10 Best Italian Restaurants in Leeds
Regardless of the country, Italian gastronomy can be found all around the world. While in some cities it can be slightly more challenging to find a top-notch place to dine, there are so many Italian restaurant in Leeds that the only challenge you may come across is choosing a place. In case you live here or happen to travel to Leeds, visiting one of the best Italian restaurants Leeds has to offer is something you should definitely do. To help you with your decision, we created a list of the top 10 Italian restaurant Leeds welcomes you with.
10 best Italian restaurants Leeds
When creating our list of the best Italian restaurants Leeds has to offer to travelers, we aimed to find businesses that are authentic and unique. We looked at the menu, the quality of the service, the popularity, and the overall customer feedback. Also, we wanted to list Italian restaurants in Leeds that are easy to access, so these are mainly located in the city centre. Budget-wise, you will find both affordable and slightly more expensive places. Now, if you’re ready, let’s take a close look at the top 10 Leeds Italian restaurants that you must visit!
1. Riva Blu Restaurant & Bar
A highly popular Italian restaurant Leeds welcomes you with is Riva Blu Restaurant & Bar. This place is not only first on our list, but is right on the top on Tripadvisor as well. If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant in Leeds that will take you to the glamorous times of Italy in the 1960s, Riva Blue Restaurant & Bar won’t disappoint you.
The restaurant is located on Park Row, right in the heart of Leeds, and welcomes you with delicious dishes made from the finest ingredients. You can book a table and enjoy the remarkable atmosphere overlooking the open kitchen and cocktail bar. Also, In Riva Blue, you can dine all’aperto or in the open air, thanks to the small alfresco terrace.
In terms of food, there is a large variety of bruschetta and antipasti, salads, pasta, risotto, or other main courses such as steaks or pizza. You can also choose from a wide selection of sides, desserts, ice cream, and sorbets. For those with gluten intolerance, Riva Blue Restaurant & Bar has a separate menu.
2. Bibis Restaurant
Looking for the best Italian restaurants Leeds city centre has to offer, Bibis is one of the first Italian restaurants in Leeds you will come across. Located a stone’s throw away from the crowdy Leeds train station, this restaurant is easily accessible for travelers visiting the city. What sets this place apart from other Leeds Italian restaurants is that they serve traditional Italian cuisine for over 40 years.
When you dine here, you can choose from the best traditional Italian flavors combined with Mediterranean cuisine which shows the real, authentic taste of Italy. All dishes are prepared from the freshest, highest quality ingredients which are primarily locally sourced. This restaurant has not one, but multiple, seasonal menus you can choose from. Approaching the holidays, they have a festive menu, but also a heartwarming special autumn-winter menu for the cold season.
3. Bella Italia
When it comes to the best Italian restaurants Leeds, Bella Italia is one of the outstanding examples for sure. When you step into this place it feels like stepping into your home. It’s a cozy, friendly little bistro that serves fantastic food. Bella Italia is one of those Leeds Italian restaurants that you can visit any time of the day and forget about all your errands while enjoying heavenly dishes.
The restaurant is located at the bottom of Briggate, close to the Grand Theater or Vue Cinema. A perfect place to finish your day after watching a movie or show. Their pizzas are especially popular, generously topped. Not to mention the mouth-watering bowls of pasta and the large selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes that are just as delicious as any other meal on the menu.
4. Gusto Italian
Without any doubt, Gusto is one of the best Italian restaurants Leeds city centre has yet to show you. This place offers a different experience. Budget-wise, it falls into the expensive category, however, just by looking at the wonderful dishes, the price seems justified. Gusto is an Italian restaurant in Leeds that is defined by elegance. Their contemporary Italian menu has carefully selected fresh, simple ingredients. Yet, the result is a remarkable dish that makes dining in Gusto worth an exquisite experience.
When it comes to the menu, the restaurant offers set menus available for parties and events or an a la carte menu. In the case of set menus, you can choose from Silver, Gold, and Platinum categories, depending on your budget and preferences. Gusto is an Italian restaurant Leeds has never seen before for many reasons. For one, you can book a unique Steak Experience or even gift it to a dear friend or family member.
5. La Cantina44
Of all Leeds Italian restaurants, La Cantina44 is another Tripadvisor favorite, being among the first of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds. This is a family-run restaurant serving Mediterranean and Italian cuisine. This place is perfect for a casual lunch or dinner with friends or family. La Cantina44 offers a broad selection of high quality freshly-cooked Italian food, including pasta, pizza, salads, dessert, and other main courses.
