The 15 Best Italian Restaurants in NYC (You’ll Dream About These Dishes)

Discover the top 15 Italian restaurants in NYC—from handmade pasta havens to hidden trattorias. For foodies who crave la dolce vita in the Big Apple.

Let’s be honest — choosing the “best” Italian restaurant in New York City is like picking your favorite Sinatra song. There are just too many classics. NYC is a pasta-laced paradise where every block promises a bite of Italy, from the rustic hills of Tuscany to the lemon groves of the Amalfi Coast.

But we’re not here for just any spaghetti and meatballs. We want the orecchiette that makes you weep. The pizza that transports you to a Neapolitan alleyway. The tiramisu that whispers sweet nothings to your soul.

So, whether you’re a Manhattan-based marinara snob or a Brooklyn-based burrata believer, this definitive guide to the best Italian restaurants in NYC is your culinary passport to flavor-town, Italia edition.

Mangia, baby.

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1. L’Artusi – West Village

If you’re serious about pasta, start here.

L’Artusi is sleek, sexy, and serves some of the best Italian food in NYC — hands down. Their ricotta gnocchi is pillow-soft heaven, and the olive oil cake is borderline religious. The wine list is curated with the care of an Italian nonna choosing herbs for Sunday sauce.

📍 Location: 228 W 10th St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Ricotta gnocchi, roasted mushrooms, olive oil cake
⭐ Vibe: Chic, candlelit, West Village romance

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2. Carbone – Greenwich Village

You didn’t think we’d skip Carbone, did you?

This red-sauce temple is both an homage to classic NYC Italian-American fare and a celeb hotspot. The spicy rigatoni vodka is iconic, the veal parm is cartoonishly large, and the service makes you feel like a Goodfella — in the best way.

📍 Location: 181 Thompson St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Spicy rigatoni, Caesar alla ZZ, veal parmesan
⭐ Vibe: Retro glam meets mafioso chic

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3. Rubirosa – Nolita

Welcome to the home of the best pizza in NYC (yes, we said it).

Rubirosa’s thin-crust pies are legendary — think crackly crust, perfect sauce-to-cheese ratio, and toppings that don’t mess around. This is the rare spot that nails pizza and pasta equally. Pro tip: get the vodka pizza and thank us later.

📍 Location: 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Tie-dye pizza, vodka pizza, arancini
⭐ Vibe: Cozy, rustic, always buzzing

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4. I Sodi – West Village

Minimalist in design but maximalist in flavor.

I Sodi is a love letter to Tuscan simplicity. Their lasagna is legendary — 20 layers of pure, saucy joy — and their negroni is among the best in the city. A perfect spot for a quiet, intimate dinner that feels transported from Florence.

📍 Location: 105 Christopher St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Lasagna al forno, artichoke salad
⭐ Vibe: Intimate, understated, effortlessly cool

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5. Rezdôra – Flatiron

This Michelin-starred gem brings Emilia-Romagna to Manhattan.

Handmade pastas are the star, especially their signature grandma-style capellacci. It’s elegant without being stuffy, upscale without ego. If your idea of luxury is perfect tortellini, this place is your palace.

📍 Location: 27 E 20th St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Grandma capellacci, gnocco fritto
⭐ Vibe: Refined, modern Italian warmth

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6. Lilia – Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The pasta that launched a thousand influencer posts.

Chef Missy Robbins’ Lilia is a Williamsburg staple, where wood-fired seafood and handmade pasta live in perfect harmony. The agnolotti will make you cry (happy tears), and the cacio e pepe soft-serve is genius.

📍 Location: 567 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Agnolotti, mafaldini, grilled clams
⭐ Vibe: Industrial-chic with cozy Italian soul

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7. Via Carota – West Village

This one’s for the slow-food lovers.

Via Carota is as authentically Italian as it gets without your passport being stamped. Expect seasonal vegetables, rustic pastas, and a daily chalkboard of delights. You will wait for a table. It will be worth it.

