The best Italian restaurants in Sydney

What is it? The CBD’s underground cave and the Italian dinner party of your dreams. It’s the latest restaurant from the Clam Bar and Pellegrino 2000 team.

Why we love it: Expect hit after hit of Northern Italian classics, plus a whole lotta fun. A gorgeous dish of zucchini alla scapece sees thin slices of zucchini doused in bright vinegar, olive oil, garlic and fresh mint, and we’re still thinking about the chubby green tortellini stuffed with a creamy artichoke and ricotta filling, dressed in a butter sauce and a dusting of truffle.

Time Out tip: This is a spot where it’s totally fine to dress up. Neptune’s Grotto is hot as hell, and so are you.

Address: Lower Ground Floor/44 Bridge Street, Sydney 2000

Expect to pay: Antipasti $9-$18, entrées $18-$36, primi $39-$40, secondi $40-$76, sides $15-$16, plus drinks

What is it? A fun-loving, lively Italian restaurant and Manly’s new waterfront go-to from the team behind Ormeggio, A’Mare, Postino Osteria and Chiosco.

Why we love it: Joyous, warm and exactly what this beautiful ’burb needed – Manly’s newest Italian babe is a delizioso hit. Go all out and start with creamy gorgonzola, served tableside with caramelised walnuts and honey. We’re big fans of the tagliatelle with slow-cooked veal, beef and pork ragu. And we’re not saying you have to end with a scoop (or three) of silky-smooth pistachio gelato – but we’re also not not saying that.

Time Out tip: Whatever you do, don’t skip the Gorgonzola trolley.

Address: 55 N Steyne, Manly 2095

Expect to pay: Chef’s menu $110 per person or you can choose from the a la carte options

What is it? Seating 120 guests, Palazzo Salato is by far the most ambitious restaurant from the Love, Tilly Group, who also has Ragazzi, La Salut, Love, Tilly Devine and Dear Sainte Éloise under its belt. It’s gorgeous, dreamy and downright delicious. 

Why we love it: Really, we’re coming here for one thing and one thing only: pasta. Expect house-made regional pasta shapes with perfectly balanced and glossy sauces. Tasty snacks, like charred artichokes dressed in a pesto trapanese with roasted cherry tomatoes; and Palazzo ham drizzled with a vibrant and punchy hot sauce, are the perfect way to commence proceedings. 

Time Out tip: There’s a fair amount of butter in the pastas, so lactose-free friends, come armed with your tablets.

Address: 201/203 Clarence Street, Sydney 2000

Expect to pay: Tasting menu $95 or set menu $128, plus optional drinks pairings $90-$120

What is it? An old Newtown butcher transformed into a charming trattoria by the Continental Deli crew, serving regional dishes in a bellissimo dining room.

Why we love it: First, there’s the bellissimo dining room. Those 114-year-old forest-green-and-white tiles on the walls are the originals. Candles flicker on top of white tablecloths, Art Deco-style vintage lights hang from the ceiling – creating the perfect dinner-date glow – and vintage plates jazz up the walls. But importantly, there’s delicious substance behind the style; leading the kitchen is Janina Allende, who ran the pass at Sydney favourite Pellegrino 2000 for more than two years, and also spent time on the pans at Alberto’s Lounge and Bar Vincent.

Time Out tip: Formidable pastry chef Lauren Eldridge is behind the desserts at Osteria Mucca, so try to make room for a house-made gelato or a bonèt alla Piemontese – a chocolate and amaretti custard topped with marsala Chantilly. 

Address: 212 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Expect to pay: Banquet for $120 per person, salads and starters around $26-$32, pasta dishes $38-$45, secondi $52-$69, plus wine and dessert

What is it? The Shire’s breezy and charming Italian diner by the team who brought us Sydney favourites Jane and Arthur. 

Why we love it: Crowd pleasers here are done well – and at a reasonable price point. Think: antipasti with pickled veg, creamy burrata, soft prosciutto and octopus with zingy salsa verde. Plus, bowls of silky pasta and hearty ragu, and there’s a chicken, steak and fish option, too. 

Time Out tip: Enjoy a three-course lunch and a glass of wine for just $49 on weekdays.

Address: 756 Kingsway, Gymea 2227

Expect to pay: Set menu $75 or from the a la carte: snacks and antipasti $5-$27, pasta $29-$39, mains $38-$58, sides around $15, plus dessert and a drink

What is it? A cracking Surry Hills Italian from the Clam Bar team with amped-up trattoria classics that will stay with you long after you've said arrivederci.

