The best Italian restaurants in Manchester

Known for their extensive steak offering, Borello have been consistently serving the diners of Sale for years, way before the wave of regeneration hit the Stanley Square precinct. Knowing that they have a good thing going on, they specialise in Italian dishes with some distinctly Mediterranean influences like steak with king prawns in white wine sauce and corn-fed chicken breast with mushroom and truffle. There are loads of antipasti dishes to sample and they do a seriously decent calzone too. You can’t beat it for reasonably priced dining in the suburbs.

With locations in Didsbury and Wilmslow, the inviting Casa Italia restaurants have the added benefit of moonlighting as delis too, so you can take a taste of Italy home with you. From floor to ceiling the walls are adorned with shelves laden with authentic Italian produce like pastas, olive oils, wines and spreads. While if you want to leave the cooking down to the professionals, the menu is equally as heaving with antipasti, simple Roman-style pizza, pasta bakes and traditional desserts.

Part of the Casa Italia family, Domus have locations in Chorlton and Altrincham. They endeavour to ‘proudly bring the flavours of Italy right to your doorstep’, which is exactly what they do. They are all about great quality ingredients prepared authentically. The owners travel to Italy every year to seek out new produce, which they also stock in their in-store delis. The menu is a feast of Roman pizza, salads, meat and fish dishes and more. The pasta is super-fresh, traditional meals are hearty, and the varied antipasti menu is all so tempting it’s hard to choose just a handful.

Italiana Fifty Five are all about creating a relaxed and decadent atmosphere for enjoying all your favourite dishes. They have two spots in the city centre and one out in Didsbury Village, so town-dwellers and suburb-dwellers are equally catered for. Take a seat in one of their distinctive bright yellow booths and enjoy five star service (seriously, take a look at their online reviews, these guys are experts at making customers feel comfortable). Dine from a well-rounded menu of pastas, steaks and pizzas – with loads of excellent vegan options too.

A recipient of, or nominee for pretty much every single food award that we’ve had in the city, it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise if Lupo had won an Oscar, or indeed a Nobel Peace Prize – purely for the quality of their produce alone. Now based in Prestwich, Lupo is the quintessential Italian cafe experience, with superb coffee, outstanding baked goods, cannolo, pizzas, pasta, cakes – everything you can think of really, all done exceptionally well indeed. Well worth the glamorous trip out to the Mountheath Trading Estate, you won’t leave empty handed (or hungry).

About as old school as they come, Puccini on Chorley Road is a Swinton institution, all white tablecloths and collages of customer photos on the walls. But the team here knows that if it ain’t broke, then you don’t need to fix it. The menu covers off all the classics, and then some. There’s loads of retro favourites like prawn cocktail and pate, carbonara and risotto. Don’t come here expecting perfectly polished Instagram-worthy plates, dishes come brimming with comforting food cooked with love. 

Cicchetti is the Venetian equivalent to tapas, and from their elegant dining room on the ground-floor of Deansgate’s House of Fraser, San Carlo Cicchetti have created a menu of Venetian delicacies – smaller plates to be enjoyed as mains or dishes for sharing, like carpaccios, tartares, skewered fish and pasta. After an afternoon of swanning around the retail palace next door, there’s no more fitting way to refresh than with some cicchetti and a glass of wine, enjoyed in style at San Carlo’s majestic white marble bar.

Established way back in 1989, Valentino’s is a family-run restaurant in the heart of Heaton Moor. It has a consistently loyal fanbase, becoming one of the most popular restaurants in the area over the years, and constantly cited as a must visit to those that have yet to experience its homely feel and stand-out spare ribs. Its menu caters to all tastes, from traditional pizza and pasta to authentic steak, fish and meat dishes. If you want authentic and welcoming, Valentino’s have you covered.

