These are the best Italian restaurants in Maastricht
Maastricht is called by many the most Italian city of Netherlands the Netherlands. It has a rich Roman past and the Romans left lasting traces on the trade route that once crossed the city. These Italian restaurants in Maastricht may not have been founded by men in feathered helmets or togas, but they are definitely the tastiest in the city, according to colleague Sophie from Italiamo, and she knows it.
8 x delicious restaurants in Maastricht for Italian food
Gio’s Cucina Casalinga
An authentic Italian restaurant at the Vrijthof where you eat what the pot offers. No menu, just choose from meat, fish, or vegetarian and the food will come to you. This way, you are guaranteed quality food. The homey restaurant is run by an Italian couple who have been at the helm since the early ’80s, and although Gio has long passed retirement age, he still comes out from the kitchen to show his face. Online reservations are not possible and it is always busy, so drop by at an un-Italian time and put on your best smile.
Gio’s Cucina Casalinga – Vrijthof 29A, Maastricht
Toscanella Apuana
Don't be put off by the fluorescent lighting: Toscanella is truly Italian in every way (except for the prices) and therefore good. If you want to sit somewhere cozier, walk a few doors down to the wine bar. There you will be well seated and they serve part of the same menu.
Toscanella Apuana – Rechtstraat 22, Maastricht
Mediterraneo
Here you eat Tuscan cuisine at a high level. Beautiful ingredients, good wines, a nice atmosphere, and friendly Italians at your table. The price reflects that. So don't go for a daily special; just enjoy a nice menu here. And then hope they throw enough truffle in, because they love that at Mediterraneo.
Mediterraneo – Rechtstraat 73, Maastricht
Il Bacaro
Another Italian at the Vrijthof, but this one is a cozy hipster spot. Here you find bar snacks in Venetian style; cicchetti that you can order all day long and are perfect for sharing. I say: zucchini fritti (fried zucchini), melanzane con miele (eggplant with honey), affettati (the Italian equivalent of charcuterie)… Additionally, there are weekly specials on the menu such as Italian cheese fondue, plus salads, pastas, and dolci. And a row of Super Tuscans!
Il Bacaro – Vrijthof 16E, Maastricht
Vino&Friends
At Vino&Friends, it's not only very cozy, eating is also a celebration. They cook with products from their own vegetable garden a bit further away and their homemade pastas are ‘the perfect symbiosis of semola rimacinata, egg yolk, a whole lot of passion, and hard work’. A quote from themselves, because I won't make it more poetic for you. Extra fun is the fourth Tuesday of the month which they recently started: during this Giro d’Italia, a different region is highlighted each time in the form of regional dishes and local wines. Ah, speaking of wine: there is also an impressive wine cellar waiting for you here with aged gems.
Vino&Friends – Plankstraat 6, Maastricht
Sjiek Kookpunt
Italian restaurant run by Italy lovers where workshops are also held and you can take fresh dishes, olive oil, self-imported wines, and more from the little shop. Planning to work your way through this entire list? Save it for the summer, then you can eat outside at long tables with white tablecloths.
Sjiek Kookpunt – Hoogbrugstraat 15, Maastricht
Tomato
You should go to Tomato when you don't feel like the Italian language, waving hands, difficult-to-pronounce antipasti, but do feel like great pasta or pizza, which you then eat in a pleasantly hip, Dutch hospitality interior.
Tomato – Koestraat 21, Maastricht
Restaurant Laus
A real Italian who has cleverly chosen classics on the menu that are well known to us. Also, having drinks at Laus is fun, because having drinks with panzerottini (a kind of mini calzone from Puglia) and arancini (Sicilian bitterballen but with risotto, don't let them hear that) is a guarantee for success.
Restaurant Laus – Bredestraat 7, Maastricht
Source: Italiamo
