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A guide to Vancouver's best (and hidden gem) Italian restaurants
Vancity Lookout's guide to Vancouver's best Italian joints will whisk you away faster than you can say "mamma mia!"
Geoff Sharpe
September 21, 2023
Ever fancied a Roman holiday but don't fancy the 12-hour flight? Say no more! Vancity Lookout's guide to Vancouver's best Italian joints will whisk you away faster than you can say "mamma mia!".
Our list may not be as long as Nonna’s spaghetti, but believe us, this is the crème de la crème... or should we say, the cream in your carbonara?
Found a ravioli haven we missed? Slide into our emails at [email protected]. We're all ears... and appetites!
Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill
Description: “Widely acknowledged as the best expression of Mediterranean cooking in British Columbia, Cioppino's offers a large patio, open show kitchen and a full-service dining room as well as several private rooms for corporate and special functions.
Cioppino’s boasts one of the largest wine cellars in Vancouver, with thousands of bottles available, among them many of the best ever created. For the experienced wine lover, the full list is a wonder to explore, while casual sippers will appreciate the many well-chosen labels available by the glass.”
Location: 1133 Hamilton Street
What customers love: “ Everything we ate here was impeccable. Had the stuffed zucchini bloom to start, highly reccommend. Then a pesto linguine, just the right amount. For the main course sablefish that was so perfectly finished it melted in my mouth. The chocolate love cake and cappucino sealed the meal. The tastes were strong with high quality ingredients.
The staff were attentive and professional, but also personable. Owners came by more than once to chat about the food. Covid friendly dining, I felt completely at ease here. Also was thankful for the jazz playlist and lighting that made for a wonderful ambiance, not to mention the hundreds of bottles of wine that lined the dark millwork.” - C.C.
Ask for Luigi
Description: “This Michelin recommended spot is a casual and intimate Italian-inspired restaurant, specializing in fresh, handmade pasta and family-style dishes designed to share.
With the warm hospitality and energy of a traditional Italian home, they offer family-style service: all dishes are designed for sharing and the food arrives in the middle of the table, as it is prepared.”
Location: 305 Alexander Street
What customers love: “Cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The pasta is some of the best food I have ever tasted. Mostly come for dinner but have come for brunch too. Brunch with pasta... say less.
I come here every time I am in Vancouver and I am never disappointed. The staff is great and the ambience is too - small and cozy, so fun to watch them make the pasta as you wait. Worth the wait if you come and there is a line.” - K. Evans
Autostrada Osteria
Description: “Autostrada is a place with a simple philosophy. Inspired by the casual osterie of Italy, the focus is on a simple menu where quality ingredients shine, regional wines that represent a place, and a room filled with warmth and bustle.”
Location: 350 W Pender Street | 4811 Main Street | 1481 Continental Street
What customers love: “If you have a taste for delicious and authentic Italian meal this is your place to go! The restaurant got a great buzz going on and staff is friendly and welcoming. Give their sparkling negroni a try.. We ordered a few dishes and shared to get a little bit of everything.. was phenomenal!” - O. Sarkari
La Quercia
Description: “La Quercia hand crafts pastas using century old techniques Chef Adam Pegg learned throughout Italy, all while staging with well-known Italian chefs such as Ugo Alciati in Piedmont, and Fiorenzo Varesco and Gianni Chiocchetti in Trentino.
Expect a comprehensive and seasonally focused menu framed within the slow cooking tradition expressed in authentic Italian cuisine.”
Location: 3689 W 4th Avenue
What customers love: “Time and time again, I'm never disappointed by this charming restaurant. I recommend them to everyone I know as my favourite Italian in the city. The food is rustic and delicious, combined with a non pretentious atmosphere. A la carte is available but the familia style is the real reason why you/anyone should visit La Quercia.
I've always ordered the small menu and left really satisfied, and the one time I've had the large menu, I think I needed a stretcher. The incredible part of the these menus is the price point, 60 for the small and 80 for the large. My most recent visit included a Parmigiano-Reggiano souffle with a 40 year old balsamic! I'm still having dreams about it.” - Derek Ng
Di Beppe
Description: “The front room is open for your morning espresso, transitioning into a wine bar by night. The caffè is what you might expect on many levels but it also features a bar, deli, pastry shop, retail market, and restaurant in a warm and inviting space.
In the back, the ristorante offers classic Italian cuisine featuring antipasti, pasta, and pizza inspired by the Italian immigrant's desire to share a piece of home while living abroad.”
Location: 8 W Cordova Street
What customers love: “The food here is absolutely delicious, the texture of the meatballs are phenomenal and super flavourful as well. Pasta is cooked just right and the service was nice too. The place isn’t very big, but they utilized the space nicely. I enjoyed the decor and ambiance as well, would definitely recommend.” - Kristy Chen
Lookout insider recommendation:
Bring some friends and order the big pizza, you won’t be disappointed. The fennel sausage one is always a favourite.
If you’re choosing between pizza and pasta, go with the pizza
Their lunch sandwiches are worth trying
Get a pint of the takeaway icecream. It’s pricey, but is to die for
Pickup a bunch of little cookies in the cafe
CinCin
Description: “A winding stone stairway leads upward from bustling Robson Street, where CinCin continues to define inspired Italian cuisine.
