Top Five Italian Restaurants in Liverpool 

Italian food is hugely popular all over the world, and of course that includes Liverpool. If you’re planning a trip to Liverpool and you’re thinking about where to dine, we highly recommend a visit to one of the city’s top Italian restaurants.
 
You’ll find great Italian food all over the city of Liverpool. There are Italian restaurants, cafes and street food stalls to suit all preferences, and all budgets.
 
Our team at Quest Liverpool have handpicked a few of our favourite spots for delicious, authentic Italian cuisine to give you a sneak peek into what to expect from Liverpool’s Italian food scene. These are some of our favourite restaurants - don’t miss them!

Il Forno

Liverpool restaurant Il Forno has won plenty of prestigious awards. The restaurant offers a high-end take on Italian cuisine, and consistently impresses diners with its fun, modern take on Italian classics.
 
It’s a family affair at Il Forno. General Manager Donato Cillo runs the restaurant, along with his brother, who is a pizza chef. In the kitchen you’ll also find Donato’s wife, who is the restaurant’s pastry chef, and his brother, who helps to create Il Forno’s amazing wood-fired pizzas.
 
The quality ingredients served at Il Forno are sourced directly from Italy. The family carefully sources every single product that they use, from the flour that goes into every pizza to the award-winning olive oil used in many of Il Forno’s dishes.
 
Il Forno is well known amongst Liverpudlians, and it’s hugely popular with tourists too. The restaurant has been awarded several accolades, including the hotly contested ‘Best Pizza’ prize at the 2015 English Italian Awards.

Crust

If you’re craving pizza in Liverpool, we’ve got one word for you: Crust. Crust is famed for its wood-fired pizzas, and many locals will tell you that they’re the best in town. The restaurant has two outposts in the city, you’ll find one on Bold Street and the other in Woolton Village.
 
Crust’s pizzas are made using the best quality, authentic Italian ingredients. And it really shows. Try a Crust pizza and we guarantee you’ll be impressed by the freshness of those flavours!
 
If pizza isn't for you, then why not order one of Crust’s delicious pasta dishes instead? The menu includes all the old favourites, like lasagne and spaghetti carbonara, as well as a few more adventurous choices. We love the homemade strascinati with friarielli and Italian sausages. 

San Carlo

San Carlo is the perfect restaurant for high-end Italian dining. The restaurant itself is contemporary in feel, with a bright and sleek look creating an unbeatable atmosphere for relaxed dinners and special occasions. 
 
At San Carlo, the focus is on the quality of the food. The menu is extensive, and huge amounts of care and attention goes into every dish that is served here.
 
Look out for all the old classics on the menu, like comforting pasta dishes and tempting pizzas and calzones. But that’s not all. There are also plenty of decadent seafood dishes, as well as the freshest and most flavoursome carpaccio and meat dishes.
 
We particularly enjoyed the Sliced Tuscan veal with ham when we visited San Carlo. It’s cooked in white wine, sage and butter and is just as tasty as it sounds. If you’re celebrating, why not order the chateaubriand to share. It’s served with béarnaise sauce and makes the perfect centrepiece for romantic dinners.

Gusto Italian

The waterfront is a great spot to enjoy lunch or dinner in Liverpool, and one of our favourite waterfront restaurants is Gusto. It’s a real gem, with sophisticated interiors and a menu to match.
 
The menu is huge, with a seemingly never ending array of Italian classics to choose from. The sourdough pizzas are incredibly popular here, and once you see a few leaving the kitchen we bet you’ll be tempted to try one for yourself. There are also salads, steaks, pastas and risotto dishes.
 
Gusto is a great choice for vegetarians and vegans too. There are several vegan options on the menu, including a vegan pizza topped with D.O.P San Marzano tomato, courgette, pine nuts, caramelised red onion, roast peppers, cauliflower rice, vegan mayonnaise and rocket. 

Casa Italia

For a truly authentic Italian dining experience, it’s got to be Casa Italia. The Casa Italia menu has been 42 years in the making, and we’ve got to say it’s one of the best in the city.
 
This laid-back, informal restaurant is ideal for large groups and families, but it also makes a lovely spot for dinner dates and relaxed, romantic meals.
 
Casa Italia champions oven-baked pasta dishes and freshly made pizza. The homemade breads and dough balls are incredibly popular too. They’re freshly made every day and once you try them you’ll definitely be going back for more!
 
Casa Italia is also well-known for its wine list. Take your pick from a long list of affordable and absolutely delicious Italian red and white wines as you sit back and relax at this brilliant little Liverpool restaurant. 

An Exclusive Benefit for Quest Guests: Restaurant Chargebacks

Quest appreciates the little details that make life easier when you’re travelling, especially for work. To make life a bit more seamless, we have charge-back partnerships with a selection of Liverpool’s most desirable restaurants. 

If you simply provide your name and room number to the restaurant, your bill will be migrated to Quest and settled upon check out along with your accommodation bill. 

Some of the local Liverpool restaurants we have partnerships with include: 

• Crust
• I’lForno
• Pilgrim
• Bistro Franc

Got a craving for a comforting bowl of carbonara or a piping hot wood-fired pizza? Well make your way to one of our five favourite Italian restaurants and treat yourself to some of the tastiest food around.
 
We can never resist a visit to these top rated Italian restaurants. When it comes to flavour, atmosphere and service these places never disappoint. Book a table at one of our recommended Italian restaurants next time you’re in Liverpool and enjoy an authentic Italian feast. Make sure you leave room for dessert, too!