Ciao! If you’re looking for a bellissimo place to enjoy Italian food, Bath has lots of cute and cosy restaurants that are ideal for a romantic meal or sharing pasta with pals. Authentic and welcoming, Bath’s best Italian restaurants bring a taste of Italy to the South West.
Pizza is one of Italy’s most famous exports, and here in Bath we are blessed with some incredible, award-winning pizza places where you can grab a slice of heaven.
Real Italian Pizza Co dishes up traditional thin crusted Italian pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven and at Dough Pizza’s two locations (Kingsmead Square and The Corridor) you’ll find 12 different dough bases (from hemp or grano arso to quirky ones like seaweed and chocolate).
Bath Pizza Co in Green Park Station even got voted the second best pizza in the UK at the 2021 National Pizza Awards!
If you’re after a quick lunch, or want to stock up on Italian ingredients to make a meal at home, head to one of Bath’s Italian cafes and delis like Rosarios, Avellinos, and Da Vinci’s for authentic fare.
For those looking to make more of a meal of it, try one of these nine best Italian restaurants in Bath for a favoloso feast.
1. Sotto Sotto
Follow the Sotto Sotto Ristorante Bar & Grill sign and head down the steep, winding staircase to discover a subterranean spot that is cosy without being claustrophobic, despite being in a cellar underneath Bath.
Candle-lit Sotto Sotto is brimming with atmosphere and authentic Italian service amongst the exposed bricks in this bijou dining establishment. Known for its high-quality food, and reasonable prices, Sotto Sotto is small and gets booked up quickly, so make a reservation if you can.
With many of the ingredients coming direct from Italy, with meat and seafood sourced locally, the menu focuses on hearty dishes like risottos, pasta, and meat and seafood focuses specialities.
There are a few veggie dishes, but it’s mainly all about the meat (if you’re vegan visit these spots instead). You can’t go wrong with anything on the smallish menu, but definitely get the gambas bruschetta and then tiramisu as they are fan favourites!
Address: 10 North Parade, Bath, BA2 4AL
2. La Terra
Bath’s new addition La Terra is run by Italian restaurant manager Vito Scaduto and chef Alessandro Scola, from Lake Como in Northern Italy. Both have experience at top restaurants in the city including Clayton’s, so you’re in good hands.
Inside it’s a soft and welcoming appearance with a large open kitchen to give the room some spirit. Tuck into seasonal specials like fresh gnocchi and fresh sea bream from Brixham, or opt for a set two or three course lunch at a reasonable price.
Vegans can often find Italian cuisine a challenge but at La Terra there is a full vegan menu featuring nibbles, starters, mains, and dessert. Whether you’re vegan or not the butternut squash risotto with walnuts and white truffle oil is a must-have!
Address: 2 John Street, Bath, BA1 2JL
3. Joya Italian Steakhouse
One of our favourite steak spots is also one of our favourite Italian restaurants in the city! Like we mentioned, it’s ideal for Italian sizzling steaks and it’s worth getting the Hot Stone Steak Experience (just be aware that it gets pretty smokey inside and they open the door to compensate for this!).
It’s not just all about the steak though, with mains from pasta to pesce and pollo (fish and chicken), and risotto dishes. Start with some calamari and enjoy sides with your steak (or mains, we won’t judge!).
Ask for a window seat if you want to watch the world go by and look across to Pulteney Bridge and the Weir.
Address: 6 Newmarket Row, Grand Parade, Bath, BA2 4AN
4. Portofino
Another recent addition to Bath’s restaurant scene is Portofino, an Italian inspired seafood restaurant run by the team behind Antico (also on our list!). Located in the old Patisserie Valerie spot opposite the Guildhall Market, it’s ideal for people watching and the large patio is perfect for eating al fresco in the summer.
Get shucking and enjoy local oysters from Porlock Bay on the Bristol channel, as well as fresh fish caught in Cornwall and Dorset or straight from Brixham Market.
Try Prosecco battered fish and chips for a posh take on traditional British fare and be sure to get the spaghetti vongole for fresh pasta and clams that are an Italian classic.
Address: 20 High Street, Bath, BA1 5AJ
5. Ponte Vecchio
Location, location, location wins for Ponte Vecchio, situated right by the Weir but hidden from the main drag. Summer is a particularly special time as you can take a balcony seat and soak up the sun and views.
The food here is also spectacular, especially more unusual dishes like wild boar ravioli, sea bass ravioli, and the classic homemade tiramisu. All the pasta is handmade and the pork and chicken is locally sourced, with fish coming from Brixham Market.
If you’re there for a birthday give the team a heads up and you might get serenaded over dessert! Also, check out the Beazer Maze next door (one of our free things to do in Bath).
Address: Spring Gardens Road, Bath, BA2 6PW
6. Bosco
Although technically it’s a pizzeria (and it does do awesome pizzas), Bosco has an upscale restaurant vibe and is hidden away in Milsom Place. Tip: it’s way easier to get there via Broad Street instead of getting lost from Milsom Street.
Inside buzzing Bosco, you’ll find plenty of tasty cicchetti starts from calamari to freshly made focaccia but the real reason to come here is for the delicious selection of Italian meats and cheeses like 16-month aged prosciutto di Palma, fresh burrata cheese, and six-week aged gorgonzola dulce.
Address: Milsom Place, Bath, BA1 1BZ
8. Antica
Owned by the same people behind Portofino (also on our list), Antica is a cosy spot just across Pulteney Bridge, which features traditional decor and a roaring fire in the winter. Come summer, you can sit outside and watch the world go by with views down Great Pulteney Street.
Unlike some of the other restaurants, Antica has a very extensive menu, and features a lot of pizzas alongside more unusual meat and fish mains such as petto d’anatra (duck), agnello al Rosmarin (slow cooked lamb shank), and spada a la Siciliana (swordfish in Sicilian sauce).
Address: 5 Argyle Street, Bath, BA2 4BA
9. Martini
Another of our favourites for a succulent steak, Martini is a long-time resident of George Street, with a focus on a family atmosphere and a warm welcome from Nunzio and Franco.
What it lacks in ambience (it’s quite brightly lit), it makes up for in authenticity, and here you can tuck into classic Italian dishes from homemade pastas and pizzas to starters like tasty calamari. There are also gluten-free pasta options, too. Potatoes of the day are included with main dishes, an added bonus for carb-lovers.
Martini is a popular place that can get busy and buzzing, especially near the bar area so ask for a table near the back if you prefer a more private dining experience.
Address: 8-9 George St, Bath, BA1 2EH
Amy is an award-winning travel writer born and bred in Bath. She has written for national newspapers and magazines from the Guardian and Mail on Sunday to Conde Nast Traveller and Good Housekeeping. Now she’s helping travellers explore Bath, one story at a time.
