Italian

A gorgeous restaurant in Le Meridien, Favola boasts an inviting atmosphere and stellar food. Serving probably the best assortment of complimentary breads in town, you know you're in for a real treat when you get your hands on these warm, fresh breads. The squid ink pasta here steals the show with smoked duck and Favola’s premium olive oil. Also order the Venetian pizza loaded with prawns, lobster, calamari and scallops, but be sure to save your stomach for dessert. The gorgonzola pudding might seem like a strange item, and it's sure to surprise you - in a good way! Price-wise, you may have to fork out more than you usually would, but it’s the best place to spoil yourself at.

Unpretentious and down-to-earth, La Risata's la nonna recipes are absolutely timeless. Start with the Mozzarella in Carrozza, a moreish deep fried cheese and anchovy sandwich. Share a Pizza Bresaola e Rucola, a lovely combination of air-dried beef, rocket and parmesan. The vegetarian pizza here is also surprisingly tasty, with the pesto base topped with grilled eggplant, roasted cherry tomato, pine nut, ricotta cheese, and tomato. If you still have room for dessert, you have to go with the panna cotta - creamy and smooth, it wobbles to perfection. With its rustic ambience and wide variety of Italian classics, this is a spot that works for big group celebrations!

Cosy and romantic, this award-winning restaurant in the Sheraton Imperial Hotel has a loyal following despite its hefty price tag. Located poolside, Villa Danieli embodies a countryside villa on the island of Sicily, and serves Italian classics that never fail to please. The scallops here are a crowd favourite, along with with their Pizza Frutti di Mare and their melt-in-your-mouth veal osso bucco. Desserts are their forte, so don't leave without trying one (or two). While the prices here will not make this your regular spot for Italian food, it is one of the best options for when you deserve a treat!

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Pietro is the perfect place spend your weekend at. Located in Damansara Heights, the double-storey windows add a sophistication to the experience, and is a good spot for family celebrations.Start with an elegant antipasti of sweet melon and smoked duck before digging in to the decadent foie gras offerings. Go for the Fegato d’Oca; te foie Gras is pan-seared to a crisp, served on baked apple and drizzled with a seductive port wine sauce. To enjoy this luxurious ingredient in another form, order the Foie Gras Tagliatelle - it'll find a way to your heart and never leave. Finish this decadent meal with their one-of-a-kind White and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Amarena cherries and almond praline.

Opened in 1991, Ciao is one of the oldest Italian Restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. When dining here, ordering the ravioli is a must. Go for the Ravioli de Pesce for a seafood pasta topped with luxurious brandy cream sauce. For a tomato-based pasta, the Ravioli di Spinaci alla Caruso is a good choice. The ravioli is filled with spinach and ricotta, with a lovely butter sage sauce. It’s not just the food that pleases, the view that the Royal Selangor Club offers makes this a special place to dine. Prolong your evening with a Tiramisu or Gelati, and wind down with the lush greenery.

Having won multiple awards, this restaurant is best known for their pizzas. The pizza is fantastic – the thin pizza crust is well baked, the cheese gentle, and the ingredients are well-balanced. But you should know that the real star here is the Filetto di Manzo, and here's why. The Australian beef tenderloin is pan-seared to juicy perfection, doused in a red wine reduction, and is accompanied by potatoes, green asparagus and shallots. Have it done medium-rare and send yourself to steak heaven. For a lovely pasta, order the Linguine Al Granchio, a wonderfully presented plate of tomato-based pasta with a crab on top.

Located in Changkat, Ciccio is a charming, rustic restaurant that serves handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas. Despite its no-frills ambience, this Italian gem reaches excellence with quite a few dishes. If you can't stay away from a cheesy pasta, the Gnocchi al gorgonzola is the perfect dish to order. Don't leave without trying their wood-fired pizzas, especially the Pizza Diavola. Using the freshest tomatoes, mozzarella and Napoli salami, this pizza is spiced up with chili and simply explodes with flavour. It’s only right to end your meal with a cassata (kind of like an Italian Kuih Lapis) served with a scoop of Sicilian ice cream. Ciccio is one of the only restaurants that serve this one-of-a-kind Italian dessert, so give it a try!

With two separate branches and menus to cater to both halal and non-halal customers, iCook serves simple, tasty, authentic Italian fare that's down to earth and always satisfying. Interestingly, they also serve some of the best roast chicken in town. Juicy and hearty, it’s just what you need to fight those Monday blues. Also consider their extensive burger list that has something for everyone, with options of beef, lamb, chicken and vegetable patties. Complete your meal with their delectable crème brulee - the soft custard lying beneath the perfectly caramelized top is bound to make you swoon.

Chef Ariff bin Mohd Nor has more than 15 years of experience cooking Italian food, and has headed the Opus kitchen for the past 10 years. Sophisticated and cosy, it’s the perfect place to bring your date. Impress by ordering the Spaghetti alla Opus, this seafood spaghetti is what made Opus a hit in KL. For more substantial mains, go for the Lamb Shank or Linguini Aglio Olio with intensely delicious Smoked Duck. Enjoy this meal with a good bottle of wine, and finish off with the Chocolate Desire; it’s perfection.

If there’s something you have to try at this busy neighborhood restaurant, it’s the Saffron Risotto with Three Mushrooms (RM34). Risottos are tricky to pull off, but Verona does it just right. The risotto is cooked perfectly - creamy, with the grains retaining a toothsome bite, and there is a good amount of saffron. The mushrooms are a nice addition to the dish as well. It’s not often you find a good risotto in Kuala Lumpur, don't miss this one! If you're sharing dishes, go ahead and get their daily special thin crust pizza to share.