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Top Italian restaurants in Surry Hills, Australia

Top Rated Italian restaurants in Surry Hills

Top Reviewed Italian restaurants in Surry Hills

Reviews

Pizza was so good, is the best I've eaten in Sydney so far. I've been there with my friends(8) during Saturday and it was so so so noisy that we couldn't even talk! The manager at the beginning didn't want to separate the bill with a rude behavior.
Wonderful dinner experience here celebrating a birthday. We enjoyed the hand-made woodfired pizzas here, with wonderful selections. We also enjoyed the tiramisu here, which was delicious.

The staff are incredibly friendly, and definitely let them know if you're celebrating a birthday here, there will be a surprise waiting for you. 😉
Time to ditch the diet when visiting Via Napoli. (Surry Hills)
and enjoy an Italian feast.
This place is always "buzzing", very popular.
Step inside to the large indoor dining area and get ready for the loud festivity.
There is limited seating outdoors, (for those seeking a quieter vibe) which was very pleasant in the afternoon winter sunshine.
The prices are not over the top.
Servers with strong Italian accents add that extra bit of authenticity that makes you feel like you're dining right in the heart of Italy.
The Gnocchi and Arancini balls are proof that happiness comes in the form of carbs.

Next time, I will certainly be tucking into the pizzas being served to other diners.
They looked sensational.
service is nice 👍
had high expectations 😅
🤷 food was ok - 🍕 diavola pizza (some 🍯 would have been great), burrata 🧀 focaccia 🍞 (wish there was more basil, 🍅 was meh), and porcini 🍄 arancini (not fresh?) 🌾
💁 kinda mid compared to the other Italian spots in the area
complimentary 🌶️ chilli oil on the side
Rik Sen
at 2024 Jun 29
Rik Sen
at 2024 Jun 29
Rating: 4.5 starts rounded up to 5.

Tried quite a few dishes. The pastas are well executed with some do them quite unique. Some dishes were “very good” and some “just good”. Will probably be back here sometime once the menu is updated.
Yolanda Wang
at 2024 Jun 17
Yolanda Wang
at 2024 Jun 17
Amazing ambiance and great intimate atmosphere, came for a birthday dinner but thought it would be great for a date night or casual dining. Food was standard, the only thing that stood out was the tiramisu (probably the best one I’ve had in Sydney) so creamy and packed with flavor. Not too impressed with the wait time, waited over an hour for the mains to be served, the whole table just sat with bread during this time . The restaurant wasn’t extremely busier either. Their sister restaurant porteno was a much better experience overall.
Great spot! I’ve been visiting via napoli since day one when Luigi opened the first small shop in Lane Cove. It has grown since then massively though consistency on the dough and pizza has remained good. It’s slightly more mass market than originally intended though you got to make sure you keep your audience happy!

The Birthday celebrations in Via Napoli are the thing! All the staff will sing for you and the restaurant becomes like a little Italy!
Antipasto was decent, but I won't be ordering the Pizza Il Capitano again—just not to my taste. However, the main issue was the service. I booked a table over the phone, and upon arrival, we were informed that we only had one hour to eat. We sat down at 7:00, ordered wine and food at 7:15, received our pizza and other dishes after 25 minutes, and were kicked out by 8:00, even though we still had wine left. The atmosphere was terrible, with noise so loud it hurt my ears.

The Italian waitress was very sweet and professional, but the guy managing our table was only friendly until we didn't leave a tip. I would have tipped the waitress, but not him—and that's my right. I will never come back, not even if I were paid.
Emma Byrne
at 2024 May 27
Emma Byrne
at 2024 May 27
My partner and I recently held our wedding reception at Bastardo and had an amazing experience. The communication leading up to the day was brilliant and everything was well planned. The on the day set-up was perfect. The food/service/atmosphere on the day was exactly what we wanted. the staff were extremely attentive and very accommodating to a number of last minute dietary changes. Overall it was a magical day filled with great service and delicious food. Would highly recommend.
I had a great experience at this establishment! The staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. The food was delicious and the portions were generous.
I would definitely recommend this place to others.
Celebrated Mothers Day at Via Napoli Surry Hills and were delighted by the food and service! We had the special mothers day set menu which consisted of menu items we would not have normally ordered. All the food was delicious!!
We enjoyed an amazing birthday lunch at Via Napoli on the weekend. It was a 70th b’day celebration & it was thoroughly enjoyable. The food was so incredibly delicious, the service was equally as good & the atmosphere was casual & fun. It’s a family run business & we were treated like family. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant & will definitely be returning
Vacanza Restaurant in Surry Hills earns a 5/5 for its outstanding dining experience. A special shoutout to Francesca, who recommended mouth-watering entrées that set the tone for an amazing meal. The focaccia bread was delightfully delicious, while the pizzas stole the show with their perfectly crispy bases, balanced sauce, and just the right amount of toppings—absolutely perfect. We walked in, no booking, though if you do this I suggest you go early. When leaving we noticed a line of about 20 people out the door.
Kristen Watson
at 2024 Apr 27
Kristen Watson
at 2024 Apr 27
The best Italian restaurant I’ve visited in the city since moving here 2.5 years ago.

