Perth’s Italian dining scene tells a story that stretches back more than a century. From the gold rush migrants of the 1890s to the post-war families who transformed suburbs like Fremantle and Northbridge, Italian-Australians have woven their culinary traditions into the fabric of Western Australia.
Today, that heritage lives on in trattorias, osterias and pizzerias scattered across the metropolitan area, each offering their own interpretation of la dolce vita.
Whether you’re craving hand rolled pasta that would make a Friulian nonna proud, wood fired pizza with perfectly blistered crusts, or a long lunch fuelled by natural wines and antipasti, Perth delivers.
The city’s sunny climate and exceptional local produce create an environment where Italian cooking naturally thrives. From the sophisticated dining rooms of the CBD to casual suburban favourites, the options span every occasion and budget.
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Perth’s Italian heritage: a culinary love story
The relationship between Perth and Italy began during the 1890s gold rush, when migrants from northern regions sought fortunes in the Eastern Goldfields. By the 1950s, thousands more arrived through assisted migration programmes, bringing recipes passed through generations.
These families transformed Perth’s food landscape, introducing olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh pasta, and crusty breads to adventurous Australians eager to explore new flavours.
Today, with nearly 19,000 Perth residents born in Italy, that influence remains unmistakable. From the vibrant lane ways of Northbridge to the historic port of Fremantle, Italian Australian restaurateurs honour their heritage while pushing boundaries with contemporary interpretations that respect tradition without being bound by it.
Fine dining: Italian experiences in Perth
Lulu La Delizia
Tucked away on Forrest Walk in Subiaco, Lulu La Delizia has earned its reputation as perhaps Australia’s finest pasta destination. Chef owner Joel Valvasori named the intimate osteria after his grandmother Luigia, who emigrated from Casarsa della Delizia in Friuli in 1952, bringing culinary traditions that now define this remarkable restaurant.
The cooking reflects northern Italian sensibilities: rich ragùs simmered with Venetian aromatics, delicate hand rolled shapes including regional specialities, and transcendent tiramisù corrected with grappa. The predominantly Italian wine list features producers from the north alongside quality Australian makers.
Post Osteria and Bar
Within the magnificently restored State Buildings in Perth’s CBD, Post Osteria occupies what was once the franking room of the city’s original General Post Office. This elegant all day restaurant inside COMO The Treasury blends Italian tradition with Western Australian produce.
Chef Lucas Fernandes crafts silky house made pastas and flavour forward dishes, showcasing restraint and refinement throughout each seasonal menu. The Italian heavy wine list leans towards Tuscany, Campania and Sicily, with carefully selected local drops that pair beautifully. The house martini and negroni, served with subtle twists, have become signatures worth seeking out.
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Perth’s best pizza destinations
Monsterella
On a corner in suburban Wembley, Monsterella has become a neighbourhood institution. The restaurant’s charming name comes from the owners’ daughter’s pronunciation of mozzarella, and that family focused spirit defines everything about this welcoming pizzeria.
Dough fermented for 48 hours achieves bases that are crisp and chewy. San Marzano tomato sauce provides the foundation, while quality toppings are applied with Italian restraint. The BYO policy keeps nights affordable, high chairs welcome families, and the wood fired oven takes centre stage. Don’t overlook the handmade pasta, particularly the truffle carbonara.
Si Paradiso
Few venues in Perth defy categorisation quite like Si Paradiso in Highgate. Part restaurant, part bar, part nightclub, this sprawling venue channels 1960s Roman cool through parquetry floors, terrazzo tabletops, and an amphitheatre courtyard dotted with striped umbrellas.
The puffy, pliable pizzas are slow fermented for three days and topped with ingredients ranging from classic margherita to adventurous combinations. Beyond pizza, the kitchen impresses with kombu cured kingfish crudo and saucy tagliatelle Bolognese. The natural wine list champions Italian and Western Australian producers, while DJs take over the amphitheatre on weekends.
Bring local flavors to your kitchen
From market-fresh ingredients to traditional recipes, a private chef turns your home into a true local experience.
Casual Italian gems worth discovering
Vin Populi: Fremantle’s wine bar sensation
From the team behind No Mafia and Balthazar, Vin Populi has quickly established itself as a shining light in Fremantle’s historic West End. The pumping dining room buzzes with energy as guests gather for afternoon antipasti, luscious bowls of pasta, and late night negronis.
An ever evolving chalkboard menu responds to seasonal availability, while the excellent wine list champions low intervention producers from Italy and Australia.
Mummucc: the Monsterella sibling
Pronounced “ma mooch,” this stylish wine bar from the Monsterella team delivers Mediterranean dishes with Australian influence, plus the option to order wood fired pizzas directly from next door. The thoughtful wine list makes it easy to explore unfamiliar Italian varietals alongside trusted Australian favourites. Warm, attentive service completes an experience that feels genuinely special without ever becoming stuffy or pretentious.
Bringing Italian excellence home with a private chef
While Perth’s Italian restaurant scene flourishes, popular establishments book out weeks in advance and large groups often find themselves split across multiple tables. For those seeking personalised Italian dining, private chef services offer an elegant and convenient solution.
This is where Take a Chef transforms special occasions into extraordinary memories.
As the world’s leading private chef platform, Take a Chef connects food lovers with professional chefs specialising in authentic Italian cuisine. Whether celebrating an anniversary or hosting a dinner party, our talented Italian private chefs bring the osteria experience directly to your kitchen.
Planning your ultimate Perth Italian experience
Perth’s Mediterranean climate means outdoor dining remains pleasant throughout much of the year. Autumn and spring offer ideal conditions for courtyard tables, while winter brings cosy appeal to intimate establishments.
Bookings are essential at popular spots, particularly on weekends. For spontaneous dining, wine bars and casual pizzerias often welcome walk ins during early evening hours.
Embrace the Italian philosophy of dining: slow down, order generously, and let the meal unfold naturally. Start with antipasti to share, allow time to savour each pasta course, and always save room for dessert. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about dishes or regional specialities.
Many Perth Italian chefs take genuine pride in sharing the stories behind their cooking and their family traditions.
Why Take a Chef delivers the ultimate Italian experience?
When you truly want to impress guests or celebrate a milestone, nothing compares to having a professional chef create an Italian feast in your own home. Take a Chef’s curated network includes chefs with backgrounds in award-winning restaurants and classical Italian training from regions across Italy.
The process couldn’t be simpler. Browse chef profiles, explore the menu options, and communicate your preferences directly. Perhaps you’re dreaming of fresh tagliatelle with slow cooked ragù, or a seafood focused menu celebrating Western Australia’s coastline with Italian techniques.
Your chef tailors every element to your vision, handles shopping and washing up, and you simply relax with your guests enjoying restaurant quality cuisine with home comforts.
Whether you choose to explore the trattorias and osterias scattered across the metropolitan area or bring that excellence directly into your home through Take a Chef, one thing remains certain: la dolce vita is alive and thriving in Western Australia. Your perfect Italian meal awaits.
