The 5 Best Italian Restaurants in Calgary for a Taste of Delizioso Meals
Craving authentic pasta or a rich Roman lasagna right here in Alberta? Don’t worry, the local food scene features quick daytime spots, cosy trattorias, and Venetian small-plate bars that will have you loosening your belt.
We tracked down the best Italian restaurants in Calgary that deliver delicious meals that taste just like Nonna’s!
Whether you’re planning a romantic anniversary dinner or just looking for a pizza place with close friends, here are our top kitchens serving classics and creative fusion dishes.
Dig in for a taste of Italy with every bite!
How much does it cost to eat at an Italian restaurant in Calgary?
Most meals at Italian restaurants in Calgary fall around $25 to $70 per person, while upscale dining can reach $100+ per person. Prices will depend on the type of meal.
| Restaurant Tier | Average Cost Per Person | Average Main or Pasta Dish Cost |
| Casual / Chain / Budget | $15 – $30 | $15 – $25 |
| Mid-Range / Trattoria | $30 – $60 | $24 – $38 |
| Fine Dining / Upscale | $70 – $100+ | $40 – $55+ |
1. Italiano Please!
Website: https://italianoplease.com/
Address: 200 – 801 6 Ave SW
Contact: (403) 702-2542 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
One of our top picks is Italiano Please!, which has a social-enterprise model that provides training and work experience for people from equity-deserving communities. At least half of their team comes from those communities.
The menu stands out, as it includes authentic Italian dishes like lasagna al ragù, rice and pasta timballo, eggplant parmigiana, and Fusilli La Dieta Romana. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items are also available to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Plus, they sell food baskets to bring home or gift to a friend. You can taste panpepato, a traditional holiday cake in Italy.
Aside from dining in, online pickup and catering are available, which is fantastic because they close early on weekdays and are closed on weekends.
Customer Reviews
The gluten-free pasta is delicious
Had a day off and just HAD to head downtown to have lunch at Italiano Please! with my son. The gluten-free pasta is delicious, and made with such care.
The owners, Lucio & Barbara are extremely kind, making sure you are treated to the best experience possible.
If you’re downtown, you have to head over to AMEC Place to eat at Italiano Please!
– Vanessa Jollimore | Google Review
Absolutely fantastic REAL Italian place!
Absolutely fantastic REAL Italian place! The food is amazing, and the atmosphere is full of genuine Italian warmth. If you’re looking for authentic Italian cuisine, you’ve got to check out Italiano Please!
Lucio, Barbara, Federico and Bea are incredibly welcoming, and every dish is simply delicious.
And if it’s coming from an Italian like me, you know it’s the real deal!
Highly recommended!
– Roberta | Google Review
2. La Pasta Bar (Formerly YYC Pasta Bar)
Website: https://www.lapastabar.com/
Address: 1322A 17 Ave SW
Contact: (587) 332-5600
Hours: Monday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Wednesday-Thursday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Customising a pasta bowl is the main draw at La Pasta Bar on 17th Avenue. Their build-your-own format lets you choose the pasta, sauce, and toppings instead of sticking to a fixed combination.
The bar is also worth checking out, where they serve Italian wines and cocktails. Happy hour is particularly exciting because there’s quite a variety of food to choose from.
They’re flexible too, offering online ordering, table reservations, and catering packages. Catering starts with packages for just six people and includes choices such as antipasti, pasta, chicken parmigiana, and tiramisu.
Just remember that this 17th Ave location closes every Tuesday, so midweek visits need a little planning.
Customer Reviews
The food was amazing
Today we went out for lunch. We ordered arancini as a starter, penne chicken fungi, lasagna, and chicken parmesan, for dessert, we had cheesecake. Wow, it was delicious! The food was amazing. I highly recommend this place; it has a pleasant atmosphere and great service.
– Fatima Navarro | Google Review
Their pasta is very fairly priced
Amazing food, service and atmosphere. The truffle fries and dip were a great way to start the meal and the pictures/wallpaper reminded me of my time in Italy. Their pasta is very fairly priced and the portions are huge and very tasteful. Overall 5/5 dinner.
– Veer Bapodara | Google Review
3. Carino
Website: https://www.eatcarino.com/
Address: 2210 4 St SW, Calgary, AB T2S 1W9
Contact: (403) 454-7668
Hours:
- Wednesday-Thursday, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Friday-Saturday, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Carino adds a new taste to Italian meals. As a Japanese-Italian kitchen, you get an East-meets-West culinary crossover you won’t easily find anywhere else.
