Pizza to pappardelle – we’ve uncovered some of the Gold Coast’s best Italian restaurants
There’s something deeply satisfying about plunging a fork into a bowl of freshly made pasta topped with just the right amount of sauce, that first eagerly anticipated sip of a slightly chilled red or wrapping your mitts around a sizeable slice of pizza straight from the oven – it’s the culinary equivalent of a big, warm hug, which sounds pretty darn great right now. To point you in the right direction, we’ve put together a handy list of some of the Gold Coast’s best Italian restaurants, in no particular order …
Sogno Italiano, Mermaid Waters and Burleigh Waters: When Sogno Italiano opened its doors in Mermaid Waters, the response from the local pizza-loving populace was an immediate and resounding yes. Fast-forward a couple of years and tables in the suburban 55-seater are just as in demand as the day they opened, prompting the owners to open a second spot at Treetops Plaza, just a pizza-toss away. The burrata panzanella is a must, as is the blue swimmer-crab linguine and the simple yet delicious prosciutto pizza.
Radici Pasta House, Coolangatta: Radici Pasta House brings handmade Italian tradition to the table with a modern, coastal twist. The pasta is rolled fresh daily, with signature dishes like cacio e pepe and truffle porcini tagliatelle stealing the spotlight. It’s the kind of place where you can watch the chefs in action, sip a wine alfresco and feel like you’ve landed in a little trattoria by the sea.
Bar Monte, Miami: A hot contender for the list is Miami’s new Italian spot from the team that created popular modern-Asian diner Light Years and Byron Bay’s Pixie. The menu reimagines Italian classics with a fresh twist – think house-made focaccia with whipped butter and hot honey, a mortadella bun with pickled green chilli and limoncello aioli, cacio e pepe and a porcini-rubbed bistecca with bone marrow butter. Finish strong with an amaro and a serve of tiramisu.
Tommy’s Italian, Currumbin: Dreaming of an Italian summer? Sipping and snacking by the beachside at Tommy’s is the next best thing. This coastal-inspired Italian hotspot is a favourite among pasta-loving locals. Start with the stracciatella with pickled cucumber, the vitello tonnato and some calamari fritti, then dive into the Bay lobster spaghetti or the truffle lasagne. Craving pizza? The Caprina is a vibe – fior di latte, goats cheese, spicy honey, candied pecans and rocket.
Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar, Broadbeach: Tucked on the Broadbeach mall side of The Oasis, Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar brings little taste of coastal Europe with a share-style menu that traverses land and sea. Italian snacks like ‘coccolo’ (deep fried pizza dough topped with stracchino and your choice of mortadella or prosciutto) are a great prelude to show-stopping mains like bistecca alla fiorentina that’s sliced tableside, and the cacio e pepe that’s tossed before your eyes in a 40-kg parmesan wheel.
Piatto, Mermaid Beach: Piatto, which translates to ‘plate’ in Italian, is an intimate 16-seat eatery from the Pearce family – who also own Cantina next door and previously gifted us Lupo and Espana Tapas Bar. Piatto offers a refined dining experience with handmade pasta and aperitif-style cocktails, all served in a moody, dimly lit atmosphere. Grab a seat at the bar, order a limoncello spritz and dive into the prawn risotto.
Cucina Vivo, Broadbeach: Inspired by the cliff-top restaurants of the Amalfi Coast, Cucina Vivo at The Star Gold Coast dishes up classics and inspired crowd favourites in a convivial and relaxed setting. The extensive menu covers snacks, handmade pasta, woodfired pizzas and larger plates straight off the grill. The veal scallopine is the house specialty – best enjoyed with a glass of chianti.
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Balboa Italian, Palm Beach: This multi-level dining spot brings a little piece of Italy to Palm Beach, and is well known by locals for its delicious woodfired pizzas and handmade pasta. Start with bites like ‘nduja and mozzarella croquettes with Sicilian salmoriglio sauce, before lingering in the antipasti section with the likes of crispy sage focaccia and kingfish crudo. Leave room for beef-cheek gnocchi and the tartufo pizza with onion, potato, mozzarella, pancetta and truffle oil.
Goccia Italian, Mermaid Beach: This is a true neighbourhood gem. You’ll smell the traditional pizzas from miles away, so follow your nose and you’ll be greeted with a hearty “ciao” from owners Anna and Goccia before settling in for a truly authentic feast. Pizza is the hero here, but there’s also a handful of starters and share plates, alongside daily specials. Our pick of the pizzas is the Bosco – mozzarella, porcini mushroom, blue cheese, prosciutto, shaved parmesan and parsley. Molto bene!
The Deli by Pepe, Palm Beach: Here, you’ll find a relaxed take on traditional Italian fare, with a menu that spans antipasti plates like beef-ragu arancini and comforting meatballs, alongside woodfired pizza and handmade pasta. On Wednesdays, the spotlight turns to Cheese Wheel Night – a weekly ritual for dairy devotees. Beyond the dining room, the deli stocks a curated selection of pasta, sauces, salumi and wine, blending casual dining with deli vibes.
Gemelli (Broadbeach) and Gemellini (Nobby Beach): If it’s nonna’s cooking you crave, then you can’t go wrong with these two traditional Italian siblings. Gemelli in Broadbeach is larger and armed with a more extensive menu, while Gemellini brings a more intimate vibe to Nobby Beach – both keep it simple and authentic, serving pizzas, handmade pastas and more. There’s also Roy’s by Gemelli in Sorrento – a neighbourhood trattoria serving loyal locals with hearty Italian fare.
