Hungry for the best Italian restaurants in Leeds? We hear you. There’s rarely an occasion when we don’t fancy a creamy bowl of carbonara topped with a mountain of parmesan, or a tasty selection of antipasti with a glass of wine. If you've landed on this guide, then we assume you feel the same. Luckily, there are a wealth of great Italian restaurants in Leeds suited to your every possible want and need, from rustic trattorias to glamorous special occasion spots, and everything in between. Keep on scrolling to find out where to find Leeds’ best Italian restaurants.
It goes without saying that we’re a nation of food lovers, as the best restaurants in Leeds demonstrate. But Italian food has a special place in our hearts. Some prefer the authentic ambience of a traditional osteria, serving tasty small plates and local wines. These spots are often more relaxed in atmosphere, where the food is cheap, the menus short, and the ingredients ultra fresh. If this is more your vibe, you’ll find plenty of casual Italian restaurants in Leeds down below, including a bright and modern pasta bar, a traditional neighbourhood gem, and everyone’s favourite pizza chain (Franco Manca, we’re looking at you).
Others might look to a restaurant for indulgence, fortunately, many of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds are well suited to special occasions. Whether it's glamorous interiors you’re after, or menus with a modern twist, Leeds boasts its fair share of decadent dining spots.
Ready to start your search? Take a look through our list of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds the next time you’re in need of a heavy dose of carbs, brilliant coffee, and indulgent tiramisu. You’re guaranteed to leave these places with a full stomach and a smile on your face.
Culto
![pizzas with rocket and aperol spritz]()
What: Set in Meanwood, just outside the city centre, CULTO is an Italian restaurant with a completely distinctive take on casual dining. The team is highly experienced and makes use of the best Italian ingredients available. Think ragu arancini to start, followed by a signature stone-baked pizza loaded with quality toppings. You can also order your pizza with a charcoal base, which adds a different flavour and is supposed to make digestion easier. So why not smother it in ricotta, prosciutto, and buffalo mozzarella?
Where: 97 Stainbeek Road, LS7 2PR
Book now: CULTO
Gusto
![Gusto dining room]()
What: Gusto’s spacious dining room brings plenty of retro-glamour to Greek Street in Leeds. Wooden parquet flooring, green leather booths and lit olive trees lend a luxurious feel. On the food front, menus span every occasion, from a la carte to set offerings, bottomless brunch, lunch and a Sunday roast. Dishes stand between comforting and decadent, from three-meat ragu lasagne to scallop and prawn ravioli. It also offers a steak experience, which includes chateaubriand with a range of sides, plus a bottle of red to share. A new date night spot, perhaps?
Where: 10 Greek Street, LS1 5RU
Book now: Gusto
La Piola
![selection of pizza, Italian sandwiches and lasagna]()
What: A neighbourhood cafe and bistro tucked away in the financial quarter by Park Square, La Piola is known for rustic Italian dishes and a friendly atmosphere. Whether for lunch or dinner, the restaurant has offered dishes inspired by the rural town Cuneo for the past 15 years. The lunch menus offer some of the best paninis in town, while dinner guests can indulge in sharing plates, a selection of arancini and croquettes, salads and soups along with great pizzas and pasta dishes made with fresh artisan egg pasta.
Where: 2 Park Square East, LS1 2NU
Book now: La Piola
Salvo’s
![Modern dining room with brick wall and orange sofas]()
What: Salvo’s is a highly respected restaurant in Headingley on the Otley Road, and has been serving its authentic Italian dishes since 1976. It’s a modern but warm restaurant with a menu that is as classic as it gets, comprising a selection of antipasti, pasta, mains and pizzas. Start with pan-fried king prawns with lemon and chilli, followed by frutti di mare linguine and treacle cured pork with 'nduja croquettes. Those with dietary requirements are taken care of with dedicated gluten-free and vegan menus too. Plus, there’s a really affordable set menu.
Where: 115 Otley Road, LS6 3PX
Book now: Salvo’s
San Carlo
![Lobster spaghetti and dish with orange sauce]()
What: For Italian fine dining with a splash of glitz and glamour, look to San Carlo. This modern Italian restaurant boasts a 140-cover dining room decorated with contemporary touches, from a bespoke hand-carved stone bar to a three-metre iced display. A fitting spot for dates and special occasions, the menu features luxurious dishes like monkfish and prawn pasta, nodini mozzarella with fresh black truffle, veal cooked in cream and brandy, and Tomahawk steak to share between two. Don’t skip the dessert section, the pistachio cake, gelato, and Italian cheese selections are all brilliant.
Where: 6-7 South Parade, LS1 5QX
Book now: San Carlo
Poco Sicilian Street Food Burnley
![croissants with pistachio and selection of arancini]()
What: From the team behind CULTO, Poco Sicilian is a casual street food restaurant specialising in the tasty sunkissed foods of Sicily. Whether you are popping in for a grab-and-go arancini snack, or looking to sit down with great coffee and pistachio-filled pastries, Poco is a top choice in the area. The seating is limited here, so be sure to visit at quieter times if you’re looking to rest your legs as you tuck into a plate of Sicilian pasta al forno packed with spinach creamy ricotta and mozzarella.
Where: 360 Kirkstall Road, LS4 2HQ
Book now: Poco Sicilian Street Food Burnley
Da Vito Ristorante
![Shop front and lobster thermidor on a plate]()
What: One of the best-rated Italian restaurants in Leeds, Da Vito Ristorante launched in 2020 and is now a favourite central spot for locals to eat, drink and socialise with loved ones. The menu comprises classic and contemporary dishes, celebrating the freshest ingredients to bring the boldest of flavours. It’s classic food, but there’s room for creativity here too with the likes of deep-fried taleggio cheese with a woodland berry compote, smoked haddock risotto finished with a poached egg, and fresh king prawns and gratinated scallops.
