If there’s a country that has mastered the art of making carbs more desirable than you ever thought possible…it’s got to be Italy. Luckily, Dubai has a pretty good offering of restaurants from the sunny region, here’s the places to get pizza and pasta ‘like mama used to make’.

10: Alta Badia

Set on Level 50 of the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in downtown Dubai, Alta Badia promises honest Italian cuisine, in a classy and unique setting. Named after a ski resort in Northern Italy, the menu is inspired by the dishes of this region using only the freshest seasonal produce and presented in a beautiful way. For a change from the delicious pasta dishes, be sure to try the lobster with barley salad and orange vanilla dressing. It’s worth a visit for the views alone, make sure you take the time to visit this little piece of Italy, right in the heart of downtown.

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9: Toscana Trattoria

If you’re down at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, then make sure to drop by Toscana Trattoria for a traditional Italian feast. It’s a popular spot, and when the weather allows it the terrace is a lovely spot for some alfresco dining. The pastas and pizzas have won countless culinary awards – we’ve got a special soft spot for the seafood spaghetti (below), delicious in taste and generous in portion size.

8: Vapiano

A no frills, no fuss institution, Vapiano are famed worldwide for their fresh, tasty Italian fare, and they never disappoint. Don’t expect table service here, it’s all about the cooking stations where you choose your pasta and pizza as you like it, which you then take back to your table to smash your face into. If you’re feeling healthy – they do a pretty mean salad too. With locations in Media City and Dubai Mall, whichever end of Dubai you find yourself in, you’re never far from a Vapiano. And if you aren’t close, Deliveroo.ae will drop it off for you.

(Dining in? Make Pizza In A Mug In Less Than 5 Minutes With This Handy Video)

7: Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo

Located in the Sheraton Hotel down at the Creek, the views from the terrace of Vivaldi are quite simply as stunning as the food on offer. The kitchen is overseen by Michelin starred chef Alfredo Russo, who brings over 40 years of culinary experience to the table (excuse the pun). So be sure to come here with a big appetite and an open mind. Be sure to try any of the seafood dishes for utter food satisfaction, choose from the tiger prawns, the salted cod fillet, the shrimp risotto and many more.

6: Armani / Dubai Caffe

As you’d expect from the mind of this international designer, the menu at this Milan style restaurant is nothing if not stylish. All of the ingredients are as fresh as can be and the simple dishes are delivered with flair, and if you don’t fancy the excellent pizza and pasta dishes on offer (we recommend the Maltagliati Pasta with Porcini Mushrooms and Black Truffle) they have delicious salads and desserts too. Located in Dubai Mall, the Armani / Dubai Caffe feeds hungry shoppers and dedicated foodies from 10am – 11.30pm, 7 days a week. Next time you’re feeling peckish on your shopping trip, be sure to swing by the Fashion Avenue Atrium and give it a try!

5: Solo Bistronoma

If you haven’t been to Solo Bistronoma at the Raffles hotel in Downtown Dubai, then quite frankly you’re missing out. Where do we start? The interiors are amazing, think rustique chic with multi-coloured cows heads adorning the walls, the building itself is shaped like a pyramid, the food is to die for, and they serve some of the best pizzas and pastas in this part of the world. Solo is all about socialising, and you really do feel part of the family when you dine here. Need to pick one dish? Choose from one of the twenty or so pizzas on offer.

4: Roberto’s

For a fine dining experience with fine Italian fare, Roberto’s in DIFC is a great place to start. The restaurant combines traditional Italian cooking with contemporary touches to appeal to the fussy palates of Dubai’s food lovers. There’s plenty of posh choices such as the chargrilled Wagyu beef options or the gluten-free seafood pasta, but we really do love ‘Musti’s’ pizza : a crispy dough base topped with burrata cheese, Datterini tomatoes and rocket…yum! Oh, and the handmade desserts are pretty special too.

3: Segreto

The guys at Segreto are so confident in their dining experience, that they call themselves one of the best Italian restaurants in Dubai. We’ll let you decide that for yourself, but they might just be right. The handmade poached lobster pasta is out of this world, the king crab and prawn salad is delicious and you can’t go home without trying the Wagyu beef carpaccio. This Italian is also in the perfectly romantic location of The Souk Madinat Jumeirah.

2: Le Dune Pizzeria

We couldn’t write an article about Italian restaurants, without including one of our favourite spots in Dubai. Le Dune Pizzeria is located in the Instagram worthy Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa, and the food is as impressive as the setting. Yes, it’s a fair journey out into the desert, and yes, the cab might cost a fair few dizzles, but for location and atmosphere, this place is a must. If you’re going for a pizza, we would actually recommend the vegetarian option (it’s piled high with every veggie going), and if you’re after a pasta the creamy carbonara is a must (they’ll remove the meat to provide a veggie option). You can either sit out on the terrace and take in the cool desert air, or sit inside the Arabian influenced dining room and be closer to the kitchen. It’s a tough choice but whatever you choose, you’ll love.

(Read: There Is A Renaissance Of Italian Cuisine Taking Place In Dubai Right Now)

1: Certo

If you’ve made it this far into our top ten Italian restaurants, then congratulations, you deserve to be let in on our little secret.

If you live at the Marina end of Dubai and you love Italian food, Certo at the Radisson Blu in Media City is a place you need to go to right now!

They’ve got every favourite dish covered from lasagna to lamb chops, seafood soup to beef ravioli, calzone and pizzas to mushroom risotto…just to name a tiny part of the menu. Every generous portion is cooked to perfection and tastes super fresh. Best of all, the restaurant is so unassuming, hidden away as you enter the lobby, but once inside it’s huge and airy, and if you choose a table close to the kitchen, you can even watch the chefs make your dinner.

If you can’t tear yourself away from the TV during these hot months, Deliveroo.ae will bring it right to your front door. Oh and did we mention it’s on Entertainer?

Seriously…what are you waiting for?

Now read: Five reasons why you have to go to Solo Bistronomia