📍 Location: 51 Grove St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Cacio e pepe, insalata verde, contorni galore
⭐ Vibe: Tuscan farmhouse meets Manhattan elegance

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8. Frankie’s 457 Spuntino – Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Italian comfort food done Brooklyn-right.

From fresh ricotta with honey to meatballs that taste like Sunday at Nonna’s, this beloved spot hits every note. The backyard garden is perfect for summer wine-and-dine nights.

📍 Location: 457 Court St, Brooklyn, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Cavatelli with sausage and browned sage butter
⭐ Vibe: Neighborhood charm meets wine-bar flair

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9. Don Angie – West Village

Innovative Italian-American with a design-magazine interior.

Don Angie’s lasagna rolls are Instagram-famous for good reason — they’re as delicious as they are photogenic. Add the stuffed garlic flatbread and chrysanthemum salad, and you’ve got yourself a cult classic meal.

📍 Location: 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Lasagna for two, stuffed garlic flatbread
⭐ Vibe: Modern glam with grandma’s soul

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10. Lupa Osteria Romana – Greenwich Village

A Roman holiday in downtown Manhattan.

This spot serves up simple Roman-style pasta dishes with precision. Think amatriciana, carbonara, and gricia — all done right. Bonus points for the affordable prices and killer amaro selection.

📍 Location: 170 Thompson St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Bucatini all’amatriciana, ricotta gnocchi
⭐ Vibe: Casual, rustic, refreshingly unpretentious

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11. Altro Paradiso – SoHo

Classy Italian meets downtown cool.

Chef Ignacio Mattos brings his refined touch to Italian fare at Altro Paradiso. The beef carpaccio, bright salads, and silky pastas are meant for long lunches and stylish dinners alike.

📍 Location: 234 Spring St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Spaghetti limone, fennel salad
⭐ Vibe: Bright, airy, casually elegant

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12. Piccola Cucina Osteria – SoHo

Your cozy Sicilian home away from home.

With handwritten menus and staff that treat you like family, Piccola Cucina charms you from the moment you enter. The seafood pastas are divine, and the limoncello flows freely.

📍 Location: 196 Spring St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Spaghetti with clams, grilled octopus
⭐ Vibe: Warm, intimate, Sicilian seaside vibes

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13. Peasant – Nolita

Rustic, fire-cooked Italian with a rebellious edge.

Peasant is a moody, brick-walled spot where nearly everything is roasted in a wood-burning oven. Expect bold flavors, smoky meats, and some of the best porchetta in town.

📍 Location: 194 Elizabeth St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Porchetta, grilled octopus, charred vegetables
⭐ Vibe: Cavernous, fiery, rebellious rustic charm

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14. Celeste – Upper West Side

A neighborhood gem that feels like your Italian uncle’s kitchen.

Celeste has no-frills decor and big-hearted food. It’s cash-only, often packed, and filled with locals who know a good carbonara when they taste one. Comforting, unfussy, and wallet-friendly.

📍 Location: 502 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Carbonara, tiramisu, grilled calamari
⭐ Vibe: Casual, chaotic, ridiculously good

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15. Fiaschetteria Pistoia – East Village

The best kind of Tuscan chaos.

Think handwritten menus, communal tables, and servers yelling in Italian — in the most charming way possible. Fiaschetteria Pistoia is Tuscan to its core, from the pici cacio e pepe to the overflowing wine glasses.

📍 Location: 647 E 11th St, New York, NY
🍝 Must-Try: Pici cacio e pepe, beef carpaccio
⭐ Vibe: Wild, warm, wonderfully loud

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There you have it: the crème de la crema di parmigiano of Italian restaurants in NYC. Whether you’re in it for the ‘gram, the pasta, or a little bit of both — these spots serve up serious flavor with a side of unforgettable vibes.

So next time someone asks, “Where should we go for Italian in NYC?” just send them this list. Or better yet… don’t. Keep the secret sauce for yourself.

Buon appetito, New York.