Where: 3 York Place, LS1 2DR
Book now: Da Vito Ristorante
Amici
![A fine dining starter and a bowl of pesto pasta]()
What: Amici, meaning 'friends' in Italian, is a welcoming neighbourhood spot that takes pride in serving, authentic, well-executed Italian food in a warm and stylish setting. Dishes include both classic and contemporary options, from calarami and bruschetta to tempura prawns and baked goat's cheese with walnuts. You'll also find a wealth of sourdough pizzas to keep everyone at the table happy, alongside more elegant mains such as pan-fried duck breast with a honey and cherry sauce, and grilled salmon with pea puree, asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes.
Where: 592-596 Harrogate Road, LS17 8DP
Book now: Amici
Zucco
![Arancini on a plate with toothpicks and skewers]()
What: A neighbourhood spot designed for locals, the seasonally-changing menu of classic dishes makes Zucco a popular haunt in the suburb of Meanwood. It’s refreshingly affordable too, with most pizzas costing less than £10, and most main dishes falling under the £16 mark. Look out for traditional options, like rabbit cooked in white wine pancetta and lemon, seafood stew with saffron cream, and Parmesan breaded chicken. Whether at the counter or the bar, the tiled interiors and on-trend interiors make Zucco a popular evening spot.
Where: 603 Meanwood Road, LS6 4AY
Book now: Zucco
Sarto
![Bright interiors and a plate of pasta with cheese]()
What: Pasta aficionados - this one’s for you. Sarto serves up fresh, handmade pasta in a bright, modern space in Leeds city centre. Guests can either pull up a stool at the bar or the window or opt to sit on one of its wooden benches for a laid-back, communal vibe. Pasta forms the crux of the menu, with the likes of fettucine with wild mushrooms and marsala cream, and rigatoni with lamb shoulder ragu, mint and sheep’s cheese. Whet your appetite with a selection of snacks to start, such as marinated white anchovies with blood orange and fennel.
Where: Duke Street, LS9 8AG
Book now: Sarto
Stuzzi
![Dining room with arch window, table and wine shelves]()
What: Stuzzi is the abbreviated term for ‘Stuzzichini’, which refers to small plates served in osterias and bars across Italy - a bit like tapas. This city centre Italian is best for sampling a selection of different dishes, from meats, salami and cheeses to the likes of saffron and tomato arancini, and onglet steak with crispy potatoes and a sun-dried tomato emulsion. You’ll also find more unusual plates, like deep fried lasagna with burnt chilli oil and juniper-cured mackerel with a charred gooseberry salsa. The sweet dishes are just as fun: think Negroni cannolos.
Where: 7 Merrion Street, LS1 6PQ
Book now: Stuzzi
Napoli nel Cuore
![white wine and italian small plates with ham pizza]()
What: Neapolitan food is some of the best in Italy (sorry Sicily). Known for brilliant pizzas, and desserts this is a child-friendly restaurant where the food is as fresh as can be, and the atmosphere is just as welcoming. Start with a plate of salmon fettuccine and move on to sirloin steak, chicken Milanese, or thin crispy mozzarella pizza. Napoli nel Cuore also offers a vegan menu, along with a separate kids menu.
Where: 30 Town Street, LS18 4TJ
Book now: Napoli nel Cuore
Franco Manca
![Pizzas on a table with juice and olives]()
What: An oldie but a goodie, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Franco Manca for a really decent pizza. Bubbly sourdough pizzas with a rich but fresh marinara and melty cheese are a sure win. There’s also a reasonably priced wine menu and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere perfect for low-key lunches and gatherings with friends. Keep your eye out for seasonal specials every month - you'll find them written up on a chalkboard on the wall. It’s not all pizza either, the Franco Manca menu offers pre-pizza snacks and delicious post-pizza desserts including a great tiramisu.
Where: 1 Trinity Street, LS1 6AP
Book now: Franco Manca
Bibis Italianissimo
![Spaghetti with mussles and colourful cocktails]()
What: Set inside a stylish, 20s-style dining room, Bibis Italianissimo is a restaurant and cocktail bar that is guaranteed to show you a good time. A notorious destination for dinner, a show and dancing, the restaurant hosts an ever-rotating line-up of acts and performances every month. What of the food? Choose from a wide selection of regional Italian classics, spanning both fancy and casual options. Highlights include pan fried chicken breast with hot and spicy n’duja salami, Fior di Latte mozzarella and skin-on-fries; a wagyu beef burger; and creamy salmon with tarragon Hollandaise.
Where: Sovereign Stree, LS1 4AG
Book now: Bibis Italianissimo
LIVIN'Italy
![Pasta in a pan and ciabatta sandwiches]()
What: This uber-friendly spot finds its home in the heart of Leeds, a stone’s throw from the station and directly underneath the railway arches. It’s available for dining any time of day, from breakfast through to dinner and late-night cocktails. Kick off the day with an Italian twist on eggs Benedict, or bring a friend for lunch and share paninis or one of its traditional boards, featuring cured meats, cheeses and traditional Sardinian crispy thin bread. There’s a great selection of pizzas and pasta dishes too.
Where: Granary Wharf, Wharf Approach, LS1 4BR
Book now: LIVIN'Italy
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