Agostinis is a family-owned, authentic Italian restaurant inside the East Hotel that Canberrans have come to love. We had the pleasure of tasting their new Autumn menu on a recent trip and believe us when we say the Burrata Con Fichi is the absolute best we’ve tasted in the country. While they keep a few staples on deck (including the Burrata) the menu is seasonal – but some of our favourites to look out for include the Gnocchi (pictured above), spaghetti Neri (squid ink infused spaghetti tossed with tiger prawns, cuttlefish, cherry tomatoes and garlic) and for dessert, we can’t go past the locally made cannoli. Wine is Italian sourced both locally in Murrumbateman (a true hidden gem) from Italian varietals and abroad.

Molto Italian is one of the best Italian restaurants in Canberra that manages to seamlessly blend the modern with the traditional. With the aesthetic appeal of a modern seaside trattoria, Molto boasts sleek interiors, an open kitchen and bar and a wood fire pizza oven. We recommend their Salsicce pizza, topped with Italian sausage, green spinach, black olives & mozzarella- the whole thing will be gone before you know it!

Homestyle Italian dining at its finest, Mama’s Trattoria is authentic, fuss-free and delicious! Dine al fresco style and relish in the hearty meals straight from mama’s kitchen. Keeping with the simple theme, we recommend the focaccia, with your choice of fillings and cheese; who thought bread could taste so good!

With panoramic views over Lake Burley Griffin, this is just one of the drawcards of this rustic Italian restaurant. You can expect to dig into plenty of handmade pasta, including irresistible handmade gnocchi Sorrento with rich tomato and basil sauce. They also have an extensive wine list so you can accompany your meal with a delicious drop, offering Australian, New Zealand, and Italian labels.

Mezzalira is fondly known as the more sophisticated sibling of Italian & Sons, so it’s your go-to when you’re looking for something delicious and a little bit fancy. Nestled in the historic Melbourne building, the restaurant is known for its endless assortment of handmade pasta and authentic pizza. If you like to enjoy a glass (or two) of wine while you dine, they also have an award-winning wine menu for you to enjoy.

One of the best Italian restaurants in Canberra, and the young sibling of Mezzalira, Italian & Sons, sure knows how to live up to its older counterpart. The seasonal menu is constantly changing and forever exciting. We recommend starting with zucchini flowers and smoked swordfish before moving on to the asparagus, leek & ricotta agnolotti. For dessert, we can’t go past their classic cheese board.

When you can’t jump on a plane to Italy, a visit to Trecento Restaurant is the next best thing. Trecento doubles as a pizzeria, restaurant & bar, serving up Neapolitan-style pizza using a 300-year-old Italian recipe, adding modern spins on traditional regional Italian dishes. Nestled in the heart of Manuka, there is an open kitchen, so you’re just as involved in the cooking as you are the eating!

Chez Frederic is one of the best Italian restaurants in Canberra when you’re looking for something innovative and exciting. Located on Lonsdale St in Braddon, father and daughter team Frederic & Sara work wonders. Sara heads the restaurant with a passion for reproducing dishes that her father discovered through his travels, melting them into classical French and Italian cuisine. Bon Appetit!

It’s no secret Briscola is the real deal, with flour imported from Italy, they’re taking no shortcuts when it comes to reproducing the finest Italian cuisine. They offer an unpretentious, authentic dining experience that we can’t resist- we recommend one of the woodfire pizzas and the affogato for dessert.

Another one of the best Italian restaurants in Canberra is fuss-free, unpretentious dining is your thing- La Capanna is everything authentic and traditional Italian cuisine in the heart of Kingston. With streetside tables and affordable dishes, you could be fooled into thinking you were dining in Italy! Try one of their seven selections of bruschetta- you won’t regret it!