Why we love it: From the pretty and zingy artichokes to the plump and juicy prawn ravioli and Paddle Pop-like veal milanese, every dish that comes out of Pellegrino’s kitchen is hands-down delicious. Just like at Nonna’s house. The Negronis also go down a treat. 

Time Out tip: Love Pellegrino 2000? Try its sibling restaurant, Neptune's Grotto – winner of Time Out Sydney's Restaurant of the Year Award 2025.

Address: 80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks and starters $9-$32, pasta $39-$40, mains $48-$68, sides $15-$16, cheese and desserts $15-$24, menu del giorno $89 a head, plus drinks from the bar

What is it? A great-value restaurant in Sydney's original 'Little Italy', Leichhardt. They've been serving up delicious Italian hits for more than seven decades (since 1952!).

Why we love it: While you won't find the most refined Italian food at Bar Italia, what you will find is pretty much every classic Italian dish you can name (amatriciana, bolognese, carbonara, marinara, parmigiana, pizzaiola, puttanesca) – all done well, and at great prices. The huge menu includes pizza from $19, pasta for $22, the classic chicken and veal dishes for $26.50, and even panini from $9. You can BYO both beer and wine. And although it's popular, you should always be able to find a table – either in the retro, Rome-style indoor areas, out on the footpath (perfect for people watching), or in the garden out back. They're open for all-day dining – from 8am for brekkie, all the way through to 10.30 or 11.30pm (depending on the night) for a late-night feed.

Time Out tip: Bring cash – they don't accept cards. That said, they do have an ATM in the restaurant.

Address: 169-171 Norton St, Leichhardt NSW 2040

Expect to pay: $20-$30 for a good feed

What is it? A love song to the coastlines of both Puglia and Cronulla, and the sibling to Pino's Vino e Cucina in Alexandria.

Why we love it: The most talked-about Cronulla opening in years should be on your bucket (and spade) list. Al Mare is, as the name suggests, very much of the sea, with a seafood-centric menu that reminds diners of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. There’s plenty of great fresh pasta on the menu too.

Time Out tip: If you love a Limoncello Spritz, try Pino’s version of the Italian classic with home-made limoncello.

Address: 15 Surf Road, Cronulla 2230

Expect to pay: Snacks around $9, bread and olives $10-$13, pasta dishes $36-$46, protein mains $45-$60, plus dessert and drinks (alternatively, there’s a $95 Feed Me option)

What is it? Summer Hill’s Italian go-to, housed in a beautiful two-storey brick building – the heritage-listed former post office that was once home to One Penny Red.

Why we love it: Postino Osteria is owned by the team behind seafood haven Ormeggio, bright-and-breezy Chiosco, theatrical fine diner A’Mare and Manly’s beachfront babe, Cibaria – so expect great Italian fare. Our picks? Milan’s beloved snack mondeghili; a riff on vitello tonnato made with Wagyu; and chitarra spaghetti con pallottine featuring 40 tiny meatballs.

Time Out tip: This beloved osteria regularly hosts rotating specials and one-off events – see what’s on at the website.

Address: 2 Moonbie Street, Summer Hill 2130

Expect to pay: Postino sharing menu $89 a head (check the website for updated info on weekday discounts), plus drinks

What is it? A groovy pasta bar in Darlinghurst and the sequel to the CBD’s much-adored Fabbrica Pasta Shop by the Love Tilly Group (also behind Ragazzi, Palazzo Salato and Love, Tilly Devine).

Why we love it: On-point pasta, a groovy dining room and a banging soundtrack are what you can expect from this spot. Similar to the crew’s other venues, hand-made pasta is the focus here, alongside share-style, Italian-leaning plates. It’s a nice and casual spot – ideal for a mid-week dinner or catching up with friends.

Time Out tip: If you didn’t already know, hot honey is having a moment, and a starter of a ricotta-stuffed zucchini flower fried until crisp with a cellophane-like batter and finished with a drizzle of the stuff proves why.

Address: 348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 2010

Expect to pay: Set menus around $70-$90 per person, plus drinks (a la carte menu also available)

What is it? The prima donna of statement dining destinations. This ludicrously beautiful dining room perched above Bondi Beach is a feast for the eyes as well as the belly.