Crispy Italian Bar, Burleigh Heads: This casual eatery brings a playful slice of Italy to Burleigh Heads, serving woodfired pizzas, handmade pastas and Italian bar bites in a relaxed setting. Highlights include the chilli-honey stracciatella and the woodfired spicy garlic prawns, while groups can tuck into the famed half-metre margherita pizza. Wednesday is Gnocchi Night, where the team serves its pillow-soft woodfired gnocchi in crispy pizza bowls.
Piada Co, Burleigh: With bright maroon tables and orange-striped seating that nods to Amalfi’s famous beach umbrellas, Piada Co brings a hit of Italian street-style to the heart of Burleigh. The casual 50-seater serves up crisp, golden piadinas stuffed with classic Italian fillings (think porchetta and provolone, and mortadella with stracciatella) as well as burrata bowls and calamari fritti. Piada Co also has a sibling venue in Byron Bay with a menu that extends to handmade pizzas and pastas.
Amore Ristorante, Southport: Amore Ristorante is nestled within TRYP by Wyndham Southport and delivers a crowd-pleasing selection that spans from casual eats to elevated Italian cuisine. Expect small plates like veal tartare with chilli oil, yolk and sourdough crisps, pastas like goat ragu pappardelle with green olives, and mains like swordfish and scallops with peperonata. Wrap things up with the martini tiramisu.
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Papa Rolly’s, Carrara: Papa Rolly’s is the fun-loving younger sibling of the Gemelli family, bringing big Italian flavour and laid-back vibes to the ’burbs. The bustling BYO-friendly neighbourhood trattoria dishes up big Italian energy with woodfired pizzas, saucy pasta hits like the Rigatoni Roy’s and house-made gelato. The vibes are warm, the portions are generous and Nonna would approve.
Modo Mio, Broadbeach: This elevated Italian eatery is by Max and Amanda Alfieri, who have owned and operated restaurants at Sanctuary Cove for years. Modo Mio brings a fresh, flavour-packed slice of Italy to Pacific Fair, with highlights like sand-crab lasagna, porcini arancini with honey-truffle aioli and cocktails that pack a punch (hello, limoncello negroni). It’s classic Italian done with flair, and a laidback vibe that’s perfect for long lunches, spontaneous spritzes or a pasta-fuelled shopping break.
La Calabrese, Surfers Paradise: Located on level one of Ocean by Meriton, La Calabrese brings a bold slice of southern Italy to Surfers Paradise, pairing woodfired pizzas and handmade pastas with oceanfront views. The kitchen leans into tradition with slow-fermented doughs and rich, regional flavours – from mortadella-stuffed focaccia to braised beef paccheri. With a team of passionate Italians at the helm, it’s all about warm hospitality, serious flavour, and a touch of seaside indulgence.
Enzo’s Cucina, Surfers Paradise: The focus here is on fresh and homely Italian food that is served with the warmth of southern Italian hospitality. Every bite that makes its way on to a plate has been lovingly crafted by the team to deliver a flavour bomb to your taste buds. The gnocchi, for example, are made from scratch by Enzo’s nephew, and meatballs pay homage to Enzo’s mother’s cooking. In true Italian style, every meal is a celebration.
Costa D’oro, Surfers Paradise: There’s something delightfully comforting about the long-standing institutions that have been around for forever and a day and ‘Costa’ (as it’s known to locals) is one of them. Serving authentic Italian food from the same premises in Surfers Paradise since 1987, this family-owned and operated establishment prides itself on creating traditional Italian dishes using fresh Australian produce, with grass-fed veal and beef and local hormone-free chicken forming part of an impressive menu of classics. Don’t leave without experiencing the tiramisu.
Bottega Chevron Village, Chevron Island: Established in 2020 on the Gold Coast, offers a refined yet relaxed Italian dining experience under the guidance of Head Chef Enzo Loterzo. Drawing from over three decades of culinary expertise, Loterzo brings a touch of Melbourne’s renowned Italian cuisine to the Gold Coast. The menu features a diverse selection of dishes, including wood-fired pizzas crafted in a state-of-the-art Vesuvio oven, fresh oysters, and a variety of antipasti. Complementing the food is an extensive Italian wine list, highlighting regional varieties. The restaurant’s ambiance is designed to provide a comfortable setting for guests to enjoy authentic Italian flavors and warm hospitality.
Romanas Italian, Nobby Beach: Reaching similar icon status is Romanas in Nobby Beach, which is celebrating more than 40 years in business. Specialising in traditional home-style cuisine including pizza, pasta and seafood, this long-standing Italian restaurant greets guests like family. Oh, and for a little bonus, it’s BYO wine from Monday to Thursday.
Oscar Italia, Varsity Lakes: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option to feed the fam, this is it. Oscar Italia dishes up a drool-inducing array of pizzas and authentic Italian mains in a relaxed and convivial setting. While it’s all delicious (tried and tested), the pan-seared gnocchi is a must try!
Double Zero, Coolangatta and Robina Town Centre: Specialising in authentic Italian food made with love, these two sister venues feature a relaxed and welcoming disposition and rustic charm. The state-of-the-art pizza ovens churn out a seriously moreish range of pizzas that achieve that perfect balance between crispness and crust.
Bar Italia, Surfers Paradise: This longstanding Italian institution offers the perfect perch for a spot of people watching. The alfresco setting is perfect for coffee, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Curb your daytime craving with a panini, or just make a bee-line straight to the pizza and pasta – there’s no wrong answer here.
Mario’s Italian, Broadbeach: When a restaurant has been operating for nearly 30 years, you can assume they must have the formula right. Despite its facelift in 2017, Mario’s retained its history and charm, while elegantly stepping into the modern day. The menu spans from pizzas, to handmade pastas, Italian share plates and more – and it’s all best enjoyed with a well-made negroni in hand.
Still hungry? Be sure to check out The Directory to find more Gold Coast restaurants, bars and cafes.