With our love of espresso, pizza, pasta and vino, Australia could be Italy’s 21st region.
Italian immigrants were among the first to broaden the Anglo-Celtic Aussie palate and we also have them to thank for one of the world’s best coffee cultures. Today the best casual Italian restaurants in Sydney are as good as they are in Italy! Now more than ever, it’s easy to get delicious, authentic Italian food in Sydney at good prices – all served up with that typical Italian charm and hospitality. Here are some of the best casual Italian restaurants in Sydney for great food and great value.
Cibaria Manly
Alessandro Pavoni’s Cibaria elevates casual Italian to a new level. The terracotta and white washed décor echoes a relaxed menu of carefully-curated antipasti (including a fabulous gorgonzola gueridon trolley), salumi, crudo, fritti, pasta and wood-fired specialties. Combined with the adjoining gelateria full of superb classic and unexpected combos (Amalfi lemon and basil sorbetto, yum!), Cibaria is a great reason to visit Manly Beach.
Fratelli Paradiso Potts Point
The brothers Paradiso feed lucky Potts Point locals lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Staples like Calamari Sant’ Andrea and classic lasagne are legendary, while the addition of zucchini takes a vegetarian special of rigatoni ‘carbonara’ to a delicious new level. Plenty to keep lovers of Italian and natural wines happy too.
Braci North Willoughby
It’s hard not to make it all about the pizze at this north shore local, especially ‘Killa Beez’ with fior di latte, hot sopressa and a hint of honey to off-set the chilli. But make room for excellent spuntini including cacio e pepe arancini and peppers aqua pazza, butter lettuce salad with salsa verde, and Italian doughnuts with salted caramel ice cream. Owned by ex-Firedoor barman Toby Robinson, cocktails and wines are excellent too.
Chiosco by Ormeggio Mosman
You might come for the views at this casual sibling to one of Australia’s finest Italian restaurants, but you’ll stay for the superb food and great-value chef’s sharing feast! Antipasti, house-made pasta, finger-lickingly-good secondi and those gorgeous Nutella-filled bombolone to finish! Friendly Italian service and a great drinks list too.
Sagra Darlinghurst
It’s all about the house-made and traditional at this simple Stanley Street osteria – cheese, salumi, pasta and bread are all made in-house. The salumi is hand-sliced to order on the shiny red machine in the corner of the dining room. The menu changes daily, but I’m delighted when the lasagne of nettles, walnut and tallegio makes an appearance, and love their deep-fried zucchini flowers!
Bistecca Sydney
This subterranean cellar serves just one dish: bistecca Fiorentina, Tuscany’s famous t-bone steak. Chef cuts the requested weight off a huge slab of meat on a marble block in the open kitchen, then grills it over hot coals, slices and serves it with a choice of sides, including a stunningly simple dish of white beans. There are a few snacks to nibble on while your steak’s cooking too, like garlicky pizza bianca with ricotta.
Postino Osteria Summer Hill
Alessandro Pavoni’s inner west osteria has it all: colour, flavour, generosity, friendly service, delicious wines by the glass and dishes straight off an Italian Mamma’s greatest hits list. There’s baccala mantecato, vitello tonnato (using Blackmore wagyu no less), vibrant crudo, simple tasty pasta, bistecca and the likes of pistachio tiramisu to finish. The sharing menu is great value and may even result in leftovers for lunch the next day.
Marta Rushcutters Bay
This Roman trattoria serves one of my all-time favourite Italian dishes, carciofi alla Giudìa (deep-fried whole artichokes) rarely seen outside Rome! I love their choice of vermouths for the negroni and sbagliati (fatto mano for me please), gnocchi fritti covered in grated pecorino, and cacio e pepe tossed tableside. Their weekly Roman special is always a delicious surprise too!
Updated 23 Jan 2025