Why we love it: Now's the time to luxuriate in the sweet life. There's caviar and truffles on the menus at the right time of year, a tartare di carne prepared right at your table, and a classic bistecca. The clientele are beautiful, the views are even better and cocktails are expertly made. 

Time Out tip: 

Dining at Icebergs isn’t cheap, though, you probably already know this. But when the sun is shining and a long lunch is on the cards, Icebergs is still one of the most beautiful places to dine in the world, delivering elegant coastal Italian fare with a side of la dolce vita.

Address: 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach NSW 2026

What is it? The third venture from the Love, Tilly Devine and Dear Sainte Éloise crew, which combines some of the biggest trends of the past five years or so: natural wines; a nascent obsession with amaro; an interest in lesser-seen pasta shapes; the resurgence of fat; strong, graphic branding; a preference for snacking; Spritzes; Negronis; anchovies; butter.

Why we love it: When chef and co-owner Scott Williams cooked around the corner at Bacco Osteria, his snacks and pasta were always highlights. At Ragazzi, they’re almost the whole menu. It’s a concept as easy to get behind as a plate of al dente spaghetti tossed in a sauce of pecorino and pepper bound with pasta water and butter. It’s a cacio e pepe with good levels of warmth and sharpness, plus some sweet heat from Espelette pepper. Trends may come and go, but good cooking, a crackling atmosphere, and a bittersweet finish over ice? These are things that never go out of style.

Time Out tip: Can’t decide what to order? Let the chefs decide for you at just $80 a head.

Address: Shop 3/2-12 Angel Place, Sydney 2000

Expect to pay: Snacks $8-$14, starters $24-$28, pasta dishes and mains $28-$58, side salads $15-$16, scoop of gelato $6, plus wines

What is it? An aspirational Sardinian fine diner in an old weatherboard house perched above the golden sands of Freshwater beach. It's like you've teleported to a summer holiday location for the duration of your meal.

Why we love it: Lunch at the award-winning Pilu at Freshwater is like stepping through the looking glass into a Mediterranean island holiday, but one that is accessible in under two hours with no passport. Chef Giovanni Pilu created one of those dishes that make dining here a destination all on its own. The slow-roasted suckling pig is part of Sydney dining folklore, with meltingly tender flesh and golden skin, served with potatoes.

Time Out tip: Curb that post-meal food coma with an old-fashioned affogato and a shot of liqueur on the side.

Address: On the beach, Moore Road, Freshwater 2096

Expect to pay: Snacks $8-$16, antipasti $30-$45, pasta dishes $31-$42, sides $14-$29, mains $42-$65, set menus $130-$180

What is it? A cheery waterfront BYO diner in Mosman and the sibling to the award-winning Ormeggio at the Spit.

Why we love it: Chiosco by Ormeggio has been serving classic Italian hits for a decade now – and it’s still well worth its (sea) salt. Be sure to order its signature vitello tonnato, which features thinly sliced rosy veal topped with a creamy, salty tuna sauce and crisp fried capers.

Time Out tip: This Italian restaurant is literally right on the water at The Spit (you need to walk through d’Albora Marina to reach it).

Address: d’Alboro Marina, Spit Road, Mosman 2088

Expect to pay: Premium sharing feast $99 per person, a la carte options and kids menu available, plus drinks

What is it? An unassuming and excellent Italian restaurant in a hidden Redfern hangout.

Why we love it: From the world-beating ricotta della casa (a soft slab of freshly made ricotta drenched in olive oil) to the deceptively surprising ‘garlic bread’, unassuming concepts are magicked into next-level delights at this Redfern gem. On our last visit, the pesce spada palermitana was a thing of beauty, a vast shard of boneless, subtly salty swordfish sweetened with Spanish onions and golden raisins, and showered with a fistful of crunchy pine nuts.

Time Out tip: Pane fritti (yes, fried bread) may be modestly listed – but be sure to order a plate. They arrive as little puffy tubes, topped with a line of tomato paste and a single anchovy (or eggplant slice, for veggies). They taste incredible and weigh nothing – you could inhale a dozen and still have room for mains.

Address: Level 1/33A Redfern Street, Redfern 2016

Expect to pay: Snacks and small plates $5-$32, pasta dishes $32-$34, mains $48-$50, sides and desserts around $10-$16

What is it? A famously tiny wine bar that's a dinner destination thanks to its incredible kitchen. People love it fiercely and getting in can be tricky.

