Italian Restaurant Near Hilton Orlando
Real Italian food 0.8 miles from your hotel. Family recipes since 1991. 10% off with SeaWorld ticket.
Family-Owned Italian — Since 1991 — 6149 Westwood Blvd
The Real Italian Restaurant Near Hilton Orlando
Not Olive Garden. Not a hotel restaurant pretending to serve Italian. Ciao Italia Ristorante is the real thing — a family-owned Italian restaurant where the Navarra family has been cooking authentic Southern Italian food since 1991.
The restaurant is 0.8 miles from the Hilton Orlando, at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive. A quick 5-minute drive. The Hilton connects directly to the Orange County Convention Center, so most guests are convention attendees looking for something better than the food court. They find it here — handmade pasta, recipes from Italy, 4,000+ reviews, 9 culinary awards, and free parking right in front.
Casual and welcoming. No dress code, shorts welcome. Come straight from the convention floor. Upscale vibes, casual comfort.
35 Years of Family Recipes
The Navarra family brought their recipes from Southern Italy and opened Ciao Italia in 1991. Thirty-five years later, they are still here, still cooking everything from scratch, still greeting guests at the door. The pasta is rolled and cut in the kitchen every day. The sauces simmer all afternoon. Nothing comes from a bag or a freezer.
That kind of consistency is rare in a convention city. The chain restaurants turn over every few years. The hotel restaurants change chefs every season. Ciao Italia has been the same family, the same recipes, the same quality for 35 years. That is why the reviews keep coming — over 4,000 and counting.
Southern Italian, Made the Right Way
The menu reads like a trip through Southern Italy. Pappardelle al Cinghiale — wide ribbons of pasta with wild boar ragu, porcini mushrooms, and pecorino. Tortellini Brasato e Tartufo — braised beef and truffle cream sauce. Linguine alle Vongole — fresh clams in white wine garlic sauce. Calamari Saltati — sautéed in white wine lemon butter, not breaded, not deep-fried.
For secondi, there is Australian lamb, veal piccata, pan-seared salmon, and braised short rib. Italian wine and beer curated to pair with the food. A $13 kids menu with gelato included. This is authentic Italian — not Americanized, not dumbed down, not a chain version of what Italian food should taste like.
Bring Your Park Ticket
If you visited SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove during your convention trip, bring your ticket to dinner. Show it at Ciao Italia and save 10% on your entire check — antipasti through dessert. The parks are minutes from the Hilton Orlando, and Ciao Italia is a quick drive from all of them.
How to Drive Over
Head west on International Drive from the Hilton Orlando. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd — 0.8 miles, about a 5-minute drive. Free parking lot right in front. No valet, no meters — just pull in and walk through the door.
More Questions About Italian Near Hilton Orlando
Is there authentic Italian near Hilton Orlando?
Yes. Ciao Italia Ristorante is 0.8 miles from the Hilton Orlando — about a 5-minute drive. The Navarra family has been making authentic Southern Italian food here since 1991. Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, Italian wine and beer. Over 4,000 reviews, 9 awards. Free parking at 6149 Westwood Blvd.
What makes Ciao Italia different from chains?
Ciao Italia is family-owned by the Navarra family since 1991 — not a chain, not a franchise. Every pasta is handmade in the kitchen. The recipes come from Italy. Over 4,000 reviews and 9 culinary awards. This is the real Italian restaurant that convention cities rarely have.
Does Ciao Italia offer a SeaWorld discount?
Yes. Show your SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove ticket and save 10% on dinner. The discount applies to your entire check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ciao Italia family-friendly?
Absolutely. Casual and welcoming with a $13 kids menu that includes gelato for dessert. Highchairs available. No dress code — shorts and flip-flops welcome.
Do I need a reservation?
Walk-ins are welcome every night. For groups of 6+, call ahead at (407) 354-0770.
Does Ciao Italia have wine?
Yes. Ciao Italia offers an Italian wine list and beer selection curated to pair with the food.
Does Ciao Italia have free parking?
Yes. Free parking lot right in front of the restaurant. Important for Hilton Orlando guests who are driving over.
5 Minutes from Hilton Orlando
0.8 miles — free parking when you arrive
Get Driving Directions from Hilton OrlandoMore From Ciao Italia
Authentic Italian, 5 Minutes Away
Family recipes since 1991. Free parking.
Published by Ciao Italia Ristorante, family-owned by the Navarra family on International Drive since 1991. Over 35 years of authentic Italian hospitality in Orlando, Florida.