I want to especially applaud our server Rohan who made our night that much brighter with his charisma and amazing food suggestions. The wine was perfect pairing with all our meals. The eggplant parmigiana and corn agnolotti was sensational!

Fantastic experience, must must visit!
This is a casual place with Amazing 100% Italian Pizza.
Please, if you decide to eat here at “Vacanza Pizzeria“ you must know that they use
San Marzano Pomodoro, the best Italian tomato from South Italy Napoli, exactly from the Vesuvio .
Ingredients are super fresh.
Friendly service with an Italian touch .
Kate Hofman
at 2024 Apr 25
Kate Hofman
at 2024 Apr 25
We arrive late (sorry!) to a late night booking and instead of making us feel like an inconvenience, the staff seemed to use it as an opportunity to give us outstanding service. We ordered entrees and pasta, and not a scrap was left on the plates, it was all so delicious! The stuffed zucchini flowers and cockscomb bisque special were standouts. Nice low key lighting and decor gave the venue an intimate and cosy atmosphere. Thanks Bastardo, we loved our visit
Carlito
at 2024 Mar 30
Carlito
at 2024 Mar 30
Great little Italian place, part of the group who run Porteño. All house made fresh pasta, with some good classic Italian dishes and with a twist. Their bread comes from their bakery next door called Humble. We got to enjoy their burrata, zucchini flowers and their eggplant parmigiana. But the winner was the pasta. They had a pasta special with tiger prawn bisque. And the blue swimmer crab with mafalda pasta was also memorable. We tried the cassata dessert, which was only ok. The pistachio layer was the best part, but we couldn't finish the tart strawberry layer. Overall, a good meal with great service and a good wine list.
The dough 🤌🤌🤌 I found the dough very different from other pizzaria. It was chewy and gooey at another level. Woodfired, and with loaded italian cheese with understated toppings, pizza had wow factor in it. Staff were brilliant, keep making eye contact with patron, pronto response and service with excellence. We had truly pleasant dining experience and highly recommend.
Mi
at 2024 Mar 19
Mi
at 2024 Mar 19
my friend took me to this place for my bday. food was good and the guy who was serving us the whole evening was very friendly. the atmosphere was chill, would not recommend if you are super hungry and only want to have a fast feast. would recommend the tiramisu, that was so delicious
Belinda Flanagan
at 2024 Mar 16
Belinda Flanagan
at 2024 Mar 16
Fantastic restaurant. Delicious pasta dishes, and generous serves. The service was fabulous; attentive without being intrusive. We had a great night and we will definitely be back.
Ansh T
at 2024 Mar 14
Ansh T
at 2024 Mar 14
The worst ever experience, just because of a waiter who had a serious attitude problems.

We requested for a changed of the table since the one we got was unstable and looked really awful. Despite having 3 tables free, the waiter rudely replied “TRY BOOKING EARLIER NEXT TIME”. This made me very embarrassed in front of my partner. If I were him, I would have politely said that “Sorry we can’t change the table for XYZ reason”.

Since he showed so much attitude right from the start, we decided to leave. And this guy came outside the restaurant and shouted from the top of his lungs “THANK FOR BOOKING AND JUST LEAVING”. I felt so relieved and thankful that I didn’t stay to be the victim of his bad attitude throughout our dinner and ruin our evening.

Also note, that I had 20% discount from EAT club and I decided to let it go just because of the behavioural problem of the staff.

