16 Standout Italian Restaurants In New York To Try In 2026
New York smells like garlic and possibility when you are chasing great Italian food. Imagine clinking glasses under low lights as a swirl of handmade pasta lands with that gloss only butter and time can give.
I have been crisscrossing neighborhoods to find plates that hum with memory and spark joy, from coastal crudo to ragus that taste like Sunday. Come hungry, bring curiosity, and let us eat our way through the city’s most exciting Italian rooms in 2026.
1. Osteria La Baia
Under soft Midtown glow, the plates at Osteria La Baia lean luxurious without tipping into fuss, the kind of cooking that whispers rather than shouts. You will notice how the saffron perfumes the seafood tagliolini, how the lemon gives the branzino a bright, almost sunlit finish.
Service glides at that comforting cadence where your glass is never empty and your questions meet real opinions.
Tucked near Rockefeller Center at 129 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019, it draws both power-lunchers and couples stretching anniversaries. The crudo arrives like a postcard from the Amalfi coast, all cool sweetness and peppery olive oil.
Ask for the seasonal pasta, because the kitchen treats spring peas and fall mushrooms with equal reverence.
What stands out is restraint with backbone, a clean line through butter, citrus, and pristine fish. Splurge on the olive-oil cake, subtly floral, a little salty at the edge.
You leave with that rare feeling: sated, light on your feet, already plotting the next visit.
2. L’Artusi
Always buzzing, L’Artusi keeps its cool with pasta that tastes like someone argued about flour for years and finally won. You sit, you sip something mineral and Italian, and the ricotta gnudi floats like a soft cloud over browned butter.
The mushroom tagliatelle has that deep forest note, rounded by Parm and just enough heat.
Find it at 228 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014, where the West Village energy spills in from the street. The roasted chicken sounds simple, yet the pan sauce is glossy and persuasive, built for dragging through potatoes.
Servers know the wine list cold and happily steer you toward something alpine and nervy.
What to try first depends on mood, but do not skip the olive oil cake if it is on. The bar is prime for solo dining, and the pacing rarely stumbles.
You walk out feeling stylish by association, pasta-happy, and a little tempted to become a regular.
3. Osteria Nonnino
Neighborhood charm meets deliberate craft at Osteria Nonnino, where sauces simmer with patience and plates arrive with quiet confidence. You catch roasted garlic in the air and hear just enough clink from the bar to feel part of the room.
Hand-cut pappardelle wraps itself around a rich beef ragu that tastes slow and kindly.
Set in the West Village at 188 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012, it feels tailor-made for unhurried dinners. The grilled lamb carries smoke like a well-told story, finished with rosemary and lemon.
Staff talk through vintages like friends who really want you to enjoy your night.
If you love texture, the fried artichokes crisp beautifully and soften at the heart. Desserts tilt classic, with a tiramisu that leans cocoa-forward and feather-light.
You come for comfort and leave feeling restored, as if the kitchen tucked a small Italian vacation into your evening.
4. Da Andrea – Chelsea
Some places just feel friendly on arrival, and Da Andrea in Chelsea nails that from the first basket of warm bread. Pastas lean Northern in spirit, butter-smooth and herb-bright, with little flourishes that make you grin.
The pumpkin ravioli balances sweetness with sage and brown butter, a cozy sweater in edible form.
Swing by 140 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011, where the dining room hums at weeknight and weekend alike. The short rib pappardelle carries deep, winey richness without heaviness.
Servers are quick with recommendations and happily split dishes for the table.
For a lighter track, the branzino arrives crisp-skinned with a lemony salad that wakes everything up. House-made desserts keep it classic with panna cotta that barely holds together.
It is the sort of spot you keep in your back pocket, perfect for last-minute plans that still feel thoughtful.
5. Sicily Osteria
Bright, generous flavors rule at Sicily Osteria, where the menu tastes like a postcard from Palermo. Citrus peels perfume the air, and capers pop through tomato sauces with briny cheer.
The pasta con le sarde arrives flecked with fennel, raisins, and crunchy breadcrumbs that make every bite a tiny party.
Located at 346 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019, it keeps Midtown lively with sunny hospitality. Grilled swordfish wears a lemon-oregano glaze that feels like ocean air.
