Quick answer: The best Italian restaurants in Glasgow in 2026 run from proper Neapolitan pizza at Paesano and regional pasta at Sugo, to deli-restaurants like Eusebi and Celino’s, old-school family rooms like La Lanterna and Sarti, and one-off institutions like the Battlefield Rest. There’s no single best one. It depends if you want a cheap feed, a date, or a big family table. Below we’ve sorted them by area, told you what to order, roughly what you’ll pay, and who each one actually suits.
Glasgow’s Italian story is a long one. The Scots-Italian families who arrived a century back gave the city its cafes, its ice cream, its fish suppers and, eventually, a serious run of restaurants. So this isn’t a list of chains doing carbonara. These are the places Glaswegians actually book for birthdays, take visitors to, and go back to when they can’t be bothered cooking. Every venue here we’ve checked is trading in 2026. We dropped anything that’s shut or sits over in Edinburgh.
How we picked, and what you’ll pay
We went for places that are genuinely Italian in the kitchen, family-run where possible, and open right now. We left off a few well-known names that have closed or that are really Scottish or French bistros wearing an Italian hat. Where a spot does pizza, pasta and a deli all at once, we’ve said so.
On money, Glasgow is still kind compared to London. A proper Paesano pizza is under a tenner. A plate of pasta at Sugo sits around 10 to 13 pounds. A full sit-down dinner with wine at somewhere like Sarti or Piccolo Mondo lands you roughly 35 to 55 pounds a head. The deli-restaurants are flexible, you can spend a fiver on a coffee and a cannolo or thirty on a long lunch. If you’re watching the pennies generally, our cost of living in Glasgow guide and our cheap eats in Glasgow roundup are worth a look too.
City Centre and Merchant City
Paesano Pizza (Miller Street)
This is the one that changed how Glasgow thinks about pizza. Paesano does proper wood-fired Neapolitan pies, soft and blistered, out of a roaring oven at 94 Miller Street, G1 1DT. Order the Number 6 with ‘nduja and friarielli if you like a bit of heat, or keep it simple with the marinara. Pizzas sit around 7 to 11 pounds, which is daft value for the quality. It’s open lunch through to late, no bookings, so expect a queue at peak times. Best for a quick, brilliant, cheap feed with mates or kids in tow.
Sugo Pasta
Paesano’s pasta-focused sibling, Sugo, sits at 70 Mitchell Street, G1 3LX, in a big light-filled room with an open kitchen. The pasta is made on site daily and the sauces follow proper regional recipes, so the cacio e pepe and the ragu are the move. Plates run roughly 10 to 14 pounds. Like Paesano it’s walk-in only and gets busy, so go early or be patient. Best for a casual catch-up over a bowl of something hand-rolled and a glass of red.
Fratelli Sarti
A Glasgow fixture for over thirty years, Sarti runs a deli-cafe on Wellington Street and a fuller restaurant on Bath Street. The Wellington Street spot does cracking breakfast and lunch from 8am, the Bath Street room is your evening dinner option with pasta, pizza and daily specials. Get the pizza Sarti or whatever’s on the specials board. Expect around 30 to 45 pounds a head for dinner with wine. It’s old-school in the best way, proper Italian deli smell and all. Best for a long, unhurried meal in town.
La Lanterna
The city’s oldest family-run Italian still in original hands, La Lanterna opened on Hope Street in 1970 and sits at number 35, G2 6AE. This is homemade fresh pasta, freshly baked bread, and proper cocktails in a smart but warm room. Get the pasta of the day and let the staff steer you on wine. Dinner with drinks is roughly 40 to 55 pounds. It’s grown-up and a touch special without being stiff. Best for a date or an anniversary where you want charm over noise.
La Vita
Sat right across from George Square at 161 Queen Street, G1 3BJ, La Vita does honest traditional Italian from breakfast through dinner, seven days. It’s reliable rather than fancy, good pizza, generous pasta, friendly service. Mains sit around 12 to 18 pounds. The location makes it handy if you’re shopping in town or off the train. Best for a fuss-free family meal or a quick lunch between errands.