I do hope that the management will invest to train their staff on how to be hospitable with customers.
Jordan Turner
at 2024 Mar 12
Jordan Turner
at 2024 Mar 12
Restaurant has a great vibe and staff are attentive and on the ball. However, the food was a little bit of a let down. The corn pasta was perfectly cooked but lacked seasoning. The flavours were all there it just wasn’t strong enough. Then the Duck Pasta we ordered didn’t taste like anything at all lol, it was weird. My partner had ordered the crab pasta on another occasion and said it was amazing. I wish I had ordered it, or asked for salt. Maybe both.
David Stones
at 2024 Mar 09
David Stones
at 2024 Mar 09
Busy Saturday night but fitted us in. Josh the server was so helpful and friendly. Offered good advice on light foods on offer. Food fantastic and clearly all freshly prepared.
Kulvara Lapanan
at 2024 Mar 07
Kulvara Lapanan
at 2024 Mar 07
Soooooo many choices you may choose. For a cocktail lover, I recommend this place. Good atmosphere and great service.
Vacanza Pizzeria offers some of the best pizza we have had the pleasure of enjoying since arriving in Sydney. The menu is small, but still broad enough that there should be something for everyone. The BYOB is a little on the pricey side compared to Vacanza's competitors but is still a pleasant treat. Sam noted that the seating is a little uncomfortable but perhaps that helps to keep the tables moving. Our waitress, a young Irish lady, did an excellent job with our table.
Amanda Gower
at 2024 Feb 05
Amanda Gower
at 2024 Feb 05
Amazing! Been here a number of times and the food is always great and the service is amazing. We went to the bottomless brunch on Sunday and it was fantastic. The food, drinks and service are well worth it! Special thank you to Brandon who went above and beyond! We will be back.
K R
at 2024 Jan 29
K R
at 2024 Jan 29
The food and drinks here are outstanding.
All the recommendations Filippo gave us was amazing!
Great wine bar vibe with gorgeous cocktails.
Great first date place or wines with friends.
Can’t wait to come back again
Warren Bennison
at 2024 Jan 27
Warren Bennison
at 2024 Jan 27
We visited Pasta Emelia recently as we were passing by, and the whole experience was first class. The pasta dishes were delicious, the bread was fresh out of the oven (and we had a second helping it was that good). Anna the owner chatted with us and told us all about the business and the genuine love that goes into what they do. The wine was from their own vineyards and was that good we took a bottle home, along with a jar of their delicious Arrabbiata sauce. We spent the next few days telling all of our friends about Pasta Emelia and will definitely be returning very soon.
Nakisah Williams
at 2024 Jan 20
Nakisah Williams
at 2024 Jan 20
Okayyy.
We had a bad experience with our dessert. We ordered the dessert special on the blackboard, but it has been changed since lunch and not updated on the board. When we received a totally different dessert, it was badly made and not worth $18.
When we went to pay, the owner told us she has not changed the blackboard but still made us pay for a dessert which we didn’t order??
The pasta was good (which is clearly what their speciality is) but we had a similar experience as other reviews. Elements they mentioned on the menu were barely there, like “seasonal fruits or berries” on our meringue was literally one strawberry. ONE strawberry! Strawberries are literally on sale at Woolies right now.

The drinks were great! But the whole experience was not worth almost $300.
Shayan Khoshab
at 2024 Jan 05
Shayan Khoshab
at 2024 Jan 05
Had heard a lot about this place and I wasn't disappointed. The vibe and atmosphere is excellent, to go with the excellent food and very well balanced cocktails. The Classico Negroni and Lamb Ragu are a must.
The staff were incredibly friendly and the atmosphere was cozy!
However, we waited over 30 minutes for below-average pizzas.
Really hope this was an off night as I had heard good things about this place. Fingers-crossed they will be better next time.
Adam Chung
at 2023 Dec 22
Adam Chung
at 2023 Dec 22
Overall 6/7
Lots of great pasta dishes at a… reasonable price. But certainly not cheap.
Highly recommend going with more people to try some of their starters and share more dishes - they have lots of great dishes worth trying.

Gem lettuce salad: 7/7
Super good. Really good dressing.

Cucumber salad 6/7
Great mix of cheese and sweetness.

Zucchini flowers 7/7
Very well executed, a classic

Calamari 4/7
The batter just wasn’t crunchy.

Desserts weren’t great.
J K
at 2023 Dec 22
J K
at 2023 Dec 22
Overall nice pizza and would come again!

Loved the pizza crust and base here, had the beetroot sauce base which was also yummy! Would love to see more vegetarian or vegan (coconut oil cheese) options/more options with veggies on top.

