Perth’s love affair with Italy is long-running and more passionate than ever. More than a thriving dining scene, Italian cuisine is an essential part of our food culture. Looking for a taste of the sweet life? Here are the best Italian restaurants in Perth and beyond.
From porchetta panini at take-away shop Al Trancio to world-class pasta Sal’s Pasta Deli, and the famed apple strudel at Sicilian pâtisserie Corica, Perth loves a taste of la dolce vita.
Of course, this isn’t news for longstanding institution Capri, which has been serving its calamari fritti and red-sauce pasta to loyal customers for nearly 70 years; nor is it for the family behind The Re Store, who has been selling Italian groceries and deli goods (and original Continental rolls) from their Northbridge location since the Great Depression.
As our appetite for eating Italian has continued to grow over the decades, so too has our city’s list of stellar Italian restaurants and bars. Here are some of our favourites from our Top 100, plus a couple of newcomers to add to your hitlist.
Perth’s Best Italian Restaurants for Shared Meals and Aperitivo with Friends
Si Paradiso
Seven years in, Si Paradiso’s raucous combination of bar, restaurant, dance club, garden party and outdoor amphitheatre is still holding fast as one of the most giddily fun places to eat and drink in Perth. In warmer months, there’s barely anywhere better to grab a frothy, amaro- and fruit-based cocktail than the magical courtyard, and it’s hard to think of a better first date spot than the parquet-floored dining room—its globe lighting, terrazzo tabletops and pops of greenery make it look like a 1960s Italian speakeasy (if such a thing had existed).
In recent years, the food has become more of a focus, and there are some seriously good things coming out of the kitchen. Snack on the lobster and prawn tramezzini, some of the most decadent finger sandwiches ever made (caviar is available as a topper for an extra charge), or on a bright, crisp cuttlefish tostada with smoked corn and pico de gallo. Creative pastas, hulking steaks and whole grilled fish are all available, but the place made its reputation with its Naples-style pizza, which is still some of the best around. However you decide to put this adaptable venue to use, you can be sure the results will be fun.
1/446 Beaufort Street, Highgate; si-paradiso.com
La Madonna Nera
This tiny wine bar exudes warmth. The staff at La Madonna Nera brim with vigour, speaking passionately about the Italian (and Italian varietal) wines like they crafted them on site. They speak of the menu with equal enthusiasm, making you want to lounge and be sated. And you can.
The magnà e zitt’ menu means “shut up and eat”. Chefs may rotate in the kitchen, much like artists do in a residency, with dishes changing as they move through. A meal can be as simple as crostini with pickled zucchini and whipped ricotta or as hearty as pappardelle with duck ragù and duck-fat pangrattato. Dessert is mostly an afterthought, but the Sicilian Mess—Italian meringue with white chocolate mousse and saffron syrup—makes for a tantalising end-of-dinner delight.
This is clever, delicious food, made for smart, affordable and well-chosen wines. The flexibility means you can enjoy a glass of Trebbiano, or splurge on an eye-wateringly pricey Barolo while turning the small tastes into a full meal.
1/155 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn; lamadonnanera.com.au
Vin Populi
Vin Populi is a love letter to Italy, brought to life by industry legends Emma Ferguson and Dan Morris, the duo behind No Mafia and Balthazar. Inside, the modern, breezy-fit out transports you to a sun-drenched piazza along Italy’s coastline, where you find yourself sipping a negroni at day’s end or a mid-afternoon spritz before a long lunch ahead.
The chalkboard menu is refreshingly simple, listing plates with no descriptions. Antipasti includes coppa, mortadella, zucchini, capsicum, octopus, sardines and bocconcini (which comes dressed in fermented tomato chilli).
You’ll want to start with one of everything, but leave room for pasta. The jet-black squid ink linguine is a standout, while the classic Roman rigatoni amatriciana speckled with crisp guanciale and a kick of chilli is just as tempting.
Spoil yourself with a glass of wine from a list that celebrates the best of Italy and WA, organised by geography from north to south, and don’t leave without ordering the Italian doughnuts filled with chocolate and custard.
11 High St, Fremantle; vinpopuli.com.au
Vin Populi
Cherubino City Cellar
Perched above Simon & Johnson on Subiaco’s Rokeby Road, Cherubino City Cellar is easily missed if you’re not looking for it. Enter via Xanthis Lane and climb the winding staircase to this polished city outpost of Larry Cherubino’s Margaret River Estate.
The venue exudes an effortlessly sophisticated charm—ideal for unwinding, sharing a pre-dinner drink or enjoying a quiet glass of wine alone. The wine list is a standout, featuring Larry Cherubino’s own exceptionally crafted wines alongside a curated collection from Italy, France, and beyond.