Why we love it: There’s a new captain in the kitchen of this tiny Italian wine bar, but it’s still a guaranteed pasta party. Once the aroma of king prawns, garlic, and tomato in the tangled thicket of spaghetti chitarra hits you, you may as well relinquish your evening plans – and your budget for that matter. The only way out of a night of incredible wines and Italianish food at 10 William Street is through it.

Time Out tip: Looking to impress someone? This is one of our fave spots in town for a date night.

Address: 10 William Street, Paddington 2021

Expect to pay: Snacks around $6-$22, larger plates $29-$33, mains $39-$61, sides $15-$17, cheese and desserts $17-$30, plus wines

What is it? This unassuming, neighbourhood pasta spot in Woollahra may be snug in size, but it sure does pack a punch. 

Why we love it: I Maccheroni's cacio e pepe reigns supreme on the pasta charts for a reason – it's served right at your table in a parmesan wheel and is such a staple that almost every table orders it. The carby line-up also features hand-rolled pasta in all shapes and sizes, including beef ragout maccheroni; spinach and parmigiana tortellini; swimmer crab tagliolini; and marron lobster pico. 

Time Out tip: Dress up and bring along someone spesh – this place screams serious date night.

Address: 3 Jersey Road, Woollahra 2025

Expect to pay: Starters and snacks $10-$31, mains $29-$43, sides around $19, desserts $18-$21, plus drinks
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What is it? A modern Italian diner and wine bar with a former Firedoor and Ormeggio chef leading the kitchen in Sydney’s Upper North Shore.

Why we love it: Born in Naples, head chef Francesco Iervolino’s menu at Bar Infinita reads like a love letter to Italy with a modern twist, with hand-made pastas, cheese and antipasto gracing the pages. At the heart of the kitchen is a wood oven where Iervolino cooks quality steaks – including an impressive Riverina black Angus T-bone bistecca alla fiorentina – allowing the meat to develop a delicious char and smoky flavour.

Time Out tip: Wednesday is BYO night ($25 per bottle).

Address: 10 St Johns Avenue, Gordon 2072

Expect to pay: Antipasti $12-$26, pizzetta $16-$20, pasta dishes $29-$44, mains $56-$68, sides around $15, desserts $16-$18

What is it? A rustic Italian dinner found within the historic walls of Hinchcliff House.

Why we love it: Grana is home to its own mill, which the chefs use daily to grind New South Wales’ grains – such as spelt, emmer, and khorasan – into flour to make their own pasta and pastry. So, you’ll find brilliant pasta on the menu, as well as seasonal veggies and quality proteins. There’s also no disputing the allure of its romantic setting, complete with soft lighting, sandstone walls and striking floral displays. 

Time Out tip: Be sure to pick up some treats from Grana Bakery at Bar Mammoni, right next to Hinchccliff House.

Address: Ground Floor/5-7 Young Street, Sydney 2000

Expect to pay: Shared menu $79 per person, plus drinks

What is it? A breezy trattoria that brings good times and a taste of Italy to the eastern suburbs in style.

Why we love it: While the antipasto and pasta is great at Matteo, we reckon the wood-fired pizzas is where it’s at. Our pick is the Siciliana with ricotta, smoked mozzarella, tomato, eggplant, parmigiano and basil.

Time Out tip: Don’t want to stop at just one (or two) bevvies? Check out Matteo’s bottomless lunch.

Address: 29 Bay Street, Double Bay 2028

Expect to pay: Set menu $70-$90 per person, plus drinks

What is it? This low-key establishment in Darlinghurst belies its kitchen credentials. You don’t come to Sagra to show off. It’s not about pomp or prestige, any more than fiddly garnishes or fancy plating. But taking someone there will impress them, because this is one of Sydney’s most beloved modern Italians.

Why we love it: The pasta is ace; the seafood fresh and unfussy; the wines are quiet achievers. The menu is kept short and changes regularly but the format stays the same.

Time Out tip: Watching the wallet? Hit up Sagra for a $35 lunchtime special, which includes olives, pasta and a glass of wine or mocktail.

Address: 62 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst 2010

Expect to pay: Cicchetti $8-$24, antipasti $24-$33, pasta dishes $32-$36, secondi $42-$48, sides around $15, plus dessert and a drink

What is it? One of Sydney’s first wine bars located on Surry Hills’ Crown Street with excellent vino and great Italian numbers. 