Is a bit tricky if it is raining as the awning has a large gap in it and doesn’t extend very far out.
Cute seating inside, a bit noisy though but nice vibes, would come again.
Ru S
at 2023 Dec 20
Ru S
at 2023 Dec 20
Came here with my girlfriends, and we absolutely loved the vibe and interior. The food was excellent, especially the pasta where I could savor the ingredients without being overpowering. The king prawn, tomatoes with nduja crumbs pasta stood out beautifully. Will definitely return!
Christine L
at 2023 Dec 19
Christine L
at 2023 Dec 19
All dishes were incredibly amazing, and we truly enjoyed our meal. Service from the staff was 5 out 5. They even remembered us even we haven’t been there for a while.
Camilla Matovina
at 2023 Nov 28
Camilla Matovina
at 2023 Nov 28
Always an absolute delight coming to Bar Conte. Service is impeccable, food is out of this world and the drinks are next level. Totally spoilt my husband on his birthday, the staff always go above and beyond to make it a special experience. Hands down our favourite restaurant in Sydney! See you again soon!
Anna Tarazevich
at 2023 Nov 27
Anna Tarazevich
at 2023 Nov 27
Amazing experience - just atmosphere and vibe of this place make you want to dance and enjoy “dolce far niente”.
The star of the night was this delicious Negroni tiramisu.
Pippa Jackson
at 2023 Nov 22
Pippa Jackson
at 2023 Nov 22
Such a great dining experience for my hubbys birthday!
Stefano was very accommodating - arranging a pre drinks table (those negronis yum!) then finding us another so we could have dessert after the 2hr limit was up. Tiramisu for the win wow!
All the other food was divine too!
orange_tree_au
at 2023 Nov 07
orange_tree_au
at 2023 Nov 07
Food at Pasta Emilia was pretty good although I was more impressed with entree and dessert rather than the pasta. Really enjoyed the unique polenta bread with anchovies; it was a cross between cornbread and frittata. The buttermilk panna cotta was also delicious. Also loved the chilli oil condiment on the table.
Vibes are homely and rustic, service was friendly and quite attentive.
Freychel Taylor
at 2023 Oct 28
Freychel Taylor
at 2023 Oct 28
Delicious and well knowledgeable staff of their menu. Gave a great recommendation for a pizza. Food was yummy and will go there again until I've tried the whole menu!
Cyrielle AH-FA
at 2023 Oct 23
Cyrielle AH-FA
at 2023 Oct 23
We had dinner in this place and it was super delicious. I had pasta with cheese and veggies and I was a bit worried it might be bland. Actually it was the tastiest ever. My husband had oysters, squid and veal pasta. All were very good. The vibes were also very nice for a romantic dinner, with dimmed lights and nice staff. Definitely recommend!
Pear Pichada
at 2023 Oct 22
Pear Pichada
at 2023 Oct 22
Quick stop for a cocktail. Customer service is beyond than what I expected. Staff are lovely and very friendly 😊 🍹 Next time, if we have a chance, we will try their food as they look so yummmyyyy. The appetiser is complimentary from staff, and it tastes delicious 👍🏻
Dayne Cocores
at 2023 Sep 12
Dayne Cocores
at 2023 Sep 12
The most amazing pizza experience in all of Sydney! The manager and staff were first class and made sure their guests had the best experience. From explaining the history of the restaurant to even explaining their own background it was second to none. I’d you are craving a pizza in Sydney, you must visit this local pizzeria and have a chat with the staff, I wish we can do it all over again! Cheers
weisss
at 2023 Jul 27
weisss
at 2023 Jul 27
Highly Recommend!!!
The staffs were super friendly!
All the pizza flavor were so good! The pizza flavor was quite special and different with others, has a rich taste!
Our favorite was SFIZIOSA, but I think all the flavor will be good haha
Although we love the thin crust more, these pancrust pizza were also amazing!
We had a great night and definitely will come back soon :)
The closest place I’ve come to in Sydney that best resembles the quality of my own Nonna Rosa’s homemade pasta. A beautiful atmosphere that places you in an old authentic Italian home with nothing but incredible Italian food, imported wine, and caring staff that look after you throughout your stay. Will be returning very soon thats for sure.
Mark S
at 2023 Jul 20
Mark S
at 2023 Jul 20
Everything about Al Taglio is incredible. The pizza tastes amazing and their designs are full of innovation making their pizzas very different to others. Our waiter during lunch today was more than happy to explain the workings of each pizza as it was served to us and had a good chat with us along the way. And the general smell/atmosphere made is feel very cosy and a nice place to be. I'm glad they made it through Covid and will definitely come back for lunch bringing other people from work too :)
Angela Mitchell
at 2023 Jul 17
Angela Mitchell
at 2023 Jul 17
Amazing night and fabulous food. Silvio (owner) and Federica made us feel at home. Every dish was introduced, and from the top quality ingredients to the creation on the plate, it was art. Can’t recommend this more. Plus the “vitamins” for the road, limoncello with the chef himself 👌🏽.
Dayochloe
at 2023 Jul 04
Dayochloe
at 2023 Jul 04
The shop was cozy and inviting and the aroma of freshly baked pizza made my mouth water.

