Pretend You’re in Italy for a Night at One of the Best Italian Restaurants in Atlanta

When the going gets tough, nothing sticks a plaster over the end of a stressful week quite like the Italian cuisine that’s designed to fill you up and send you into a deep sleep. While Atlanta is more well-known for its seafood than Italian food, that doesn’t mean you’re short of options to choose from. Whether you’ve had a long week and are looking for a way to round it out with something good or you’ve just got a good, old-fashioned craving, these are some of our favorite Italian restaurants in Atlanta.

BoccaLupo

Website: boccalupoatl.com

Address: 753 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Neighborhood: Inman Park

Not all Italian restaurants need to use 100% Italian recipes to serve up some of the delicious fare you’ve been craving. At BoccaLupo, they’ve taken Italian classics and fused them together with some American favorites to create something entirely their own.

All of their pasta is handmade, and they only use seasonal ingredients, so their menu is constantly evolving - not to mention packed with some fresh and unexpected flavors that will have you itching for more in a few weeks time.

Be on the lookout for dishes that feature fresh tomatoes and mozzarella for some of the more authentic Italian options they have to offer. If you’re more of an adventurous eater, don’t be afraid to try one of their funkier seasonal dishes, such as their octopus bruschetta.

“The food was inventive and delicious.  Each course got better and better...Go eat here! You will definitely enjoy the experience.” - Yelp Review

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Nino’s Italian Restaurant

Website: nicosatlanta.com

Address: 1931 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Neighborhood: Morningside

Looking for a new regular Italian restaurant that’s so good it’s become something of a celebrity hotspot? Nino’s Italian Restaurant has been around since 1968, but when the current owner, Antonio Noviello bought the place in 1982, it became a destination for fine dining Italian fare.

Over the years they’ve served famous guests ranging from Kenny Rogers to Chuck Norris to Cheryl CrowCrowe, and the number of regular patrons who continue to come back for more will also attest to how good the food is here.

All of their recipes call for authentic Italian ingredients, which they have imported regularly from Italy to cook fresh and made to order. Pair your dinner with a nice Italian wine for the best possible experience.

“This is the best Italian restaurant in Atlanta or maybe in Georgia. The service is great and the food is like none other. It's simply food made great. This place is my go to for birthdays , family meals and romantic dinners.” - Yelp Review

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Campagnolo

Website: campagnoloatl.com

Address: 980 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Neighborhood: Midtown

Sometimes the best way to enjoy an Italian meal is with all of the people you love most surrounding you for a boisterous and fun night of socializing. Think of that big Italian family dinner you always see portraying in films, and that’s exactly what you’ll find when you visit Campagnolo.

Their menu is seasonal, offering up a different and inventive way to enjoy some of your Italian favorites each time you stop in. At Campagnolo, they love to take Italian classics and add their own special twist to them to make something truly unique.

Most of their wines are imported from Italy - although there are a few from around the United States, as well as some rosés from France - and they’ll pair wonderfully with any one of these traditional Italian meals.

“We really enjoyed our experience here. A very cute restaurant in an amazing location right by piedmont park...We ordered the lasagna, mushroom pasta and the meatballs. All to die for!” - Yelp Review

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Portofino

Website: portofinoatl.com

Address: 3199 Paces Ferry Pl NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

Neighborhood: Buckhead

In Italy, Portofino is one of the most well-known fishing villages throughout the entire country. It makes sense, then, that the Italian restaurant called Portofino in Atlanta should serve up some of the tastiest fish in the city.

From grilled octopus to Lobster fettuccini to seared scallops, you can enjoy some of the best seafood that Atlanta has to offer combined with classic Italian recipes that are perfect for incorporating fish into them.

You won’t find more attentive servers than the ones here anywhere in Atlanta, so if you’re someone who loves to be doted on while you dine out, this is the perfect place for you. They also have some of the best tiramisu in the city, so save some room for dessert!