Why we love it: Head chef Ryan Gambetta has created a simple and authentic Italian menu with a winning combination of classic hits. You can’t go wrong with any of the fresh pasta dishes. Whether you’re strolling home and feel like an after-work tipple and snack, or are heading out on a hot date in Sydney, Mille Vini is still a smart and reliable option.

Time Out tip: Enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless limoncello Spritzes with a five-course lunch on Saturdays (find out more at the website).

Address: 397 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Set menu $99 per person (plus wine pairing $69)

What is it?  A modern Italian-Japanese fine diner with extensive glass walls balanced out on a wharf – it feels as if you’re almost floating on the harbour, surrounded as you are by water. 

Why we love it: Technique and seasonality are watchwords here, and the menu is an ever-changing beast, but prepare to be surprised and delighted. Here a minestrone is not a bean soup, but almost like a colourful ballpit of fresh veg in a gentle miso broth.

Time Out tip: Heads up you're in serious power lunch territory, and the casino is right behind you so a freshly pressed collar wouldn't go astray.

Address: 56 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont 2009

Expect to pay: Tasting menu $265 or omakase menu $350 (optional wine pairings $115-$215)

What is it? A Potts Point restaurant boasting a full house rain, hail or shine, excellent service and a super-interesting wine list. 

Why we love it: A long-standing pearl in the sea of Sydney’s hot new trends, this benchmark casual Italian diner keeps it real. The traditional blackboard menu rarely changes and walks a righteous path of carbs, cheese and meat. There’s usually a ragu delivered under a fresh snowfall of cheese. There’s probably a one-serve lasagnetta on the menu, the curly-edged pasta sheets barely holding in a bursting core of bolognaise, but it’s a toss-up whether it wins a place over a crumbed veal cutlet.

Time Out tip: For a long, lazy lunch, forget wines by the glass and order a 1.5-litre magnum of the stuff instead. 

Address: 12-16 Challis Avenue, Potts Point 2011

Expect to pay: Antipasti $6-$10, primi $28-$30, risotto and pasta $36-$48, secondi $56-$108, salads $14-$15, desserts $9-$21, plus wine

What is it? Newtown’s cool new-age pizzeria with some of the finest carbs in town.

Why we love it: Clams. On a pizza. It sounds too crazy to work, but here it does. The little tender clams are steamed and pried from their shells, while the broth is cooked down with white wine and cream until it achieves an intense concentrated chowder flavour. 

Time Out tip: Still loyal to Margy? An intensely umami tomato base with fresh garlic and fresh oregano leaves is even better when you opt in for an additional topping of Cantabrian anchovies for $18.   

Address: 135 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

Expect to pay: Around $9-28 for snacks and starters, $26-$34 for a pizza, plus drinks

What is it? Bastardo is a somewhat surprising destination at the end of the Porteño group's journey. Sicily is Joe Valore’s ancestral home and the Holt Street diner, while still retaining its more Spanish, Bodega-esque heritage, gives itself away on the menu.

Why we love it: This Sicilian, Argentinian and Italian love letter is all heart, and all Surry Hills. You’ll find plenty of flavours that the palate recognises, but assembled in ways that you might not expect. Take, for instance, the sweet corn agnolotti; oblong pillows of egg pasta, stuffed to the brim with pureed kernels and doused in a burnt butter sage sauce with capers. Flavours we recognise, for sure, but crafted in a way that keeps you on your toes.

Time Out tip: While the ‘secondi’ part of the menu is lovely, we recommend spending your time well at the shareable 'primi' offering – a far more extensive and expressive menu.

Address: 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Set menu for $85, antipasti $18-$34, ‘primi’ $28-$34, pasta dishes $30-$44, ‘secondi’ $38-$44, salads $16-$18, desserts $8-$16, plus drinks

What is it? A cheap-as-chips red sauce joint in Darlinghurst that's popular with the after school crowds from Sydney Grammar up the road, and later on caters to the pre-party crowds with affordable pizzas and BYO.   

Why we love it: There’s something for everyone here! The pasta comes in 20 different flavours, the risotto comes in eight and the steaks even count a proper Diane sauce amongst the options.

Time Out tip: Bar Reggio is strictly BYO so dust off that good bottle and bring along some friends to share it with.

