Best Italian Restaurants in Bath
Posted on: 11 Jan 2017Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines thanks to its abundance of creamy pasta dishes, thin crispy pizzas and a focus on fresh tasty ingredients. The real Italian food doesn't usually come from chain restaurants, the taste of Italy comes from smaller restaurants who concentrate on the quality of what they serve up. Of course there are a few exceptions to this so read on for the best Italian restaurants in Bath:
Sotto Sotto was awarded Best Italian Restaurant by the Bath Good Food Awards in 2012, 2014 and 2015! It is notoriously busy on weekends, especially Saturday and it's always advised that you book in advance because bookings are in such high demand. The chefs source some of the finest ingredients from Italy and the fresh seafood, meats and vegetables are sourced locally. The extensive menu covers everything from risotto to seared scallops and once you try the food there's no doubt you'll return for more.
Address: 10 North Parade, Bath BA2 4AL
Their slogan 'The Italian restaurant run by Italians' tells you a lot about this highly regarded eatery as they pride themselves on serving authentic food made by people who know how it's done. You can usually tell when Italian food is made by Italian chefs and this is no different. The pizzas are stone baked, the soups are simmered to bring out their flavour and the pastas are homemade. The BBC Food and Drink programme once featured Martini, which goes to show how well-known it is in the area, and deservedly so.
Address: 8/9 George Street, Bath BA1 2EH
One of the few chain restaurants who can pull off authentic Italian food, Carluccio's are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Founded by the legendary Antonio Carluccio – star of numerous TV shows and a highly respected chef and restaurateur – the restaurant radiates Italian passion. Everything from the coffee and wine to the set-up and ambience is designed to recreate that perfect feeling of a true Italian restaurant and deli. The deli is an Aladdin's cave of excellent Italian ingredients, gifts and trinkets!
Address: Milsom Place, Milsom St, Bath BA1 1BZ
This award-winning restaurant is a family-run independent Italian in the city centre. It's tucked away from the main shopping streets so don't miss out, make sure you swing by to taste some of their fresh delicious dishes. Husband and wife Angelo and Laura named the restaurant Nonna's because it translates to Grandmother's in Italian and many of the dishes on the menu are made according to their grandmother’s traditional recipes, such as the Sicilian caponata which features on the Antipasti boards and the Tagliatelle con ragu.
Address: 39 Gay Street, Bath BA1 2NT
What this much-loved Italian restaurant lacks in size it makes up for in the tastiness of the food. It's underrated in mainstream media but people are quick to shout its praises on sites like TripAdvisor with the restaurant being voted 15th best restaurant out of 551 in Bath! It has a certificate of excellence thanks to its fabulous service and classic fresh Italian dishes. The menu is small in comparison with the others on this list but this means the chefs know the meals inside out and can serve them perfectly each and every time!
Address: 2 Margaret's Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP
The Oven is known as one of the best pizza places in Bath, if not THE best, because they make their pizzas the Neopolitan artisan way. Baked in a wood-fired oven at 400-500 degrees centigrade the pizzas are cooked for no more than 90 seconds which gives them their unique crust and flavour. People who have had pizza in Italy have commented on how The Oven have got it spot on. Their pizza chef Fabrizzio Mancinetti won Pizza Chef of the Year in 2016, so there's no doubt you need to get down to The Oven and try their tasty pizzas asap.
Address: 21 Westgate St, Bath BA1 1EP
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Born in Bath, Safia has lived on the outskirts of the city her whole life. After studying journalism in Bristol she now spends a lot of her time searching for new things to see in Bath and soaking up the beautiful culture. You're most likely to find her sipping a soya latte in a lovely little independent cafe! Call Safia on 07468 516375 or email editor@365Bath.com.