35 Best Italian Restaurants in Santa Monica

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

“I recently dined at Milo & Olive and was truly impressed with the experience. Every dish I tried was outstanding — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The seasonal menu offered a great variety, and you can really taste the quality in each bite. On top of that, the service was friendly and attentive, which made the whole visit even more enjoyable. I can’t wait to come back!“

“Very good pasta really nice sause we had one dish where the chef came out and poured the sause it was really nice and made it feel super fancy our server ( girl with blackish hair) and the boy seeting us were very nice did a really good job! Food amazing service amazing and the vibe overall super good and chill! It is a first come first serve so you will have to probably wait a bit but it is worth it!“

“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.“

“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.“

“The Georgian Hotel lobby hosts the best bar that last minute desert or after dinner cocktail after a birthday meal. The door staff is fun and well cast for high energy and upbeat customer service. The chocolate sufleè is a must and the ambiance is classic with a touch of seaside whimsy.“

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

“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!“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

“Sooo yummy and good service!“

“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.“

“Very good food and the owner very good person“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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 🙏🏻!“

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

“This place is probably one of the only spots in santa monica you can get a great sandwich for less than $20. They have been around for over 100 years. Defiantly a must if you visit santa monica. order online about 20 minutes before you go to get your sandwich faster.“

“One of my favorite go to pizza places in Santa Monica is across the street from Santa Monica College…. I had a slice while I waited because I needed some emergency food after Jujitsu…It was absolutely delicious…. Meantime, I ordered a large supreme pizza, Caesar salad, and two chicken buffalo wings….Always consistent and always delicious and my kids love it so thank you and keep up the good work and I’ll be back soon.“

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

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

“Best Pasta in Los Angeles!🤤😋🍝🍷“

“We had three different types of pasta and all of if them were delicious. Our son has picked this restaurant and it was a very good choice.
Towards the end we had a very nice chat with the boss and she gave us also great tips for our future journey.“

“A neighborhood gem in a neighborhood badly needing support right now. Always have a great meal here whenever we are lucky enough to come. The food is outstanding and the ambiance so supportive and lovely. Can't recommend highly enough.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Great afternoon lunch with delicious food and wonderful service“

“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.“

“The food was overall pretty decent. I wasn’t blown away by anything, but I think I would probably come back again to eat here. My wife seemed to like her food a lot. The service was pretty good. Everyone was welcoming. It wasn’t too crowded and we were able to get a seat right away. The atmosphere could’ve been a little bit lighter I think but overall, it was a good experience. I would probably come back here again maybe a few more times to try out some of the other dishes.“

“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 !“