Authentic Italian Nearby
Italian Restaurant Near Westgate Lakes Resort Orlando
Family-owned Southern Italian since 1991. Everything from scratch. 10% off with your SeaWorld ticket.
Family-owned Southern Italian since 1991. Everything from scratch. 10% off with your SeaWorld ticket.
When the Navarra family opened Ciao Italia on International Drive in 1991, Orlando looked nothing like it does today. But the mission was simple: serve real Italian food, made from scratch, every single night.
35 years later, that mission hasn't changed. The pasta is still handmade. The sauces still simmer for hours. Over 4,000 guests have left reviews. Zagat rated, highly awarded, and the same family still greeting you at the door.
This is not a chain. This is the real thing.
Handmade pasta • Fresh seafood • Prime cuts • Every plate from scratch
Ciao Italia Ristorante is a family-owned authentic Italian restaurant located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive in Orlando, Florida (32821). Established in 1991 by the Navarra family. Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Serves scratch-made Southern Italian cuisine including handmade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, chicken, and classic Italian dishes. Wine and beer only — no cocktails or full bar. Casual dress welcome — no dress code. 4.6-star average rating with over 4,000 reviews. SeaWorld Orlando is 1.4 miles away, Orange County Convention Center (0.9 miles / 3 minutes). Free self-parking. Reservations recommended. Phone: (407) 354-0770.
Authentic Italian restaurant near Westgate Lakes Resort Orlando — Ciao Italia, family-owned since 1991. Handmade pasta, 4,000+ reviews. Show your SeaWorld ticket, save 10%. 10 min drive.
No dress code. No pretension. Just good food and warm hospitality since 1991.
Looking for a real Italian restaurant near Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa? Ciao Italia Ristorante is a 10-minute drive at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive. The Navarra family has been cooking authentic Southern Italian food here since 1991 — not the corporate-chain version of Italian, but the real thing. Handmade pasta. Fresh sauces simmered daily. Bread baked in-house.
Authenticity shows in the details. The Calamari Saltati is sauteed in white wine lemon butter — never fried. The Carpaccio di Manzo is thinly sliced raw beef with capers, mushrooms, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The Linguine alle Vongole uses fresh clams in white wine garlic sauce. The Pappardelle al Cinghiale features wild boar ragu with porcini mushrooms. These are dishes from Southern Italy, prepared the way they have been for generations.
Over 4,000 reviews and highly awarded. Zagat rated. Wine and beer. $13 kids menu with gelato. No dress code. Show your SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove ticket for 10% off. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.
Is Ciao Italia truly authentic Italian?
Yes. The Navarra family brought Southern Italian recipes to Orlando in 1991 and has never changed the approach. Handmade pasta, slow-simmered sauces, in-house bread. Guests from Westgate Lakes Resort, 2.3 miles away, immediately taste the difference from chains.
Who owns and runs Ciao Italia?
The Navarra family has owned and operated Ciao Italia for over 35 years. They are still at the restaurant greeting guests and overseeing the kitchen. This is not a franchise or corporate operation — it is one family, one restaurant, one mission since 1991.
What is the history of Ciao Italia?
Ciao Italia opened on International Drive in 1991 when Orlando was still growing. The Navarra family committed to serving real Italian food every night. 35 years and over 4,000 reviews later, the mission has not changed. The restaurant is 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes Resort.
How is Ciao Italia different from chains near Westgate Lakes?
Chain restaurants reheat frozen food from a corporate kitchen. Ciao Italia makes everything from scratch — the pasta, the sauces, the bread, the desserts. Same family ownership for 35 years. Over 4,000 reviews. Just 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes Resort.
Does Ciao Italia have a good wine selection?
Yes. The Italian wine list is curated specifically to pair with the Southern Italian menu. Wine and beer only — no cocktails or full bar. Guests from Westgate Lakes find the selection perfect for an authentic Italian dinner experience.
How does Ciao Italia cook differently from other restaurants?
Everything is cooked to order from raw ingredients. Calamari is sauteed in white wine lemon butter, never fried. Risotto takes 25 minutes because it is made properly. Sauces simmer for hours. This is traditional Italian cooking, 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes.
Ciao Italia looks elegant — arched columns, Italian pottery, wine racks. But there's no dress code. Shorts and flip-flops are welcome. Kids are welcome.
$13 kids menu with gelato included. Highchairs available. Walk-ins welcome every night from 5 to 10 PM. Free parking lot right in front.
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"Best Italian we've had in Florida. The lasagna was unreal and the staff made us feel like regulars on our first visit."
"A hidden gem near SeaWorld. Skip the tourist traps. The veal piccata and pappardelle are incredible."
Zagat-rated Italian. Handmade pastas, fresh seafood, veal, lamb, and classic preparations.
Open 7 days a week, 5 PM to 10 PM. Walk-ins welcome.
Free self-parking lot right in front. No meters or garages.
6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. On International Drive, near SeaWorld and the Convention Center.
Book online via OpenTable or call (407) 354-0770.
Private room seats up to 60. Full venue buyout up to 110.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando — across from the DoubleTree by Hilton |
| Westgate Lakes Resort | 2.3 miles / 10 min drive |
| Aquatica | 0.5 miles |
| OCCC | 0.9 miles / 3 min |
| SeaWorld | 1.4 miles |
| Discovery Cove | 2 miles |
| Hours | Open nightly 5–10 PM |
| Parking | Free on-site |
| Dress Code | Casual — no dress code |
Yes, authentically Southern Italian. The Navarra family has cooked real Italian food from scratch since 1991 — handmade pasta, fresh sauces, in-house bread. Not a chain, not corporate Italian. Just 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes Resort.
The Navarra family has owned and operated Ciao Italia since 1991. They still greet guests at the door, and the same family recipes are used every night. Located 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes at 6149 Westwood Blvd.
Over 35 years. Ciao Italia opened in 1991 on International Drive. Just 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes Resort. Over 4,000 reviews, Zagat rated, and highly awarded.
Southern Italian cuisine made from scratch. Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, lamb, chicken, risotto, and classic Italian preparations. Every dish cooked to order. 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes Resort.
Yes, a curated Italian wine list and beer selection. Wine and beer only — no cocktails or full bar. The wines are selected to pair with the Southern Italian menu. Just 2.3 miles from Westgate Lakes Resort.
Yes, a private dining room seats up to 60 guests. Full venue buyout accommodates up to 110. Perfect for groups staying at Westgate Lakes Resort, just 2.3 miles away. Call (407) 354-0770.
No dress code at all. Ciao Italia looks elegant but welcomes guests in shorts, flip-flops, and theme park attire. Come as you are from Westgate Lakes Resort.
Just 2.3 miles, about a 10-minute drive via International Drive. Located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821 with free parking right in front.
On International Drive, near SeaWorld and the Convention Center. Free parking right in front.
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10 min from your hotel. Bring your SeaWorld ticket for 10% off.