15 Italian Restaurants in Ireland

It is universally acknowledged that a single Italian, strolling around Ireland, in possession of a great cuisine culture, must be in want of a fresh portion of tagliatelle alla bolognese, eventually.

That’s what probably Jane Austen would have said if she ever met Italian tourists in Dublin.

Therefore, whether you are an occasional visitor or an established Italian-Irish resident, there will always be a moment when the only thing you’d crave is a huge, juicy, proper-cooked Margherita pizza. With its warm and savoury dough and the great balance between tomato sauce and basil, you’d only dream of one of these bites.

Thus, if you feel like embracing the Italian cuisine at its best or just want to feel back home again, give a look at this detailed Babylon Radio list of 15 Italian restaurants scattered all over Ireland.

Da Mimmo

This small Italian gem, away from the typical tourist spots, is probably one of the best restaurants in town for its atmosphere very cosy and welcoming. Dive into a proper Italian experience, tasting the great options from the menu à la carte and the exquisite variety of wines, all deriving from Italy itself. Try the Penne alla Norma, with grated salted Ricotta cheese on the top: just like heaven! And it does delivery too!

Price: €€-€€€

Where: 148 North Strand, Dublin 3

Ristorante Rossini

Established in 1994 by Antonio Toscano, its reputation for delicious authentic Italian cuisine quickly grew in the Cork area. With handpicked fresh ingredients, selected daily from Cork’s famous English Market, the typical dishes are prepared using authentic Italian recipes handed down from generation to generation. Once you step in, you’ll be teleported in a proper “osteria” environment, making your Italian experience even more realistic.

Price: €€-€€€

Where: 33-34 Princes Street, Cork, Ireland

Da Vincenzo

In the heart of Limerick city dwells one of the most delicious Italian restaurants in Ireland. At Da Vincenzo, the chefs, Italians passionate, will make you feel just like home. You’ll be delighted with the flavoursome and healthy dishes, served with as much warm and friendly attitude only Italians have. Treat yourself with an intriguing combination of proper Italian dishes and a fine glass of red wine.

Vegetarian and celiac options available.

Price: €€-€€€

Where: Shannon Street, Limerick City, V94 FC65

Dunne & Crescenzi

This is probably the best restaurant with Italian cuisine, hands down! Placed in a strategic position in Dublin (very close to Grafton Street), you’ll be directly redirected to a remote area in Tuscany while enjoying your “Tagliere Della casa” the finest selection of Tuscans charcuterie, or your Nasello (hake fish) as if you were in the lovely Cinque Terre. If you’re avoiding carbs, you can also choose one of the many healthy salads on the menu.

Price: €€

Where: 16 Frederick St S, Dublin

Ristorante Rinuccini

Food and family are extremely valuable for Italian culture. This multi-awarded restaurant is a family-owned joint that wants to export and spread the real Italian culinary tradition and simplicity. In the heart of Kilkenny, just a few minutes from the Castle, Ristorante Rinuccini offers a vast range of homemade dishes, from the Sunday Brunch occasion until the Group Menus deals.

N.B: they also produce their own Grappa, a former poor drink from the fermentable sugar left in the precious grapes after winemaking. Worth every sip!

Price: €€€

Where: 1 The Parade, Collegepark, Kilkenny, R95 XKR7

Via Veneto

The most reviewed and visited restaurant all over Ireland. Irish Independent, the Guardian and even the New York Times journalists quite enjoyed the comfortable ambience and family vibes while trying one of its specialities. The chef Paolo Fresilli, also President of Italian Chefs Federation in Ireland, would surprise you with such mouth-watering dishes to make it almost impossible not to come back.

Price: €€-€€€

Where: 58 Weafer St, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Y21 XE17

Dolce Sicily

If you’re tired of the super fancy restaurant with Italian cuisine, Dolce Sicily is probably the place for you. Few seats, but the great environment and dreamy atmosphere: a Sicilian oasis in Dublin. It’s worth trying: a journey from tradition to innovation that will make you discover the flavours of the island through quality food. Ideal for quick lunches but full of taste. Try the Parmigiana pasta or the Strawberry cake: great value for money.

