There’s just something about Italian food that can brighten even the toughest day. Whether it’s savouring a cheesy slice of pizza or cozying up with a bowl of pasta, Italian dishes bring a little extra comfort—especially when you’re looking forward to a scoop (or two!) of gelato to finish off a delicious meal.
Imagine rich pasta dishes layered with creamy or tomato sauces, and let’s not forget the cheese— gooey, delicious cheese on pizzas, lasagna, and beyond.
Ontario’s Highlands, is a region known for farm-to-fork experiences, you’ll also find many delicious restaurants and pizzerias for authentic Italian flavours. With handmade pastas, locally sourced meats, cheeses, and more, these local gems are sure to satisfy your Italian food cravings.
Buon appetito!
A Taste of Italy – Ontario’s Highlands Style
Bistro 54
Where: 54 Foster St, Perth, ON (View Map)
If your idea of an Italian restaurant is small, intimate, and cozy, plan a visit to Bistro 54 in downtown Perth. This small restaurant is housed in a 165-year-old stone building maximizing the ambiance, and serving up authentic Italian dishes inspired by ‘Mamas Cucina’ style cooking, with handmade pasta and sauces.
Cafe Postino
Where: 73 Mill St, Almonte, ON (View Map)
Located in the old Post Office in downtown Almonte, the ambiance inside Cafe Postino is off the charts. Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients to craft Italian dishes from family recipes, the flavours of the dishes are rich as they are decadent. A great spot for hearty meal!
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OG Cucina
Where: 299 Highland Street, Haliburton, ON (View Map)
There may be no physical restaurant for this Italian shop, but you can order online for pick-up at OG Cucina to enjoy authentic Italian dishes in the privacy of your own home. Try their rich, homemade sauces served over fresh pasta like ravioli, paglia e fieno, rigatoni, or agnolotti. Top off your meal with a full loaf of focaccia topped with homemade tapenade.
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The Sterling
Where: 28 Mill St, Almonte, ON (View Map)
If you love your pasta fresh, plan a visit to The Sterling in downtown Almonte. The Sterling is a quasi cocktail bar-meets-Italian eatery and they excel at both. Try their fusilli or shrimp linguini, and save room for their raw seafood (oysters or scallops).
Farmstead Cheesehouse & Gelateria
Where: 2545 Greenwood Rd, Pembroke, ON (View Map)
While not technically a restaurant, this will be a must stop if you are craving the popular Italian dessert, gelato. Made on site at their own gelatiera by Fiona Petermann. In 2018, Fiona travelled to Italy to train in the art of gelato-making which means the Farmstead Cheesehouse and Gelateria serves delicious Italian gelato without the plane ride!
The Barn Chefs
Where: 5543 Hwy 620, Coe Hill, ON (View Map)
Italian food (including pizza!) at The Barn Chefs is serious business. The husband and wife duo met in Luca’s home country of Italy when Sarah moved there to study Italian cuisine. The pair trained in Italy and travelled the world before setting up shop in Coe Hill. Take home some of their small-batch water buffalo milk cheeses, authentic Italian pasta, or their charcuterie, handcrafted using traditional Italian techniques for a seriously delicious snack or heartier meal.
Petawawa Pizzeria
Where: 3467 Petawawa Blvd, Petawawa, ON (View Map)
The Petawawa Pizzeria has been serving hot pizza, lasagna and more for over 40 years, with a focus on Mediterranean flavours (so not solely Italian!). Enjoy one of their hand-tossed pizzas that’s a local crowd favourite for a unique taste of Ontario’s Highlands.
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Pizza on Earth
Where: 1009 Clan MacKay Rd, Dorset, ON (View Map)
Enjoy a slice or two of one of the region’s most coveted pizzas! At Pizza on Earth, the restaurant serves up gourmet wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas. What makes this spot special is that each pizza is cooked inside their traditional brick oven which they have affectionately named “Etna.” Located in Dorset Pizza on Earth operates from May to September, in case you miss them, there’s always another reason to plan a visit to Ontario’s Highlands, so you can catch them next season!
Neat Coffee Shop
Where: 1715 Calabogie Rd, Burnstown, ON (View Map)
What do you get when you combine stellar pizza with live music? The oven’s hot and the tunes even hotter at Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown. This tiny little café housed in an 1880s schoolhouse is known as being the place to go for live music in the Ottawa Valley, served up with a side of amazing wood-fired pizza.
Into the Blue Bakery
Where: 1012 Garden Gate Dr, Haliburton, ON (View Map)
Into the Blue Bakery is mobile pizza shop serving up wood-fired pizza in Haliburton County and beyond. Depending on the day of the week you’ll find them at Haliburton farmers’ market, at their permanent location at Abbey Gardens, or at festivals and events throughout the region. These folks fire up pizzas featuring fresh, local ingredients like the Queen Margherita or the cleverly named Spanakopizza.
The Delicious Adventures Doesn’t End Here! Start Planning Your Next Delicious Bite!
Experience the flavours of Ontario’s Highlands firsthand! Explore more culinary adventures and discover new flavours waiting for you in this delicious region. Start planning your next adventure below
