The 10 best Italian restaurants in Hobart

The vibes at this tiny CBD wine bar and Italian restaurant are almost as big as its wine list. Sonny is like heading to a friend’s house for dinner, albeit a mate with serious chops in the kitchen. There are just 20 seats for walk-ins along the centre table, with diners on one side and chatty staff pouring wine and handing out food from the other. The theme here is “communal”, from the layout of the venue to the plates of pasta you can share with your mates. With tunes spinning all evening on the record player, you might even feel the urge to share your dance moves, too.

Named after his nonna, dining at Massimo Mele’s Peppina could feel like dinner at your Italian grandmother’s house – if your grandmother was a celebrated chef who lived in a light-filled atrium complete with mature olive trees. The name of the game here is feast, so more is more is a solid ethos when ordering. Located within the luxury hotel The Tasman, and despite seating 190 people, Peppina manages to feel intimate and always buzzy. The charming team includes Fish, your sommelier (less ‘drink like a fish’ and more a nod to his surname, Fisher) who will guide you through the encyclopedic wine list. Although having nabbed the best Tassie wine list in 2023, it’s hard to put a foot wrong. Start with the burrata on a bed of charred leeks, currants, pine nuts and pickled kohlrabi for a party in your mouth. All homemade pasta is worthy of your attention, but we love the ricotta cavatelli with Italian sausage, broccoletto, chilli and lemon. With a focus on high-quality Tasmanian produce, this seasonal menu is packed with winners. Expect house-made gnocchi, succulent braised meats, a selection of just-caught seafood and desserts to savour.

The premise of Templo is clever, really: seat 25 people and serve them all the exact same thing. You get what you’re given at Templo, but luckily what you’re given is incredible. Six courses (four if you’re dining at lunch) featuring handmade pasta bursting with flavour, like sweet corn agnolotti or dory and potato cappellacci, as well as vegetable-based dishes using produce from local growers. There’s an extensive wine list scribbled on the chalkboard and the staff are happy to help match your choice with the night’s menu. Dessert is the perfect finale, whether it's a lemon semifreddo or custard tart with gingerbread ice cream.

When Don Camillo opened nearly 60 years ago, it was one of only three restaurants in Hobart and lines of patrons would snake around the corner. It’s the only OG still standing, but Don Camillo hasn’t rested on its laurels. The evolution of this institution led us to the 250g grass-fed Cape Grim beef eye fillet. Wrapped in prosciutto and served with leek, carrot and potato mash, it’s what nights out are made for. The red and white tablecloths are charming and practical, hiding all sins of fettuccine alla puttanesca being heartily enjoyed. Opt for a glass of moscato direct from Venice. This spot has got it dialled and we hope to be dining here in another 60 years.

When Fico’s Federica Andrisani and Oskar Rossi (ex-Vue De Monde) opened Pitzi, meaning ‘little one’, it was ostensibly an opportunity for the pair to be more experimental in a casual setting. The intimate spot is both communal (try and nab a spot at the big table) and also a great option for a romantic date. They start slinging pasta, Spritzes and slabs of focaccia from 4pm, with an ever-evolving and well-curated menu. The pasta is deliciously al dente with generous portions and rich, slow-braised flavours. Traditional is fused with contemporary, and a focus on Tasmania’s fresh, locally gathered ingredients is paramount to Pitzi’s ethos. The restaurant sources pasture-raised duck from Lone Goose Farm and when crafted into rustic parcels of cappellacci and a velvety spinach sauce, it’s a dish well worth writing home about. During truffle season, opt for the al freddo – a hug in a bowl if ever there was one. When the afternoon sun comes out and you’re enjoying a drop of Italian or local vino tinto, you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem in the backstreets of Naples. Extend your evening by opting for the pistachio ice cream sandwich – an elevated reimagining of a childhood fave. 

In the centre of Hobart, Cultura is a great spot for a late-morning espresso or an early-evening feast, replenishing all those calories burned up and down the city’s main shopping strip. A Norfolk Bay pinot gris is a refreshing place to start or treat yourself with a floral and herbaceous Martini Fiore, before tucking into the daily arancini, beef carpaccio or bruschetta. For mains, the braised lamb shoulder, served with parmesan olive oil mash, pancetta and peas transports you to a Tuscan villa. Keep the vibe alive with another bottle of Italian prosecco or a strong espresso, and consider staying for aperitivo hour for Italian-inspired cocktails and delicious antipasti. 

Chef and restaurateur Matt Breen is the master of small, intimate Hobart venues (he’s also the man behind Templo and Sonny) and Ogee is his latest venture. A corner space in popular North Hobart, you’ll hear the signature sound of records spinning and wine glasses clinking as soon as you get near Ogee. Another staple of any Breen offering? Flavourful Italian-inspired dishes created with local produce, a hefty wine list, welcoming staff and relaxed, friendly vibes. Hey, if it ain’t broke…

Founded by the Di Tommaso family who migrated to Tasmania from the Adriatic coast – a region known for its love of grapes and olives, food and wine are at the heart of Maldini. Tucked in an 1830s Georgian sandstone warehouse with outdoor seating spilling onto Salamanca Place, it’s one of the go-to spots to pull up a pew and do some people-watching with a hearty side of Italian fare. The menu is packed with classics. The frutti di mare is a memorable dish showcasing some of Tassie’s best seafood, including Spring Bay mussels, prawns, market fish and calamari on a bed of orzo and saffron tomato broth. If you’re looking for a mid-week treat, the express lunch will set you back $30 in return for a homemade pasta dish and a glass of wine. Our eyes are on dessert, specifically the silky vanilla brulee with a crunchy pistachio sugar crust. É perfetto!

Come get a slice of Italy at this bright pink pizzeria, also by the team behind Local Pizza. All pies are cooked in a disco-ball oven, which makes sense considering that there are disco balls of all shapes and sizes dotted around the dining room. The pizza menu is as playful as the decor, with names like Bubby G, BBQ Bird, Wild Child and Spuf Lyf. However, the King Kofta V2.0 is the most popular, with a capsicum base, lamb kofta, mozzarella, roast capsicum, herb yogurt, red onion, za’atar and chopped herbs.

When Angelo swung open the doors of his eponymous Da Angelo Ristorante 30 years ago he couldn’t have known that this unassuming place would become one of the most beloved and reliable restaurants on the Hobart dining scene. Much of the interiors and the menu have remained the same, but that’s all part of the charm, rendering it one of the go-to spots for comfort food with a side of Angelo’s signature ear-to-ear grin. The photo wall is a nostalgic look at some famous faces that have eaten here over the decades. Politicians, footy players and actors alike have all descended upon this spot for generous portions of spaghetti bolognese or vino e crema veal scaloppini. Families, young couples and old friends flock here for friendly service and a dizzying array of toppings (the garlic prawn is a crowd favourite). Pizzas are available in three sizes and gluten-free. Kids (and big kids) also love the homemade gelato. Order in to get your slice of Da Angelo on the couch.