Price: €€

Where: 20 Anne Street South, Dublin 2

Il Vicolo

Located in Galway Canals, this lovely joint explores all the typical and regional dishes from all over Italy, with a fantastic assortment of wines, spanning from the North tip of Alto Adige to the boot of Puglia and the island of Sicily. You’ll be able to enjoy your tasty bite of Italy while listening to Jazz in the background on Sunday and overlooking the River Corrib.

Price: €-€€

Where: The Bridge Mills, Dominick Street Lower, Galway, H91 R1WF

Giovannelli Ristorante

The county of Kerry boasts some interesting places where to eat. And one of these is Giovanelli restaurant. With its colourful presentations and its fresh ingredients, this restaurant will offer an amusing experience of the most well-cooked and prepared dishes from the Italian tradition. While defending its classic culinary heritage, the Giovanelli joint offers an intimate and quite romantic location. Unmissable: Seafood Linguine. Rumour has it they are just like tasting heaven.

Price: €€

Where: Lower Bridge Street, Killorglin V93 XD7T, Ireland

U’ Liotru

The vibrant city of Galway hosts a wide number of Sicilian people among its roads. That’s not a case that this authentic bistro finds its location here. Fanfact: “U’ Liotru” in Sicily it’s the elephant-shaped symbol of the city of Catania. By selling typical Cannoli, Arancini or Cassata (traditional Sicilian dessert), it has established the leadership for best Sicilian bistro in that part of the island. Hence, a part was converted into a small boutique: what a chance to buy what you just ate!

Price: €-€€

Where: 20 Abbeygate Street Lower, Galway, H91 V522

Manifesto

Back to Dublin’s dynamic cuisine scenario, this is probably the most ground-breaking joint.

Manifesto, since its opening day, claimed to suggest a wide variety of Italian dishes through another, innovative perspective. This is reflected, without any doubts, via its avant-garde dishes presentation. Exploiting local ingredients, combined together with fresh Italian elements, Manifesto is also a vegetarian-friendly place. If you’re a pizza lover, then the pizzas at Manifesto won’t disappoint; they’ve won gold medals at the Pizza World Championships.

Price: €€

Where: 208 Lower Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Rossi’s

This awesome Italian bistro and grill offer a great range of fresh mouth-watering options. From breakfast until dinner, this joint is one of the most popular places in Limerick. With its pizzas and variety of meats on-the-grill, you will leave it full and satisfied. And if this might not be enough, you can always order them to take away. What else?

Price: €-€€

Where: 8 Georges Quay Limerick 061 314 994

Wallace’s Taverna

Beating its Italian heart in the exact core of the Italian quarter, Wallace’s Taverna offers a wide range of more than 100 Italian wines. About the detailed menu, they use ingredients such as Gragnano pasta to produce a mouthwatering dishes. Don’t miss the burrata cheese, complemented with a soft cream of aubergines, and the traditional Fregola (little balls of toasted semolina flour typical of Sardinia) with a mix of seafood. Desserts are more than delicious, especially the Tiramisù.

Price: €€

Where: 24 Ormond Quay Lower, North City, Dublin 1

Il Padrino

As it seems that most of the stereotypes about Italy turn around the Mafia organization (hopefully, just because of Francis Coppola’s movie)it wouldn’t be impossible not having among the other Italian restaurants all over Ireland, one called il Padrino (the Godfather). Jokes aside, this restaurant in Cork is very famous for the generous portion of pasta and huge pizza, all made with the freshest ingredients.

Cheap and tasty!

Price: €

Where: 19-21 Cook St., Cork

Caffé Amore

Last but not least, let’s finish our tour, going back from where we started: Dublin. Caffé Amore is a cosy and sweet restaurant in the heart of the city, a small corner of Italy, more like Naples. With its team entirely composed of authentic Italians, born and raised, as its ingredients, this lovely glimpse of Italy is the most accurate place where to abandon yourself to a full experience of Italian cuisine. Don’t miss out the infamous Pizza San Daniele, with a typical ham from Italy, sour but delicious or the Gamberoni Flambati (Pan-fried tiger prawns in a butter-brandy flambé), one of the several specialities of the chef. That’s Amore, more like Caffé Amore.

Price: €€

Where: 59 South Great George’s Street, Dublin

Check it out those 15 restaurants and let us know what do you think about.