Best Italian Restaurants in Las Vegas

Last Updated on March 22, 2023

Are you dreaming of escaping away to Italy, where the pace of life is slower, and your wine glass is never empty? It might not be possible to sneak away to Italy, but Las Vegas is the next best thing. We’ve taken a look at every Italian restaurant and came up with this list of what we feel are the very best Italian restaurants in Las Vegas. 

Lavo Las Vegas has become known as the premier spot for delicious, authentic Italian food. Located in the Palazzo at the Venetian Resort, Lavo offers everything you expect from an Italian dining experience. 

Lavo has earned a celebrity following since it opened in 2008. While you’re biting into a piece of brick oven pizza or devouring the one-pound meatball, Rhianna or the Kardashians might be a few tables over. Celebrity sightings aside, the real reason Lavo wins best Italian restaurant in Vegas is a combination of the amazing food, the beautiful ambiance, and 5-star service. 

The ambiance at Lavo is filled with old-world charm. Warm, inviting, and comfortable are all words that come to mind when describing what it’s like to walk into the dining area or patio seating at Lavo. The decor inside Lavo is accented with darker woods, brick, marble, and warm lights blended with modern accents, creating a very intimate ambiance. The outdoor terrace overlooking the Strip is perfect for lingering after your meal on a warm evening. 

Lavo’s menu features all your Italian favorites, including a selection of fresh seafood like their grilled branzino or red snapper, or a seafood plateau that features a selection of oysters, king crab, lobster, and more. 

Other favorites on Lavo’s menu include their one-pound meatball topped with whipped ricotta, truffle gnocchi, and their grilled, dry-aged steaks. A decadent dessert menu including tiramisu, and a 20-layer peanut butter chocolate cake, along with an extensive wine selection, are the icing on the cake of what makes Lavo the best Italian restaurant in Las Vegas. 

Lavo is located near the lobby of the Palazzo at the Venetian Hotel. They are open for dinner Thursday – Friday from 5:30 – 10:30 pm, Saturdays from 7 – 10:30 pm, and Sundays from 5:30 – 10:30 pm. You can also join them for their Saturday Champagne Brunch, 12:30 – 6 pm, and their Endless Brunch on Sundays from 10 am – 3 pm.

We couldn’t have a list of the best Italian restaurants in Vegas without giving a serious nod to Scarpetta. Scarpetta has been named by many as their favorite Italian restaurant in a city where options for Italian cuisine are more than plentiful. 

The food at Scarpetta is fresh, flavorful, and takes full advantage of seasonal ingredients to elevate the flavor of each dish. Each pasta on Scarpetta’s menu is made in-house daily and then accented by perfectly prepared sauces, reductions, and complementary ingredients to create a memorable dish. 

Scarpetta’s menu selections are authentic and elegant. Fresh seafood is as big of a focus on the menu as their house-made pasta, along with other classic dishes like veal chop parmigiana and short rib brasato. For a special evening, choose Scarpetta’s tasting menu, also available with a wine pairing (spoiler alert: the Nutella Bombolini for dessert is to die for).

The atmosphere at Scarpetta is modern elegance. A table near the large windows offers a nice view of the beautiful Bellagio fountains. Scarpetta is ideal for romantic dinners and intimate gatherings with good friends. Dine at Scarpetta on a Monday or Tuesday and enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine from their special curated collection. 

Scarpetta is located in the Cosmopolitan, on level 3 of the Boulevard Tower. Scarpetta is open Sunday-Tuesday 5:30 – 10 pm, and Friday-Saturday from 5:30 – 11 pm. Join them for cocktail hour Friday-Sunday, 5:30 – 7 pm. 

If there’s one thing you should do in Las Vegas, it’s indulging yourself to the fullest extent possible. When the occasion or mood strikes for an upscale Italian dining experience, Sinatra is everything you’re looking for. 

Sinatra opened in the Wynn Las Vegas in 2008 and has been indulging their guests’ palates ever since. The restaurant, dedicated to Frank Sinatra, features a menu of some of the musical icon’s favorite Italian dishes. 

Sinatra’s menu includes tender pasta, including a duck-filled ravioli with a foie gras port wine emulsion, and of course, there’s lasagna layered with ragu. Risotto with butter-poached lobster, cioppino, and the house specialty, osso buco, are just a few more highlights of the upscale Italian menu. A fine selection of wines, specialty cocktails, and dessert offer the perfect closing to your meal. 

