Buon Appetito! The Top Italian Restaurants in Raleigh (For Every Occasion)

If you’ve got a craving for pasta or a pizza, a tasty meal that transports your tastebuds to the shores of Italy, then you’re in luck, as there are many fantastic Italian restaurants in Raleigh that offer just that.

What we love about Raleigh’s Italian restaurants is that they don’t just serve up delicious food; they serve up a slice of laughter, a warm atmosphere, excellent service, and often have family-friendly vibes! But with so many options, it can be hard to narrow down your choices, so be sure to grab your bibs and spaghetti spoons as we share our favorite spots for a taste of Italy in the City of Oaks.

Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Okay, pizza lovers, this one’s for you! Vic’s Italian is one of the best places to get pizza in Raleigh, especially if you’re a fan of New York-style pizza. Their pizza bases are NY-style, and Vic’s is a historic restaurant in Raleigh that has been owned and operated by a family of Italians who moved to Raleigh in 1998. They use recipes that have been passed down through generations, combining true Italian flavors with the thick crust of NYC. We also love that they offer gluten-free pizza bases and make some of the best pizzas in Raleigh.

Great pizzas / lasagna

One of our favorite places to eat in Raleigh because you know what you get at Vic’s. It consistently has good food, friendly and efficient staff, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Must-Try Dishes: we like the seafood and vegetarian pizza, but the chicken parm and their garlic knots are a local favorite.

• Address: 331 Blake St
• Website: vicsitalianrestaurantnc.com 

Figulina

Figulina is one of our personal favorite Raleigh restaurants period. An Italian restaurant worth the hype and repeatedly called one of the best meals of the year, Figulina’s Italian tradition, Southern creativity, and James Beard recognition firmly place it among Raleigh’s top dining destinations. Located in the Warehouse District.

Fantastic cocktails, service and an elevated vibe with cool decor yet casual. Perfect for couples on a date night, or a group of friends.

• Address: 317 S Harrington St, Raleigh
• Website: figulinaraleigh.com

Vivace

For a semi-upscale restaurant in North Hills where you can feel comfortable dressing up or dressing down, Vivace is the place to go. It has a lovely, warm ambiance that’s synonymous with Italy, and we love both its indoor and outdoor seating areas. On the menu is nothing but authentic Italian food, includinghandmade pasta. There’s also an extensive wine list, an excellent kid’s menu, and signature cocktails.

Homemade pastas / mini desserts

What makes Vivace unique is that they offer mini desserts, for those who want to wash their meal down with something sweet without feeling like they’re overindulging. Must-Try Dishes: Some of our favorite items on the menu are the Black Pepper Spaghetti, Bolognese Pappardelle, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, and Steamed Pei Mussels.

• Address: 4209 Lassiter Mill Rd
• Website: vivaceraleigh.com 

Cucciolo Terrazza

Another popular Italian restaurant in North Hills is Cucciolo Terrazza, which offers a creative and modern twist on traditional Italian cuisine using the highest quality ingredients. The menu is small by design, with rotating dishes based on seasonal produce – they are particularly well known for their pasta dishes. Needless to say, there was not a drop left on our plates. The space feels upscale, yet casual, and the staff is attentive and friendly. 

Vongole Pasta / Braised Octopus

Must-Try Dishes: we enjoyed the Braised Octopus and Vongole Pasta, and you must try the tiramisu for dessert!

• Address: 4200 Six Forks Rd Suite 100
• Website: cuccioloraleigh.com 

Caffe Luna

Downtown Raleigh staple

For a taste of Tuscany, head to Caffe Luna, a long-standing restaurant in downtown that got it added to our Hall of Fame restaurants list. It opened its doors in 1996 and serves Italian fare in an art-filled space. Not only does Caffe Luna offer a menu that will transport you to Italy, but you can also dine in an art exhibition, as the original artwork on the walls belongs to local artist Nicole White Kennedy and is available to purchase.

Must-Try Dishes: some items that fly off the menu are the calamari, pear pasta, and bow-tie pasta with salmon.

• Address: 136 E Hargett St
• Website: cafeluna.com 

Gravy

Gravy is the perfect combination of Italian meets American – think Italian flavors with American-sized portions. A relaxed restaurant near Moore Square, Gravy has a lovely indoor and outdoor seating area. We love dining inside – the exposed brick walls and hanging lights above the bar make us feel like we’re sitting in a taverna in the backstreets of Rome. But the courtyard is fantastic, also.

Love their outdoor courtyard

The servers are also friendly and kind and knowledgeable, and make sure everyone has an exceptional dining experience. Must-Try Dishes: people love the chicken parm, garlic knots on the side, and spaghetti and meatballs.

• Address: 135 S Wilmington St
• Website: gravyraleigh.com 

Giorgio Pizza Bar

Giorgio is yet another restaurant in North Hills that’s worth adding to your Italian dining list. Founder Giorgios Bakatsias opened this restaurant in 2023 and is an internationally recognized visionary restaurateur with 14+ restaurant concepts across the Triangle. The dining space is fresh and modern with little hints of Italian nostalgia to be enjoyed, from the vintage Italian cinema advertisements on the walls to the black and white photos of Italian movie stars on the back wall.

