Best Italian Restaurants in Jesmond

Jesmond has one of the strongest Italian dining scenes of any neighbourhood in the North East. Osborne Road alone has multiple options, and the quality runs from affordable neighbourhood trattorias to a Michelin Guide-listed Mediterranean restaurant. Whether you want handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, or refined seasonal plates, there is something here worth booking a table for.

Florence

Florence on Osborne Road is a genuine Italian restaurant with a warm, unfussy atmosphere. The menu takes its sourcing seriously, with handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza at the centre of things. It is fairly priced for the quality, and the wine list is well chosen without being overwhelming. Florence also has a branch in Gosforth, but the Jesmond original — adjacent to the Osborne Hotel — remains the one to visit.

Best for: Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, genuine Italian sourcing.

Antico

Antico at 15 Osborne Road brings a slightly more elevated take on Italian classics. The menu covers pizza, pasta, and traditional Italian mains, but it is the affordable Early Bird set menu that draws a loyal crowd — three courses at a price that would embarrass most city-centre restaurants. Live swing music evenings add an extra dimension. The interior is cosy and the atmosphere relaxed, making it a good choice for a weeknight dinner or a casual date.

Best for: Affordable Early Bird menu, live music evenings, cosy atmosphere.

Pizzeria Francesca

Pizzeria Francesca has been serving Neapolitan-style pizza in Jesmond since 1983 — over 40 years. Most pizzas are under ten pounds, which is remarkable for a sit-down restaurant in a neighbourhood that has seen rents rise sharply over the decades. This is a local institution that has outlasted every trend on Osborne Road. The menu is simple, the portions honest, and the value exceptional. If you want pizza without pretension, this is the place.

Best for: Neapolitan pizza since 1983, most under ten pounds, a true institution.

Lovage

Lovage on St George's Terrace is not strictly an Italian restaurant, but its Mediterranean menu — with seasonal small plates, sharing plates, and a popular Sunday roast set menu — draws heavily on Italian and southern European traditions. It holds a Michelin Guide listing and two AA Rosettes, making it the most refined dining option in Jesmond by some distance. The vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are genuinely strong rather than afterthoughts. Book well ahead, especially for Sunday lunch.

Best for: Michelin Guide listed, AA Rosettes, Mediterranean small plates, Sunday roast.

The Osborne Hotel (Florence)

The Osborne Hotel on Osborne Road also houses a Florence restaurant, making it a convenient option if you want Italian food with accommodation on the same site. The boutique hotel has 22 bedrooms and a licensed bar, and the restaurant serves the same quality Italian food as the main Florence next door.

Best for: Italian dining with boutique hotel accommodation, licensed bar.

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For pizza specifically, see our Best Pizza in Jesmond guide. For a broader view of Jesmond dining, try Best Restaurants in Jesmond.