Sinatra is also known throughout Las Vegas for its attentive service. When dining at Sinatra, you’re reminded of a time when service was an artform as your every need is catered to. Sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the best Italian meals in Las Vegas at Sinatra. 

Sinatra is located in the Wynn Las Vegas. Sinatra is open for dinner Friday & Saturday from 5:30 – 10:30 pm. Sunday hours of operation are 5:30 pm – 10 pm. Sinatra is closed Monday – Thursday. Business casual, elegant attire is required. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted. 

Lago is quite possibly one of the most beautiful restaurants in Las Vegas. Cool, elegant hues of blue and white create a Mediterranean ambiance – one that’s only enhanced by the up-close views of the Bellagio fountains. 

Many restaurants in Las Vegas offer a view of the fountains, including those at the Bellagio and nearby resorts. Few offer views of the fountains combined with such beautiful decor and exquisite food. 

Award-winning chef, Julian Serrano, brings his interpretation of Italian cuisine with a selection of small plates and a Prix-Fixe menu that showcases cuisine from Italy’s different regions. The flavors and presentations are fresh and modern while holding on to their roots in old-world Italy.

Lago is located in the Bellagio Hotel, nestled centrally between Le Cirque and Jasmine. Lago is open for dinner every day from 5 pm – 10 pm. The dress code is casual.  

Finding a nice restaurant when experience Las Vegas with children is a challenge. There’s so much incredible food to be enjoyed, but many restaurants either discourage bringing younger guests or are simply too stuffy and upscale for children to be comfortable. This isn’t the case at Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano. 

First, let’s talk about the atmosphere at Matteo’s. In contrast to the elegant, more traditional decor of other Italian restaurants in Las Vegas, Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano is simplistic, with a bit of an industrial theme. It’s classy but not overstimulating in any way. This is a great thing when dining with children. 

Next, let’s talk about the food. Matteo’s uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients that are all crafted into dishes that you and your family will love. A meal at Matteo’s will leave both the adults and kids completely satisfied. Most dishes on the menu are authentic Italian, with more of a focus on the northern regions. 

What makes Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano unique and earns them the spot as the best family-friendly Italian restaurant is that they’re one of the few nicer restaurants in Las Vegas with such an extensive menu dedicated specifically to children. The kid’s menu includes a selection of starters, pasta, entrees, and of course, desserts. 

Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano is located in the Venitian Resort, on level 1, along restaurant row, near the Opaline Theater. Matteo’s is open Sunday – Thursday 12 – 9:30 pm, and Friday & Saturday, 12 – 10 pm. 

Costa di Mare is best known for its authentic coastal cuisine, with fresh seafood selections flown in from Italy daily. Costa di Mare participates in an ocean-to-table program, bringing in up to 50 different species of fish and shellfish daily. Costa di Mare is committed to supporting sustainably sourced seafood, using only line-caught selections, and participating in a live langoustine program (meaning always fresh, never frozen). 

The menu at Costa di Mare was created by chef Mark LoRusso and features his signature dishes, including whole fish that is prepared and served family-style. Guests can also choose the Feast of Seven Fishes, which is a four-course menu served family-style. 

Costa di Mare also offers guests an impressive selection of wines from Italy and other wine regions of the world. If there’s a non-fish eater in your group, don’t worry. Costa di Mare offers a vegan menu, along with pasta and other meat and poultry dishes. 

Costa di Mare is considered a fine dining Italian restaurant. The dress should be elegant business casual. Small children under the age of 5 are not permitted. 

Buddy V, also known as the Cake Boss, is the owner of one of the most laid-back, traditional-style Italian restaurants in Las Vegas. Buddy V’s Ristorante is a casual, relaxed eatery, where you can stuff yourself on traditional Italian cuisine and then can’t wait to come back for more. 

Buddy V’s Ristorante is what you picture a traditional Italian restaurant to be. It’s cozy and friendly, with accents like red checkered cloth napkins and old Italian portraits and artwork adorning the walls. You feel as though you just walked through the doors of a family-run bistro in Italy. 

Buddy V’s Ristorante makes it onto this list of best Italian Restaurants in Las Vegas for their classic, traditional Italian menu that also features a few Italian-American dishes that are popular in our modern culture, like their artisan-style pizzas and salumi & cheese boards. 