Love the food and ambiance here.

Pasta dishes are slow-cooked in an earthen clay pot, and the pizzas are bursting with flavor – cauliflower crust available! Must-Try Dishes: we loved the Eggplant Milanese pizza, pepperoni and sausage pizza, and Cinque Formaggi Pizza. The mocktails also get a special shout-out. Read our full review of Giorgio Pizza Bar.

• Address: 141 Park at N
• Website: giorgiopizzabar.com 

Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar

Mulino is a Mediterranean/Italian restaurant in downtown Raleigh with one of the best outdoor seating areas we’ve seen. Sitting by the elegant pool on a warm summer’s day and enjoying a crisp Pinot Grigio under the twinkling lights is delightful. Set inside a former warehouse, you’ll love the industrial vibe at Mulino – it feels casual but can also be a great spot for a date night.

Photo Credit: mulinoraleigh.com 

When it comes to food, the quality doesn’t stop. They serve freshly made pasta, and their portions are generous. The menu is small, but you know what they say – good things come in small packages. Must-Try Dishes: tagliatelle bolognese, chicken pesto pizza, and lamb shank. For dessert, the creme brulee is always a crowd-pleaser.

• Address: 309 N Dawson St 
• Website: mulinoraleigh.com 

La Terrazza

Opening its doors in May 2024, La Terrazza is one of the newest restaurants in Raleigh, bringing swanky Italian cuisine to the Warehouse district. La Terrazza has a wonderful, elevated rooftop and Sky Bar, with exceptional views of downtown Raleigh. It’s the perfect spot for a date night or a cocktail at sunset with a special someone. It’s elegant and classy, and everything feels high-end – from the decor to the food. 

Image credit: laterrazzaraleigh.com

Must-Try Dishes: some popular items on the menu are the Arancini (fried risotto) and the duck confit. The desserts are also huge! Definitely made for sharing.

• Address: 223 S West St 9th Floor
• Website: laterrazzaraleigh.com 

Postino

Not really a restaurant, but a wine bar, Postino is a great place to go for excellent wine and smaller plates, especially popular for their fantastic bruschetta! The decor is sleek and modern, with industrial touches paired with classic Roma tavern vibes. We also love the outdoor seating area. If you’re shopping in the Village District, be sure to stop by here for lunch. Must-Try Dishes: pair a glass of Pinot with the chef’s charcuterie with bruschetta and a grilled cheese!

• Address: 401 Daniels St
• Website: postinowinecafe.com

Anthony’s La Piazza (Glenwood Ave)

If you’re craving authentic Italian cuisine in Raleigh, Anthony’s La Piazza, located on the first floor of the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown in the Glenwood South district, delivers in true homestyle fashion. While this is a relatively new family-owned and operated Italian restaurant in Downtown Raleigh, Anthony’s has been serving the nearby community for over 20 years with its Johnston County Anthony’s La Piazza Prime restaurant.

Their handmade gluten-free pasta is a standout — so good you’ll double-check they didn’t accidentally give you the gluten kind. Caroline loved the rigatoni alla vodka with burrata, rich and perfectly balanced. Craig opted for a chicken, basil, and ricotta pizza (also available gluten-free), big enough to share — much like the hearty Sicilian meatball appetizer, made from Anthony’s mom’s recipe.

The menu offers a full range of classic Italian dishes, and no visit is complete without finishing the meal the Italian way — with a decadent tiramisu. We also found the service to be exceptional with fantastic recommendations and a willingness to adapt to my gluten free needs.

• Address: 21 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
• Website: anthonyslapiazza.net

Bella Monica Cucina & Vino

Over in North Raleigh, Bella Monica is a relaxed, casual restaurant with a focus on traditional Italian cuisine – some say it’s the best Italian in the Triangle! We’re fans of Bella Monica as it’s one of the few Italian restaurants that offer gluten-free options. We love their cauliflower pizza bases, as well as gluten-free pasta. In fact, they have a whole GF menu!

Image credit: bellamonica.com

Must-Try Dishes: diners love Nana’s gravy sauce, stromboli, baked ziti, and flourless chocolate cake for dessert

• Address: 3121 Edwards Mill Rd
• Website: bellamonica.com 

Cafe Tiramisu

Image credits: cafetiramisu.net

For Northern Italian-inspired dishes, head to North Raleigh and Cafe Tiramisu. This is a quaint and charming restaurant in North Ridge Shopping Center, known for its relaxed atmosphere and A+ service! It’s a small restaurant, but the ambiance is always warm and welcoming. The prices are very reasonable too – it’s a great restaurant to dine at when you can’t be bothered to cook at home. Must-Try Dishes: The Veal Parmesan, spinach fettuccine alfredo, and fried oysters get a lot of positive reviews.