Ask about daily arancini, because the fillings rotate and sell out faster than you would expect.
If you love bold, order the swordfish involtini or a bottarga-kissed spaghetti that hums with umami. Wines skew island-friendly, saline and citrus-driven, excellent with seafood.
You leave with a smile, a hint of orange on your palate, and the urge to plan a Sicilian vacation you may or may not take.
6. Torrisi
Energy crackles at Torrisi, where classic Italian ideas get turned, polished, and presented like little pieces of theater. You settle in and the antipasti parade begins, each bite layered, witty, and undeniably delicious.
Pastas are chewy in the best way, sauces clear and intense, like someone turned the flavor dial up gently.
Find it at 275 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012, within the Puck Building’s storied walls. The lobster fra diavolo is a love letter to spice and butter, while chicken alla griglia arrives lacquered and juicy.
Cocktails lean elegant, the kind you sip slowly because they improve both conversation and appetite.
Expect attentive pacing, polished, yet never stiff. Desserts bring nostalgia, then flip it, like a refined cannoli with a playful twist.
If you want a meal that feels celebratory from the first pour to the last spoon, this room understands the assignment.
7. Osteria Barocca
Relaxed and generous, Osteria Barocca cooks the kind of food that makes conversation linger. Sauces cling just right, and the ricotta-filled ravioli wear butter like a silk scarf.
Portions are friendly without bluster, letting you share plates and still protect your favorites.
Set in Little Italy at 149 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013, it is an easy yes for group dinners. The cacio e pepe sings with black pepper and pecorino, perfectly glossy.
Servers carry plates with a smile and keep the pace unhurried even when the room is full.
For a little fun, try the crispy calamari with a lemon aioli that tastes like summer. The tiramisu lands feathery and cocoa-dusted, pure comfort.
You exit into Mulberry Street’s glow feeling well-fed and slightly more optimistic than when you arrived.
8. OLIO E PIÙ
Greenwich Village romance blooms at OLIO E PIÙ, where the terrace twinkles and pizzas arrive blistered and proud. You can smell the wood fire before you see it, and that smoke threads through the crust like a secret.
Antipasti pile high with marinated peppers, olives, and silky prosciutto.
The bustling corner at 3 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014, keeps date nights and group dinners equally happy. Spaghetti carbonara walks the line between silky and rich without tipping heavy.
Staff stays upbeat even when the sidewalk garden is packed, and the spritzes hit exactly right.
For maximum joy, share a salad, a pizza, and a pasta, then linger over a lemony dessert. The vibe leans festive, not fussy, which makes it easy to relax.
You leave with a pocketful of Village energy and the faint scent of smoke in your hair.
9. Rao’s
Legend has a door, and it is famously hard to open at Rao’s. If you score a seat, the night feels like a time capsule: Sinatra on the speakers, walls crowded with photos, and meatballs that taste like they earned their reputation.
The lemon chicken is bright, garlicky, and wildly comforting.
You will find it at 455 E 114th St, New York, NY 10029, a corner that holds decades of stories. Reservations are something between art and luck, so bring patience and a smile.
Sauces taste slow, like Sundays, and portions are generous in that old New York way.
The charm here is ritual: simple dishes perfected and served without pretense. A martini sets the tone, and a slice of cheesecake closes the book sweetly.
You walk out feeling folded into history, full, happy, and slightly amazed you were there at all.
10. Marea
Seaside elegance meets Manhattan polish at Marea, where seafood and pasta dance in perfect step. Crudo arrives glistening, kissed with citrus and excellent olive oil.
The octopus fusilli is a signature for a reason, rich yet fresh, with a sauce that clings like silk.
The room sits by Columbus Circle at 240 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019, steps from the park. Service is gracious in that classic way that anticipates needs before you speak.
Wines lean coastal, mineral, and quietly powerful, flattering the food without stealing the scene.
If you want luxury without heaviness, this is your lane. A final espresso lands with chocolate on the side, tidy and satisfying.
You float out into the city’s hum feeling glamorous and well cared for.
