International Drive
Best Italian Food on International Drive
Skip the chains. Authentic Italian cuisine minutes from I-Drive. Zagat rated since 1991.
Italian Food Worth Leaving I-Drive For
International Drive has restaurants. Hundreds of them. You can walk a mile in either direction and pass a dozen places that serve Italian food. Most of them are chains. Most of them microwave more than they cook. The bread comes from a bag, the sauce comes from a can, and the pasta was boiled from a box forty minutes ago. That is not Italian food. That is a restaurant wearing an Italian costume.
Ciao Italia Ristorante is the best Italian food near International Drive. It is a short drive from the tourist corridor, tucked on Westwood Boulevard where the Navarra family has been cooking since 1991. The pasta is made by hand every day. The seafood is fresh. The recipes came from southern Italy, not from a corporate test kitchen. This is the restaurant I-Drive visitors find when they stop settling for average.
What Makes Ciao Italia Different
The kitchen at Ciao Italia does not take shortcuts. The Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu is slow-cooked for hours. The Risotto alla Pescatora is made to order with fresh seafood. The Vitello Piccata is pounded thin and finished with capers, artichokes, and a bright lemon sauce. The tiramisu is made in-house daily. Every dish reflects what happens when a family has been perfecting recipes for over three decades.
The wine list is entirely Italian, curated to match the food. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, nothing like the loud, fluorescent-lit restaurants that line International Drive. After a day of theme parks and tourist traps, Ciao Italia feels like a genuine escape.
Location and Parking
Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32821, just minutes from International Drive, SeaWorld, and the Orange County Convention Center. Free self-parking is available for all guests. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM.
Reservations are recommended, especially during peak tourist season. Call (407) 354-0770 or book through OpenTable. Private dining is available for groups up to 60, with full restaurant buyouts accommodating up to 110 guests.
🍴
Cuisine
Zagat-rated Italian. Handmade pastas, fresh seafood, veal, lamb, and classic preparations.
🕑
Hours
Open 7 days a week, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Minutes from International Drive.
🚗
Free Parking
Complimentary self-parking for all guests. No meters, no garages, no fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Italian restaurant near International Drive?
Ciao Italia Ristorante is a Zagat-rated Italian restaurant located minutes from International Drive at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando. Family-owned since 1991, it serves handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and authentic Italian cuisine nightly from 5 to 10 PM.
How far is Ciao Italia from International Drive?
Ciao Italia is a short drive from International Drive, located on Westwood Boulevard near SeaWorld and the Orange County Convention Center. The restaurant offers free self-parking for all guests.
Is Ciao Italia better than the chain Italian restaurants on I-Drive?
Ciao Italia is an independently owned, family-run restaurant with handmade pasta, a curated Italian wine list, and recipes brought from southern Italy. With 3,000+ reviews and 9 awards including Zagat recognition, it offers a fundamentally different experience than chain restaurants.
Does Ciao Italia take reservations for International Drive visitors?
Yes. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (407) 354-0770 or through OpenTable. The restaurant is open 7 days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM with free self-parking.