Piccolo Mondo
Tucked just off the Argyle Street end of town, Piccolo Mondo leans Tuscan and a bit dressier, with vaulted ceilings and red velvet seating in a former bank. Think classic Italian cooking done properly rather than reinvented. It’s open lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays. Reckon on 35 to 50 pounds a head with wine. Best for a smart pre-theatre dinner or treating visiting relatives who like a bit of occasion.
Il Pavone
On the lower floor of Princes Square off Buchanan Street since 1991, Il Pavone is the polished shopping-trip lunch or evening date spot. The room is elegant and the menu is classic Italian, pasta, veal, fish, the lot. Mains land around 16 to 24 pounds. It’s central, so handy after a day round the Buchanan Galleries and Argyle Street shops. Best for a date or a leisurely lunch when you want somewhere that feels a cut above.
Santa Lucia (Merchant City)
At 68 Ingram Street, G1 1EX, Santa Lucia is a big, relaxed, elegant room that handles couples, groups and families equally well. The menu is traditional Italian with a modern lean and it’s strong on gluten-free, veggie and vegan options, which not every old-school Italian manages. Mains sit around 14 to 20 pounds. Open midday to evening daily. Best for a mixed group with different dietary needs where everyone still wants pasta.
Malocchio
One of the newer arrivals, Malocchio opened in 2025 in the old Mediterraneo unit at 159 Ingram Street and runs a small-plates format with fresh pasta made in house daily. You’re meant to order around three plates each and they arrive as they’re cooked, so it’s a sharing, grazing kind of night. Reckon on 35 to 50 pounds a head with a drink. Best for a date or a foursome who fancy trying a bit of everything. The wider Merchant City guide has more in this pocket.
Nonna Said
At 26 Candleriggs, G1 1LD, Nonna Said is the loud, fun, hip-hop-soundtracked pizza-and-bar option, dog friendly with a strong vegan menu and games tables. The pizzas are the draw and they don’t skimp on the toppings. Pizzas run roughly 10 to 14 pounds. Open till late at the weekend. Best for a group night out that wants pizza, drinks and a bit of atmosphere rather than candlelit hush. Pair it with a stop on our Glasgow cocktail bars list.
Amarone
Amarone sits just off Buchanan Street at Nelson Mandela Place and does modern Italian in a sleek central room. It’s a dependable pre-theatre and after-work choice, with solid pasta, risotto and grills. Set menus keep it good value, mains otherwise around 15 to 22 pounds. Open lunch and dinner. Best for a smart but unfussy weeknight dinner in the middle of town.
Celentano’s (Arthouse, Bath Street)
A bit of a comeback story. The original Celentano’s off the High Street built a big reputation, closed at the end of 2025, and reopened in 2026 at Arthouse Glasgow, 129 Bath Street, as an evolution of the same idea. Expect Italian-influenced cooking, seasonal produce and a warm relaxed feel in a bigger room seating over 60. Pricing sits in the mid to upper bracket, roughly 40 to 55 pounds with wine. Best for a foodie dinner when you want something current rather than traditional.
West End and Finnieston
Eusebi Deli
If we had to send one person to one Italian in Glasgow, it might be Eusebi Deli at 152 Park Road, Kelvinbridge, G4 9HB. It’s a deli and restaurant in one, open from 8am till late seven days, doing fresh pasta, a proper bakery, daily market dishes and a shop full of imported Italian goods. Get whatever pasta is on the market menu and a cannolo to finish. You can spend a fiver or forty depending on the mood. Best for brunch, a long lunch, or stocking up on deli bits, and it’s a short walk from the Subway at Kelvinbridge. See also our Glasgow brunch guide.