The menu at CinCin represents the clean and plentiful flavours of Italian gastronomy. Attention to detail lies at the heart of each dish, from the variety of pastas hand made in house daily - to CinCin’s Grillworks Infierno, a two-metre behemoth of stainless steel that features a massive grill and rotisserie - adding a distinct layer of flavour to each recipe.”
Location: 1154 Robson Street
What customers love: “There are 5 star reviews, but CinCin deserves so much more. This is an experience - from the high quality food, the attention to detail, to the amazing staff and just watching the team of chefs work in the kitchen. It was all so great.
Oh, and did I mention the food? My husband rates his lamb as the best he’s ever had and I loved my burrata. There are some restaurants that stay in your memory and this is one of them.” - Deb Smith
Pepino's Spaghetti House
Description: “ Built atop a space that has been serving up spaghetti since 1955, Pepino’s dishes out hearty American Italian red sauce cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Some staples include, fresh house-made pasta, Detroit style pizza and more.”
Location: 631 Commercial Drive
What customers love: “The inside feels cozy and intimate, lively but not too loud. The service was amazing, the food came out quickly and I was surprised we were given the option of either sparkling or still water!
The food tasted exquisite, pasta perfectly cooked. you know it's good when even the spaghetti and meatballs blows your mind. As many say, the portions are generous, especially for the price.” - Jin Lee
Lookout insider recommendations: The best pasta our editor has had in Vancouver. They also have an excellent wine list.
Fiorino
Description: “Inspired by owner Giovanni Mascagni’s nostalgia for the schiacciata bread sandwiches made in his native city of Florence, Fiorino’s sandwiches are now a hot commodity. Enjoy them with wine for lunch or reserve a table for dinner to experience the full array of authentic Tuscan bites on offer.”
Location: 212 E Georgia Street
What customers love: “Arancini with hazelnut pesto… that might’ve been the best pesto I’ve ever had. Beef tenderloin carpaccio with buffalo cheese and red wine mayonnaise was the top 2 carpaccios I’ve had. Honestly I’m not a huge fan of Italian relative to other cuisines; I was very very impressed by this experience.” - Curtis Yu
Lookout insider recommendations:
Go in the early afternoon for their happy hour. It’s also much less busy
Get the meaty sauce dishes. The ragu is to die for and the kitchen knows what it’s doing
The lunch-time sandwiches are very traditional from Florence. The diavola is a personal favourite of our newsletter writer
The ambiance is a delight, with the colours, music and scenery. A perfect date night spot
Savio Volpe
Description: “Savio Volpe is a restaurant styled after the classic osteria; rustic fare in the Italian tradition of freshness and regionality, using groceries gathered in the nearby lakes, oceans, farms and fields.
Everything is prepared in the simplest, most flavourful way; pasta is handmade fresh every day – fatta a mano in casa – and meat, poultry and fish are kissed by smoke over the wood-fired grill and rotisserie. And of course, a long list of friendly Italian wines and old world coffee to inspire conversation and good cheer.”
Location: 615 Kingsway
What customers love: “The food was amazing! The prosciutto and garlic bread were so yummy. The seasonal pork belly was tender and the ribeye was cooked perfectly. The agnolotti was beautifully al dente and the lavender limoncello sherbet was perfectly sour with the right amount of lavender.” - Jennifer A.
La Buca
Description: “A charming and intimate Italian restaurant, located in the heart of Vancouver’s West Side. Handmade pasta, regional specialties from all corners of Italy, fresh fish and carefully sourced local produce all feature prominently on La Buca’s seasonally changing menu. A carefully chosen, all Italian wine list includes a well priced and interesting selection of bottles from unique small producers, as well as the great wines from the classic regions. Dine family style if you wish, or enjoy a simple weeknight supper.”
Location: 4025 Macdonald Street
What customers love: “Oh my goodness what an amazing meal. I would have never walked into this little hole in the wall restaurant if my friend hadn’t brought me in. But once inside it was an amazing experience from beginning to end. The food was amazing and service was great. I highly recommend the carbonara which was perfectly balanced which is hard to do. Additionally the desserts are to die for!” - Joshua Fang
Sopra Sotto
Description: “The combination of simple wood grain, playful details, and traditional metals create an inviting environment and perfect gathering place. The restaurant is a tribute to both the neighbourhood and the simple, yet natural food that nourished you like a Nonna. Menu items are prepared with care in the traditional Italian fashion. Sauces are simmered for hours allowing for a true emersion of flavours. Similarly, their pizza dough is prepared in advance and allowed two days to rise.”
Location: 1510 Commercial Drive
What customers love: “The food here is so amazing! A friend and I shared the Caesar salad, meatballs, and carbonara. Although the carbonara was on the saltier side, it was still super delicious and authentic. The meatballs were definitely my favorite though and had really good garlic and cheese flavouring.
The venue is super big with lots of seating. They also have a covered outdoor section. We sat at the bar and had some cocktails with our food. Servers were all very nice and our items came out quickly.” - Melissa Denise