Once a staple of the Reddish food scene, A Tavola now resides in New Mills and they’re making a name for themselves there too. This is a proper neighbourhood Italian restaurant experience – you can expect only the freshest, highest quality ingredients – creating authentic Sicilian dishes including pasta and seafood, as well as sweet dishes like gelato and homemade pastries. From their picturesque little spot with sunshine yellow furniture, rustic brickwork and a covered terrace, you could almost mistake New Mills for Palermo.

Sticking with the suburbs, this place is more of a Mediterranean small plates restaurant than strictly just Italian, but it’s so good it had to be included. This cosy spot in Stockport’s Heaton Chapel, they wholeheartedly lean into their suburban location, offering comforting, well-priced plates of food from fresh focaccia and olive oil to arancini to pizzas and salads. There are also equally delicious dishes from Spain and Italy too, but it’s so well-done it doesn’t feel like a world buffet. Their Sunday roast is suitably continental too, with dishes like Venetian prawns to start and tiramisu for dessert.

If you’re looking for a place to mark a special occasion, Cibo know about creating an atmosphere. Their spot in Hale is known for its impressive roof garden, and for being frequented by the great and good of the Cheshire footballer set. Now they’ve added a King Street spot to their empire, which is all marble tables and gothic windows, all set in one of the most stunning dining rooms in the city. The menu is equally as opulent, with tartares and crab meat starters, squid ink spaghetti and a grill menu full of quality cuts. A perfect spot to enjoy a spritz with loved ones.

Another long-standing Manchester institution, Don Giovanni sits atop Oxford Road, often serving the pre-theatre/Bridgewater Hall crowd. The multi-award winning restaurant has garnered this badge for a reason, as its menu is full of outstanding dishes featuring everything from freshly caught fish to locally-sourced steaks and an incredible line-up of pasta and risotto. Oh, and the truffle and parmesan fries? In a league of their own. One to enjoy whether you’re off to a show, or it’s the main event of your evening.

Never has a pasta bar been so long-awaited as Onda. After the viral success of their pop-up at Exhibition, and roadblocked residency at The New Cross, their dedicated space was opened in Oxford Road’s Circle Square to much excitement in June, 2024. For good reason too – their menu is simple and their plates are unfussy, piled with some of the freshest pasta around and coated in simple tasty sauces like fettuccine with garlic mussels or mafaldine with beef shin ragu. And we couldn’t possibly mention Onda without mentioning the tiramisu – these guys serve up so much of this boozy, coffee infused desert that they had to install a dedicated drawer to serve it from.

This open-plan eatery in Heaton Moor is everything you want from your local Italian. A covered space for al fresco dining, friendly service and an exciting buzz makes it a must visit, alongside its offering of Sardinian-inspired food and drink. There are natural wines from local producers which pair perfectly with dishes such as the  malloreddus (mini Sardinian gnocchi) alla salsiccia, a stand-out pasta main that comes with Tuscan fennel sausage, extra virgin olive oil, tomato sauce and parmesan. The dessert menu is a taste of the Amalfi coast, featuring favourites like panna cotta, affogato and rum baba. You can’t beat that leafy sun terrace, either.

With some of the most attractive terrace action we can think of, Mulino is a gem right in the heart of Urmston. Under a canopy of leaves, Sicilian lemons and twinkling lights, this is the ideal spot to get a group of friends together for a cocktail-fuelled catch up or special occasion. The menu is full of fresh pastas, doughy Neapolitan pizzas, platters of cured meats and oozy burrata. Plus, if you fancy an Aperol the size of your head, they’re good for that too.

The lockdown project of chef Ornella Cancila, formerly a baker at the excellent Pollen, this Denton deli opened its doors with a focus on pasta, focaccia and bread. And oh, what pasta. Her dishes are pure joy, with plates such as the mushroom ravioli with creamy truffle sauce and creamy pork sausage pappardelle leading the way, not to mention a lobster ravioli that will blow your mind. You can also pick up bakes, pastries and classic Italian desserts to eat in or takeaway from the deli. It’s definitely worth making the journey up to Denton if you don’t happen to be local, but don’t expect to just stroll in – this is a popular spot and gets booked up weeks in advance.

