Finding the best Italian restaurants in New Plymouth means choosing between long-running Devon Street East dining rooms, a pasta and risotto house on Gill Street, and wood-fired pizzerias from Bell Block to the beach at Ōakura. Whether you want carbonara and lasagna for a group dinner, a Neapolitan margherita with a craft beer, or pizza to take home, an Italian restaurant in New Plymouth can cover dine-in, takeaway and functions. For classic pasta, risotto and Italian mains, Bella Vita and Portofino are long-standing names in the city.
1Bella Vita
Bella Vita opened as a small Italian-inspired restaurant in central New Plymouth in 2004 and moved into larger premises on Devon Street East in 2011. The menu runs from breakfast and lunch through to dinner, with pasta, risotto and pizza alongside grills and seafood, and the restaurant is set up for groups and functions as well as everyday dining.
Services
- Linguine pastas including carbonara, beef ragu, gambero and seafood marinara
- Risotto and Napoli-based pizzas such as margherita and diavola
- Group bookings and functions with set menus
- Online ordering for takeaway
Highlights
- Trading in New Plymouth since 2004
- Two separate dining rooms, each seating up to 50, or 100 across the whole restaurant
- Most dishes can be made gluten free or dairy free on request
- Fully licensed with Italian beer including Peroni, and BYO for bottled wine
- Gift vouchers available
Location & Contact
Name: Bella Vita
Address: 146 Devon Street East, New Plymouth
Phone: 06 758 3393
Website: bellavita.co.nz
2Portofino New Plymouth
Portofino New Plymouth is the Gill Street branch of a family-owned Italian restaurant group that began in Parnell, Auckland, in 1980. Its menu draws on Northern Italian cooking, with a long list of pastas, risottos and oven-baked dishes, and the quieter side-street setting suits date nights and larger get-togethers alike.
Services
- Pasta including spaghetti alla carbonara, spaghetti alla vongole, gnocchi and ravioli
- Risotto alla pescatora and risotto ai funghi porcini
- Oven-baked lasagna al forno and cannelloni
- Antipasti such as arancini, bruschetta and mozzarella fritta
- Takeaway menu and booking enquiries for groups
Highlights
- Part of a family-owned restaurant group established in 1980
- House gluten-free pasta available, and all mains can be made gluten free on request
- Veal scaloppine and other secondi piatti alongside the pasta menu
Location & Contact
Name: Portofino New Plymouth
Address: 14 Gill Street, New Plymouth
Phone: 06 757 8686
Website: portofino.co.nz/new-plymouth
3Pekaren
Pekaren is a wood-fired pizza restaurant in Bell Block, on the northern side of New Plymouth, run by owner-managers Lisa Weston and Belinda Clark since 2017. Alongside tomato-based pizze rosse and olive oil-based pizze bianche, the menu covers calzone, antipasti and pasta, plus breakfast and coffee.
Services
- Wood-fired pizza, including margherita, Neapolitan and Italiana
- Stone-baked calzone
- Pasta with a choice of penne or fettuccine, such as pasta alla vodka
- Antipasti including arancini, bruschetta caprese and polenta fries
- Dine-in, takeaway and offsite catering
Highlights
- Owner-operated by Lisa Weston and Belinda Clark
- Fully licensed
- Gluten-free options available at lunch
- Available for functions and celebrations
Location & Contact
Name: Pekaren
Address: 25 Bell Block Court, Bell Block, New Plymouth
Phone: 06 755 0990
Website: pekaren.co.nz
4Ms White
Ms White is a pizza and beer garden in central New Plymouth, entered from Queen Street, serving hand-stretched Neapolitan-style pizza made in the traditional way. It suits a relaxed pizza and a drink rather than a multi-course dinner, and takeaway pizza is available by phone.
Services
- Pizze rosse with San Marzano tomato and fior di latte mozzarella
- Pizze bianche, including a quattro formaggi
- Calzone
- Takeaway pizza and delivery through Delivereasy
Highlights
- Italian toppings such as spianata, finocchiona, gorgonzola and scamorza
- Craft beer taps that rotate weekly, plus wine
- Vegan versions of some vegetarian pizzas on request
Location & Contact
Name: Ms White
Address: 47 Queen Street, New Plymouth
Phone: 027 406 4314
Website: mswhite.co.nz
5Black Sand Pizzeria
Black Sand Pizzeria and Bistro sits on the popular surf beach at Ōakura, on the Taranaki coast south-west of New Plymouth. Its Neapolitan pizzas are cooked at high temperature in a wood-fired oven and served alongside a seasonal modern bistro menu, so it suits diners who want authentic Neapolitan pizza by the sea.
