This Italian restaurant is always bustling with customers. The decor is imitative of Milan, and the specialties are homemade pastas. Other incredible dishes include osso buco and veal scaloppini. This restaurant is popular, so come mingle with the locals while you dine. Metro: Colon

CHAMARTIN. Families, young people, and business professionals flock here for superb pizza, pasta, and Italian favorites. The interior of Gino's Pizzería is cozy, and the service is excellent. METRO: Concha Espina.

SALAMANCA. Italian fare is the specialty here, with favorites such as pizza, pasta, and calzones offered. Numerous options are available. A charming atmosphere with romantic ambience pervades the restaurant and it is particularly popular during lunchtime. METRO: Velázquez

If you are looking for an inexpensive trattoria, Nabucco has delicious food for a reasonable price. Good choices include cannelloni, one of the many veal selections, or osso buco. The spinach, ricotta, and walnut ravioli are must-tries! Reservations are recommended. Metro: Alonso Martínez

ATOCHA. Part of a large chain, this Italian restaurant and pizzeria is located near the Reina Sofía art museum and plaza area, an area that usually bustles with neighborhood activity. This long, narrow restaurant boasts an outdoor dining area for those who want to dine al fresco. The pizzeria is situated adjacent to the formal dining room, in which guests enjoy pasta, chicken, pizza, and of course, tiramisu. METRO: Atocha