Finding the best Italian restaurants in Napier comes down to fresh pasta, good pizza and a wine list that pairs Italian bottles with Hawke’s Bay drops. Whether you want a relaxed aperitivo on West Quay in Ahuriri, a quiet dinner in Napier South or a family meal near Clive Square, an Italian restaurant in Napier can cover handmade ravioli, slow-cooked ragù, risotto and tiramisu. Casa Ahuriri and Trattoria alla Toscana are two places worth booking ahead.
1Casa Ahuriri
Casa Ahuriri is an Italian eatery on West Quay in Ahuriri, owned and run by Italians who cook traditional recipes with a personal twist and source from as many local suppliers as they can. Downstairs serves lunch and dinner, while an upstairs pizza bar runs through the afternoon and evening, which suits everything from a family lunch to drinks with friends or a special occasion.
Services
- Lunch and dinner menus with homemade egg pasta such as pappardelle ragù and brisket tortellacci
- Upstairs pizza bar serving margherita, diavola, mortadella and other pizzas from midday
- Aperitivo hour with Prosecco, Aperol Spritz and sharing bites
- Kids menu and dessert menu, including tiramisu and affogato
- Online table bookings and gift cards
Highlights
- Owned and run by Italians
- Pizzas topped with Il Casaro mozzarella
- Named local suppliers including Matangi beef, Te Mata Mushrooms and Salt Water seafood
- Wine list mixing Italian and New Zealand wines
Location & Contact
Name: Casa Ahuriri
Address: 68 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier
Phone: 06 834 1188
Website: casaahuriri.co.nz
2Trattoria alla Toscana
Trattoria alla Toscana is a Tuscan-inspired trattoria on Dickens Street that has been cooking in Napier for more than two decades. Pasta is made fresh by hand and the menu changes with the seasons, following food trends in Italy and using fresh local produce, often organic. It is an evening restaurant, open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, and a good fit for a sit-down meal or a click and collect takeaway.
Services
- Handmade pasta including ricotta and spinach ravioli, potato gnocchi and frutti di mare fettuccine
- Traditional lasagna with slow-cooked beef ragù
- Mains such as braised beef cheek, lamb rump and pork scotch fillet with marsala sauce
- Online ordering for takeaway pick-up
Highlights
- Seasonal menu following food trends in Italy
- Gluten-free and other dietary requirements catered for, as dishes are made fresh to order
- Italian and English spoken by the owner and staff
- Gift vouchers available online
- Italian digestivi to finish, including grappa, limoncello and amaro
Location & Contact
Name: Trattoria alla Toscana
Address: 93 Dickens Street, Napier
Phone: 06 834 1988
Website: trattoriaallatoscana.com
3Portofino Napier
Portofino Napier is the local branch of a family-owned Italian restaurant group that began in Parnell, Auckland, in 1980. Set on Clive Square in Napier South, a short walk from the Municipal Theatre and the beach, it serves classic pastas, pizzas and desserts drawing on Northern Italian cooking. It opens for both lunch and dinner, which makes it handy for a pre-show meal or a family night out.
Services
- Classic pastas and risotto, including risotto alla pescatora
- Gourmet pizzas in medium and large sizes, with a gluten-free base available
- Secondi such as veal scaloppine al marsala and pollo alla cacciatora
- Takeaway menu, kids menu and dessert menu
- Booking enquiries for groups
Highlights
- Portofino brand established in 1980
- Separate lunch and dinner services, with dinner from 4:30pm
- Close to the Municipal Theatre on Clive Square
Location & Contact
Name: Portofino Napier
Address: 2 Clive Square, Napier South, Napier
Phone: 06 835 8821
Website: portofino.co.nz/napier
Italian Restaurants in Napier at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Casa Ahuriri | Owned and run by Italians |
| Trattoria alla Toscana | Seasonal menu following food trends in Italy |
| Portofino Napier | Portofino brand established in 1980 |
How to Choose the Right Italian Restaurant in Napier
- Decide on the style of meal: a quick pizza, a relaxed aperitivo with sharing plates or a full sit-down dinner with pasta and a main.
- Check opening hours before you go, as some Italian restaurants in Napier open for dinner only and close early in the week.
- Look for pasta made in house, such as ravioli, pappardelle or gnocchi, if fresh pasta is what you are after.
- Ask about gluten-free, vegetarian and dairy-free options when booking, particularly for groups with mixed dietary needs.
- Consider location: Ahuriri suits a waterfront evening out, while Napier South is walking distance from the Municipal Theatre and the city centre.
Frequently Asked Questions About Napier Italian Restaurants
Where can I find Italian food in Napier near the waterfront?
Ahuriri, around West Quay, is Napier’s main waterfront dining area and has Italian food alongside bars and seafood restaurants. Clive Square and Dickens Street, on the Napier South side of the city centre, are handy for the Municipal Theatre and Marine Parade.
Do I need to book a table at an Italian restaurant in Napier?
Booking is wise, especially on Friday and Saturday nights and during events such as Art Deco weekend. Many restaurants take online bookings, while smaller trattorias may ask you to phone to confirm a reservation.
Can I get gluten-free Italian food in Napier?
Yes. Gluten-free pizza bases and pasta dishes cooked to order are common, and dishes made fresh can often be adapted. Mention allergies or intolerances when you book so the kitchen can plan ahead.
What dishes should I try at an Italian restaurant?
Fresh pasta is the usual highlight, from ravioli and gnocchi to pappardelle with slow-cooked ragù. Risotto, lasagna, pizza margherita and tiramisu are classic choices, and many menus also feature local Hawke’s Bay produce and seafood.
Is there Italian takeaway in Napier?
Several Italian restaurants offer takeaway or click and collect, covering pizzas, pasta and some mains. Ordering online ahead of time usually means a shorter wait at pick-up.
Are Italian restaurants in Napier family friendly?
Many are, with kids menus of smaller pasta and pizza portions and earlier dinner sittings. Lunch service is often the easiest time to bring young children.
What is aperitivo?
Aperitivo is the Italian tradition of an early evening drink, such as an Aperol Spritz or Prosecco, served with small bites before dinner. Some Napier restaurants run a dedicated aperitivo hour in the late afternoon.
How We Chose the Best Italian Restaurants in Napier
Every business in this guide was found by searching for italian restaurants in Napier, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Napier, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.