a downtown steakhouse with the intimacy of the trattorias that surround it - which is why you’ll likely glimpse as many back-slapping businessmen at the bar as you will couples canoodling in the booths. Expertly wood-grilled proteins compete for attention with delicate, hand-made pastas, and a sophisticated wine list ensures there’s something for every dish.
North End
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13
Restaurants, Italian
Davio’s - Boston
As a Northern Italian-inspired steakhouse, Davio’s includes a selection of the fine steaks alongside popular specialties such as tagliatelle bolognese and penne with applewood-smoked chicken. The flagship Boston location resides on a busy corner in the Back Bay, and the high-ceilinged space is perfect for large groups and celebratory dinners. There is also an on-site bakery where desserts, pastries, ice cream and breads are all prepared fresh daily.
Back Bay
14
Restaurants, Italian
Grotto
Sink below street level in Beacon Hill for a cozy Italian meal surrounded by exposed brick, shelves of wine, and locally-sourced artwork. Tables are crowded close (but not too close) and lights are turned down low. The menu is classic Italian with a creative twist; items are priced uniformly in each section, with pastas costing $21 each.
Beacon Hill
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15
Restaurants, Italian
Fat Hen
This cozy, book-lined restaurant in East Somerville shares a cocktail window with sister restaurant La Brasa. The menu - lovingly committed to seasonal and regional ingredients - invites sharing, with few dishes priced above $20. Diners select between classic Italian cocktails and selections from an Italian-focused wine list.
Somerville
16
Restaurants, Italian
Mida
Tucked inside a corner space that has already seen several restaurants come and go, Mida doesn’t so much cook Italian fare as take its cue from it. Chef/owner Douglass Williams has prioritized three things: ingredients, wine and hospitality. Dishes are made to share, from the lardo and crudo, to appetizers like spicy lamb ribs, to the handmade ricotta gnocchi and grilled sirloin cap. The wine list skews towards Northern Italian and French bottles and features lesser known producers.
Roxbury
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