Paesano Pizza (West End)
The newer Paesano West End sits on the corner of Great Western Road and Otago Street at 471 Great Western Road, G12 8AB, and opened in 2025. Same brilliant Neapolitan pizza and same daft-good prices as the town branch, pies around 7 to 11 pounds, no bookings. It’s handy for the Botanics and the Kelvinbridge end of the West End. Best for a cheap, top-quality feed when you’re already up that way.
Little Italy
A Byres Road institution since 1994, Little Italy at 205 Byres Road, G12 8TN, brings the feel of an Italian coffee bar and pizzeria to the West End at fair prices. Grab a slice and a coffee at the big front window, or sit in for pizza and pasta. It does gluten-free too. Open early till late, later on Fridays and Saturdays. Slices and plates are cheap, easily under 12 pounds. Best for a casual bite while pottering round Byres Road.
Celino’s (Partick)
The West End outpost of the long-running Dennistoun family, Celino’s Partick at 235 Dumbarton Road, G11 6AB, is a deli, cafe and restaurant rolled into one. The deli counter is a treat and the kitchen does proper pizza, pasta and Italian classics. You can do a cheap coffee-and-pastry stop or a full sit-down. Mains sit around 13 to 19 pounds. Best for a relaxed West End lunch with a bit of shopping at the deli on the way out.
Firebird
Marking the western edge of the Finnieston strip at 1321 Argyle Street, G3 8TL, Firebird has been doing wood-fired sourdough pizza since 1998. The dough gets a 36-hour rise and the pizzas come out properly charred. It’s open all day and late at the weekend, more of a bar-restaurant feel than a formal Italian. Pizzas land around 12 to 15 pounds. Best for a relaxed Finnieston night with a beer before or after. Our Finnieston guide covers the rest of the strip.
Southside
Battlefield Rest
A genuine one-off. The Battlefield Rest sits in a beautifully restored former tram station on a traffic island at 55 Battlefield Road, Langside, G42 9JL, and has been trading over 25 years. The cooking is a Scots-Italian blend, fresh pasta, fish and seasonal plates, and the building alone is worth the trip. Coffee and scones from 10am, food from midday Monday to Saturday. Reckon on 30 to 45 pounds a head for dinner. Best for a Southside lunch or a date with a bit of history. It’s close to Shawlands.
La Fiorentina
On the ground floor of the landmark Angel building at Paisley Road Toll, 2 Paisley Road West, La Fiorentina has been serving award-winning Italian food since 1989. It’s a grown-up, white-tablecloth sort of place doing classic pasta, veal, fish and a strong wine list. Dinner with wine sits around 35 to 50 pounds. It’s just south of the river, handy for the Southside and the SEC end of town. Best for a proper occasion dinner without going into the city centre.
East End
Celino’s (Dennistoun)
The original, family-run since 1982 at 620 Alexandra Parade, Dennistoun, G31 3BT, Celino’s is a deli-cafe-restaurant that’s the heart of the East End’s Italian scene. The deli counter is worth the journey alone, and the kitchen turns out proper pizza, pasta and daily specials. Flexible on spend, a few quid for deli bits or a full meal around 13 to 19 pounds a main. Best for a weekend brunch or lunch when you’re east of the centre.
Coia’s Cafe
A Duke Street legend, Coia’s Cafe at 477 Duke Street has been run by the Coia family since 1928, three generations of it. It’s a cafe, restaurant and deli all in one, doing Italian comfort food alongside proper Glasgow breakfasts. It’s all-day and great value, most plates well under 15 pounds. The fish supper and the ice cream are both part of the legend. Best for a hearty, affordable family meal in the East End that mixes the old country with home comforts.
Best Italian in Glasgow for…
- Best value: Paesano, for genuinely top pizza at under a tenner. Coia’s and Little Italy run it close.
- Best for a date: La Lanterna for charm, Battlefield Rest for the setting, or Malocchio for sharing plates.
- Best for big groups: Santa Lucia and Sarti both handle a long table without flinching.