Located next to Shudehill bus station in the heart of the city, The Pasta Factory is an Italian restaurant specialising in the art of fresh pasta. With an emphasis on family, and a social dining culture throughout the venue, the restaurant takes dining back to basics. Expect fresh, local ingredients and a welcoming, relaxed vibe throughout. We’d recommend trying the tagliatella al pesto di basilico served with homemade pesto, roasted potatoes and green beans. The restaurant also has a rotating specials menu, which always offers something uniquely tasty to try too.

They were Sugo, then they were Sud, then they were Rigatoni’s, then a different Rigatoni’s. Storied history aside, we couldn’t be happier that this south Italian kitchen has stuck around in our city, whichever name they go by. Operating from their original base in Altrincham, they offer a restrained menu of fewer than 10 main courses, and a handful of starters and sides. When the offering is this good, that’s all you need. The fava bean bruschetta and beef shin, pork shoulder & nduja ragu are enduringly unbeatable though.

A family-run business helmed by chef Maurizio Cecco, Salvi’s is a place that champions Italian produce, bringing a taste of proper Neopolitan cuisine to Manchester. You’ll also find premium Italian produce in their Corn Exchange and Deansgate Square delis, including cured meats, oils and cheeses that’ll have you inspired to cook your own delicious Italian dishes. Everything is bright and zesty, like the prawn spaghetti with a hint of Sorrento lemons.

This contemporary spot in Poynton certainly knows what it’s doing when it comes to creating an eye-catching, simple dining experience. There are plenty of (distinctly non-traditional but very much still appealing) cicchetti plates like sticky nduja wings, fired lasagne bites and Welsh mussels with fennel and chilli. Fresh egg pastas and Neapolitan pizzas are the name of the game when it comes to main courses, accompanied by satisfying sides like broccoli pangrattata. The extensive cocktail, spritz and negroni menus really help with the social side of things too.

A distinctly fine-dining take on the cosy neighbourhood trattoria, Sorella in Uppermill is all about sourcing exceptionally high quality ingredients and using them to create visually (and literally) delicious dishes like pistachio-crusted rack of lamb and confit octopus. Their dining room is a monochrome haven of calm. If you’re looking for a spot for a romantic dinner and cocktails in Uppermill (and let’s face it, who isn’t), you couldn’t do much better than Sorella.

Although not purely Italian, The Spärrows is in fact a restaurant which serves up a selection of dishes from across the European continent, from Russian pelmeni to Polish pierogi, alongside the obvious Italian influences. Handmade fresh pastas and ravioli are the stars of the show, while the restaurant takes its name from the English translation of the central European späzle – little sparrows– which the pasta shapes resemble. The attention to detail here is next-level and the drinks menu is sake-led too, just because that’s what the team are passionate about. Some of the city’s best food is being made in this contemporary spot on Red Bank.

Back in 2016, Tre Ciccio swung open its doors for the very first time in the leafy town of Altrincham. Its owners drew inspiration from the experiences they had in the Campania region of Italy, which saw them spend an evening sitting alongside the dramatic coastline at the popular La Terrazza restaurant. On returning home Tre Ciccio (which translates cheekily as ‘three chubby friends’) was born and has been warmly embraced ever since. Specialising in Neapolitan pizza as well as hearty roast chicken platters, Tre Ciccio now has locations in Ramsbottom and Glossop too. 

This Salford-based Italian restaurant has made quite the name for itself in the time since it arrived on Chapel Street. Owned by much-loved restaurateur Beppe, Vero Moderno offers a different approach to Italian cuisine that never strays too far from its roots. The restaurant has been described as ‘one of the top Italian restaurants in the UK’ by the Sunday Times, and it’s not hard to see why, especially if you’ve ever had the pleasure of tucking into Taglierini del Pescatore – fresh egg pasta with mussel meatballs, cod, baby squid and Italian Datterino tomato. It’s also a hit with Manchester’s footie squads, too, with a whole host of them popping in to show their love for Beppe and the team.

