Best Italian Restaurants in Cheltenham: Pasta, Lunch Deals
Six Italian restaurants in Cheltenham chosen for their pasta, from £11.90 at PORKETTA to Primavera's house-made tortellini, with lunch deals from £11.95, gluten-free options and when to book.
In short: the best Italian restaurants in Cheltenham are Belgrave House Settebello on Imperial Square for pasta (ox cheek pappardelle, £19), Primavera Ristorante in Montpellier for a trattoria that makes its own pasta (from £16.95) and Gianni Ristorante, cooking Italian since 1996. For a cheap plate, every pasta at PORKETTA is £11.90. Book dinner at the first three.
Six Italian kitchens in Cheltenham, from family-run trattorias to two chains that suit families, chosen for their pasta. Every dish, price and opening time below was checked on the restaurant's own website on 27 October 2026. Pizza has its own guide, the best pizza in Cheltenham, so the pizzerias are there. See every Italian restaurant in the directory.
What are the best Italian restaurants in Cheltenham?
Settebello and Primavera for a proper pasta dinner, Gianni for a long-standing trattoria and PORKETTA for a quick, cheap plate.
| Restaurant | Style and area | A pasta to try | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrave House Settebello | Southern Italian, Imperial Square | Pappardelle al ragù | £19 |
| Primavera Ristorante | Trattoria, Montpellier | Tortellini di carni | £19.95 |
| Gianni Ristorante | Trattoria, Royal Well Place | Tagliatelle al salmone | £18.95 |
| PORKETTA | Street food, High Street | Amatriciana | £11.90 |
| Zizzi | Chain, Suffolk Square | Truffle carbonara | £19.75 |
| Prezzo | Chain, Promenade and Brewery Quarter | Arrabbiata | £15.50 |
Where is the best pasta in Cheltenham?
Primavera makes its own pasta and Settebello has the most ambitious list. Gianni and PORKETTA cost less.
Belgrave House Settebello
Southern Italian cooking in Belgrave House on Imperial Square. The pappardelle al ragù is slow-braised ox cheek with red wine and mushrooms (£19), and "the holy trinity of pasta" brings carbonara, amatriciana and alla gricia to share for £48. The Sotto bar opens at 10am for brunch.
- 🍝 Pappardelle al ragù £19
- 🍕 48-hour sourdough pizza from £12
- 🍽️ Set lunch 2 courses £19, 3 for £23
- 💷 12% service charge
- 📍 Imperial Square, Town Centre
Primavera Ristorante
A Montpellier trattoria that makes its own pasta, bread and pizza dough and buys all its produce within 40 miles of Cheltenham. Eleven pastas run from spaghetti alla Norma (£16.95) to linguine marinara (£20.95). The tortellini di carni, filled with pork and mortadella in a dolcelatte sauce, is £19.95.
- 🍝 Pasta £16.95 to £20.95
- ⏰ Dinner daily 5pm to 10pm, lunch Tue to Sat
- 🌾 Gluten-free penne on most pastas
- 📍 Montpellier Terrace, Montpellier
Gianni Ristorante
Serving Italian food since 1996, with dishes prepared by Italian chefs. The pasta list runs from spaghetti Napoli (£14.95) to tagliatelle al salmone with cognac, smoked salmon and caviar (£18.95), with risottos alongside. Takeaway is the dine-in menu with 20% off.
- 🍝 Pasta £14.95 to £18.95
- 🍕 Pinsa £15 to £17
- ⏰ Closed Mondays, Sunday 12pm to 4pm
- 📍 Royal Well Place, Town Centre
PORKETTA
A family-owned Italian street food shop whose speciality is porchetta, Italian-style roast hog in a white ciabatta for £10. All eleven pastas on the menu its website posted in April 2025, from beef ragù to amatriciana and pasta alla vodka, cost £11.90, and the homemade lasagna is £14; treat these prices as a guide and check when you order.
- 🍝 Every pasta £11.90
- 🥪 Porchetta ciabatta £10
- ⏰ 12pm to 10pm, closed Tuesdays
- 🛵 Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats
- 📍 High Street, Town Centre
Which Italian chains suit families?
Zizzi and Prezzo both open every day from 11.30am, have children's menus and can do gluten-free pasta and pizza.
