Discovered: The most authentic spaghetti bolognese in and around Sydney

Gorgeous harbour views, authentic Italian hospitality and (most importantly!) mouthwateringly delicious spaghetti bolognese awaits you at Olivo.

Chef Mark Pedlar knows a thing or two about cooking up an Italian feast. The fare at Olivo is prepared using only the freshest Australian ingredients; artificial flavourings and processed ingredients are a big no-no here. This is a fake food free zone!

Book a table outside, breathe in that salty air, sit back and unwind as you enjoy the nautical comings and goings of Sydney Harbour.

It’s all delicious at this coliseum of Italian cuisine. Salmon and scallop ravioli, gnocchi alla crema di gorgonzola (I can hear the cheese lovers drooling already…) and the star of the show – a divine spaghetti bolognese in a traditional sauce with peas and parmesan. Buon appetito!

Dish Cult recommends the $14 dark chocolate panna cotta with raspberry coulis for dessert.

When your spaghetti is hand made by “the prince of pasta” himself, you know you’re in safe hands.

Mitch Orr (the pasta prince) makes his pasta from scratch daily at Cicciabella. Orr creates dishes driven by a core tenet of simplicity and quality. The carefully selected ingredients are left to do all the talking, the true Italian way!

Set inside a steel and concrete dining space, softened with elegant painted silk artworks. The atmosphere here is easy and paired back. This would be the perfect spot for a casual date night or a catch-up dinner with friends over a glass (or three!) of the $10 house wines.

Try the squid ink bucatini with grilled calamari and heirloom tomato, or the milk braised pork ragu. But we know why you’re really here. And yes, the spaghetti bolognese (ordered off the specials board) will well and truly knock your socks off…

For an alternative option to spag bol’, Dish Cult recommends the $28 risotto al limone.

Cheap and cheerful is what you will find at The Italian Bowl in Newtown. Oh, and a large portion of tasty spag bol’!

Located on bustling King St, this tried and true Inner-West eatery has been dishing up fresh, affordable Italian for over 15 years.

With over 1000 dishes served daily (and nearly double on weekends!), it’s no wonder linguine lovers from all over Sydney join the dinner-time queue as it snakes its way down King St.

But don’t worry! You won’t be waiting all night to taste the cheesy goodies. The Italian Bowl prides itself on its swift, speedy dinner service, with piping hot dishes leaving the kitchen “pasta than the speed of sound”.

Obviously, the $18 spaghetti bolognese is a clear winner. We suggest adding a serve of arancini balls, an order of extra cheesy garlic bread to share (or not to share!) and finishing up with the decadent tiramisu for dessert.

A fulfilling Italian feast that you won’t have to loosen your purse strings too much for. Though you may need to loosen your belt afterwards!

Dish Cult recommends the $16 penne arrabbiata for those after a red chilli kick.

Just a stone’s throw away from The Italian Bowl in neighbouring Enmore sits an equally impressive mecca of Italian scrumptiousness.

Stepping through the welcoming doors of La Ricetta is like walking into the home of your new adoptive Italian family, one that also happens to cook some darn tasty pasta dishes!

Chef Duncan Florean’s menu is all about using exceptionally fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Classic, tried and true, Italian cooking is the name of the game at La Ricetta.

Spaghetti bolognese fanatics are in for a real treat… With a special slow pot braised veal, beef and pork bolognese sauce that could seriously rival the real deal back in your Nonna’s Italian motherland!

Feel like changing things up a bit? Go for the fettuccine boscaiola – al dente fettuccine tossed with mushrooms, pancetta, cream, parsley, and parmesan cheese. A decadent, creamy bowl of debauchery that is well worth the food coma!

Understated sophistication is the mood here. Crisp white tablecloths and attentive wait service make for a dressed-up yet still casual dining space. The perfect spot for a Friday night family dinner or for a convenient, quick bite to eat before catching a show at the Enmore Theatre across the road.
Aside from the spaghetti bolognese, which dish gets the Dish Cult personal recommendation? The $18.90 ravioli all’ anitra – homemade ravioli filled with duck and prosciutto served with a sage sauce.

Last (but certainly not least!) on our hunt for the most authentic spaghetti bolognese in Sydney is a restaurant that loves spag bol’ so much, they dedicate an entire night to celebrating it!

Darlinghurst favourite Big Poppa’s has been dishing up delicious Italian since 2016 under the helm of executive chef Liam Driscoll.

If you’re looking to impress on that nervous first date, Big Poppa’s has your back. Exposed brick, leather couches and classic hip hop combine for an overall result of effortless cool.

Cheese lovers, listen up! You’ll want to sample each of the whopping 30 varieties of cheese that grace the menu at Big Poppa’s, all housed within their own dedicated 2-metre high cheese fridge! Seriously, nothing gets cheddar than this…

Cosa mi raccomanda? Spaghetti bolognese aficionados will want to tuck into the plentiful bowls of meaty, cheesy carby goodness – featuring a homestyle bolognese sauce consisting of pork and veal mince with a vegetable ragu. Devine!

For the member of your famiglia who isn’t a fan of spaghetti bolognese (blasphemy!), Dish Cult recommends the $22 melanzane al forno – baked Sicilian eggplant with stracciatella, drizzled with chilli oil and finished with a sprinkle of herbs.

Want to know more about Big Poppa’s? Check them out in our guide to romantic dining spots in Sydney.