Address: 135 Crown Street, Darlinghurst 2010

Expect to pay: Most pasta dishes and pizzas around $22

What is it? Chef Orazio D'Elia’s feel-good, family-friendly diner with an Italian spirit, easy-breezy vibe and Bondi accent.

Why we love it: If you’re craving the flavours of the land of red, white and green, you’re sure to get that itch scratched here. We love the riff on Rome’s famed maritozzi, here served as a savoury snack with Wagyu pastrami and pickles. Orazio’s spicy vodka rigatoni slaps, of course, as does the puffy, wood-fired bread filled with melted tomino cheese and honey, hitting those sweet and salty notes.

Time Out tip: Can’t decide? There’s a good-value set menu for $85 per person.

Address: 75-79 Hall Street, Bondi 2026

Expect to pay: Antipasti $11-$30, pasta dishes $38-$65, mains $45-$65, sides $12-$30, pizza $16-$31, plus a drink (kids’ menu also available)

What is it? Paddington’s long-standing neighbourhood Italian diner where produce is king, the pizzas are excellent, the owner is larger-than-life and you’ll leave feeling great.

Why we love it: Seasonal, organic ingredients shine in crisp pizzas, gorgeous salads and hearty pastas. You’re just as likely to catch owner Bosko waxing lyrical about a new-season apple as you are to find him deep-diving into his favourite wines. 

Time Out tip: Our pick? The Ava pizza, which pairs salty, meaty Sicilian anchovies with thin slices of zucchini, creamy stracciatella and plump olives. Yum.

Address: 180 Oxford Street, Paddington 2021

Expect to pay: Set menu around $50 per person

What is it? Ormeggio, the jewel of The Spit, is a meat-free dining destination with an a la carte seafood menu and a holiday-like vibe.

Why we love it: In addition to goodies like tuna crudo, handpicked spanner crab and swordfish cotoletta, they're also offering a super luxe dish of octopus grilled over charcoal and served on warm piadina flatbreads with stracciatella and sautéed cime di rapa.

Time Out tip: Did you know you can celebrate Christmas Day here? Find out more about what could just be one Sydney’s most luxe December 25 lunches.

Address: D’albora Marinas, Spit Road, Mosman 2088

Expect to pay: Set menus around $149-$225 per person, plus drinks

What is it? Opened in 1965, Bill & Toni’s is a cheap-and-cheerful Sydney café, restaurant and icon in Darlinghurst. Think hearty, home-style Italian food, red-and-white checked tablecloths, and a lively atmosphere. To be a true Sydneysider is to have dined here at least once.

Why we love it: Here’s somewhere you can grab an $18 spag bol, which arrives nearly as big as Mount Everest, so you can take home leftovers. The chicken and mushroom risotto is also yum, and you’d do well to begin with a serving of bruschetta topped with ripe and juicy toms. Plus, how good is complimentary orange cordial?!

Time Out tip: For something a bit different, try the veal schnitzel, which comes with a lip-smacking bolognese sauce and melted cheese.

Address: 72-74 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst 2010

Expect to pay: Pasta dishes $16-$30, mains around $30

What is it? A night at A’Mare, meaning 'at sea' in Italian, means simple dishes in a decidedly extravagant venue: lush green velvet chairs are dotted around the large open space, which gazes out over the harbour with the peaks of the Blue Mountains hazy on the horizon. 

Why we love it: At A’Mare, there’s a sense of theatre since waitstaff take a more active role in the creation of the culinary experience. Liquid-hearted burrata will be opened and finished beside you, dark chocolate tendrils will be shaved on your dessert, and the smell of basil and pine nuts being crushed for fresh pesto will find its way to you before the pasta dish makes its way to your table.

Time Out tip: Bringing along a plant-based pal? Luckily, vegetarian and vegan set menus are available.

Address: 72-74 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst 2010

Expect to pay: Crudo $32-$55, pasta dishes $40-$54 (excepting the lobster spaghetti $190-$295), mains $62-$96, grill items $100-plus

What is it? This is a long-serving Italian restaurant with some of the most enviable waterfront seats in Sydney, and a die-hard fan base who love a long lunch with pasta and wine.

Why we love it: You know a restaurant has the heart of the city when they try and take a dish off the menu and the hysterics can be heard across the city. That's what happened when Otto tried to remove their al dente strozzapreti with whole king prawns, salty black olives, and a rich ragu made with calamari from the list.

Time Out tip: Snag $10 mini Martinis and your fave Otto bites from 4-6pm, Wednesday through to Saturday.