Zizzi
The Cheltenham Zizzi is inside St James Church on Suffolk Square, near Montpellier Gardens. Pomodoro spaghetti is £14.25 and the truffle carbonara £19.75, and the three-course children's menu is £8.95.
- 🍝 Pasta from £14.25
- 🍽️ 2 courses from £15.95, Mon to Fri until 5pm
- ⏰ Daily from 11.30am
- 📍 Suffolk Square, The Suffolks
Prezzo
Two branches on the same menu: 99 Promenade and the Brewery Quarter. Rigatoni arrabbiata is £15.50, spaghetti carbonara £18.50 and the lasagne £18.95.
- 🍝 Pasta £15.50 to £22.50
- 🍽️ Pizza or pasta and a drink £11.95, weekday lunch, with an online code
- ⏰ Daily from 11.30am
- 📍 Promenade, Town Centre
Is there a set lunch deal?
Yes, at five of the six, and PORKETTA's pasta is £11.90 all day. These are the offers on the restaurants' own websites.
| Where | Deal | When |
|---|---|---|
| Gianni | Salad or garlic bread plus a pasta, £11.95 | Lunchtime, 12pm to 2pm |
| Prezzo | Any pizza or pasta and a drink, £11.95; 2 courses £14.95; both with a code from Prezzo's website | Mon to Fri 12pm to 3pm |
| Zizzi | Main plus a starter or dessert, from £15.95 | Mon to Fri until 5pm |
| Settebello | 2 courses £19, 3 courses £23 | Mon to Fri 12pm to 3pm, until 13 November 2026 |
| Primavera | 2 courses £21.95, 3 courses £26.95 | Tue to Sat 12pm to 2pm |
Where should I go for pizza?
For a pizzeria, read the best pizza in Cheltenham, which covers Bosco Pizzeria, Fat Master's and the slices at Nasprias. If the table wants both pasta and pizza, Settebello's 48-hour sourdough starts with a marinara at £12, Primavera's house-dough margherita is £15.95 and Gianni makes pinsa, a light Roman flatbread pizza.
Which Italian restaurants do gluten-free pasta?
Four say so on their websites. Tell the staff when you order.
- 🍝 Primavera: any pasta except lasagne and tortellini, made with corn and rice penne
- 🍝 Settebello: dishes marked gluten-free or gluten-free option, the ox cheek pappardelle among the options
- 🍕 Zizzi: non-gluten pastas and pizzas, and non-gluten children's pasta
- 🍕 Prezzo: pastas and pizzas made gluten-free, from a separate menu
Do I need to book?
For dinner at Settebello, Primavera and Gianni, yes. Settebello takes walk-ins but strongly encourages booking ahead. Gianni books online or by phone on 01242 221101. Primavera books online and asks groups larger than eight to call, and it does not seat children under 12 after 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. PORKETTA is casual, with takeaway and delivery.
Italian restaurants in Cheltenham: questions
What is the best Italian restaurant in Cheltenham?
Belgrave House Settebello on Imperial Square for pasta, Primavera Ristorante in Montpellier for a trattoria that makes its own pasta, and Gianni Ristorante, cooking Italian on Royal Well Place since 1996.
How much does an Italian meal cost in Cheltenham?
Pasta runs from £11.90 at PORKETTA to £20.95 at Primavera. A two-course weekday set lunch costs £19 at Settebello and £21.95 at Primavera, and Settebello adds a 12% service charge.
Where can I get a cheap Italian lunch in Cheltenham?
Gianni does salad or garlic bread plus a pasta for £11.95 at lunchtime, Prezzo does any pizza or pasta with a drink for £11.95 on weekdays from 12pm to 3pm with a code from its website, and every pasta at PORKETTA is £11.90.
Which Italian restaurants in Cheltenham do gluten-free pasta?
Primavera cooks any pasta except lasagne and tortellini with gluten-free penne, Settebello marks gluten-free dishes on its menu, and Zizzi and Prezzo have gluten-free pasta and pizza.
Which Italian restaurants in Cheltenham are good for children?
Zizzi has a three-course children's menu for £8.95, Gianni a kids' menu for £9.95, and Prezzo and Settebello have children's menus too. Primavera does not seat under-12s after 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays.