Villa Italia

Restaurant | Belfast | Northern Ireland | United Kingdom

Italian restaurant in belfast

The restaurant "Villa Italia" in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a long-established, family-run Italian eatery that has held a prominent place in the city's culinary landscape since its founding in 1988. Located in the heart of South Belfast, just a stone's throw from Queen’s University, it has become one of the most popular restaurants in the city over the years. The building itself, a listed Georgian house, exudes historic charm and offers ample space for over 300 guests – yet, especially on weekends, queues regularly form outside the door, regardless of the weather.

Best italian cuisine in northern ireland

Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted by a rustic Italian atmosphere: terracotta tiles, picturesque murals, and hanging grapevines create an ambiance reminiscent of rural Italy. The subtle scent of garlic hangs in the air, and among the staff are Italian-speaking waiters who enhance the feeling of experiencing a little piece of Italy. Noteworthy is the loving approach with which the food is prepared. The kitchen places great emphasis on fresh ingredients that are used in traditional Southern Italian recipes. Highlights include the handmade, wood-fired pizzas, cherished for their perfect crust and intense flavor. Authentic pasta dishes are also popular – such as a creamy carbonara or a spicy seafood pasta – each prepared with care. Meat and fish lovers are well catered for, as the restaurant offers a selection of locally sourced products, such as tender beef or fresh fish, often served with refined sauces.

Traditional italian restaurants belfast

"Villa Italia" is not only known for its food but also for its flexibility. Guests with special dietary needs, such as gluten intolerance, can find alternatives here, including gluten-free pasta that can be paired with house-made sauces. The staff is known for being friendly and accommodating, prioritizing a pleasant experience for every visitor – whether it's a romantic dinner, a family meal, or a casual get-together with friends. There is also an appealing garden area for smokers, while the interior is accessible via a lift, including special facilities like disabled toilets and a baby changing area.

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
39-41 University Rd
BT7 1ND Belfast

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday12:30 - 20:30
Monday17:00 - 22:00
Tuesday17:00 - 22:00
Wednesday17:00 - 22:00
Thursday17:00 - 22:00
Friday16:00 - 22:00
Saturday16:00 - 22:30

Reviews

3060 Reviews

courtney mcveigh
09.03.2025

Food and decor was beautiful here the only downfall from was that the water was off so staff were very busy and distracted we sat for 15 minutes with no menus etc and going to the restroom, washing hands etc was not great as there was no water. We also had drinks added to our bill which was not ours however it was refunded with no issues and understandable. Regardless of this the food was beautiful and I would love to go back again soon
Visweshwar K
08.03.2025

Undoubtedly the best pizza in Belfast!
Jane cook
08.03.2025

Absolutely beautiful settings, food was beautiful and staff were amazing x
Thorin Drozd
07.03.2025

A lovely Italian restaurant to eat at! Food is lovely and staff were very friendly! The theming is amazing! Lovely statues & stained glass windows
Becky Smith
07.03.2025

Food was just so so but the wait staff and vibe were amazing!
Laura Willow Rose Bingham
07.03.2025

This has got to be my all time favourite restaurant. Proper Italian restaurants are few and far between in this area and Villa Italia is like a treasure trove of incredible Italian dishes. Im in awe of the interior decor!! Just a shame we were seated downstairs instead of upstairs. Future reference don't book for when they just open the doors or you will be seated downstairs.
Dhruv Majumdar
06.03.2025

Great food, super staff
Paul Proud
06.03.2025

I ate here last night and have to say I was very disappointed. My main was a chicken dish and the chicken was very dry and bland! Chips and veg was also over cooked and my good had obviously been sitting under a heat lamp for a while as when it came there was a skin on my sauce, overall very very bland no taste to it and everything was over cooked! Not sure if they have changed their chef but it's went massively downhill since my last visit a year or so ago. My started was also dry so I've no idea what's going on at the place now but it's definitely not what it used to be unfortunately
Sharon Johnson
05.03.2025

The food was amazing and a reasonable price, the drinks were a bit slow but overall great 👍
Madeline Chan
03.03.2025

Spaghetti Bolognese watery and probably the worst ever in a restaurant unfortunately Seafood spaghetti was nice but not yum Pizza and calzone were good. The cheese made these dishes the best
Shareen Mcdowell
03.03.2025

Food was amazing.
Scott Harris
28.02.2025

Brilliant
Milena Recica
27.02.2025

Great place excellent food 🙂
Silkcatgirl
26.02.2025

Took my mum here for her birthday, the food, wine, and espresso martini's were all really tasty and reasonably priced. Only feedback is it would be great to have an extra vegetarian pizza option on the menu (with lots of different veggies!). Atmosphere was great, it was very busy but not chaotic or loud, and I love the decor. Staff were very friendly, thanks for a lovely night :)
annie
25.02.2025

food was unreal, portions are very generous and wait time was not long at all even with it being busy! waitress was very friendly :)
Pratishtha Kapoor
22.02.2025

My bad experience started even before I arrived at the restaurant. Since my party had 9 people, I couldn’t book through the website and had to call instead. When I spoke to the lady on the phone, she asked for my name. I asked if I could spell it out, as I wanted to make sure that, in case anyone arrived before me, they’d be able to find the booking. Instead of taking the booking with the correct name, she asked where I was from! How is that even relevant to making a reservation for 7 pm on a Saturday? Once we arrived, the food was okay, but the service was terrible. Two people at our table didn’t even receive menus until we asked for them. Then, the waitress took the wrong order, and we had to ask for the correct one. To make matters worse, she was complaining about it to another staff member right in front of us! With poor service like this, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.
Bernard Brannigan
24.11.2024

Always consistently good
Matt Edwards
17.02.2025

Went here during a visit to Belfast, Incredibly busy but plenty of staff to deal with any customer needs. Will return when next in Belfast.
paul swan
16.02.2025

This place looks lovely on the outside and on the inside. The moment I walked through the door, the staff were very friendly and attentive. I was shown to a nice table and my order taken. I had the prawns and calamari for starter and WOW, the praws tasted amazing and the calamari wasn't rubbery at all which was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed the starter, very tasty. Next I ordered the Hake, which came on a bed of crushed new potatoes with mushy peas and slice of bacon on top, a creamy buttermilk sauce and a side bowl with chunky carrot, broccoli and parsnips. Beautifully served and a veritable jawgasm!!! The taste was exquisite and I couldn't manage a desert as I was stuffed. Special shoutout to the head chef Steve for cooking an amazing meal 😁
Brandon W
15.02.2025

Food was amazing, service on the other hand was shocking. Waited over 20 minutes for a waiter to even acknowledge us when our main was finished, desserts came with dirty cutlery and without an apology it was replaced. Overall extremely disappointing as previous experiences have been a lot better.
EDUARDO DE LA HERA
13.02.2025

Excelente experiencia tanto gastronómica como del personal que nos atendió, somos españoles y nos hicieron estar como en casa, la encargada italiana muy amable y simpática, dos compañeros una sudamericana y otro que sabia muchos idiomas nos atendieron de 10. Si volvemos a Belfast sin duda repetiremos, recomendable al 100 por cien.

 

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