Services
- Neapolitan pizza rossa, including margherita, prosciutto funghi and marinara
- Pizza bianca with olive oil bases
- Seasonal bistro mains and entrées such as pane fritto
- Reduced takeaway menu, with orders by phone from 5pm
- Functions, small weddings and gift vouchers
Highlights
- Certified by the AVPN for authentic Neapolitan pizza
- Gluten-friendly pizzas on Sundays, in limited numbers
- Wine list focused on organic and natural wines from small producers
- Beachfront location on Tasman Parade
Location & Contact
Name: Black Sand Pizzeria and Bistro
Address: 1 Tasman Parade, Ōakura
Phone: 06 752 7806
Website: blacksandpizzeria.co.nz
Italian Restaurants in New Plymouth at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Bella Vita | Trading in New Plymouth since 2004 |
| Portofino New Plymouth | Part of a family-owned restaurant group established in 1980 |
| Pekaren | Owner-operated by Lisa Weston and Belinda Clark |
| Ms White | Italian toppings such as spianata, finocchiona, gorgonzola and scamorza |
| Black Sand Pizzeria | Certified by the AVPN for authentic Neapolitan pizza |
How to Choose the Right Italian Restaurant in New Plymouth
- Menu style: decide between a full Italian menu with pasta, risotto and secondi, or a pizzeria focused on wood-fired and Neapolitan pizza.
- Dietary needs: ask about gluten-free pasta, gluten-friendly pizza bases and dairy-free options when you book, as some are limited in number.
- Group size: for birthdays and work functions, check for separate dining rooms, set menus and minimum spends.
- Takeaway and delivery: some restaurants take phone orders or offer online ordering, while others have a reduced takeaway menu.
- Location: central Devon Street East, Gill Street and Queen Street options suit a night in town, while Bell Block and Ōakura are handy for the northern suburbs and the coast.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Plymouth Italian Restaurants
What is the difference between Neapolitan pizza and other pizza styles?
Neapolitan pizza uses a simple dough of flour, water, salt and yeast, is cooked very quickly in a very hot wood-fired oven, and comes out soft and airy with a charred rim. Classic toppings are San Marzano tomato and fior di latte mozzarella. Other pizzerias use thinner or crisper bases with a wider range of toppings.
Can I get gluten-free pasta or pizza at an Italian restaurant in New Plymouth?
Yes, many Italian restaurants in New Plymouth offer gluten-free pasta or can adapt dishes on request. Gluten-friendly pizza bases need special flour for high-temperature ovens, so they may be limited to certain days. Mention coeliac or allergy needs when booking so the kitchen can plan ahead.
Do I need to book a table?
Booking is recommended for dinner, especially on weekends and during summer, and is essential for larger groups. Smaller pizza bars often seat walk-ins, but a quick call saves waiting.
Which Italian restaurants are near Bell Block or Ōakura?
If you are north of the city, Bell Block has a wood-fired pizza restaurant with dine-in and takeaway. On the coast south-west of New Plymouth, Ōakura has a beachfront Neapolitan pizzeria. Most other Italian restaurants in New Plymouth are in the central city around Devon Street East, Gill Street and Queen Street.
Can Italian restaurants in New Plymouth cater functions?
Several do. Options range from set menus for group dinners in private dining rooms to offsite catering and small weddings. Ask about minimum spends, set menu prices and dietary options when you enquire.
Can I bring my own wine?
Some licensed restaurants also allow BYO bottled wine, usually with a corkage charge, while others are licensed only. Check with the restaurant before you go.
What Italian dishes should I try?
Popular choices include spaghetti alla carbonara, lasagna al forno, risotto alla pescatora, gnocchi and arancini, with tiramisu or affogato to finish. For pizza, a margherita is the simplest way to judge a pizzeria’s dough and oven.
How We Chose the Best Italian Restaurants in New Plymouth
Every business in this guide was found by searching for italian restaurants in New Plymouth, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving New Plymouth, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.