Customers are amazed by not only the mouth-watering dishes but the service as well. The staff is highly trained and friendly, so you can be sure that you will be welcomed with a smile and some kind words. The restaurant is in business for over 20 years and over the years has built up an established reputation.
6. Pizza Punks
Now, if you are up for a pizza night, one of the best Italian restaurants Leeds won’t fail to amaze you with is Pizza Punks. They will serve you enormous, oven-baked pizzas with rich toppings. It surely won’t disappoint. Nothing proves this better than the fact that on Tripadvisors, Pizza Punks has a 5/5 rating based on many many satisfied customer reviews. This place is definitely a gem you must visit.
This restaurant will welcome you with a lovely, cozy atmosphere where you can enjoy some laid-back time with your friends or family. The pizza menu is massive, but in case you want to create your own pizza, you can load your pizza with as many toppings as you want. What also makes Pizza Punks a great place for gatherings is that they offer vegetarian-friendly, vegan and gluten-free options, so everybody can have the same amazing experience.
7. Veeno Leeds
Next on our Leeds Italian restaurant list is Veeno, an authentic Italian wine bar with a remarkable wine list of the finest quality Italian wines sourced from their Sicilian family vineyards called Caruso & Minini. However, their wine menu is not the only one that is worth your attention, their food menu is tempting as well.
With spot-on service and delicious Italian dishes, Veeno is an amazing Italian restaurant Leeds welcomes you with. This place is for people who would like to enjoy delicious pasta, risotto, or steak or spend a romantic dinner together with their loved ones. However, in case you’re a fan of bottomless meal deals, Veeno is your place. You can book a bottomless pizza and drinks deal and have a memorable experience with your friends or co-workers.
8. Da Vito Ristorante
The next place on our Leeds Italian restaurants list is Da Vito Ristorante, a truly unique, traditional Italian restaurant in the heart of the city. Similarly to most Italian restaurants in Leeds, Da Vito serves delicious dishes assembled from the best, freshest ingredients, making sure all meals come with bold, memorable flavours that make you enjoy life more.
Da Vito is a new business in Leeds, which opened its doors in 2020 with one simple goal: offering a relaxing, enjoyable dining experience. With hearty dishes and many happy customers, it is safe to say that they have already reached this goal and most likely have a bright future ahead.
9. Zucco
Discussing the best Italian restaurants Leeds has to offer, Zucco is a place that has a well-deserved place on this list. You know best what you prefer, but if you ask us if there is one Italian restaurant in Leeds you visit then make it Zucco. Just by looking at their menu or the pictures of the mouth-watering plates, you will understand why. From delicious antipasti to seafood, flavourful pasta dishes to pizzas with rich toppings, Zucco has it all.
The restaurant serves grilled octopus, king prawns, mussels, salmon, lamb, cheese plates, and anything you can dream of. Also, you can order freshly prepared sharing plates which allows you to taste more things. And the best is that their prices are quite affordable, so you won’t have to leave with an empty pocket at the end of the night.
10. La Palmera
Last, but not least, the last Italian restaurant Leeds city gives home to is La Palmera. This small, cozy restaurant is located in Park Lane Roundhay, Leeds in a colorful, inviting house with delicious-smelling hearty food. La Palmera is a family-run restaurant offering a wide range of freshly cooked Mediterranean food prepared from the highest quality ingredients.
The staff is extremely friendly and highly trained, so your time spent here will be a time to remember. You can choose from the A la carte menu or the special lunch menu, both offering extraordinary antipasti, main courses, pasta, pizzas, and desserts. Not to mention the wide selection of beverages, which includes fine Italian wines, as well. If you happen to visit Leeds Italian restaurant, La Palmera is a must-visit place that won’t let you down.
Wrapping up the best Italian restaurants Leeds
As you can see, there are so many outstanding Italian restaurants in Leeds that are worth visiting. Due to the many options, it might even seem challenging to choose from the best Italian restaurants Leeds has to offer. However, we bet you can find a perfect restaurant that suits all your needs. Our list was meant to show you the top 10 places that serve traditional Italian food, have an amazing staff, and will surely help you make sweet memories while in Leeds. Which one is your favourite Leeds Italian restaurant?
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