35 Best Italian Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll be back!“

“Exceptional and delicious food. You can taste the thought they put into every dish. The service was perfect as well, it was attentive but at the same time it did not feel forced or too pushy. Perfect place with a great atmosphere. Definitely recommend and would come back. I also appreciated that they add 4% health service charge to provide health care for their employees. It felt like they care about people working there and it was reflected in the atmosphere of the place.“

“Recently went to this restaurant with a friend and while her food was delicious, mine was very plain and very undercooked. Disappointed since we had to wait almost an hour for a table. Otherwise, the service was excellent and the overall vibe was super warm and inviting.“

“For having not that great of a reviews on Google I thought this place was exceptionally delicious! Everything we ordered was full of flavor and my favorite thing here and I will always think about it for the rest of my life is the clam linguini. I am so impressed with all that we ordered... And we got a ton of food and drinks. I'm not sure if we actually ate at the real Georgian room or just the hotel area but either way I will have to be back. The vibes were immaculate, love the style of the place and server was super kind.“

“Via Veneto in Santa Monica is my go-to spot for a romantic dinner, and it delivers every single time. The service is warm, attentive, and authentically Italian—the kind where the staff remembers you and genuinely cares that your evening is perfect. The food is just as consistent. My staple order is the lobster pasta, which almost every other restaurant gets wrong—it’s overcooked, rubbery, or lost in sauce—but here it’s perfection every time. On a recent visit, I started with burrata and prosciutto, which was fresh, creamy, and balanced, the kind of simple dish that shows off true quality ingredients.

Another favorite is their ravioli of the day. They usually feature three different varieties, and each one is delicate, flavorful, and perfectly cooked—never heavy, always satisfying. The fish soup is another standout; it’s made to order, never sitting in a pot, and you can taste that freshness in every spoonful.

The atmosphere is pure old-world romance. Chandeliers cast a warm glow that makes every guest look like a movie star—fitting, since you’ll often spot real ones dining here. It’s intimate without feeling stuffy, glamorous without being pretentious. A Santa Monica staple for decades, Via Veneto is one of the few highly rated spots that still feels like an underrated gem.“

“My wife and I went to the Grove in Los Angeles last night and we had dinner at "Sogno Toscana," an it was outstanding. It was perfect in every way; great food, great drinks, outstanding and friendly staff, beautiful location, etc. I love Italian food but I can't think of one Italian restaurant that I like, until "Sogno Toscano." The food was outstanding, and there was so much more we saw go by that we can't wait to go back and try. And the drinks were outstanding. I love martini's and they served the best martini I've ever had. Giacomo was our server and took great care of us. He's from Italy and "Sogno Toscana" brought him to America when they opened their New York restaurant, and now he's in LA for this new restaurant. Although very busy, the entire staff were very fun to be around, and most of them are Italian which is also great.“

“Always a great experience and meal at Orto, strongly recommended!“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

“If you want to go to a bar with perfect seating, great airflow, excellent drinks, flawless service l, a fantastic DJ, a parking lot, a nyc vibe, no one rushes you and you can even reserve a table for drinks…go to the Chestnut Club. My favorite new bar. 14th & Santa Monica Blvd @TheChestnutClub same owners as scopa and black market liquor!“

“Sooo yummy and good service!“

“Very good food and the owner very good person“

“I'm a huge fan of cheese, and was looking for an opportunity to try some new ones. They had a very bold Parmesan that wasn't overly salty. The 10 year aged cheddar melted in my mouth. The coconut Gouda from Holland was a surprise hit with the table. But my personal favorite was the french triple cream. I'm going to have to see if I can find some when I fly home.“

“10/10 Recommend. When I’m in the area, I always gravitate to this spot. I love everything on the menu.“

“This hidden back patio is one of my favorite places in LA!

The food is delicious, I love their salads and pizza but come for their sandwiches every time. This time I got their meatball and my boyfriend had a slice of pepperoni pizza.