- Best for veggies and vegans: Nonna Said and Santa Lucia have proper meat-free menus, not just an afterthought.
- Best deli-restaurant: Eusebi, with Celino’s right behind it on both sides of the city.
- Best for a special occasion: La Fiorentina, Piccolo Mondo or Celentano’s at Arthouse.
- Best with kids: La Vita and Paesano, casual, quick and no fuss about a bit of noise.
- Best for a night out: Nonna Said for the buzz, Firebird if you want pizza on the Finnieston strip.
Comparison table
| Restaurant | Area | Best for | Typical spend (per head) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paesano (Miller St) | City Centre | Cheap top pizza | £12 to £18 |
| Sugo Pasta | City Centre | Regional pasta | £15 to £22 |
| Fratelli Sarti | City Centre | Long dinner | £30 to £45 |
| La Lanterna | City Centre | A date | £40 to £55 |
| La Vita | City Centre | Family lunch | £18 to £28 |
| Piccolo Mondo | City Centre | Occasion dinner | £35 to £50 |
| Il Pavone | City Centre | Smart lunch | £25 to £38 |
| Santa Lucia | Merchant City | Mixed groups | £20 to £30 |
| Malocchio | Merchant City | Sharing plates | £35 to £50 |
| Nonna Said | Merchant City | Group night out | £18 to £28 |
| Amarone | City Centre | Pre-theatre | £22 to £35 |
| Celentano’s | City Centre | Foodie dinner | £40 to £55 |
| Eusebi Deli | West End | Brunch and deli | £10 to £35 |
| Paesano (West End) | West End | Cheap top pizza | £12 to £18 |
| Little Italy | West End | Casual bite | £8 to £15 |
| Celino’s (Partick) | West End | Deli lunch | £13 to £25 |
| Firebird | Finnieston | Pizza and a beer | £15 to £25 |
| Battlefield Rest | Southside | Setting and history | £30 to £45 |
| La Fiorentina | Southside | Occasion dinner | £35 to £50 |
| Celino’s (Dennistoun) | East End | Brunch and deli | £13 to £25 |
| Coia’s Cafe | East End | Family value | £10 to £18 |
FAQ
What’s the best Italian restaurant in Glasgow?
There’s no single winner. For pizza it’s Paesano. For pasta it’s Sugo. For a deli-restaurant it’s Eusebi. For a special dinner it’s La Lanterna or La Fiorentina. Pick by occasion, not by ranking.
Where’s the best pizza in Glasgow?
Paesano for proper Neapolitan, on Miller Street and now Great Western Road. Firebird for wood-fired sourdough in Finnieston. Nonna Said if you want pizza with a loud night out attached.
Do I need to book?
For pasta and pizza walk-ins like Paesano and Sugo, no, but expect a queue at peak times since they don’t take bookings. For sit-down dinners at Sarti, La Lanterna, Piccolo Mondo or La Fiorentina, book ahead, especially weekends.
Which Italians are good for vegans and veggies?
Nonna Said has a strong vegan menu and Santa Lucia covers veggie, vegan and gluten-free properly. Little Italy and Eusebi also do gluten-free. Most of the deli-restaurants will sort a meat-free plate happily.
Where should I take kids?
La Vita, Paesano, Little Italy and Coia’s are all relaxed about noise and quick to feed. The deli-restaurants like Celino’s and Eusebi work well for a daytime family meal too.
Is Battlefield Rest actually still open?
Yes. It’s trading in 2026 from its old tram-station building on Battlefield Road in Langside, doing its Scots-Italian menu with coffee from 10am and food from midday Monday to Saturday.
What happened to Celentano’s?
The original off the High Street closed at the end of 2025 and reopened in 2026 at Arthouse Glasgow on Bath Street, a bigger room and a refreshed menu but the same warm idea.
What about other Glasgow food?
If you fancy a change, see our guides to the best restaurants in Glasgow, the best curry in Glasgow, and the best pubs in Glasgow for after dinner.
