Ask anyone what their favourite cuisine is and, nine times out of ten, it’ll be Italian. Pizza, pasta and antipasti—what’s not to love? So I’ve been salivating ever since I was appointed the role of sharing the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri. Hey, someone’s got to twirl their fork, slurp that cheese and sip all the aperitifs and all I’m saying is I was up for the challenge.
With great palatable praise comes great responsibility, to not only deliver delicious meals to the masses, but to pay homage to the traditional recipes—some of which have been handed down and perfected through countless generations. And that’s what makes Italian food so damn great, it’s been tried, tested and tasted over and over again.
Here at Urban List, finding authentic Italian requires due diligence. Lucky for you, I’ve done the legwork (shovelled in kilos of carbs) and sorted the stayers from the players. You can say grazie mille to me later. Scroll on for 17 of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast in 2025.
The Gold Coast’s Best Italian At A Glance
Northern Gold Coast Italian
Mad Over Italian
Shop 4, 99-103 Broadwater Ave, Hope Island QLD 4212
Yet to hear about Mad Over Italian (MOI)? It’s not by accident. The locals are keeping this one quiet in hopes to nab the tables for themselves. Plating up Italian flavours with coastal flair in their casual dining space, I am seriously shocked this place is not booked out every night of the week – jump on this Italian restaurant before the rest of Gold Coast does and book your table 12-3pm or 430-9pm any day of the week. View the menu here.
Owned by a Gold Coast family, “the crew have nailed the branding, the service, the vibe, and it’s my absolute favourite Italian restaurant on the Northern Gold Coast,” says Urban List Contributor Danielle Read. “The Barramundi ala mediterrania is the perfect fusion of Italian flavours and Australian seafood. The garlic, chilli and cherry tomatoes errupt into symphony in this white wine and bisque drenched saucy number. I’m obsessed.” You heard her, run don’t walk. Read more.
Jafa
Shop 7, 253 Ferry Rd, Southport, QLD 4215
I would be remiss not to mention Jafa in a list of the Gold Coast’s best Italian restaurants. “This cosy Italian gem has won my heart with their handmade pizzas and pastas,” says Urban List Contributor Harmony Lee. “Their focus on fresh, delicious ingredients shines through in every bite. their extensive wine list, featuring a focus on Australian, New Zealand, and European varieties, is a true crowd-pleaser.”
Interestingly, their pizzas undergp a complete fermentation period, which makes for light bases that don’t sit as heavy in the belly. The gamberi spinachi pasta with its fresh prawns, sundried tomato and lashings of creamy sauce is one of the more interesting Italian dishes I’ve seen on the Gold Coast and is best followed with the apple and blueberry crumble. Oh, if you must. Read more.
Bambino Ristorante
Shop 3/117 Ashmore Rd, Bundall QLD 4217
If you’re on the search for dinner and a show, Bambino Ristorante is the best Italian restaurant on the Gold Coast for you. Slurp up your linguini Lady and The Tramp style while crooning to live entertainment every night, because according to the team “pizza and pasta taste better with a side of vino and song.” They’re not wrong. View the menu here.
Open Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm and Friday through Saturday from 12 noon, you may have just discovered your new favourite night out without the cover charge. Read more.
Roy’s By Gemelli
Riviera Shopping Centre, Cnr Campbell & Panitz St, Sorrento QLD 4217
When Italian fare is this good, it’s worth hunting down. Which is exactly what you’ll need to do if you wanna try one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast, Roy’s By Gemelli. With two thriving restaurants already under their belt, brothers Alec, James and Paul aspired to create a social meeting place for the neighbourhood of Sorrento, where residents could wine and dine without needing to drive or book a babysitter, seven nights a week 5pm-830pm and for lunch 12pm-230pm Friday through Sunday. View the menu here.
