The Best Italian Restaurants in Los Angeles

Everyone knows that Los Angeles is the home of cinema and the film industry. There are countless sites throughout the city that remind visitors of its storied past, from the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the TCL Chinese Theater to the Hollywood Sign high in the hills above town. What many people don't realize, however, is that Los Angeles is also a standout city for dining—especially when it comes to Italian food. There are hundreds of Italian restaurants in Los Angeles that serve up delicious meals night after night. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? Welcome to our Tastemaker Lists. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. For visitors in the City of Angels looking for delicious pizza, pasta, parmesan, and more, these are the best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles.

The OpenTable Team

17 Restaurants

Updated 26 February 2020

Restaurants:	Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza, Marino Ristorante…
Price Range:	$$$ - $$$$
Cuisines:	Pizzeria, Italian…
Neighborhoods:	Hollywood…

Pizzeria Mozza

$$$$

Pizzeria

Hollywood

4.7

6169 reviews

Some of the best pizza in all of Los Angeles gets made at Pizzeria Mozza, a restaurant that uses only ingredients from within California. The restaurant is the brainchild of celebrity chefs Joe Bastianich, Nancy Silverton, Dahlia Narvaez, and Elizabeth Hong. Pizzeria Mozza's menu contains more than pizza, with salads, meat, bruschettas, pasta dishes, and paninis also on offer. The pizzas at this restaurant are inventive, with toppings like squash blossoms and stinging nettles. The atmosphere is truly casual and no-frills: no tablecloths, paper placemats, and a pizza kitchen that's open to the public. Anyone will be comfortable grabbing a quick meal here.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Osteria Mozza

$$$$

Italian

Hollywood

4.7

6292 reviews

Osteria Mozza is the sister restaurant of Pizzeria Mozza. It is also the brainchild of the same celebrity chefs. But, unlike the Pizzeria, Osteria is upscale and fancy—and eating here is more of an experience than popping in to a quick, casual pizza joint. Located in Hollywood, Osteria Mozza serves up warm, inviting Italian meals in a trendy atmosphere where people go to see and be seen. Dress up for a meal at Osteria Mozza, since it's a destination for people-watching. Then, enjoy a meal like Ricotta & Egg Raviolo with browned butter or Crispy Duck Confit with pear mostarda and sauteed Brussels sprouts while taking in the scene.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Marino Ristorante

$$$$

Italian

Hollywood

4.9

1250 reviews

Another spot in Hollywood that is one of the best Italian restaurants in Los Angeles is Marino Ristorante. The restaurant is a classic, open since 1983, and its warm brown walls and comfortable booths make for a homey, inviting dining experience. The goal of the owners of Marino is to bring New York-style Italian dining to Los Angeles. The menu here has a slew of pastas, as well as main courses with many fish options. Diners can opt for a Market Tasting Menu that gives them a taste of the best of what the menu has to offer.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Via Veneto

$$$$

Italian

Santa Monica

4.7

988 reviews

Via Veneto is a restaurant that oozes romance. Bring a date to this dark, candlelit interior and cozy up in a space that is quiet enough to hear the person across the table whispering. The menu features contemporary twists on Italian classics. Find Gnocchi Blue made from purple potatoes or grilled whole fresh sole with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette. Via Veneto boasts an excellent wine list, so choose an Italian varietal (by the bottle, when feeling daring) to complement the meal.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Piccolo Paradiso

$$$$

Italian

Beverly Hills

4.8

1188 reviews

Piccolo Paradiso is aptly named after a classic Sicilian movie. This restaurant attempts to offer diners a sense of "warm nostalgia," with comfort food, a front-of-house staff focused on friendliness, and a cozy atmosphere with bright red walls and sturdy, dark wood tables and chairs. The restaurant, which has been in business in a storefront space on Beverly for two decades, is warm and inviting inside, with candlelit tables. There are two house specialties: Gnocchi Paradiso and Spaghetti Alla Chitarra. Diners will want to try them both. Dessert is also beloved here, so visitors will want to taste the pannacotta or the tartufo.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Cecconi's

$$$$

Italian

West Hollywood

4.7

4141 reviews

West Hollywood's best Italian food might just be at Cecconi's. Located at the corner of Melrose and Robinson, this outpost of an international chain serves homemade pasta, seafood, and meat dishes using only the best local ingredients. Diners can opt for choices like cavatelli with lamb ragu and eggplant parmigiana pizza. One of the best perks of this Cecconi's is that it has a plant-based menu, so diners can find lots of meat- and dairy-free options. This restaurant has a stunning interior that uses both color and texture to create an unforgettable space, and diners may be wowed by the floor with contrasting stripes and crystal chandeliers.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Pecorino Restaurant

$$$$

Italian

Brentwood

4.7

1098 reviews

One of the coziest, most romantic Italian restaurant in Los Angeles is Pecorino, a restaurant designed to model the sharp, rustic, innovative taste of the famous cheese. Pecorino has a simple menu featuring soups, salads, pastas, and protein dishes. All of the food here is rustic and hearty, perfectly complementing the restaurant's warm and welcoming surroundings: dark brick walls, displays of red wine bottles, a dim-lit dining room accentuated by glowing candles, and velvet red curtains separating rooms within the space. Diners at Pecorino rave about the service, and they say friendly and helpful waiters help make them feel even more at home than the warm decor.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Il Segreto

$$$$

Italian

Bel-Air

4.7

804 reviews

The name of Il Segreto translates to "the secret." Diners will wish this restaurant was their own little secret once they dine because it serves some of the most incredible Italian food in town and offers some of the kindest and most attentive service. Il Segreto offers salads, pizza, soups, pasta, and main dishes. They also have a menu completely dedicated to ravioli and risotto. Il Segreto is welcoming and warm, but elegant, with white tablecloths, an extensive wine collection displayed to the dining room, and a faux fireplace keeping things cozy. The vibe makes for a great date night spot or special occasion meal, or simply a lovely night out at an excellent restaurant.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

