Colorado Springs offers a charming Italian dining scene—from family-run classics to artisanal plates and cozy trattorias. Wondering what is the most famous Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, looking for a popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, or aiming to find the #1 Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs? This curated list of the top 10 Italian restaurants in Colorado Springs highlights the most popular dishes in Italian restaurants across the city.
List of Top 10 Italian Restaurants in Colorado Springs
1. Paravicini’s Italian Bistro – Award‑Winning Old Colorado City Favorite
Chef Franco Pisani’s flagship is widely regarded as the most famous Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs. Frequented by locals, it’s earned awards and features artisanal pasta, veal dishes, and an after‑dinner Italian coffee bar. Popular dishes include Veal Giuseppe and Mud Pie. A foodie favorite captured on Diners, Drive‑ins and Dives, this popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs is top‑ranked for its excellence. Its warm atmosphere and consistent quality have made it the #1 Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs per local recommendations.
2. La Bella Vita Ristorante Italiano – Upscale Southern Italian Excellence
La Bella Vita is consistently named among the best Italian restaurants in Colorado Springs. Chef Giuliano Casulli hails from Bari, delivering house favorites like Burrata Bella Vita, Butternut Ravioli, Gamberi Scampi, and Tiramisù. This 5‑star Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs blends elegance with authenticity, making it a popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs for date nights and celebrations. Its “one of the best Italian restaurants we’ve ever eaten at” acclaim reflects focus on most popular dishes in Italian restaurants and enduring quality.
3. Ristorante Di Sopra – Contemporary Fine‑Dining Italian
Also from Chef Pisani, this Annex to Paravicini’s features a pasta machine imported from Italy and elevated dishes like Malfada al Brasato and sophisticated seafood plates. Known as one of the best Italian restaurants in Colorado Springs, it’s a refined take on modern Italian. Signature plates are among the most popular dishes in Italian restaurants here—perfect for foodies seeking top-tier pasta-centric dining in a polished setting.
4. Panino’s Downtown – Casual Sandwich & Pasta Power
A local favorite since 1974, Panino’s is a popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs offering panini, calzones, oven-baked pizza, and fresh pasta. Known for its signature panino sandwich and Italian classics, it’s often listed among the top Italian restaurants in Colorado Springs. Its relaxed vibe and satisfying dishes like create-your-own pasta and sausage calzones make it beloved. For many, Panino’s is the #1 Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs for everyday rustic comfort.
5. Red Gravy Italian Bistro – Creative, Saucy, and Community‑Driven
Red Gravy earns praise as one of the best Italian restaurants in Colorado Springs, with a mission to merge art, community, and food. Popular menu items like Butternut Ravioli, Penne Florentine, and Sunday Gravy embody hearty favorites, highlighting most popular dishes in Italian restaurants. With rotating seasonal dishes and a loyal following, it’s consistently a popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs—perfect for fans of bold sauces and creative spins on classics.
6. Roman Villa – No‑Frills, Homestyle Italian Since 1959
Family-owned since 1959, Roman Villa is a community-loved popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs. It’s praised for its hearty sausage pizza and traditional pasta dishes—essential most popular dishes in Italian restaurants like eggplant parm and classic spaghetti. Affordable and unpretentious, it frequently appears on “best Italian” lists. Redditors note it’s solid comfort food: “if you leave here hungry, it’s your own fault”.
7. Luigi’s Restaurant – Vintage Family‑Run Classic
Operating since 1958, Luigi’s is a legendary Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, widely revered by long-time locals. Signature dishes like Fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, Tortellaci with Meatball and classic salad mark it a popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs. In Reddit discussions, locals call it “best in town imo,” though note occasional inconsistencies. It remains a nostalgic #1 Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs for many loyal regulars.
8. Il Vicino – Wood‑Fired Pizza & Italian Comfort Food
Part of a regional chain, Il Vicino brings consistent wood-oven Neapolitan pizzas alongside traditional pasta, calzones, and paninis. Noted by a local Roman expat for its “closest to Roman pizza” vibe, it’s a popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs praised for both pies and casual Italian fare—the kinds of most popular dishes in Italian restaurants people love in a relaxed atmosphere.
9. Stellina Pizza Cafe – Roman‑Style Pizza & Homemade Pastas
This Shooks Run favorite serves Roman-style pizzas and housemade pastas and risottos like spicy sausage lasagna and cacio e pepe. A popular Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, it combines a cozy neighborhood feel with artisanal cooking. Their gelato-finished meals ensure patrons engage with most popular dishes in Italian restaurants under a simpler, more modern roof.
10. Ristorante Del Lago (The Broadmoor) – Luxury Lakeside Dining
Located inside The Broadmoor, Del Lago is a 5‑star Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs lauded on OpenTable. It offers wood-fired pizzas, rotisserie meats, imported salumi, and fresh pasta, plus cannoli and gelato. Upscale in style, its dishes like chicken cacciatore and eggplant parmesan are luxurious takes on most popular dishes in Italian restaurants. This polished lakeside venue is a top Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs for fine dining occasions.
🍝 Conclusion: Italy in the Springs
From enduring hometown treasures like Luigi’s and Roman Villa to upscale experiences at Paravicini’s, Ristorante Di Sopra, and Del Lago, Colorado Springs serves a vibrant Italian tapestry. Whether you seek the most famous Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, crave the most popular dishes in Italian restaurants, or want the #1 Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, these ten spots offer memorable flavors and hospitality. Buon viaggio—and buon appetito!