11. Ci Siamo (Hudson Yards)
Fire is the heartbeat at Ci Siamo, and you taste it in the blistered focaccia and drift of smoke over vegetables. Pastas feel soulful and satisfying, sauces reduced to that glossy, savory sweet spot.
The room buzzes with intent, the kind of place where dinner unfolds like a small celebration.
Plant yourself at 440 W 33rd St Suite #100, New York, NY 10001, and let the hearth guide your order. Hillary Sterling’s kitchen roasts carrots until they sing and coaxes depth from mushrooms like old friends.
The veal Milanese hits crunchy, lemony, and uplifting.
Start with anchovy butter on warm bread and surrender to the evening from there. Cocktails lean citrusy and clean, the better to slice through richness.
You leave warmed, inside and out, already plotting the return for another round of pasta and flame-kissed things.
12. Via Carota (West Village)
Restraint is a virtue at Via Carota, where vegetables get star treatment and pastas whisper comfort. The insalata verde is a masterclass in texture and bitterness, dressed so lightly it shines.
Cacio e pepe lands glossy and pepper-proud, served with the kind of confidence that comes from repetition and care.Make your way to 51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014, where waits are long and worth it. The room feels gathered from flea markets and memories, perfectly imperfect.
Staff keep things moving with calm smiles and a gentle nudge toward seasonal specials.Order for the table like Italians do: a spread of verdure, one pasta each, and something roasted. Finish with olive-oil cake or a boozy affogato and settle into the candlelight.
You step back into the West Village feeling softer at the edges, very content.
13. Rezdôra (Flatiron/NoMad)
Emilia-Romagna devotion defines Rezdôra, where pasta is both craft and calling. The tortellini in brodo tastes like a hug from someone who knows you well, savory and delicate.
Tagliatelle al ragu holds depth without weight, every strand coated, every bite focused.
Head to 27 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003, and settle into the gentle hum of Flatiron. Servers talk you through regional nuances with warmth, not lecture.
Lambrusco by the glass keeps things sparkling and slightly mischievous.
A tasting of pastas is the move, allowing a small tour of texture and restraint. Save room for panna cotta, quivering and clean.
You leave impressed by quiet excellence, the kind that ages well and lingers in memory.
14. Don Angie (West Village)
Playful and polished, Don Angie makes Italian-American feel new without losing the wink. The pinwheel lasagna for two is theater and comfort, crisp at the edges and lush inside.
Sorpresine with smoked mussels brings briny swagger and a sauce that clings like a great story.
Set your map to 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014, and brace for a tough reservation. Cocktails lean inventive but balanced, a little garden, a little citrus, always on target.
Staff move with pep, happy to steer you toward off-menu treats if available.
Dessert-wise, the Italian rainbow cake sundae is nostalgia with better tailoring. Order a bitter amaro to keep things tidy and grown-up.
You will walk out grinning, the kind of full that makes the stroll home feel like a victory lap.
15. Babbo
Return visits define Babbo’s charm, especially after its polished reopening. The room feels refined yet welcoming, built for long talks over longer pastas.
Beef-cheek ravioli swims in a sauce that tastes like a violin sounds, dark and singing.
You will find it at 110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011, right where memory meets appetite. The famed 100-layer lasagna shows precision and generosity in equal measure, crisp-sauced and deeply savory.
Service is old-school gracious, the kind that makes you sit up straighter and smile more.
Wine flights encourage curiosity without overwhelming detail. Save space for a bittersweet chocolate budino that lands silky and direct.
You exit into the Village feeling pleasantly spoiled, promising to come back sooner than last time.
16. I Sodi
Tuscan clarity guides I Sodi, where the seasoning is confident and the plates are beautifully restrained. Bitter greens taste like they were picked to wake you up, and steaks wear only what they need.
The artichoke lasagna layers tenderness with gentle bite, green and lovely.
Settle into 314 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014, where the new space keeps the intimate soul. A perfect Negroni belongs at the table, sharpening appetite and conversation.
Servers are composed and kind, nudging you toward seasonal specials worth chasing.
If simplicity thrills you, the spaghetti pomodoro is a benchmark: bright, buttery, true. Order a side of beans with olive oil that tastes almost peppery with freshness.
You walk out centered, reminded that less can be much, especially in the right hands.