Finding authentic Italian in Destin means navigating tourist traps, red sauce expectations, and how much you’re willing to spend on pasta that transports you. If you’re ready to embrace that journey, this list is your compass. These are the trattorias that make us want to raise our forks like gondoliers’ oars, welcoming all who hunger for the truest taste of Italy on Florida’s Emerald Coast.
Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs
$ | (850) 729-2222 | WEBSITE
In Destin, Hungry Howie’s is called ‘The Pizza Spot.’ It’s a local chain of red and white storefronts that open for lunch and close after dinner. Here, you can order pizza, subs, wings, and all kinds of satisfying comfort food. But Hungry Howie’s in Destin also has something special: a gluten-free crust. Thick, flavorful, and reliable are your options. And the staff operating it really know how to make customers happy.
It just proves something we’ve all known since the 90s: Hungry Howie’s always delivers quality.
Vincenzo’s Italian Bistro
$$ | (850) 244-8888 | WEBSITE
This Destin Italian bistro is tucked inside a hotel, but it’s now our favorite place to get authentic pasta on the island. It has a cozy dining room, a welcoming bar area, and the absolute sweetest bartender working the counter. You have classic Italian choices: shrimp scampi, chicken Marsala, or fettuccine Alfredo—plus weekly specials that change regularly. About half the menu here is dedicated to pasta, and our favorite order is the shrimp scampi followed by the lemon cake.
It kind of tastes like a perfect home-cooked meal, if that makes any sense. And it’s only $24.50 with tax.
Fat Clemenza’s
$$ | (850) 650-5980 | WEBSITE
Whether due to the passage of time or the unreliable narrator that is our taste memories, we kind of remember Italian food being a bit more distant back in our travels. Nonetheless, this simple family-style spot still delivers an essential dining experience and triggers some pleasant culinary nostalgia. Your options are pizza, salads, or tiramisu. Once finished, it can be used to fuel conversations about returning, or bring home leftovers and see if they satisfy tomorrow’s cravings.
Ciao Bella Pizza/ Bella Blue Bar
$ | (850) 729-0066 | WEBSITE
While the pizza at Ciao Bella may not come out of a traditional wood-fired oven, the end result is close enough that we’re welcoming it into the family. Ciao Bella’s whole thing is that they handmake each pizza with high-quality ingredients. They craft the dough fresh daily, which gives the crust a perfect chew and supports whichever toppings you choose from the excellent options on the menu. It’s tasty.
There’s one Ciao Bella location in Niceville, attached to the Bella Blue Bar that offers late-night fun, and the restaurant itself has an intimate atmosphere with actual seats. And yes, this is the same Ciao Bella that functions as a very successful Italian restaurant when it’s not serving drinks at the bar.
Capriccio Cafe
$ | (850) 460-7050 | WEBSITE
Is it coffee? Absolutely. It’s more like Italian espresso and steamed milk blended together with creative flavors. Let’s call it the little Italy of Destin, but without all the pasta and red sauce. The coffee here tastes like the perfect morning pick-me-up after a long beach day. There are choices you need to make when you order: pick your base (espresso, latte, or iced), choose your flavor (ginger snap, salted caramel, or candy bar), and finally decide on your food pairing.
But if you’re as indecisive as we are, just order the Nutella crêpe with bananas and a ginger snap latte. It’s a calorie counter’s worst nightmare, but it’s wonderful.
Tisano’s
$$ | (850) 353-2643 | WEBSITE
Tisano’s technically serves Italian cuisine, which has a similar heartiness to comfort food but with more elegance. So it’s slightly more refined and not as heavy—but quite a bit more flavorful. If you’ve got a pasta craving, Tisano’s is like a warm hug. It also has (as its setting suggests) both indoor and outdoor seating with beautiful sunset views, so it’s a good stop for a relaxing Destin evening.
There’s one location in Niceville, offering favorites like Shrimp Alfredo and buffalo chicken pizza.
Clemenza’s at Uptown
$$ | (850) 243-0707 | WEBSITE
Clemenza’s at Uptown will satisfy a pizza and pasta craving at once. The Fort Walton Beach restaurant makes an authentic wood-fired pepperoni pizza and other Italian classics. That food is good—but you can also skip it entirely and just come for the lasagna. Specifically, Clemenza’s lasagna. They have a selection of rotating specials, but the one constant on the menu also happens to be our favorite: Pasta Bolognese.
It’s a rich meaty masterpiece that deserves to be chosen as our eighth world wonder.
Roberto’s Pizzeria Sports Bar & Grill
$ | (850) 351-1998 | WEBSITE
Roberto’s Pizzeria Sports Bar & Grill is a casual Italian spot in a shopping center that has pizzas and sides and such. But we’re not here to talk about that. We’re here to talk about their buffalo chicken ranch pizza. It’s a popular choice (the margarita is too) and better than buffalo chicken ranch pizza ordered from a sports bar menu should be. A crispy crust with great sauce is the real highlight—and toppings are pretty customizable (boneless bites are as exciting as it gets).
But it’s well-baked, satisfies the craving, and is pretty much your only pizza option near Baytowne other than that chain place that refuses to close.
Ali’s Bistro
$$ | (850) 226-4708 | WEBSITE
This Italian bistro is tucked away in Destin—not right on the main strip, so it’s a perfect spot to treat yourself after a long day of Florida sun and sand. Ali’s Bistro is a full-service restaurant (not just a dessert cafe), but it’s also completely fine to pop in for a slice of their lemon cake or a bowl of that garlic dipping oil. The cake arrives moist and bright, dusted with powdered sugar and served with a dollop of whipped cream.
It’s a little tangy, wonderfully rich, and so much more satisfying than the generic key lime you’ll find at tourist traps. The staff, like Felicia and Roy, keep things friendly and attentive, whether you’re ordering shrimp scampi or just here for the bread and oil. The dining area feels quaint and cozy, with warm lighting and comfortable seating that makes you want to linger. And yes, you can buy bottles of that garlic oil to take home—because one dip is never enough.
Magnolia Grill
$$ | (850) 302-0266 | WEBSITE
Magnolia Grill is a charming spot that does a very wonderful thing with steak: it serves a Tomahawk that melts in your mouth. That’s essentially what you can expect here—generous portions of delicious food with rotating highlights like crab cake shrimp Alfredo or chocolate dessert (plus some very nostalgic memorabilia upstairs). Even though the menu may vary slightly from online, Magnolia Grill has absolutely nailed that cozy, old-style southern home atmosphere.
And because this is friendly service creating a memorable meal, the experience isn’t too rushed and makes for an excellent evening outing, perhaps before exploring the nearby Destin area.
TradeWinds Italian Restaurant
$$ | (850) 678-8299 | WEBSITE
TradeWinds is a classic. If you live in Destin, this is your neighborhood Italian spot, your best friend works here on the weekends, and you’re always tempted by the huge portions display (and kind of still are). Besides the fantastic food and high chances of running into regulars here, TradeWinds has something we can’t find anywhere else: dishes made to order—all of which are prepared fresh.
They have the friendly staff like Fiona and Sherry, but also a delightful atmosphere that enhances the dining experience. The parking lot fills up quickly most evenings (and we’ll happily park in the back).
Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
$$ | (850) 460-7353 | WEBSITE
You’re probably coming to Mimmo’s for the pasta, but you can also just stop by for dessert. Specifically, the tiramisu that’s layered with espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. The mascarpone has this rich yet airy texture we really love. But if coffee isn’t your thing, try the chocolate cake. It’s dark chocolate ganache with vanilla bean gelato, chocolate shavings, and a raspberry coulis.