I Maccheroni, Italian Osteria, Paddington

This place is special to us. It’s not just a restaurant it’s an experience. The food is proper traditional Italian, full of flavour and always consistent. That’s rare. Every time we walk in it feels like stepping into Little Italy. Warm, welcoming, and the kind of place you choose for birthdays and celebrations because you know it won’t disappoint. What really stands out is the consistency. Whether it’s a busy Saturday night or a quiet weekday dinner, the quality never drops. The pasta is always perfectly cooked, the sauces taste homemade and authentic, and the portions are generous without compromising on quality. The atmosphere is just as good as the food relaxed but lively, with that real family-run Italian feel that’s hard to find these days. We’ve tried plenty of Italian restaurants over the years, but we always come back here. It’s become our go-to for special occasions and casual dinners alike. Highly recommend if you’re looking for real, traditional Italian done properly.

To Giuseppe and team, Thank you so much for catering for us on Saturday 7th February for our engagement party. It was a really great night and the food was amazing! Everyone complimented how delicious everything was and your help with the set up was greatly appreciated. The waiters and bartenders were very attentive and delivered great service throughout the night. Once again a big thank you!

I had the best Italian food today at lunchtime. The restaurant has such a warm and cozy atmosphere, and all the staff were incredibly friendly. The owner was in the restaurant, personally making an effort to take care of every guest. The food was absolutely delicious. I love all the beef and seafood they cooked, it’s really good! I’m traveling in Sydney and my friend is sick, but the food was so good that I even got takeaway to bring back and share with her. This was definitely one of the best memories of my trip. I really envy the people who live nearby in Sydney.

We were very fortunate to have I Maccheroni vendor our wedding in September - they were spectacular from the initial contact made online right through to the delivery on our special day. The canapés during our cocktail hour have been the talk of our wedding day and the staff made it extra special by providing myself & my husband special plates set aside for us for when we arrived after our photography session. All the feedback from our guests has been so positive about the delicious food, the professionalism of the staff, their politeness and the great warm spirits. Marcello and Mattia worked really hard to appease and tailor our menu for any food requirements of guests (vegetarian, gluten free, pregnant, dairy free and the list goes on). Plus made special additions to really make it unique for us. We had a tight squeeze of guests in the space and the staff worked around the conditions without any complaints. They encapsulated our love of Italian food which was really special to include from my Italian heritage but made it contemporary for the coastal Sydney setting. We would recommend to anyone hosting a small or large event - whichever it is - to look no further ! photos by Ivy Erlinger, Loveday Weddings

After trying many italian restaurants in Sydney, this one has made it to the top of our list. The food was spectacular and the service incredible as well. The ribs are the best we’ve ever had and the pastas and desserts were beautiful too. Highly recommend the lamb ragu pasta and the ricotta tiramisu.