With a menu bursting with Gemelli classics and authentic recipes from the motherland, for the rest of us, a drive into the backwaters of Broadbeach is definitely worth it for this midweek family dinner spot. Roy’s tiramisu is so damn creamy and beautiful, it feels like I’m on a date with it and my partner just happens to be sharing the table with us. Not kidding. Read more.
Central Gold Coast Italian
Gemelli Italian
2/2685 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach QLD 4218
A packed dining room seven nights, plus lunch Thursday to Sunday, is a testament to the young Carney brothers who introduced some of the most authentic Italian fare to the Gold Coast. Gemelli, translating to ‘twin’ in the mother tongue, is the original trattoria in this hospitality empire and is somewhat of an institution among pizza and pasta lovers. View their menu here.
The brothers were making pasta sauce before most of us had learnt to read and write, and it’s their traditional recipes, passed through the generations, which are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike at their beloved Broadbeach Italian restaurant. Come for the woodfired pizzas, melted gnocchi bowls and those drool-worthy Nutella Bomba desserts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and plated with generous scoops of vanilla gelato. It’s recommended for 2-4 people, but I’ve polished off one solo and was not the slightest bit mad about it. Read more.
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Cucina Vivo
The Star Gold Coast, Lobby Level, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Step past the open-plan kitchen and crackling woodfired pizza oven and you’ll be transported to a little slice of the Amalfi Coast right here in Broadbeach. I love Cucina Vivo’s retro ‘60s colour palette of dusty pink and seafoam blue, decorated with oversized pendant lights, plantation-style shutters and a chic white terrace overlooking The Star’s sparkling resort pool. Keep an eye out for ticketed events like the Italian Long Lunch where you’ll indulde in a three-course share-style lunch with a 2.5 hour drink package and live entertainment. Or, oggle the menu to mentally order before your booking.
I recommend tasting your way through the entire menu of antipasti, woodfired pizzas, handmade pastas and Alla Grigila mains (from the charcoal grill). Bring your appetite because you must not leave without trying Cucina Vivo’s legendary Cioccolato Rosso Ferrari. I’ll leave it at that to not ruin the surprise. Read more.
Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar
Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Sofia’s Restaurant and Bar is a homage to the dreamy tones of coastal Europe and this Italian gem delivers a magnificent share-style menu that’s stripped back, refined and lets the quality produce speak, nay, sing for itself. What really makes this one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast for me is the raw bar. Featuring live oysters opened to order, served with a side of Chardonay mignonette. Or the cheekily named Caviar Bump, served with a glass of frozen Beluga vodka. Yes, they mean business. View the full menu here.
Curated by some of the Gold Coast’s most lauded culinary legends, the menu is simplistic and showcases the flavours of fresh, local produce—as well as some delectable European specialties thrown in for good measure. Oh, and the white-washed space with mirrored wall arches filled with Aperol bottles is seriously stunning. A short wander from The G Broadbeach north tram stop, book any day of the week for dinner 5pm-1030pm or Tuesday through Sunday for lunch 12pm-245pm. Read more.
Mario’s
Shop 48-52 Oasis Shopping Centre, Victoria Ave, Broadbeach QLD 4218
You know if your Italian dinner destination is called Mario’s, you’re in good hands. With a staggering 20-plus pizzas to tempt you, from the simple Capricciosa to the Zingara with garlic prawns, spinach and camembert, it’s inevitable you’ll be rolling outta here. I literally eat my weight in smoky fettuccine carbonara each time I dine in and have not regretted lapping up that classic garlic cream sauce once. Browse menus here.
With over 20 years on the scene and a big favourite with both locals and tourists, it would be a crime to leave Mario’s off a list of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast. Read more.
Double Zero
2/2715 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Neapolitan pizzas are known for their simplicity, and after a decade delighting diners with their authentic woodfired pizzas with the Naples tick of approval, Double Zero is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast for pillowey bases bouncing with fresh mozarella. So it’s no surprise they’re certified by Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana as one of Australia’s most authentic Italian pizzerias. An impressive feat indeed. View their menu here.
