In Washington DC, you’ll find over 20 MICHELIN-Starred restaurants, plus top-notch neighborhood spots serving cuisines—including Italian—from across the globe. Get everything from red sauce faithfuls like spaghetti and meatballs to elegant, multi-course feasts from award-winning chefs at the best Italian restaurants in DC.
Enjoy the ultimate special occasion meal at an old-school Italian favorite in Georgetown. Dig into ultra-luxe steak and seafood at a swanky celebrity favorite in Mount Vernon Square. Head to a Penn Quarter charmer for refined pastas from a James Beard-nominated chef.
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Read on for a guide to the top 10 Italian restaurants in DC.
For timeless Italian favorites at a DC institution: Filomena Ristorante (Georgetown)
Open since 1983, Filomena Ristorante is one of the District’s most beloved landmarks and a go-to for special occasions. Regularly scoring a spot on Washingtonian’s list of the best Italian restaurants in the city, Filomena’s is a neighborhood staple for its attentive, tuxedo-clad servers and cozy, old-school vibe. Standout dishes include chicken parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs, and a gnocchi, fettuccine, and eggplant lasagna. Visit in December for over-the-top holiday decor.
For nostalgic Italian dishes inspired by family recipes: Mia’s Italian Kitchen (Alexandria)
Get classics just how nonna made them at Mia’s Italian Kitchen, thanks to owner Dave Nicholas’s Sicilian family recipes. Expect nostalgic dishes like hearty pastas and brick-oven pizzas served family-style. Sit in the downstairs dining room to watch staff sling pies in the oven. Or head upstairs for a front-row seat to the open kitchen. Either way, floor-to-ceiling windows, stained glass windows, and exposed brick walls create a cozy, living-room-like atmosphere.
For a family-style Southern Italian favorites straight from NYC: Carmine’s (Penn Quarter)
Head to Carmine’s for the red sauce classics that made the original NYC location a cult favorite. Exterior red awnings and interior warm wooden furnishings create an old-school vibe, perfect for digging into massively portioned, family-style Southern Italian fare. Start with clams on the half shell or shrimp calamari from the raw bar before moving on to hits like veal parmesan and hearty portions of pasta—including vegetarian and gluten-free options.
For group-friendly dining in a stylish setting: RPM Italian (Mount Vernon Square)
A Chicago import from celebrity duo Giuliana and Bill Rancic, RPM Italian is where you go for all-out Italian feasts in a swanky setting. Settle into one of the cozy leather banquettes to dig into made-for-sharing modern Italian hits like bread service (get the rosemary sea salt focaccia) before moving on to housemade pastas like braised veal gnocchi with truffles and ultra-fancy steaks like gorgonzola-cured wagyu. Bonus points for a deep, Italian-leaning wine list and frequent celeb sightings.
For knockout Italian food in an inviting setting: North Italia (Tysons Corner/McLean, Reston, and West End)
With three locations in the DC area, North Italia is where you go for top-notch pizzas and hearty pastas (including gluten-free options) served in a sleek and lively setting. The concept from James Beard Award semifinalist Sam Fox is also known for its meat and cheese boards, Italian-leaning wine list, and cocktails. Don’t miss the popular weekend brunch starring pizzas and pastas plus breakfast favorites like scrambles and toasts.
For a family-owned restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine at one of the best Italian restaurants in DC: Landini Brothers (Alexandria)
Owned and operated by brothers Franco and Noe Landini, Landini Brothers is a local favorite for its traditional Tuscan dishes. Sit at the bar to sip a glass of Italian wine from the 400-plus bottle list and dig into small plates like clams Casino or grilled squid. Or post up in the cozy, brick-lined dining room or on romantic patio for a meal of signature dishes like veal scaloppini.
For nostalgic Italian dishes at an old-school DC favorite: Caruso’s Grocery (Capitol Hill)
Book a table at Caruso’s Grocery for a peak old-school Italian meal. The restaurant goes all in on throwback details—think classic red booths, Frank Sinatra crooning over the speakers, and classic Italian American comfort food. Start with the Caesar salad—one of the city’s best—before moving on to red sauce faithfuls like chicken parmesan and alfredo with mushrooms. No meal here is complete without a slice of blood orange creme brûlée.
For refined, seasonal Italian in a stylish setting: Centrolina (Penn Quarter)
Open since 2015, Centrolina is the brainchild of multi-James Beard-nominated chef Amy Brandwein, who continues to dazzle with her refined, housemade pastas that spotlight seasonal, mid-Atlantic ingredients. Add in a sleek space dressed in delicate pinks and blues, attentive service, and a pitch-perfect wine list, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the best Italian restaurants in DC.
For rustic Italian fare with MICHELIN Bib status: Lupo Verde (Logan Circle and Palisades North)
Lupo Verde is all about rustic Italian cuisine. Head to the charming 14th St location, with a lively first-floor bar decked with hand-painted Italian tiles and a second-floor space with floor-to-ceiling windows, to feast on classics like cacio e pepe and wild mushroom risotto with optional truffles. The rustic-chic Palisades location has a more concise menu than its big sibling—don’t leave either spot without trying the knockout tiramisu.
For creative, Italian-inspired cuisine with seasonal touches: Modena (Downtown)
At this glam Downtown favorite, chef Joshua Hunt whips up modern seasonal dishes—think chicken liver sourdough with pickled apple salad and refined housemade pastas like butternut squash agnolotti and pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Come for weekday happy hour to enjoy shareable plates like fried calamari and scallop crudo and drink specials on classic cocktails like old fashioneds and martinis.
Feast on everything from red sauce classics to wood-fired pizzas and fancy steaks at the best Italian restaurants in DC. Whether you’re looking for a swanky celebration spot or a low-key neighborhood favorite, these top Italian restaurants in DC have you covered.