Best Italian Restaurants in Sunderland

Italian food is one of the easiest things to find in Sunderland, but the independent restaurants are spread out: one in the Sunniside quarter, one on the seafront at Roker, one by the Stadium of Light and one in the suburbs at Silksworth. This guide covers four family or independently run Italian restaurants that are trading in 2026, with a note on what each does well and when they open.

All four took part in Sunderland Restaurant Week in September 2026. Opening times come from each restaurant's own website and can change, especially in December, so check before you travel.

Angelo's

Angelo's is a family-run Italian restaurant and cocktail bar on West Sunniside, in the middle of the city's Sunniside quarter. Federico and Cristina lead the kitchen and front of house, and other members of the family run the bar and look after guests. The menu covers antipasti, fresh pasta, stone-baked pizza, Italian mains and dishes to share.

There is a lunch and early bird menu, and the restaurant runs occasional regional feast evenings. Angelo's opens for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Friday and through the day on Saturday, and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The bar lounge makes it a good place to start an evening, and it sits within a few minutes of the other restaurants and bars in Sunniside.

Best for: Suits a city-centre dinner with cocktails, or a weekday lunch on the early bird menu.

Antico Roker

Antico is on Roker Terrace, above the beach and the start of Roker Pier. The menu runs from pizza and fresh pasta to meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, so it suits mixed groups where not everyone wants the same thing. The same team runs a sister restaurant in Birtley.

The Roker restaurant opens in the evening from Monday to Friday, from 5pm, and serves through the afternoon at weekends, from 1pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. Its position makes it an easy choice after a walk along the promenade, and on light summer evenings it is a pleasant spot to finish a day at the coast. Menus for both restaurants are on the Antico website.

Best for: Suits a seaside meal after a walk on the pier, or a family dinner with something for everyone.

Vito's Osteria

Vito's Osteria is in a converted barn at the Stables at Sheepfolds, the food and drink courtyard on Easington Street just over Wearmouth Bridge from the city centre. The dining room doubles as Vito's Art Gallery, with artwork on the walls, and the restaurant says it was named among OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants for 2026.

It opens from midday to 10pm every day, which makes it one of the more flexible Italian options in the city for a late lunch or an early dinner. There are separate menus for children and for Sunday lunch. The Stadium of Light is a short walk away, so it is worth booking well ahead on match and concert days. Booking is through the Vito's Osteria website.

Best for: Suits a meal before a match or concert, or a relaxed Sunday lunch with children.

Signatures Italian

Signatures Italian is a neighbourhood restaurant and bar on Wynyard Street in Silksworth, on the south-west side of the city. Readers of the Sunderland Echo voted it Sunderland's best Italian and best Mediterranean restaurant. It describes itself as family-friendly, has a dog-friendly bar, good disabled access and on-street parking, and shows Sky and TNT Sport in the bar.

It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. From Wednesday to Friday it opens at 4pm, on Saturday at midday and on Sunday at 11.30am. Food is served until 9pm, or 8.30pm on Sundays, and the bar stays open later. A Christmas 2026 menu is on the Signatures website, and December dates tend to book up early.

Best for: Suits Silksworth and Doxford residents who want a local Italian, and families bringing the dog.

Picking the right one

For a city-centre evening, Angelo's is the natural choice, and it sits close to the bars covered in our best cocktail bars in Sunderland guide. Antico is the pick for the coast, and Vito's Osteria for anyone heading to the stadium; our Stadium of Light match day guide has more ideas for the walk to the ground. Signatures suits anyone who lives in the south of the city and would rather not travel into town.

If pizza is what you are after, our best pizza in Sunderland guide covers the specialist pizzerias as well. For a broader view of eating out, see the best restaurants in Sunderland and date night in Sunderland.

Know a place we have missed? Get in touch.