Book your table any time Sunday through Thursday 430pm-830pm or Friday through Saturday 430pm-9pm. Try Double Zero’s genuine Napoletana creations for yourself which is definitely best paired with an aperitif, like a Campari or Limoncello Spritz, to really feel like you’ve transported to Italy, without the jetlag. Read more.
Sapori
Santa Cruz Village, 60 Santa Cruz Blvd, Clear Island Waters QLD 4226
Exercise caution when you drive past this hidden gem of a restaurant because the succulent scents of authentic Italian cooking (of the highest order) might just reel you in before you realise it. The titular restaurant Sapori kneeds, spins and plates up a drool-worthy selection of authentic Italian cuisine, from wood-fired pizza to freshly housemade pasta.
In case you aren’t fully convinced yet, the friendly team behind Sapori pride themselves on their authenticity, hand-crafting fresh pizza and pasta daily. For families, drop by Tuesdays where kids eat free with every adult main or pizza. This is a Gold Coast Italian restaurant you need to try, stat. Read more.
Goccia Italian Pizzeria
1A/2375 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
For top-notch pizza, pasta and share plates that won’t break the bank, it’s obvious why locals have fallen head over heels for Goccia. Cosy up inside near the wood-fired pizza oven or dine alfresco under the festoon lights, Goccia (pronounced ‘gotcha’) is like a warm hug from family, made all the more authentic by the Italian accents taking your order with a smile. View their menu here.
I’m going to be bold and claim that Goccia are serving up some of the absolute best pizzas on the Gold Coast. So much so that it’ll be near impossible to choose just one. Do as the locals and order the 50cm family pizza with three flavours on one base. Book your table any time 5pm-830pm Wednesday through Sunday. Read more.
Piatto
2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
In my opinion, the very best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast feature an element of family. And the dedicated Pearce family who founded and ran ex-Gold Coast restaurants Lupo, Franc’s Deli & Wine and Espana Tapas Bar definitely have that going for them. Dad Brad, mum Thea and sons Rick and Harry’s pint-sized Italian-inspired restaurant offers a mouthwatering array of options is next to their sister venue, Cantina. Open 5pm til tate Wednesday through Saturday, Piatto is a cosy 16-seat establishment and unique in the sense that its menu changes monthly, focusing on an authentic blend of seasonal, local produce and simple cooking. View the latest menu (at time of writing).
“Cooking is what I’ll do until I die,” says Harry. I enjoy that it’s the first job that is a genuine expression of myself. I’ve had other jobs where I go to and have to be another person. But here, I walk in and I’m genuinely being myself, that’s a good sign.” And the family affair is all part of that expression. “Brad and I are in the kitchen, he taught me everything so I’m basically a replica of him.” You can taste the love in these dishes.
I guarantee you’ll enjoy a flavour festa when you dive into a steaming bowl of George’s Prawn Risotto, with hints of chilli and a flavour lift thanks to preserved lemon, she’s rich and creamy. Perfectly paired with a drop from Piatto’s dizzying collection of beautiful imported Italian wines. If you’re a fan of authentic Italian cuisine and wine, book via text on 0405 607 729. Read more.
Gemellini
2247 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach QLD 4218
Baby brother to Broadbeach’s much-loved Gemelli Italian, you may be tempted to dine at Gemellini for the eye candy alone. A refined addition to Nobby’s hipster scene and one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast for moody dining and serious carb-loading, Gemellini is dishing up authentic woodfired pizzas and homemade pastas with recipes inherited from Nonna. View their menu here.
Open Monday through Saturday for dinner from 530pm and Sunday for lunch, my go-to dish is The Carne pizza with pomodoro base, salsicce (a house-made fennel pork sausage), ham and salami. But there really is no wrong choice at this popular Italian restaurant on the Gold Coast. Read more.
