Discover five Italian restaurants in Poole worth booking, from long-established family-run dining rooms near the Quay to contemporary restaurants in Ashley Cross and a Sicilian pizzeria in Penn Hill. Whether we are looking for handmade pasta, seafood linguine, a crisp sourdough pizza or somewhere atmospheric for a family celebration, these Poole restaurants each offer a different interpretation of Italian dining without placing them in a strict ranking.
1st August 2026
Italian restaurants are often grouped together as though they all provide the same experience. In reality, Poole’s options range from traditional restaurants with extensive pasta, fish and meat menus to modern neighbourhood venues focused on pizza, sharing plates and relaxed evenings.
Rather than declaring one restaurant definitively better than every other, this guide highlights five places with distinct reasons to visit.
Few settings feel more appropriate for a leisurely Italian meal than Poole Quay. Da Vinci’s occupies an old waterfront warehouse, placing diners close to the boats, historic buildings and activity of the harbour.
The restaurant was established in 1993 by Nicola De Paola, who was born in Calabria and trained in catering before working aboard cruise liners. Its current menu continues to combine familiar Italian favourites with dishes influenced by Poole’s coastal location.
Alongside handmade pizzas and fresh pasta, diners can choose from seafood, fish, steaks and vegetarian or vegan dishes. The latest menu also highlights locally sourced seafood and fresh pasta made by Federica, showing that the offering extends beyond a conventional selection of carbonara and margherita pizza.
During suitable weather, The Deck provides an opportunity to dine outside with panoramic views across the Quay. The interior offers more historic character, making the restaurant equally suitable for a casual lunch or a longer celebratory dinner.
Worth booking for: Waterfront dining, an extensive menu and a strong sense of place.
La Lupa is particularly significant within Poole’s Italian dining scene because it has been serving the town since 1978. Now based within a historic mill close to Poole Quay, it describes itself as Poole’s oldest Italian restaurant.
Its menu is rooted in recognisable traditional cooking, but the range is far broader than pizza alone. Pasta options include lasagne, spaghetti with clams, crab linguine and seafood spaghetti containing prawns, calamari, mussels and clams. Freshly made ravioli is also available, including a ricotta-and-spinach version served with butter and sage.
Seafood is one of the menu’s strongest features. Diners can choose dishes such as Sicilian-style swordfish, whole baked sea bass and mixed seafood pizza, while meat, risotto and vegetarian dishes make the restaurant suitable for larger groups with different preferences.
The setting and substantial menu give La Lupa the atmosphere of a traditional occasion restaurant rather than a fast, casual pizzeria.
Worth booking for: Classic Italian cooking, fresh seafood and a long-established local history.
Dolce Vita offers a more contemporary Italian experience in Ashley Cross. The family restaurant opened in 2016 and specialises in homemade food, traditional recipes and authentic ingredients, with established family dishes given a modern interpretation.
Its pizza menu includes classic combinations alongside more unusual choices. The Dolce Vita pizza is topped with buffalo mozzarella, rocket, cherry tomatoes, Parma ham and Parmesan, while the Calabrese combines pepperoni, ’nduja, olives, pesto and chilli. There are also seafood and vegetable options, and the restaurant states that its pizzas can be prepared with gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives.
Dolce Vita also runs an Italian-style brunch and later weekend opening, giving it more flexibility than a traditional dinner-only restaurant. Its Ashley Cross position makes it particularly well suited to an evening that continues at the surrounding bars and venues.
For diners seeking value, the restaurant currently promotes a three-course offer covering selected starters, pasta and pizza from Monday to Thursday. Offers and opening hours should be checked before booking.
Worth booking for: Modern Italian flavours, dietary options and a sociable Ashley Cross evening.
Pulcinella is another Ashley Cross restaurant, but its appeal lies in the breadth of its traditional pizzeria and ristorante menu.
Pizza choices range from a straightforward margherita to the Calabrese, topped with ’nduja, spianata salami, olives and chilli. Diners looking for something more substantial can choose a folded calzone filled with ricotta, salami, ham and pepperoni, or a seafood pizza topped with a mixture of fish and shellfish.
The pasta menu is equally varied. Options include cannelloni filled with spinach and ricotta, oven-baked gnocchi, tagliatelle with homemade meatballs and tortellini served with tomato, ham, cream and Parmesan. Pulcinella also serves steaks and traditional chicken dishes, making it suitable for groups where not everyone wants pasta or pizza.
A dedicated children’s menu and the availability of gluten-free pasta options add to its family appeal. The wine and cocktail selection includes familiar Italian choices such as Aperol Spritz, Negroni and Bellini.
Worth booking for: Family meals, generous choice and classic pizza-and-pasta favourites.
Fili’s in Penn Hill offers the most specialised and contemporary experience on this list. Rather than attempting to cover every region of Italy, the restaurant focuses strongly on Sicilian flavours, homemade bread and sourdough pizza.
Its pizza dough is made using double-zero flour and semolina, creating a thin, crisp base. Diners can order an individual 12-inch pizza or a 20-inch pizza designed for sharing, with the larger version divided into different flavours.
The toppings move beyond predictable combinations. Dolce Piccante combines ’nduja, red onion, goat’s cheese and honey, while La Pig uses Sicilian fennel pork and ricotta. The Amatriciana is topped with chilli, garlic, guanciale and pecorino, and the vegetarian Regina combines spinach, mozzarella, red pesto, goat’s cheese and pine nuts.
Small plates reinforce the Sicilian identity, with options such as arancine, fennel-sausage meatballs, potato croquettes and Palermo-style garlic bread. Fili’s also prepares its own focaccia, sourdough, ricotta and pesto, giving the menu a more handcrafted character.
Worth booking for: Sicilian flavours, crisp sourdough pizza and sharing food with friends.
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