For those looking to nibble, be tempted by small antipasti plates of pistachio mortadella, creamy burrata with agrodolce or beef crudo enlivened by salsa verde and anchovy. And if you’re not in a hurry, the saffron risotto with Barolo reduction is worth staying for another glass of wine.
Address: 169-171 Rokeby Road Subiaco (Entry via Xanthis Lane) https://www.citycellar.com.au
Cherubino City Cellar
Like these? Try Bar Vino or Coccodrillo Negroni Bar
Third Wave Italian Restaurants In Perth
Mummucc’
You know a restaurant is special when the energy is palpable—the room is buzzing with happy conversation, the lighting is spot on, and everything seems right with the world. Mummucc’ is just such a place: intimate, welcoming, fun.
Chef Matt McDonald’s food leans modern Italian but he doesn’t hew too closely to that mandate, particularly on the starters—you’re as likely to find Japanese phrasing and ingredients as classic Italian ones. Steak tartare comes crowned with a thicket of fried enoki mushrooms, hiding a soft egg yolk and bonito cream atop a rich meaty Angus fillet. Raw amaebi (prawns) are cured in citrus and flayed over rice malt tomatoes, spruiked with fennel and basil kosho—freshness in a bowl.
Mains are all handmade pastas, like fluttery-edged campanelle with pancetta and smoked tiger prawns. The crew here are charming and friendly, especially if they realise you’re actually excited by the fantastic wine list and want to chat through it—expect mainly Italian and Australian varieties, leaning towards natural and funky. This is a place for gossip with friends, rowdy date nights, and a smashing good time for all. The prospect of ordering in pizza from sister venue Monsterella next door? Just another win.
Address: 6/46-56 Grantham Street, Wembley; mummucc.com.au
Mummucc’
Cosy Del’s
The name says it all. Tucked in the suburban streets of Lathlain, Cosy Del’s is the kind of place where the night feels endless; a place to linger over a glass of wine and enjoy the simplicity of good food and company.
Step inside, and feel the warmth of being welcomed like family. Choose a spot inside for a front row view of bustling Italian kitchen in action, or continue through to the alfresco courtyard, where fairy lights glisten, setting the stage for an enchanting evening.
The menu, ever-changing to celebrate the best of seasonal produce, plays homage to northern Italian roots. Silky Parmigiano Reggiano custard stars on a plate of roasted pumpkin, while smoky hibachi-fired ox tongue spiedino is finished with an olive crumb and smoked honey. For mains, the pappardelle with beef cheek ragu delivers pure comfort, while the pillowy spinach and ricotta gnocchi is just as satisfying.
Looking to get hands on? Book into Del’s Cooking School where you’ll master their signature focaccia and pasta dishes. Keep an eye out on socials—classes sell out fast!
Address: 13 – 15 Lathlain Pl, Lathlain https://www.cosydels.com.au
Three Coins & Sons
Just a hop, skip and jump from Testùn, Threecoins & Sons is an unapologetically old-school celebration of Italian dining. The red and white decor, from tablecloths to awnings, sets the tone for a nostalgic experience.
Pinsas—oval-shaped Roman flatbreads—are the star of the show, with a thick base that is light and airy inside, crisp and crunchy outside. While classics like Margherita and Eggplant Parmigiana make an appearance, it’s the more inventive combinations—like octopus with roasted fennel, sundried tomatoes and capers—that truly shine.
Prefer pasta? The Linguine Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino with Shark Bay Prawns and crème fraiche exemplifies the magic of simple, quality ingredients. The sauce, a perfect emulsification of garlic, olive oil, and chilli, clings to each strand of pasta in the way only a true aglio e olio can.
Address: 2/776 Beaufort Street https://www.threecoins.com.au
Three Coins and Sons
Testùn
Testùn offers Italian dining with a twist, bringing unexpected flavour combinations to the forefront. Dishes like the coconut laksa spaghetonne with Shark Bay king prawns and 63-degree egg Italianises the popular Malaysian soup, while the Black Onyx brisket mafaldine is elevated with black pepper bulgogi ragu and smoked provola.
Even the sides are stars: lemon pepper chippies with a secret sauce are a must. For dessert, the retro-inspired Kensington Pride mango and passionfruit trifle with ricotta white chocolate mousse is a delightful finish.
If the choices feel overwhelming, let the kitchen guide you with their the Shaddapa & Stuffa You Face menu.
12/760 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley; testun.com.au
If you like these, also try No Mafia in Northbridge or Lalla Rookh in the CBD or alternatively seek comfort in a bowl of pasta from Leederville’s Pappagallo
The Best Italian Restaurants In Perth for that Special Occasion
Lulu La Delizia
Since opening Subiaco restaurant Lulu La Delizia in 2016, Joel Valvasori has established himself as Perth’s most adept maestro of pasta and antipasti. But it’s about far more at Lulu La Delizia. Warm wood, orb lighting and walls lined with wine provide a classic, cosy atmosphere.