Lenny’s Pizzeria & Bar
Shop 5/58 Railway St, Mudgeeraba QLD 4213
“Lenny’s Pizzeria & Bar is the kind of sprawling pizza joint that’s reminiscent of balmy Euro summers sipping spritzes alfresco, except with an Aussie spin, under the shade of poincianas,” says Urban List Contributor Danielle Read. “This place is founded by Rob, one the OG Justin Lane crew who has a real passion and knack for next-level pizza bases – chewy, thin and proved generously,” she continues. “The prawn pizza with spicy confit garlic, fermented chili and lemon is a winner every time.”
But you’ll have to get there in a flash, because keep slingin’ food until its sold out – which late in the night is often (and we assure you, it’s not for lack of preparation). View the menu. Check their Instagram for weekly pizza specials which have included the likes of Rick and Mortydella, The Gorgon Hamsley and Keanu Leaves. Hilarous.
Open 430pm – 9pm Tuesday through Saturday, dive into delectable Italian cuisine at its finest with Lenny’s pork and beef meatballs, arancini with porcini mushroom and a curated selection of everyone’s favourite—pizza. If I haven’t got your full attention yet, their house-made ice cream with regularly changing flavours will flip that. With so much more to satisfy your Italian cravings, Lenny’s Pizzeria & Bar is a skeleton key for picky eaters, and has your next catch up written all over it. Read more.
Southern Gold Coast Italian
Justin Lane
1708-1710 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
The king of Italian food in Burleigh, Justin Lane has been providing a warm welcome to those seeking a charismatic dining experience since 2011 with their iconic attitude ‘eat, drink and be messy’. Hands down a local institution and one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast for sourdough pizza and handmade pasta, there’s a constant thrum to this fantastic spot. Browse their impressive collection of menus, including an entirely vegan Italian menu and banquet option. From my experience, it’s the only fully vegan specific Italian banquets on the Gold Coast.
If it’s your first time visiting JL, get in early to nab a seat on the open-air terrace for a few negronis in the late afternoon sunshine. My pick for dinner? The prawn, calamari and garlic woodfired pizza on sourdough. Justin’s Long Lunch delivers endless food and drinks for two hours. It’s well-worth considering for your next Italian food chow down. Read more.
Balboa Italian
1069 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach QLD 4221
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One of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast, and a firm favourite of mine, is Palm Beach’s Balboa Italian. Like a glistening beacon of beauty on the Gold Coast Highway, this treasured neighbourhood haunt serves the locals fine Italian fare with a contemporary twist, all in the most magnificent of settings. With towering ceilings, a grand chandelier and the perfect amount of rustic charm, Balboa’s decor is all kinds of Insta-worthy. Plus, it’s open 7 night for dinner and Friday through Sunday for lunch. View the menu here.
“This is classic Italian delivered in the best possible way—and, if it’s not on your date night roster, you’re missing out,” says Urban List Contributor Duncan Croker. “I suggest starting with the Byron Bay burrata, a chef’s special served up with house-harvested honey, followed by any of the pasta or gnocchi mains. If it’s slated to be fine, request a seat on the upstairs outdoor balcony.” Read more.
The Deli By Pepe
Shop 13/1102 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach QLD 4221
You might see the super suave team at The Deli By Pepe driving around with a wheel of cheese on the roof, or perhaps they’ll be in the kitchen perfecting your next bite. Either way, they’ll be smiling. Perhaps its because they have free rein on the gnocci sorrentina with generous servings of Byron Bay bufala, parmigiano reggiano and dollops of passata. View their menu here.
A nodworthy note? Their menu is brimming with gluten free breads, pastas and dough, and the team can also make adult and kids pastas and pizzas dairy free, making this the very best Italian restaurant on the Gold Coast for groups with dietary requirements. Addmittedly, they had me a Cheese Wheel Wednesday. Read more.
Honourable mentions: Mr PPs Deli & Rooftop, Baskk Italian and Tamero Burleigh.
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Image Credit: Clayten Fowler Photography, Hayley Williamson Photography, Brooke Darling Photography and supplied imagery
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