La Cava

$$$$

Italian

Sherman Oaks

4.5

883 reviews

La Cava has a Florentine menu with simple recipes and basic, fresh ingredients. Some examples of house specialties include Spaghetti di Mare and Gamberoni alla Griglia (grilled prawns). The owners of La Cava run it day in and day out, instead of a manager or front of house staff, so expect excellent service and attention to guests during meals. The restaurant has operated for more than 25 years, and it continues to attract a crowd of diners night after night.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Il Moro

$$$$

Italian

West Los Angeles

4.8

1634 reviews

Il Moro opened in1993. Since then, the restaurant has been serving seasonal Italian food to diners in an elegant, contemporary setting. Il Moro shines for its pizza options, which come with either a rustic, thicker crust or a thin crust. They also have main dishes, pastas, and salads. Il Moro has interior design done by legendary architect Jeff Daniels (not to be confused with the actor), and both the interior and patio dining areas are intended to be sweeping and dramatic. The restaurant also regularly features the artwork of rotating artists.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Panzanella Ristorante

$$$$

Italian

Sherman Oaks

4.7

1807 reviews

Panzanella's dining room is framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, and the walls without windows are covered in mirrors. Thanks to the setup, the interior is bright and airy, which makes for an upbeat, cherry environment to dine in. The restaurant is upscale, but classic, so think fancy date night spot meets neighborhood cafe. The menu has pizzas and pastas, as well as a selection of main dishes. Panzanella has been in business for more than 20 years now, and it has become known as a spot for celeb-spotting and people watching. The restaurant runs under the watchful eye of famous chef Giacomino Drago.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Celestino

$$$$

Italian

Pasadena

4.6

3052 reviews

Celestino, an upscale Italian restaurant with an understated, casual interior, is in beautiful Pasadena. Don't be fooled by its low-key look, though. The dishes are known for bold flavors, and the restaurant also offers a seasonal menu that switches up as the weather changes. Examples of seasonal dishes include homemade wide pappardelle with fresh porcini mushrooms and veal carpaccio with freshly harvested truffles from Italy. Celestino is family-friendly, and there is no dress code here: California flip flops are A-okay for dining.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takeout available

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Toscanova - Century City

$$$$

Italian

Century City

4.6

977 reviews

Toscanova is a visually stunning upscale restaurant, with oversized chandeliers for lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows, and tables adorned with white tablecloths. The atmosphere wows as much as the food. The restaurant's overall concept, in terms of cuisine, is presenting contemporary takes on classic dishes. Some house specialties are pappardelle with wild boar ragu and risotto with shrimp and asparagus. Toscanova boasts an impressive wine list, so oenophiles passionate about Italian wine will enjoy dining here.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Il Cielo Gardens Restaurant & Bar

$$$$

Italian

Beverly Hills

4.6

2462 reviews

Il Cielo has a history of wowing diners in the LA area since 1986. The interior is stunning, with fairy lights adorning the outdoor dining space. Many people think of it as one of the most romantic Italian restaurants in Los Angeles, and it's a certain win for date night. The menu is straightforward but executed extremely well. Diners can order options like Insalata Caprese, Chitarra al Pesto, or Tortellini di Porcini. Sit outside if the weather is nice.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Amici Brentwood

$$$$

Italian

Brentwood

4.7

664 reviews

Amici Brentwood has a rustic farmhouse-like interior, with wood-beamed ceilings, a pitched roof, and antique wooden chairs. That fits in with the restaurant's overall goal of being a neighborhood spot with comforting Northern Italian food. Amici Brentwood has dishes like wild grilled salmon, gemelli arrabbiata, and panino al pollo (a chicken panino). Diners also celebrate their wine list, which is extensive and offers countless options for both bottles and glasses of wine. There's nothing complicated about Amici Brentwood: it's consistently good Italian in a cheery atmosphere, so expect an enjoyable meal every time.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Ca Del Sole

$$$$

Italian

Toluca Lake

4.7

3483 reviews

Ca Del Sole has been in business since 1994, serving classic Italian fare in Toluca Lake. Ca Del Sole is a popular spot for celebrations, since the atmosphere is upscale but also bustling and bright. Choose a house specialty like ossobuco when dining, or opt for a decadent pasta dish like rigatoni alla buttera (rigatoni in a pink sauce with pork sausage). Dessert is a specialty of the house, so end a meal with the panna cotta, tiramisu, or affogato al caffe. Ca Del Sole stands out for their service, in addition to their food, and waiters will make diners feel like royalty while they eat: from pulling out chairs to folding napkins to customizing dishes to meet diner tastes.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Takeout available

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BRERA Ristorante

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.7

2213 reviews

Our perspective is coming soon. In the meantime, please enjoy the restaurant’s description: BRERA Ristorante is a TRATTORIA inspired by the -Cucina Povera- typical of the Country Side along the River Po Valley in Northern Italy and the second concept from restaurateur Matteo Ferdinandi, Chef Angelo Auriana and Sommelier/Beverage Director Francine Diamond-Ferdinandi. For private dining & catering please contact Bryan Marn at email: bryan@factoryplacehospitality.com phone: (213) 553-8006.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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Takeout available

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The Best Italian Restaurants