The Best Italian Restaurants in San Francisco

A Pacific Heights local favorite since it opened its doors back in 1985, the Jackson Fillmore Trattoria is a cozy and classic Italian food restaurant with a large wine list. Expect hearty traditional Italian mains like Pollo al Noci, chicken with pine nuts, walnuts, mushrooms, sherry, and a touch of cream, and a full list of pastas and antipasto starters. One of the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco, according to both critics and locals, the Jackson Fillmore Trattoria actually has its roots in New York City's Little Italy, where the chef cut his teeth before moving his operation here.

Serving authentic Tuscan cuisine in the heart of the North Beach neighborhood since 1970, the North Beach Restaurant is a landmark in San Francisco’s dining scene. Visitors can choose between four different art-lined dining rooms in which to enjoy dishes like Calamari Livornese or the chef’s special, Abalone Dore. North Beach Restaurant is also known for their extensive house dessert menu, which includes items like both hot and cold Zabaglione, a traditional Italian light custard made with egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine or cognac.

Located in the quiet Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, Lupa Trattoria focuses on the cuisine of Italy’s most famous culinary destination itself: Rome. All breads and pastas are made on-site at Lupa, and the secondis (mains) focus on succulent meats, like the pan-roasted duck breast in marsala sauce served with grilled asparagus. Named after the wolf that nursed the twins that founded Rome, Romelo and Remo, Lupa Trattoria is run by chef Stephan Coppolo, a transplant from the Eternal City to the City by the Bay.

A financial district culinary hot spot, Barbacco does both small and large plates from different regions of Italy that are served at long communal tables where getting to know your dining neighbors is mandatory. From the Sicilian pork meatballs to the gluten-free corn fusilli served with pomegranate and fried sage, Barbacco combines the traditional with Californian produce to create instant favorites.

Unpretentious despite its posh Hayes Valley location, Il Borgo sports checkered tablecloths and handpainted walls that harken back to the Italian countryside. The portions of handmade pasta, including gorgonzola gnocchi and lobster ravioli, are the stars of the show here, while the full pours on wines by the glass keep regulars happy and glowing.

One of the stand-out Italian options in wine-soaked Napa Valley, Il Posto Trattoria does Old World classics in a casual setting. Mains here are mostly handcrafted takes on Italian favorites like chicken marsala and eggplant parmagiana, although a gluten-free homemade pasta list is intended to entice those who traditionally shy away from Italian fare.

A restaurant and wine bar located in the Oakland Hills, Bellanico is popular for its creative tasting menus, which include wine matches, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Besides the popular tasting menus, Bellanico also offers a variety of starters, pastas, cheese plates, and creative mains—like the prosciutto-wrapped petrale sole served with grilled vegetables and pine nuts.

Located in a natural and rustic setting just outside of Palo Alto, the Portola Kitchen fuses California ingredients around Italian traditions in a bright open kitchen. Wood-fired pizzas based on housemade dough and Italian mozzarella have brought the restaurant rave reviews, while the gluten-free freshly made pasta comes in innovative shapes and forms including lumache (snail shells) with kale pesto and Italian sausage.