They pair Italian-influenced dishes with Japanese elements and casual noodle options. Some exciting options we suggest are the miso butter corn for an umami kick and the spicy mussels hot pot with Italian sausages.
The restaurant has separate lunch and dinner menus, plus a dedicated wine list, so you get to try something new day and night.
Dinner reservations can also be made through OpenTable. However, they don’t have lunch reservations; instead, it comes on a first-come, first-served basis.
Customer Reviews
One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had in Canada
I had one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had in Canada. The food was absolutely amazing, but the service from Joshua was truly top-notch. He knew every ingredient in every dish and gave us excellent recommendations. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant, but it was definitely worth trying. I would come back a thousand times. This restaurant is easily in my top five restaurants I’ve visited across different countries!
– diego bradley | Google Review
They do both so well together
Probably the best restaurant in the city imo, service, food, drinks and dessert were all perfect. If you enjoy both italian and japanese cuisine separately, they do both so well together, you don’t even question it. Favorite from my meal is probably Duck! Duck!! This place will probably be in my dreams for a while
– Rezh Fajardo | Google Review
4. Toscana Italian Grill on 10th
Website: https://toscanagrill.ca/
Address: 317 10 Ave SW
Contact: (403) 300-1414 | [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Saturday, 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Established in 2011, Toscana Italian Grill on 10th has a family-run trattoria feel, which adds a comfortable experience every time.
It’s their wide classic Italian menu that truly deserves the spotlight. They offer hand-rolled potato gnocchi, house-made basil pesto and croutons, homemade meatballs, and house-made sauces.
They’re also well-suited for events, since they’re available for private or semi-private dining. They can even accommodate up to 200 people!
If their 10th Avenue location is too far from you, they have two other locations in Calgary: Mahogany Plaza and Macleod Trail.
The thing is, there’s a $3.90 surcharge for making a pasta dish gluten-free, which isn’t the most wallet-friendly add-on, especially if you have strict dietary needs.
Customer Reviews
The veal tortellini was incredible
Had a wonderful date night at Toscana! Our waitress – Megan – was delightful! Incredible service and super friendly, gave great recommendations! The ambience in there was a perfect mix of comfortable and romantic. We both ordered pasta – the Veal Tortellini was incredible, and the Penne Tuscano which was also very good (but the tortellini was the favorite). Thank you Megan for making our mini vacation that much better!! Next time we are in Calgary we will definitely be coming back!!
– Saylor M. | Google Review
The lamb fell right of the bone
We had the lamb shank and the Beef Tagliata with Alfredo Sauce. The lamb fell right of the bone and the Beef was very tender and melted on the tongue. The service was very kind and the ambience was cozy, nice music and classy interior.
– janine | Google Review
5. L’Olivo Cicchetti & Lounge
Website: https://www.lolivo.ca/
Address: 1023 9 Ave SE
Contact: (403) 960-1006 | [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Friday – Saturday, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
L’Olivo Cicchetti & Lounge is Calgary’s first cicchetti restaurant, bringing a Venetian-inspired small-plate format to the city. Here, you can order carefully made small plates, bringing a relaxed way to socialise.
The menu is exciting, with cicchetti, 90-gram pastas at $18, and 3 oz meat or seafood mains. Their beverage list is the same, with wines, cocktails, and mocktails.
The lounge also runs Aperi-Time Wednesday through Saturday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with a reasonable $5 chef-selected cicchetti add-on when you order a drink.
The most incredible event is The Cicchetti Affair, a second Tuesday of the month gathering for 36 guests, offering a menu that’s never to be repeated.
Unfortunately, you only get to dine during the afternoon and evening. They open quite late, so they aren’t an option for lunch breaks.
Customer Reviews
The pasta was perfectly cooked
We had an amazing experience at this Italian restaurant! The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the service was very attentive, and every dish tasted incredible – full of authentic flavor and beautifully presented. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauces were rich and balanced. You can really feel that everything is made with love and passion.
Highly recommend this place – we’ll definitely be coming back! 🇮🇹🍷✨
– Yuliia D | Google Review
Very flavorful small plates
This Italian restaurant was really good. Very flavorful small plates. Great for sharing.
Very few places nowadays go above and beyond for their service. This is one of them. From coat check, to detailed menu description and very regular service throughout dinner.
I had scallops, ziti and the espresso for dessert. All paired very well together and reasonably priced.
– James Emery | Google Review