Address: 8/6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo 2011

Expect to pay: Snacks and antipasti $12-$39, pasta and risotto $29-$41 (half- and full-size portions available), seafood and mains $61-$86, sides $18-$35

What is it? Bondi’s bright and airy lunchtime scene is an Italian restaurant tucked inside an old pub like some sort of dining hermit crab. Out in the sunny, white courtyard, beneath the skinny branches of two olive trees, Bondi’s most stylish gather for long lunches (oh look, it’s the Preatures). 

Why we love it: This is fun, flavoursome Italian dining at its most flexible. Do you want a plate of pasta all to yourself, or is it more fun to order puffy rounds of bread fresh out of the wood fired oven and then sift slowly through the antipasto menu like happily grazing cattle? We think the latter.

Time Out tip: The Neapolitan ice-cream sandwich is the perfect nostalgic dessert.

Address: 283 Bondi Road, Bondi 2026

Expect to pay: Antipasti $8-$27, pasta dishes $33-$75, mains $35-$99, sides $15-$17, desserts $9-$19, plus cocktails

What is it? Sydney's first and only dedicated Negroni bar with as much charm as Harry Styles and yum Italian eats.

Why we love it: There's more than 30 types of Negronis on offer here, so if you’re a fan of the citrusy tipple (hi!) Bar Conte will be your jam. Booze not your thing? No worries. You can also head here for an Italian feast, with small plates, hearty pastas and fresh seafood on the menu.

Time Out tip: Saunter on down for aperitivo hour (Monday to Friday, 4-6pm) and get your hands on $15 Negronis and snacks starting from $4.

Address: 340 Riley Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Expect to pay: Negroni cocktails and variants $20-$36, snacks and small plates $7-$46, pasta dishes $32-$40, mains $56-$90, sides $15-$16

What is it? A killer fine diner for long lunches.

Why we love it: It’s hard to think of a more picturesque venue for lunch. You’re sitting on a plush, white banquette in a light-filled room looking out over the azure waters of the rooftop swimming pool. Plus, the food is consistently great. 

Time Out tip: Chasing a vibe? DJs play at the restaurant’s Pool Club on Friday and Saturday nights.

Address: 29 Bay Street, Double Bay 2028

Expect to pay: Banquet menu $155 per person, plus drinks

What is it? A cosy, low lit, intimate terrace dining room that strikes all the right notes for romantic Latin feasting.

Why we love it: Matt Pollock's skills with pasta dough have garnered him a loyal following, so this is a good place to make cashing that cheat day carb pass. The carrot triangoli is still on the menu for good reason; parcels of savoury sweet carrot swimming in melted butter with the insistent funk of goat's cheese for balance and scattered pistachios for texture.

Time Out tip: First, you eat with your eyes – and you can do exactly that right here.

Address: 137 Cleveland Street, Darlington 2008

Expect to pay: Chef’s tasting menu $75 per person, plus drinks

What is it? An all vegetarian (and sometimes vegan) pizza restaurant that is sleek, modern, and delicious. This tiny corner pizzeria is the latest venue for Piero Pignatti Morano and Kim Douglas, the A-team behind the ever-popular Two Chaps café (also vegetarian), located only blocks away.

Why we love it: Their Margherita is as good as any in Sydney, but where they really stretch their creative muscles is on the vegan pizzas. They change regularly, so maybe it's confit garlic puree and fior di latte sprinkled with a salty, nutty trifecta of feta, capers and pine nuts; or perhaps they've layered king brown mushrooms, asparagus, shallots puree and cured egg.

Time Out tip: No need to dress up here – this is very much a neighbourhood haunt with takeaway boxes flying out the door as often as people meander in for a table.

Address: 2/205 Victoria Road, Marrickville 2204

Expect to pay: Set menu $75 per person (includes pizza, salad and dessert), plus drinks

What is it? A city diner from Lumi Dining owner and chef, Federico Zanellato, and ex-Oscillate Wildly restaurateur Karl Firla, tucked into the laneway between Ash Street and the birdcages of Angel Place.

Why we love it:  Restaurant Leo’s menu is ever changing but a plate of black truffle tagliatelle is one of the city's most luxe plates of pasta. The decadence doesn’t stop at the mains, with the option to order a chocolate tortino for dessert. While you’re advised to allow an extra 15 minutes for this chocolate cake, it will arrive in front of you wafting with steam and ready to be sliced into for a sticky centre. 

