Volare on Lord Street has been my benchmark for Italian in Southport for years. It's not the only option, but it's the one I reach for when I want to know the town is doing something right. Here's the full picture.
What Southport's Italian restaurants actually offer
Southport's Italian restaurant scene sits comfortably in the mid-range — solid pasta, decent pizza, good wine lists, and the kind of atmosphere that works for date nights and family dinners with equal ease. There's no Michelin-starred Italian here, but there doesn't need to be. What exists is reliable, often very good, and considerably better than you'd find in many towns of Southport's size.
Volare, Lord Street
The standard-bearer. Volare has been on Lord Street long enough to have earned the trust of most Southport regulars — and consistently justified it. Proper Italian cooking, not the diluted version. The pasta is made well, the risotto is worth ordering, and the wine list is taken seriously. Book ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings: it fills up.
What to look for in any Italian restaurant
- →Fresh pasta, not dried — a kitchen that makes its own pasta is making a statement
- →Short menus: the Italians are right that fewer dishes done well beats an encyclopaedia of options
- →Pizza dough quality — the crust tells you everything about the oven temperature and timing
- →The quality of the olive oil on the table: good restaurants don't cut corners here
- →Whether the staff know the menu — a waiter who can tell you how the ragù is made knows the kitchen
For pizza specifically
Southport has a handful of places doing decent pizza. The better options use stone-baked bases and don't overload the toppings. Neapolitan-style, with a properly charred and blistered crust, is what to look for. Avoid anywhere with a laminated menu of 40 toppings — that's not a pizza restaurant, that's a topping delivery system.
Italian for groups
Italian restaurants generally handle groups well — shareable antipasti, easy-to-navigate menus, and a pace of eating that suits larger tables. If you're booking for six or more, call ahead: most good Italian restaurants in Southport will accommodate groups but appreciate the warning.
When to visit
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are the best value for Italian in Southport — quieter, more attentive service, and often a prix fixe or early evening menu. Weekend evenings are busier and more expensive, but the atmosphere is better if you want the full experience.
🍝My test for any Italian restaurant: order the cacio e pepe or a simple aglio e olio. They're technically demanding dishes with nowhere to hide. If those are good, the kitchen knows what it's doing.
Looking for more places to eat in Southport? Our restaurant guide covers every category — Italian, Indian, fine dining, and everything in between.
Browse all Southport restaurants →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