The wine list is mainly Italian (or Italian-style Australian) with approachable pricing, while the knowledgeable and friendly service encourages you to indulge. Start with Nonna’s meatballs served on soft polenta—a hearty introduction to what lies ahead. Saffron- and gin-cured kingfish spruiked with juniper-infused vinegar and topped with crunchy celery hearts is a burst of sweet-fleshed freshness.
When it comes to pasta, expect something special. Orecchiette with king prawns, white wine, garlic and chilli is as classic as it is delicious, with sauce clinging to the al dente pasta just so. Veal, pork, vegetable and red wine ragù enveloping tagliatelle is pure comfort—which is the perfect way to describe the entire restaurant.
5/97 Rokeby Road (Forrest Walk), Subiaco; lululadelizia.com.au
Lulu La Delizia
Post
Located in the State Buildings, Post is classy and casual in the same breath, refined without losing sight of approachability.
The airy, atrium-like space highlights the heritage architecture while the one-page menu pays tribute to Italian classics. Crisp, saffron-scented arancini with stretchy cores of Taleggio set the tone, while tagliatelle napped in a savoury tomato sugo and nubs of slow-cooked beef delivers on flavour.
Don’t miss the gratifyingly crunchy pork cotoletta bolstered by capers, fried sage leaves and anchovy. An entrée of simply dressed octopus, shaved fennel and witlof, meanwhile, proves the kitchen also knows when to let good produce lead the way.
It’s a tight package, made even more so by Emma Farrelly’s whip-smart wine list—a reason to visit in itself.
Como The Treasury Hotel, 1 Cathedral Avenue, Perth; postperth.com
Garum
Set within Hibernian Hall, Guy Grossi’s Garum is an ode to Roman-inspired cuisine.
The food is solid, uses good ingredients and embraces the odd Roman classic, such as a carbonara made with fettuccine or cacio e pepe with tonnarelli, a very Roman spaghetti-like pasta, and fine duck and porcini tortellini with pear and sage jus, that would well nominate for one of the city’s better pasta dishes.
Hibernian Place, 480 Hay Street, Perth; garum.com.au
Garum
Santini Bar & Grill
Big, bold and buzzing, Santini is a masterclass in the art of dining as theatre. The size of the menu, the tableside service, the leather, the marble, the brass-topped tables that bear scars of good times past.
Start with scallops, flashed in the wood oven in orange and chilli butter so their tops caramelise, or zucchini flowers stuffed with lemony ricotta, fried, then doused in burnt-honey syrup. Pasta courses follow—don’t miss the ink-black carnaroli risotto topped with seared squid seared. Mains are just as memorable, with a standout sirloin accompanied by a perfect peppercorn sauce.
Big, bold and buzzing, Santini is about dining as an experience, and just being here is half the fun. Dress up, and sink into it.
First Floor, QT Perth, 133 Murray Street, Perth; santinibarandgrill.com.au
A Taste of La Dolce Vita Near the Coast
Isola Bar e Cibo
Overlooking the azure waters of Rottnest’s Thompson Bay, Isola Bar e Cibo brims Mediterranean charm. Long lunches meet sophisticated Italian drinking, with negronis, spritzes and a curated selection of local and Italian wines.
Start with the semolina-dusted calamari fritti, crudo di tonno and wood-grilled Skull Island prawns bathed in a sumptuous crayfish butter—perfect for mopping up with warm focaccia. The pasta dishes are a highlight, from rigatoni with pork sausage ragu to a delicate blue swimmer crab tagliarini. Finish with head chef Andrea Sanesi’s pear and almond cake, from his nonna’s almost one hundred year old recipe.
Corner Bedford Ave &, Colebatch Ave, Rottnest Island WA 6161 isolabarecibo.com.au/
Isola
Il Lido
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Cottesloe beach, Il Lido is a love letter to Italian hospitality. Locals flock here for everything from espresso-fueled mornings to long linches and relaxed aperitivo hours.
The menu traverses through coastal Italian classics, combining WA’s finest produce with bold flavours of the Med. standouts include the charred octopus with fennel and gremolata, the house-made ricotta topped with tomato vinaigrette, and a selection of pasta that are as satisfying as they are authentic.
Pair your meal with a glass from their extensive, Italian focused wine list, which heroes Italian grape varieties drawn from the volcanic soils of the south through to the foothills of the north.
Espresso hour? Aperitivo hour? Il Lido cries out for a visit any time of day.
88 Marine Parade, Cottesloe; illido.com.au
Prefer a slice or two of pizza? Check out our guide to Perth’s best pizza.