The menu has a wide variety of options, but remember to ask the friendly staff for weekly specials, so you won’t miss out. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and provided excellent service.

Highly recommend this place to all pizza lovers out there!
Esme Levi
at 2023 May 20
Esme Levi
at 2023 May 20
Amazing service. I have a gluten allergy (celiac) and they made sure to prep everything separately for me. We were a big group and the service was immaculate! The food was amazing.
Dustin Hewit
at 2023 May 02
Dustin Hewit
at 2023 May 02
We visited twice during a longer stay in Sydney. Initially we happened in due to a wait at another nearby spot but Brandon, the bartender, was so hospitable and warm - not to mention knowledgeable and skilled - that we fell in love with the place. Can’t recommend the cocktails, oyster special, and small plates enough. And everyone there was incredibly welcoming and pleasant. We had a blast and can’t wait for our next trip to Sydney so we can return.

Pictured: oyster special feat. house-made hot sauce.
Went there with a friend who knows the owner and got to say that the food was really good but the service was a bit lacking.
I will say that the food was really really good. We had pizza three different kinds all really good. Dessert was to die for. Highly recommend.
The only thing that was a bit of a let down was the service.
So we got there before our friend and because the booking was under our friends name we decided to wait for him. I was slightly tired I decided to have a seat outside on their chairs. Straight away there was someone that came out to let us know that we would need to order or get up even though we said that we were waiting for a friend. That’s fine I got up till our friend got there. But then we got the best table wherever we wanted and the whole time we were there the same waiter would not stop fussing over our friend a little too much😳🙄
If you want quality pizza high recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pooi Nie Liew
at 2023 Apr 18
Pooi Nie Liew
at 2023 Apr 18
This is a neighbourhood gem that we are fortunate enough to have lived down the road from ever since it opened years ago. So it is tried & tested, & very much recommended. Quaint, rustic, charming & down to earth decor that is so easy & lovely to walk into. It’s a massive space & yet it looks so cosy. The food matches perfectly of course, and I’ve always loved that you can buy the pasta & sauces from the clever little store tucked away in the back of the restaurant (as well as online).

Tonight we started with stuffed zucchini flowers, which were super yummy. Wayne had Fettuccine with Porcini Cream Sauce, which was rich & tasty. I had the most amazing Lamb Shoulder with Cauliflower & Potato Mash - so delicious & tender - just what I felt like. The best home cooked comfort food you could ever want.
The Hummel
at 2023 Mar 14
The Hummel
at 2023 Mar 14
Had a really nice lunch here with a friend.

The staff were super friendly and helpful.
The decor is adorable and really suits the theme and the area well.
The restaurant has big windows which can open up to some degree as well for comfort.

The food was so good! We tried a bit of everything and unfortunately I can’t recall all we had but fair to say that whatever we did order was prepared very well.

Would definitely come back.
Milly K
at 2022 Jul 02
Milly K
at 2022 Jul 02
Didn't expect a wine room would have such lovely food!! They should probably make it a restaurant. We were really happy with the wine we selected, there are many options. The service was superb, the staff were very attentive, they knew exactly what we needed and when we needed something.
Carmen Reynolds
at 2022 May 03
Carmen Reynolds
at 2022 May 03
Went here for bottomless! Had such a good time, they refilled our drinks without prompting so we were definitely hit half way through the sitting 🥴

The waiter was so fun. The starters were yummy, the mains were decent!

The interior of the place is also very nice, would go back for the bottomless
Miss Deliziosa
at 2022 Mar 29
Miss Deliziosa
at 2022 Mar 29
Dined here mid Feb. Wanted to try their bottomless brunch however there was a minimum of 4 people so just opted to get a few things.

Our table was initially inside however the the tables inside were so loud that we couldn’t even hear our table talking. Thankfully we were switch tables to outside which felt much more relaxed & more easy for the ear.

The service was friendly & fast. The food was also tasty & would like to come back here to try the pasta dishes.