“Amazing spot. Can't believe I lived here years and drove by and never stopped in till last week. Good was incredible. Well portioned sizes and great flavored dishes with awesome wine selections.” - Yelp Review

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Donetto

Website: donettoatlanta.com

Address: 976 Brady Ave NW, Ste 110, Atlanta, GA 30318

Neighborhood: Westside

In the Italian Tuscan countryside, you would be hard pressed not to find a farm that doesn’t have at least one Chianabull roaming around their fields. Having been around for over 2,000 years, the Chianabull is a staple of the Tuscan farming industry.

Chianabulls are the heaviest and largest breeds out of the entire species of bulls, and the largest Chianabull ever recorded in history was named Donetto - hence the name of this favorite Atlantan Italian restaurant.

They specialize in contemporary Italian cuisine here, taking classic Italian recipes and adding some new and unique twists to them to make dishes that are fresh and tasty in unexpected ways.

“Yum. Amazing location... The decor and overall vibe is perfect. Staff is incomparable. Food is delicious. Cocktails and wine = yes! So happy this is on the west side.” - Yelp Review

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Double Zero

Website: doublezeroatl.com

Address: 1577 N Decatur Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Neighborhood: Emory Village

Whether you’re in it for the pasta or the pizza, you won’t be disappointed by anything you order from Atlanta’s Double Zero. Their pizzas are especially well-loved by the regulars here, offering up both authentic recipes and delicious flavors for you to munch on.

As is tradition in Italy, they use wood fired ovens to cook up their pizzas, which is your best bet at getting to taste an authentic Italian pizza without actually travelling to Italy. Here you can enjoy pizza in the style it was originally made in.

There’s plenty of you to spread out and enjoy some private time with your loved ones here, so it’s the perfect place for you to bring a date or your family for an intimate gathering. Don’t skip out on their desserts and be sure to pair your meal with a nice wine!

“The pastas are amazing -  juicy and tasty, but what makes this place the best is their pizzas! They use wood fired ovens to cook them and the flavor is completely different but delicious.” - Yelp Review

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Little Azio

Website: littleazio.com

Address: 1700 Northside Dr, Atlanta, GA 30318

Neighborhood: Westside

If you’ve got an insatiable craving for Italian food but not a lot of time to sit down and enjoy a full meal complete with appetizers, an entree, and dessert, you may just want to give Little Azio a try.

Specifically created to offer you traditional Italian fare passed out quickly enough for you to eat it on your lunch break or even to take without as you carry on with your busy day, you can order your meal and have it ready within 10-15 minutes.

You can pair your favorite style of pasta with one of their homemade sauces that they’ve made from scratch or pick out the toppings you’d like on your pizza right before it goes in the oven, and your order should be ready in no time. They keep the line moving quickly at Little Azio!

“The food came out in less than 10 minutes and was hot and fresh.  I ordered the tortellini with grilled chicken, sun dried tomatoes, and a marinara and Alfredo mix sauce.  So good.” - Yelp Review

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Fellini’s Pizza

Website: fellinisatlanta.com

Address: 909 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Neighborhood: Poncey-Highland

If you’re looking for a pizza place where you can bring guests for a fun and enjoyable meal every time some family or friends come to town, Fellini’s should definitely be your new go-to. While they don’t make traditional Italian pizzas here, they do make some of the best New York Style pizza outside of New York.

You can dine in and enjoy your pizza fresh out of the oven or grab some takeout to enjoy at home, but either way, you and your guests are going to love the pizza from Fellini’s.

They’ve created a fun and easy atmosphere here, so if you dine in, you may just wind up leaving with some new friends to meet up with the next time the friends you’ve brought along with you come to town.

“Fellini's Pizza gets five stars from me. It's some of the best pizza I've had and whenever visitors come to Atlanta I always take them to Fellini's. It never disappoints.” - Yelp Review

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Italian food probably isn’t what you typically think of when you think of dining out in Atlanta, but there are definitely plenty of options for you to choose from. Let us know which of these Atlantan Italian restaurants are your favorite down in the comments!