These guys describe their offering as ‘next-level Italian sandwiches’, and we can’t help but think that’s justified. With a location in Media City and one up in Ancoats, this is the place to visit when your lunchtime hunger won’t be satisfied by a meal deal. With some of the freshest bread and fillings around, you can choose tried-and-tested combinations like the Regina (with mortadella, burrata, pesto, pistachio and rocket) or the beef-brisket loaded Americana. Or build your own from an extensive list of quality deli ingredients. You can even pre-order online and collect on your lunch break – be prepared to make your colleagues jealous.

A contemporary take on a traditional trattoria back in the Old Country, Bar Etna – which is located just off Altrincham’s main foodie intersection on Stamford New Road – invite customers to book a table for a culinary odyssey through rich, time-honoured recipes. The menu is a deeply satisfying array of antipasti, arancini, fresh pasta and picture postcard deserts and imported beers. All served with a warm atmosphere, more familial than formal — flight to Catania aside, what more could you want?

Damò is Roman slang for ‘something that just happened, or happened a while back’. When in Manchester, it’s also one of Altrincham’s most beloved Italian restaurants, which looks to create an elevated experience by offering diners a chance to really dive into a culinary journey through the Old Country’s authentic recipes, customs and flavours. This place comes highly commended for its English-meets-Italian brunch dishes and a lasagne that defies all expectations of how good a lasagne can be.

With a focus on creating dishes that are fresh and light, Little Scarfs is a pasta and natural wine spot located on the outer edge of Altrincham Market, run by couple Hannah and Elliot who make everything from scratch. You’ll find dishes like organic semolina pasta, smoky aubergine ravioli and seasonal salads. Their garlic bread, which is zesty and slightly spicy too, and uses bread sourced from their Market neighbours Lovingly Artisan is a winner too. It’s the perfect spot to while away a balmy afternoon.

One of the Chorlton food scene’s more recent additions, Lucky Mama’s is a must-visit if you’re into lashings of homemade pizza and pasta, but with a twist. Inspired by owners Mamadou and Gaby’s shared Senegalese, Spanish, Chilean and Italian roots, the fresh pastas and Roman pizzas are certainly different to any other dishes that you’ll find elsewhere on this list. The restaurant began its journey from a trailer in a small Eccles back garden and has now grown into a well-loved institution that also made a recent appearance on BBC’s Britain’s Top Takeaways.

Tucked away in the back streets of the Northern Quarter, you’ll find Manchester’s tiniest Italian restaurant, Sicilian NQ. What it lacks in space, it truly makes up for in taste, as this restaurant packs a punch with its authentic dishes like gnocchi, arancini and polpettine meatballs. They’re good enough to make you feel as though you’ll walk out onto a sun-drenched palazzo, rather than Turner Street. Sicilian NQ also proves that Italian food can also be vegan-friendly, with a dedicated all-vegan menu featuring dishes such as portobello tagliatelle, spicy vegan girasole and a vegan oreo gelato.

Operating out Big Hands, the much-loved dive bar on Oxford Road, T’Arricrii specialise in that most tempting nugget of Sicilian cuisine – arancini. Rice stuffed with an endless choice of fillings, coated in breadcrumbs and then deep fried – arancini are amazing, and they don’t come much better that ones at T’Arricrii. They also offer up a pretty diverse selection of carb-heavy antipasti and aperitivi, too, including crostinis, croquettes and loaded fritti potatoes. While we wouldn’t necessarily pair up Sicilian food and pre-gig boozing, we can’t think of better bar snacks than T’Arricrii’s satisfying creations.