Top Italian Restaurants in Byron Bay, Australia

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With a Roman co-owner and a chef from the Liguria region of Italy, it’s no wonder Di Vino serves up some of Byron Bay’s leading Italian food. This homey restaurant and wine bar is situated in the centre of town and has patio doors that open onto a large terrace for a refreshing sea breeze. The menu features bona fide Italian comfort food like tagliatelle, ravioli and panna cotta, as well as more imaginative meals like wild boar ragu and vegetarian pumpkin lasagna. Complete your meal with natural wine from Italian and Australian producers and you’re in for a treat.

Jonson’s is a former winner of the Australian Good Food Guide award for Best Italian Food in the Northern Rivers region. The chic restaurant is decked out in black tiles, timber and quirky artwork and offers the chance to dine indoors or on the deck. The restaurant’s fine-dining chefs provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while pizza is off the menu, classics like spaghetti bolognese, antipasto boards, spicy meatballs and profiteroles are served with gusto. Choose from an extensive cocktail list, and visit on Pasta Tuesday, when you can order two pasta meals for just 25 Australian dollars (£12.50).

There’s nothing like a thin and crispy wood-fired pizza, which Il Buco delivers with style. It’s a small restaurant so it’s ideal for takeaways, which you can enjoy on nearby Main Beach. The artisan pizzas feature seasonal ingredients from local suppliers such as Coopers Shoot tomatoes and meat from Bangalow Sweet Pork. There’s also a range of appetisers, sides and desserts available at Il Buco, along with organic coffee.

Set across from Main Beach, The Italian Byron Bay is known for its contemporary menu created by co-owner and chef William Ennis, who has worked in two Michelin-star restaurants and won three prestigious Chef Hats. Choose from a selection of innovative dishes like lasagna of slow-cooked lamb and penne in a porcini cream sauce with vegetables and shredded beef cheek. Then there’s the outstanding chef’s risotto, duck leg and a robust wine and cocktail list, complete with a tropical garden and ocean views.

Trattoria Basiloco is owned by an Italian family who hail from Sardinia, so expect the finest Italian food. Their signature is pasta served the traditional al dente way, as well as huge, 33-centimetre (13-inch) wood-fired pizzas with quality ingredients. Italian and Australian wines are served by the carafe in this atmospheric bistro with a Byron feel, set at the end of Main Beach with the option of dining al fresco. Pastas are all handmade with Sardinian flair, and there’s plenty of fresh seafood on the menu, as well as gluten-free pasta and veggie options.

Come to Pizza Paradiso for all your usual suspects, whether you’re looking for Hawaiian, pepperoni or a simple margherita. All of the bases in this Byron Bay pizzeria are served with a special, house tomato sauce and mozzarella with creative toppings to elevate the dish. Think cherry tomatoes and basil, bocconcini mozzarella and seafood. The Pesto Pizza is a favourite, with red peppers, ricotta and spinach, caramelised onion and roasted pumpkin. Gluten-free options are available, as well as tapas and desserts such as tiramisu, chocolate mousse and sweet calzone.