Time Out tip: Don’t bring your non meat-eating friends here, since the restaurant states on its website that it does not cater to vegans.

Address: 1/2-12 Angel Place, Sydney 2000

Expect to pay: Starters $18-$30, mains $33-$54, sides $12-$14, plus dessert and a drink

What is it? A classic Italian restaurant with a sharp focus on all things Roman. This is where you can take a dining chair tour of Italy's capital, with a greatest hits menu inspired by the ten years Flavio Carnevale spent there as a young man. 

Why we love it: The pizza game is playing by new rules at Marta. You’re probably familiar with Napoletana-style pizza, which is big, chewy and cooked quickly in a 485°C oven. You might also know Roman-style pizza, those crisp, thin-crust editions eaten in the capital. But what you’re eating here is something else entirely. They’re known as pinza, and it’s an ancient Roman recipe that may just convert you for life.

Time Out tip: Leave the car keys at home and turn your full attention to the Spritz menu that includes the excellent Anglo-Italo crossover, the Bianco, made with dry white vermouth, gin, grapefruit juice and cucumber.

Address: 30 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay 2010

Expect to pay: Antipasti $8-$27, pasta dishes $28-$40, pizza $24-$33, plus drinks

What is it? There's not many better places for bitter Italian Aperitif cocktails, wood-fired pizzas, classic lasagne and banter than this jovial Italian dining room with a courtyard cocktail bar, where you can sip on Italian mixed drinks.

Why we love it: Get the pizza. Get one each. Get one with eggplant and salami and taleggio washed rind cheese, or one with tomato sauce, mozzarella, capers, anchovies, olives, oregano, and basil for an all umami jamboree.

Time Out tip: For just $30, you can tuck into all-you-can-eat pizza on Wednesday nights.

Address: 69 Perouse Road, Randwick 2031

Expect to pay: Pizza around $20-$30, plus sides, drinks and dessert

What is it? A classic pizza, pasta, wine and good times restaurant in an expansive corner of the Cannery in Rosebery. It's accessible, casual, warm and affordable. Don't try and tell us that isn't a recipe for a nice time.

Why we love it: Some things just never go out of style, and great wood-fired pizza is one of them. There's the Margherita 'extra' (the extra is buffalo mozzarella), as well as their wonderfully simple patate (potato, rosemary, sea salt). Whatever you choose, rest assured it’ll be an utter delight.

Time Out tip: For just $30, you can tuck into all-you-can-eat pizza on Wednesday nights.

Address: Shop 1/36 Morley Avenue, Rosebery 2018

Expect to pay: Pasta dishes $28-$39, pizza $18-$34, plus drinks, sides and a dessert

What is it?  A hidden steak restaurant behind a cocktail bar in a city basement with an open hearth at its centre.

Why we love it: Carnivores, this is the one for you. This basement restaurant is devoted to Florence’s famous T-bone steaks. 

Time Out tip: They recommend 600 grams as the minimum cut to achieve the full bistecca Fiorentina experience (anything less is getting to minute steak territory), but 800 grams is optimal.

Address: 3 Dalley Street, Sydney 2000

Expect to pay: Snacks and starters $10-$28, sides $16-$19, bistecca Fiorentina $21 per 100 grams, plus dessert and wine

What is it? It’s a small space decorated with dusty pink furnishings and warm low hanging globes,  abrash neon sign and a busy open kitchen lined with Campari bottles. Almost everyone gets greeted by owner Vinny on entry, which softens the blow of the loud space.

Why we love it: Spaghetti and Spritzes: are there any two things more possibly in tune with eating and drinking in this day and age? Well yes, yes there are: vegetarian and vegan cooking, menu puns, restaurant interiors and bright blue noodles perfectly suited to social media, and alcohol-free drinks that might just be better than the hard stuff. Mark and Vinny’s offers them all, under one roof, but know that if you’re just after antipasti, lasagne and tiramisù, Mark and and Vinny’s has them, too. 

Time Out tip: If you are hankering for some meat, the traditional amatriciana is the way to go. Long frilly tentacles of mafalda pasta hold the just-sweet, umami tomato sugo perfectly, while hunks of prosciutto give it a smoked meaty edge.

Address: G07/38-52 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Starters $12-$20, salads $19-$20, desserts $16-$17, spaghetti $36-$42, pizza $28-$34