Some other traditional favorites that you’ll find at Buddy V’s include My Wife’s Eggplant Parm, Buddy’s Caprese, and Nonna’s Lasagna Al Forno. The menu is pretty simple and not pages long like some other Italian restaurants in Las Vegas, but it has all of the Italian favorites you’re craving. There’s also a family-style take-out menu if you’d rather enjoy Buddy V’s at home or in your hotel room. 

Buddy V’s Ristorante is located in the Venetian Las Vegas among the Grand Canal Shops. Buddy V’s is open Monday-Thursday 5 – 9 pm, and Friday – Sunday 12 – 10 pm.

Hungry for a great slice of pizza but worried about trying someplace new because you don’t know if they serve the style of pizza you like best? At Pizza Rock, this isn’t a concern because they serve it all. With several different types of pizza ovens and a variety of crusts, Pizza Rock has the best selection of pizza in Las Vegas. 

Pizza Rock serves up East Coast Style, Wood Fired, American Style, Italian Style, Chicago Cracker Thin, Sicilian Style, Detroit, Grandma Style, and Guten-Free Pizzas – all with an incredible variety of toppings. 

Pizza Rock isn’t your quiet little pizza place. Expect high-energy music that matches the mood, DJs on the weekend, and a great bar. Pizza Rock is located in Downtown Las Vegas at 201 North 3rd Street at Downtown Grand. Pizza Rock is open Sunday- Thursday 11:30 – 10 pm, and Friday – Saturday, 11:30 – 11 pm. 

Carbone 

The concept behind Carbone is one that’s influenced by the Italian restaurants of the mid 20th century. Classic dishes are reinvigorated with modern culinary techniques. What you end up with is a menu full of beautiful, artistically created Italian dishes. The service at Carbone is also top-notch, making it the perfect destination for a special night out. 

Carbone is a fine-dining Italian restaurant located in the Aria. Carbone is open Wednesday-Sunday, 5:30 – 10:30 pm. The dress code is business casual. 

Carmine’s 

Carmine’s is a favorite for Italian, family-style dining in Las Vegas. Carmine’s offers an extensive menu of pasta, steak, seafood, chicken, appetizers, sides, and dessert, and all served family-style for you to share with your favorite people. The menu highlights the very best of cuisine from the southern regions of Italy.

Carmine’s is located in the Forum Shops at Caesars Hotel & Casino. Carmine’s is open daily from 11 am – 10 pm, with brunch being served Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am – 3 pm.

Trattoria Reggiano 

Trattoria Reggiano is the perfect spot when you crave simple, classic Italian cuisine without all the fuss and pretense. Here, you’ll find a more intimate, bistro-like setting, where soft lighting and muted decor contribute to the intimate ambiance. Trattoria Reggiano is nestled in the Grand Canal Shoppes of the Venetian, making it ideal for a nice break from all that retail therapy. 

Trattoria Reggiano is open on Thursday from 5 -10 pm, Friday from 5 – 11 pm, Saturday from 11 am -11 pm, and Sunday from 11 am – 10 pm. Trattoria Reggiano is closed Monday – Wednesday. 

Lupo

Lupo is chef Wolfgang Puck’s vision of Italian cuisine brought to life. Lupo is one of the most treasured Italian restaurants in Las Vegas, with its famous tableside service and impeccable attention to detail. Guests of Lupo can watch as each dish is brought to life. There’s also a wonderful bar area and wine room entirely enclosed by glass. 

Lupo is located in Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas. They are open Wednesday & Thursday from 5 – 9 pm, Friday from 5 -10 pm, Saturday from 9 am – 10 pm, and Sunday from 9 am – 9 pm. Join Lupo for brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 9 am – 3 pm. Elegant, dressy attire is required. 

Canaletto

Canaletto, overlooking the Grand Canal at the Venetian Resort, is a romantic Italian restaurant serving a variety of classic Italian cuisine. The menu is authentic, and each dish is served with freshly baked bread and olive oil imported directly from Italy. The tall ceilings and open kitchen lend to the open-air feel of Canaletto. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, a meal at Canaletto followed by a gondola ride on the Grand Canal is a memorable experience. 

Canaletto is open daily from 12 – 9 pm. 

There is some incredible Italian cuisine to be found in Las Vegas. Whether you’re in the mood for classic Italian cuisine in an intimate-style bistro, or something more elegant and upscale, these best Italian restaurants in Las Vegas have exactly what you’re craving.