San Francisco has a rich history of top-notch Italian food. From classic red sauce destinations in historic North Beach to award-winning trattorias in the Mission District, the 10 best Italian restaurants in San Francisco serve up everything from blistering wood-fired pizzas to premium steaks and elegant pastas starring California ingredients.
Dig into Neapolitan pies and award-winning wines at a cozy MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Marina District. Get classic hits and premium steaks at an Italian institution in North Beach. Enjoy coastally-inspired pastas and refreshing spritzes at a hotel hotspot in Union Square.
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For family-inspired Northern Italian fare in a charming space: The Tailor’s Son (Pacific Heights)
The Tailor’s Son is restaurateur Adriano Paganini’s deeply personal homage to his Northern Italian roots. The seafood- and vegetable-forward menu is inspired by Paganini’s family recipes, so expect rustic-meets-elegant fare like saffron spaghettini with Maine lobster and Milanese-style risotto with optional bone marrow or osso bucco. Linger over cocktails—including several twists on the classic negroni—at the inviting white-tiled bar or in one the dining room’s stylish green leather banquettes.
For Italian food with a NorCal twist: Che Fico San Francisco (North Panhandle/USF)
Packed since it opened in 2018, Che Fico has racked up accolades from Esquire, Bon Appétit, and more. Dressed with hanging plants and glittering chandeliers, the rustic-chic spot is still one the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco for chef David Nayfield’s wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas with NorCal accents—think triangoli with chanterelles and G&S Farms sweet corn. Don’t miss the popular weekend brunch with standouts like challah-based French toast.
For classic Italian American dishes at one of the best restaurants in North Beach in San Francisco: Original Joe’s
For an old-school Italian dining experience, head to Original Joe’s in North Beach. The charming restaurant—think red leather booths, crisp white tablecloths, and smartly dressed waiters—still serves up some of the city’s best classic pasta. The extensive menu also includes premium steaks and specialties like a roasted prime rib served with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes.
For Italian food with a neighborhood vibe: Fiorella (Sunset District, Noe Valley, Russian Hill, or Richmond District)
The first Fiorella opened in the Richmond District in 2015 and quickly became a local favorite for its signature wood-fired pizzas and stellar pastas. Now with locations in the Sunset District, Noe Valley, and Russian Hill, the restaurant still whips up some of the city’s best pies and standout dishes like Nonna’s meatballs. Bonus points for the charming patio in Sunset, perfect for sipping one of the restaurant’s spritz-forward cocktails.
For award-winning cuisine at one of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco: Delfina Restaurant (Mission District)
When it opened in 1998, Delfina Restaurant ushered in a new era of Cal Italian dining in the city. More than two decades into its run, the James Beard Award-winning trattoria still slings the best classic spaghetti in San Francisco, plus seasonal delights like ricotta cavatelli with lamb meatballs and cherry tomato pizza, served in a light-filled space with leather banquettes and metal-vaulted ceilings, thanks to a 2023 makeover.
For relaxed Italian dining from an acclaimed chef: Sorella (Russian Hill)
Sorella, which means “sister” in Italian, is the low-key sibling to Suzette Gresham’s two-MICHELIN-Starred Acquerello. Grab a seat at the bar or at one of the cozy tables in the minimalist space to dig into shareable starters like the signature grilled leek focaccia and veal and pork meatballs. Then move on to seasonal dishes that could include corn agnolotti and a grilled swordfish with summer bean ragu, paired with top-notch, mostly Italian wines.
For upscale Italian dining with a farm-to-table twist: Seven Hills (Russian Hill)
Russian Hill’s lively Seven Hills is a local special-occasion favorite for chef Anthony Florian’s ever-evolving menu of Italian favorites with California accents. The lively, candle-lit space is a quintessential celebratrion spot for crowd-pleasing dishes like a fresh ricotta-topped maccheroncelli (tube-shaped pasta) and pitch-perfect, Italian-leaning wine list. Cap the evening with the standout focaccia bread pudding.
For a taste of southern Italy paired with award-winning wine: A16 San Francisco (Marina/Cow Hollow/Presidio)
A16 San Francisco is where you go for standout Neapolitan pizzas and southern Italian fare. Grab a seat at the chef’s counter in the lively dining room for a front-row seat to watch bubbling pies coming out of the wood-fired oven. Or settle into the charming front patio to feast on refined pastas like a squid ink tonnarelli. Either way, owner Shelley Lindgren’s James Beard Award-winning wine list from small local and international producers will impress.
For Italian fare and standout crudo at one of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco: Itria (Mission District)
Itria is a Mission District favorite for its ever-changing menu of modern, seasonal Italian fare. Start with one of the excellent crudos before moving on to family-style dishes like spaghetti with clams and chile and a whole branzino dressed with watermelon radish and tomato, best shared with groups at the large communal table. An extensive wine and sake list rounds out the menu at this compact, brick-lined neighborhood destination.
For Ligurian coastal cuisine in one of the best San Francisco Italian restaurants: Corzetti (Downtown/Union Square)
With cheery lemon-patterned wallpaper and dramatic red and white archways, Corzetti brings coastal Italian vibes to San Francisco. Located in Hotel G near Union Square, the stylish spot from local restaurant group giant Back of the House is an ode to the Ligurian coast. Expect a tight menu of seafood-forward dishes like spaghettini with clams and a Dungeness crab-topped linguine, plus refreshing spritzes and amari flights.
From buzzy, coastally inspired hotel destinations to old-school North Beach staples, the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco serve up everything from wood-fired pizzas to elegant pastas to premium steaks. Whether you’re looking for an intimate neighborhood trattoria or a bustling space with family-style fare, the top Italian restaurants in San Francisco have dishes and vibes for every occasion.