• Address: 6008 Falls of Neuse Rd
• Website: cafetiramisu.net 

Bongiorno & Son

Image credits: bongiornoandson.com

Not really a restaurant, but an old-fashioned Italian deli and market, Bongiorno & Son is a great lunch spot in Raleigh for when you need a quick homemade sandwich. They are known for their sandwiches, which are huge and packed with Italian cured deli meat. However, you can also get cooked food as well. There are a few bar stools and an outdoor seating area where you can savor your lunch. Must-Try Dishes: the cannolis, meatballs, and chicken parm sub are fan favorites!

• Address: 8450 Honeycutt Rd Suite 106
• Website: bongiornoandson.com 

Amorino Gelato

Image credits: amorino.com

If you’ve had a delightful pizza or pasta elsewhere and you want to wash it down with gelato, then Amorino Gelato should be where your night ends. It’s a small ice cream shop in downtown with limited seating, so you may need to wait for a table, but it’s worth hanging around to try all the limited-edition flavors!

If you’re off dairy, they have a good selection of sorbets, or you can pair your gelato with macarons. Must-Try Dishes: people come for the gelato but stay for the macarons! You can also pair your gelato with waffle sticks, and have an espresso to wash it down with.

• Address: 137 E Davie St
• Website: amorino.com

Farina

Image credit: farinaraleigh.com

Over in Lafayette Village, is Farina, a neighborhood meeting point where you can share classic Italian meals with modern fusions. The minute you walk through the door, you feel like you’ve walked into a trattoria in Italy, with square tables, white paper tops on the tables, and a pizza oven on display – even one of the walls is covered in a huge black and white photograph of an Italian vineyard. The service is attentive and polite, and the portions are huge – but the wine list is even bigger! 

Must-Try Restaurants: don’t skimp out on the Sunday gravy, short ribs, or seafood pasta!

• Address: 8450 Honeycutt Rd
• Website: farinaraleigh.com

Paul & Jack Bakery, Wake Forest

Image credit: Paul & Jack Bakery FB page

One of the popular bakeries near Raleigh is Paul & Jack, a small and casual bakery in Wake Forest known for its artisan desserts. They offer a fantastic selection of croissants, donuts, cheesecakes, and other sweet treats. The portion sizes are huge, and there is plenty of seating if you prefer to dine in. Must-Try Dishes: their most popular items are the bomboloni, cinnamon rolls, and Basque cheesecake. And of course, these are Italian desserts, the tiramisu is also *chef’s kiss*

• Address: 2010 S Main St #404, Wake Forest

Utica Bakery, Apex

Image credits: uticabakery.com

Utica in Apex is an artisan Italian bakery known for hand-crafted pastries and desserts. Everything is baked fresh each day and using recipes and techniques passed down through generations. Located inside an old wooden cabin, this is more of a grab-and-go kind of bakery than a sit-down for a while. 

Must-Try Dishes: try the cannoli, lobster tails, or tomato pie if you’re feeling hungry, or for something sweet, the cream puffs and black and white cookies get rave reviews!

• Address: 430 Upchurch St, Apex
• Website: uticabakery.com 

Geluna Gelato, Cary

Great Gelato + coffee

Geluna is a small cafe in downtown Cary that offers creamy gelato and top-notch coffee. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the portions are generous. They also have a good selection of sorbet, and flavors of gelato to suit any taste. Must-Try Dishes: some of the most popular flavors are caramel, peanut butter, pistachio, and sour cherry.

• Address: 111 E Chatham St, Cary
• Website: gelunagelato.com 

Colletta, Cary

Image credits: collettarestaurant.com

Colletta is a sleek and modern restaurant at Fenton in Cary with an atmosphere that would suit dinner with friends, or a date night – anyone could feel comfortable here! We love the brown leather seating and the polished wood flooring, and we also like how there’s plenty of space between tables so you can dine with privacy.

The menu offers Italian American dishes with house-made pasta, antipasti, pizzas, and more. The menu rotates seasonally and also has a “For the Table” option on the menu which has been chef-curated for families. Must-Try Dishes: some highlights from the menu include the chicken parm, lasagna, bucatini, and salted caramel gelato or spumoni semifreddo Alaska for dessert. 

• Address: 1 Fenton Main
• Website: collettarestaurant.com

Il Palio Restaurant, Chapel Hill

It’s worth going to Chapel Hill to dine at this award-winning Italian restaurant inside the elegant Siena Hotel. They create divine Italian food using locally sourced and Italian ingredients. If you don’t know what to order, try the chef’s tasting menu and sample a bunch of unique flavors.

It’s a high-end restaurant, and so it has an elevated price to match, but if you’re celebrating a special occasion, it’s worth every penny. If you stay in the hotel, you can also get deals on the restaurant, making it one of our top date ideas in Raleigh. Must-Try Dishes: some popular items on the menu are the crostini, bolognese pappardelle, and truffle tagliatelle, and for desserts, you have to try the tiramisu!

• Address: 1505 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill
• Website: ilpalio.com 

Now it’s your turn. What do you think is one of the best Italian restaurants in Raleigh? Please share a suggestion in the comments below.

More Raleigh Restaurant Tips:

Many of these Italian resturants made our list of favorite places to eat in Raleigh this year as voted by locals. (You may also like this list of favorite places to drink)

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