Drawing strong, hearty and independent flavours from Italian cooking, Brum has plenty of eateries to cure any and every hunger pang. Whether you're splitting a pizza on date night or nestling up with a whole bowl of carbonara to yourself, these are our recommendations for the best Birmingham Italian restaurants.
Tucked inside Birmingham's Arcadian, Milano Bar & Ristorante serves a slice of modern Italy with flair and theatre. Expect rich beef ragù tagliatelle, flame-kissed pizzas topped with 'nduja and hot honey, and tiramisu that's worth every spoonful.
From cheese-wheel carbonara finished at your table to Sgroppino cocktails whisked right before your eyes, dining here feels like dinner and a show. Authentic flavours, stylish interiors, and a little Italian drama - perfetto.
Transporting you straight to Naples, Pizza Pilgrims is an award-winning Italian restaurant that can be found in Grand Central. This charming space is filled with colourful decor, from checkered tablecloths to walls lined with old-school posters and pretty plants dotted around the room.
They're all about delicious Neapolitan pizzas here, topped with ingredients sourced fresh from Italy. Think smoked aubergine parmigiana, eight cheeses or mushroom and truffle as toppings, washed down with a selection of refreshing spritz cocktails.
For a British twist on Italian cuisine, make your way to The Birmingham Stable. A casual, rustic-looking joint with an array of benches to gather around with your friends, it premises some bargain bites made with super fresh ingredients. They've got sourdough pizzas galore here, made with grains from Shipton Mill in Gloucestershire, boasting toppings like Suffolk chorizo and tenderstem broccoli or plant-based burrata with roasted aubergine, as well as some unreal goat's cheese and roasted squash salads. If you're thirsty, there's plenty of beer on tap too, like the venue's own pale ale.
If you're on the hunt for Italian restaurants in Birmingham's Brindley Place, head to Piccolino. The relaxed spot offers lush red leather booths to slink into, as well as an alfresco terrace to enjoy, weather permitting. Take a peek at your dinner being whipped up in the open kitchen and be sure to delve into the likes of burrata salad smothered in a shallot and sherry vinegar dressing, as well as some moreish spaghetti carbonara. This certainly is a spot to indulge if you like your pasta topped with truffle.
If you're a big pizza lover, particularly when it's fresh and affordable, then Otto is a firm choice for lunch or dinner. Born in 2016 and one of the most traditional Italian restaurants in Birmingham city centre, it provides a laidback setting with minimalistic interiors and clean-cut wooden tables to enjoy a slice of the good stuff. Kick off with olives and a charcuterie board before getting stuck into delicious flatbreads with fresh pesto, not to mention the star of the show (pizza) topped with fior di latte, 'nduja and more. If you're still hungry, check out their homemade tiramisu for dessert.
Cucina Rustica is a real winner when it comes to finding a traditional Italian restaurants in the Jewellery Quarter. Perfect for date night, the dining den offers up slick decor in the form of a back-lit bar and wooden panelling in a cosy-chic atmosphere. Hopefully, you're hungry because you're going to have a wonderful time tucking into arancini filled with ragu here, as well as drool-worthy bowls of gnocchi and arrabbiata alongside a glass of red wine.
Fronting locations in the city centre and Selfridges, Fumo is part of the award-winning San Carlo group that has been impressing diners all over the world. Be dazzled by contemporary interiors from its soft lamp shades to its high-top marble bar. It's offering a unique menu fusing Venetian dining with tailored tipples, and you can tuck into the likes of handmade focaccia with creamy stracciatella cheese served with Parma ham and black truffle, then wash it down with some Veuve Clicquot rosé.
This list wouldn't be complete without a nod to Rudy's. Bright and airy, it provides a tranquil space, adorned with dangling foliage from an exposed ceiling, for you to dig into your favourite food. The pizzeria takes several notes from Italy, whipping up the most delicious doughy delights covered in lip-smacking toppings - think chilli flakes, Tuscan sausage and artichoke hearts galore. If you're hungry for seconds, browse a wowing dessert menu featuring gelato and the house Rum Baba: a light sponge cake soaked in rum, served with cream and cherry syrup.
If you're after pretty Italian restaurants in Birmingham Mailbox, then check out Noel's Bar & Restaurant on the waterfront. Soak up some riverside views and some marvellous interiors - think plush pink velvet booths and spiralling golden light fixtures. They're serving up all sorts of Mediterranean fare, such as homemade ravioli with ox cheek in a creamy parmesan sauce, octopus risotto and seared tuna served with garlic mayonnaise. And for dessert? Make some room because a pistachio and white chocolate cheesecake is coming your way.
Boasting everything from bottomless brunches with 90 minutes of free-flowing tipples to outstanding mains, Gusto is coming up trumps as one of the best Italian restaurants in Birmingham city centre. It offers a slice of European heaven with its interiors, fronting bare-brick walls and an elegant tree with twirling branches in its main dining area. On the menu, you can expect to devour homemade dough petals, Calabrian steak tartare and a slow-cooked three-meat ragù. To sweeten the dining experience? Nab a slice of tiramisu.
If you're looking for authentic Italian cooking in the heart of Harborne, get on down to Tropea. Named after a town in Calabria, its delicious dishes are packed with ingredients sourced directly from the southern regions.
Expect beef carpaccio, Sardinian fregola with native mussels, aubergine parmigiana, and tagliatelle with ragu alla bolognese. Dishes like these have earned this place a Michelin Bib Gourmand, plus plenty of praise in the Good Food Guide.
Whether you're after a romantic date night restaurant or a meal out with friends, La Galleria in the heart of Birmingham is the ideal venue. It's certainly a looker, thanks to its extravagant chandeliers and photographs of the Italian coast framed and fixed to its walls. Using fresh ingredients to create modern plates of food, you can look forward to inhaling everything from creamy burrata to start, followed by sizzling steaks or classic pizza and pasta dishes (we love the ravioli filled with buffalo mozzarella), alongside a glass of wine or two of course.
