🍝 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Wellington

Discover handmade pasta, woodfired pizza, and unforgettable wine in the capital. Whether you're after a romantic night out or a casual trattoria with friends, these are Wellington’s favourite Italian spots — as loved by locals and featured in WellyBuzz.

1. Nicolini’s

📍 9 Blair St, Te Aro
🕒 Open Mon–Sun: 5pm–late
🔗 Menu & Bookings

A Courtenay institution since 1991, Nicolini’s blends old-school charm with hearty Italian favourites. Expect generous servings of carbonara, osso buco, and homemade desserts. Their candlelit booths are ideal for date nights.

2. 1154 Pastaria

📍 132 Cuba Street, Te Aro
🕒 Open daily: 11:30am–9:30pm
🔗 Menu

Fresh pasta, fast service, and modern counter dining make 1154 a Cuba Street essential. Their house-made spaghetti bolognese and truffle mushroom fettuccine have cult followings.

3. Fratelli

📍 15 Blair Street, Te Aro
🕒 Open Mon–Sat: 5pm–late
🔗 Book Now

Sleek and contemporary, Fratelli serves refined Italian with a local twist. Try their seafood linguine or the signature lamb ragù — perfectly paired with their NZ–Italian wine list.

4. Cicio Cacio Osteria

📍 167 Riddiford Street, Newtown
🕒 Wed–Sun: 5pm–10pm
🔗 Menu

Hidden behind a deli in Newtown, this rustic osteria focuses on regional Italian recipes passed down through generations. No pizza here — just rich, soulful dishes like wild boar pappardelle and eggplant parmigiana.

5. BambuchiSan

📍 31 Waitoa Road, Hataitai
🕒 Tues–Sat: 4pm–late
🔗 BambuchiSan Facebook

While known for its Japanese–Italian fusion, BambuchiSan still earns its spot on this list for dishes like miso mushroom tagliatelle and tiramisu with a yuzu twist. Stylish, experimental, and always buzzing.

6. La Bella Italia

📍 10 Nevis Street, Petone
🕒 Mon–Sat: 8am–4pm
🔗 Website

Part deli, part espresso bar, part full-service restaurant — this Petone gem is the real deal. Stock up on cured meats and pasta to take home or dine in on house-made gnocchi with burnt sage butter.

7. Ombra

📍 199 Cuba Street, Te Aro
🕒 Mon–Sun: 12pm–late
🔗 ombrawellington.co.nz

Inspired by the bacari of Venice, Ombra delivers share-style plates, hand-pulled pasta, and standout Negronis. Expect dishes like slow-cooked beef cheek with polenta or saffron risotto with pancetta. Elegant, vibey, and busy for good reason.

8. Pomodoro

📍 Hannah’s Warehouse Building, 13 Leeds Street, Te Aro
🕒 Wed–Sun: 5pm–10pm
🔗 Website

Known for traditional woodfired pizzas, Pomodoro balances crisp bases with fresh ingredients and minimalist toppings. Their margherita is the benchmark — and it’s flawless.

9. Mama Brown (Italian Nights Only)

📍 250 Wakefield Street
🕒 Thu nights only: 5pm–9pm
🔗 Mama Brown

Best known for Americana, Mama Brown surprises on Thursday nights with rotating Italian specials — think lasagna bakes and panna cotta flights. It’s quirky, bold, and sells out fast.

10. Mediterranean Food

📍 42 Constable St, Newtown
🕒 Mon–Sun: 9am–8pm
🔗 medifoods.co.nz

Attached to a specialty Italian grocer, this Upper Hutt gem serves hearty portions of pasta, woodfired pizza, and desserts like affogato and cannoli. A top pick for families, foodies, and lovers of relaxed Mediterranean dining.

🧠 TL;DR

Whether you’re in the mood for classic carbonara or coastal Sicilian seafood, Wellington’s Italian scene has something for everyone — and most spots on this list are WellyBuzz reader-recommended.

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