The best Italian in Charlottesville
Tavola leads our ranking for Italian in Charlottesville. Readers voted it first in Best of C-VILLE in 2025 and 2026, and local critics name it too. Vivace and Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria come next.
1TavolaReaders' choice, 2025, 2026
2VivaceReaders' runner-up, 2025, 2026
3Lampo Neapolitan PizzeriaReaders' top three, 2025, 2026
11 Italian restaurants are open in and around Charlottesville. The top 6 are ranked first; the rest follow.
Showing 7 places: order online. Show all 11
The top 6
How we rank
Photo: tavolavino.com 1Tavola
Italian restaurant · Charlottesville- Won Best of C-VILLE 2025 and 2026 for Italian, voted by readers [1]
- On The Charlottesville 29, a critic's list of the town's best restaurants: “Warm Belmont storefront serving ingredient-driven Italian fare” [2]
- On Charlottesville Insider's Italian list [3]
- On charlottesville.guide's Italian list [4]
“Looking for a unique, curated dining experience? Our new stanza piccola is an intimate, private room with a view.”
- Where
- 826 Hinton Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Has
- Private dining · Reservations
- Phone
- (434) 972-9463
Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
Photo: vivacecville.com 2Vivace
Italian restaurant · Charlottesville- Runner-up in Best of C-VILLE 2025 and 2026 for Italian, voted by readers [1]
- On Charlottesville Insider's Italian list [3]
- On charlottesville.guide's Italian list [4]
- Where
- 2244 Ivy Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903-4977
- Has
- Reservations · Takeout
- Phone
- (434) 979-0994
Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
Photo: lampopizza.com 3Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria
Italian restaurant · Charlottesville- Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2025 and 2026 for Italian, voted by readers [1]
- On Charlottesville Insider's Italian list [3]
“they've crafted a dining experience so urbane and electrifying (see: lightning bolt logo) from utter simplicity.”
- Where
- 205 Monticello Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- On the menu
- Margherita D.O.C. $19 · Diavola $18 · Insalata Di Arance $10 · Pane $5
- Has
- Takeout · Delivery · Private dining
- Phone
- (434) 244-3226
Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
Photo: lucepasta.com 4Luce
Italian restaurant · Charlottesville- Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2025 and 2026 for Italian, voted by readers [1]
- On Charlottesville Insider's Italian list [3]
“A literal hole in the wall under a downtown streetlight, Luce offers a small, perfect menu of pastas rolled, filled, and cut by hand, along with a selection of extras”
- Where
- 110 2nd St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Today
- Closed for the day
- Has
- Wood-fired · Takeout · Delivery
- Phone
- (434) 293-9537
All hours
Mon 4 PM to 9 PM Tue 4 PM to 9 PM Wed 4 PM to 9 PM Thu 4 PM to 9 PM Fri 4 PM to 9 PM Sat 4 PM to 9 PM Sun 4 PM to 9 PM Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
Photo: salscaffeitalia.com 5Sal's Caffe Italia
Italian restaurant · Charlottesville- Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2026 for Italian, voted by readers [1]
- On charlottesville.guide's Italian list [4]
- Where
- 221 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Has
- Happy hour · Patio · Full bar
- Phone
- (434) 295-8484
Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
Photo: pinapopizzaordering.com 6Pi-Napo Pizzeria
Charlottesville- Finalist in Best of C-VILLE 2025 for Italian, voted by readers [5]
“Pi-Napo turns pizza into a masterpiece.”
- Where
- 2115 Jefferson Park Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Today
- Closed for the day
- Has
- Vegan options
- Phone
- (434) 235-5125
All hours
Mon 11 AM to 9 PM Tue 11 AM to 9 PM Wed 11 AM to 9 PM Thu 11 AM to 9 PM Fri 11 AM to 9 PM Sat 11 AM to 9 PM Sun 11 AM to 9 PM Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
More Italian in Charlottesville
1 more · A to Z
Photo: monalisapasta.com Mona Lisa Pasta
Italian restaurant · Charlottesville“a locally owned and operated Italian deli specializing in fresh, homemade pastas, raviolis, classic Italian sauces, and lasagnas and entrées”
- Where
- 921 Preston Ave, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Today
- Closed today
- Has
- Takeout · Catering
- Phone
- (434) 295-2494
All hours
Mon Closed Tue 10 AM to 7 PM Wed 10 AM to 7 PM Thu 10 AM to 7 PM Fri 10 AM to 7 PM Sat 10 AM to 6 PM Sun Closed Checked Oct 4 · Report a change
No longer open
- Basta Pasta, 946 Grady Ave Unit N has closed.
- Bella's Restaurant, 707 W Main St has closed.
- Red Pump Kitchen, 401 E Main St has closed.
How we rank
Nobody at Guide2 scores the food. The ranking adds up what Charlottesville’s own judges have said in public: readers’ polls count most, then critics’ standing lists, then local press and food writers. Every point is numbered and listed under Sources below. The full method.
When our editor has eaten at these herself, her picks and notes appear at the top of this page.
What changed
- Basta Pasta closed
- Red Pump Kitchen closed
- Bella's Restaurant closed
Questions
- What is the best Italian in Charlottesville?
- Tavola. Won Best of C-VILLE 2025 and 2026 for Italian, voted by readers; On The Charlottesville 29, a critic's list of the town's best restaurants. Vivace and Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria come next.
- How many Italian restaurants are in Charlottesville?
- 11 are open in and around Charlottesville as of October 2026: Carmello's, Carmello's of Charlottesville, Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria, Luce, Mona Lisa Pasta, Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar, Pi-Napo Pizzeria, Sal's Caffe Italia, Tavola, Vinny's Italian Grill and Pizzeria and Vivace.
- Which Italian restaurants in Charlottesville take reservations?
- 4 take online bookings: Carmello's, Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar, Tavola and Vivace. The rest are walk-in or by phone.
- Where can I order Italian online in Charlottesville?
- 7 have online ordering on their own websites: Lampo Neapolitan Pizzeria, Luce, Mona Lisa Pasta, Pi-Napo Pizzeria, Sal's Caffe Italia, Tavola and Vivace.
- Is Basta Pasta in Charlottesville still open?
- No. Basta Pasta has closed. For Italian nearby, see the list above.
- Is Bella's Restaurant in Charlottesville still open?
- No. Bella's Restaurant has closed. For Italian nearby, see the list above.
- Is Red Pump Kitchen in Charlottesville still open?
- No. Red Pump Kitchen has closed. For Italian nearby, see the list above.
Sources
- 1Best of C-VILLE, Best of C-VILLE 2026: Best Italian food, 2026. Checked Oct 4, 2026. Archived copy.
- 2The Charlottesville 29, The Charlottesville 29 list, 2026. Checked Oct 4, 2026. Archived copy.
- 3Charlottesville Insider, Italian Charlottesville Restaurants. Checked Oct 4, 2026. Archived copy.
- 4charlottesville.guide, UrbanGo Listing. Checked Oct 4, 2026. Archived copy.
- 5Best of C-VILLE, Best of C-VILLE 2025: Best Italian food, 2025. Checked Oct 4, 2026. Archived copy.
See something wrong? Read our corrections policy.
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