Stop by Jyna Issac’s on your way out for some fresh bread and pastry.“

“Incredibly fabulous food. Very professional wait staff. Can't thank Roberta and Elena enough. Thanks so much.“

“Loved this place from the food to the service to the atmospheric it was great! I definitely recommend it.“

“Amazing staff. Gigi, Tom, Kian. What positive energy and professional service. Food is delicious. Perfect West Side afternoon.“

“Such yummy food and chill atmosphere. The only problem is the close at 8pm when it’s still light outside?!? I’ve seen them turn away several customers many many times. I think it was a covid thing originally so hopefully they go back to more normal hours. At least stay open until 9pm please 🙏🏻!“

“LAND GRAB BY SOMEONE.
Great deli, too bad nazi LA health department gestapo shut them down, funny how cartel sidewalk taco vendors dont get shut down. LAND GRAB??? Can't wait to see what real estate developer gets this site that will speak volumes!!“

“The cold platter was fantastic! Love the atmosphere. Love the decor. Great experience!“

“OMGEEEEE!!! A friend of mine and I JUST went to Pico Prime Pizza and they are AWESOME!! The pizza was great and worth all is the hype!! I got bbq chicken and pepperoni slices, and they both were DELICIOUS!! There were AWESOME vegan options for my friend!!

Also, DeMarcus (he may even be a manager/asst manager) was a welcome treat! from the minute we walked in the door, he was kind, friendly, knowledgeable, and gave WONDERFUL service and advice!! He also did it with a big smile!!“

“old school~ great food~ great host~ a treasure~“

“Best Pasta in Los Angeles!🤤😋🍝🍷“

“Small authentic Italian place in the heart of Santa Monica. Service was fast and staff was kind. The quality and flavor were on point. We had the spaghetti and penne bolognese with bruschetta and meatballs. Served us half a loaf of fresh bread with the meal. All very good! Good food for a good price.“

“It was fun! And pretty environment. Food was delicious“

“great venue. great customer service, excellent appetizers.“

“My party of three and I had a lovely evening. The service from the moment we walked in was helpful, friendly, and informative, and our table was perfect. The food from the antipasto to dessert was delicious. One of my guests said the pasta With mushrooms and clams was the best that she's ever had. I am one of the luckiest to have this gem of a restaurant down the street from where I live !“

“Great customer service, very good espresso, tasty fresh pastries.“

“This rundown will ensure you enjoy the greatness of Capo. Start with the Filet Tartare accompanied by the grilled Ceaser. Move on to a split pasta plate of the Ragu and Corn Ravioli with truffles. Finish up with the Veal Scallopini while knocking back the last few sips of the incredible Grenache. Yes. I recommend Capo.“

“the service is phenomenal lovely atmosphere, very clean, cleanliness is the next thing to Godliness. the staff is friendly, the waitresses are really nice just all around lovely place the view is off the chain thank you penthouse for a lovely breakfast and God bless yours truly Michael and Jeannie.“

“A friend and I visited Il Forno Trattoria last Saturday. After we left, my friend realised she had lost her grandmother's ring, of great sentimental value. We telephoned the restaurant even though it had already closed for the night, and the team immediately invited us back to search. When we arrived, the staff were cleaning up but had already started to look for the ring and helped us look through the restrooms and, kitchen. At least three or four employees actively helped, including providing gloves and helping us go through the trash to ensure it was lost in a restroom trash can. It was clear that everyone was genuinely concerned and willing to do whatever they could. Although the ring was not found, their professionalism, empathy, and willingness to stay late and actively help without question have left a lasting impression. I mustn’t forget the meal itself had been excellent: well‑prepared dishes, attentive yet unobtrusive service, and a well‑chosen wine list. Taken together with the staff’s extraordinary support, the experience showed Il Forno Trattoria at its best. It is the epitome of excellent service. Whether you are looking for quality Italian cuisine or a restaurant where the team truly cares about its guests, I cannot recommend Il Forno Trattoria highly enough.“

“Great afternoon lunch with delicious food and wonderful service“

“Really tasty Italian place! I love their sauce. So many good chicken dishes, and the Arancini appetizer (lightly fried rice balls with mozzarella, ground beef in tomato sauce) are ridiculously good! And the Spumoni Bamba (Neapolitan ice cream dessert ball wrapped in chocolate!) Sorry I’m drooling now! And 1/2 price Mondays!!! Say what!!??? (I shouldn’t have told you!) Really good food!“

“My friend and I came here for dinner. There is seating outdoors with heaters but we chose to sit inside.

We shared the Warm Spinach Salad with jumbo shrimp. The shrimp was cooked perfectly!! This salad was delicious!

We also shared the Mushroom Ravioli in the mushroom sauce. This too, was out of this world tasty!

For dessert, we shared the Apple Tart with a dollup of whip cream. This was a slice of heaven

Service was good.
I will definitely return to Rosti Tuscan Kitchen again.

Join the Rosti rewards program to get a discount after acheiving certain points.

Parking lot in the back, but when we arrived it was full, so we parked on the side street.“

“Food, service and ambience were excellent, we love it !“