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Food - Amarena, San Francisco, CA

Amarena

4.6 (1308)
$31 to $50
Italian
2162 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Make a reservation

A photo of Amarena restaurant

Amarena

4.6
$31 to $50
Italian
Russian Hill

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for business meals
  • Charming
  • Great for outdoor dining
Welcome to Amarena, our beloved classic neighborhood Italian restaurant.
Proudly serving the Russian Hill Neighborhood for over 20 years, dishing out delicious Italian classics while providing loving service. We hope to see you soon!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    PAOLO GALLI
  • Private party facilities
    The restaurant is available also for Private Parties (lunch time) everyday. Please contact us 7 days in advance for large parties. Thanks very much.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Russian Hill
  • Cross street
    Green St.
  • Parking details
    Parking lots in the area: On Polk between Broadway and Vallejo and on Pacific and Polk Street.
  • Public transit
    45
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Videos

Shared by creators who recently dined at this restaurant.

  • Profile image

    nickichews

    revisiting all my favorite foodie spots in San Francisco before i move 😭 (part 2) @amarena_restaurant is a neighborhood Italian restaurant in Russian Hill, and my favorite spot for authentic Italian food. They are so good at making classic Italian dishes—never trying to get too fancy while still packing insanely good flavor. Perfect dinner spot for date night, group dinners with friends, or any occasion ❤️

  • Profile image

    nickichews

    📍 @amarena_restaurant 🍝 BACK AT OUR FAVORITE ITALIAN SPOT IN SAN FRANCISCO 🙂‍↕️ Amarena was so good we had to come back for more. We decided to try completely different items on their menu, and we were just as impressed. Their arancinis might have to be our new favorite appetizer. The wild boar ragout was INSANE. And their veal shank over soft polenta was to die for. Love this Nob Hill neighborhood spot. Perfect for any occasion! GET OVER HERE! 🫡

  • Profile image

    nickichews

    📍 @amarena_restaurant 🍝 This is my new favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco! We discovered Amarena in Russian Hill a few weeks ago. This is probably the best, most authentic Italian food we’ve had in the city. The ambiance is warm and cozy, perfect for date night or groups. They have all the Italian classics including pasta, seafood, and wine. The owner, Paolo came from Sicily over 20 years ago, opening up Amarena. This spot is a neighborhood classic and a must try in SF! Will definitely be coming back here when craving true Italian food :) #sffoodie #italianfood #pasta

Videos are powered by Seekeasy. How this content is generated

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Amarena.

4.6

4.6
(1308)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Amarena provides an "intimate and wonderful" dining experience with "fantastic" Italian cuisine and a "friendly and informative" staff that treats guests like family. It's a "fantastic neighborhood spot" with outstanding food, atmosphere, and service. Patrons praise the "amazing pasta" and "yummy wine," making it a "highly recommend" destination.
1,308 Reviews
  1. Christy

    Cincinnati6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 23, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such an intimate and wonderful restaurant. It’s classic Italian. The staff is friendly and informative and treat all the guests like family. Highly recommend

    Is this helpful?

  2. Rhonda Gold

    Columbus7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 16, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely dining experience. Had the sole and a small plate of the pasta Tagliolini Funghi . Both very good. Nice atmosphere, would dine here again

    Is this helpful?

  3. Andrew

    Wisconsin5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 10, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic neighborhood Italian restaurant. Food, service, atmosphere are all outstanding. A very enjoyable Friday night!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Linda Gold

    San Francisco19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love ding outside; enjoy the wine list choices, food service

    Is this helpful?

  5. Manuel

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 2, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food totally recommend to anybody looking for Italian food.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Rob

    San Francisco17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Always a solid spot for good food and wine with a kind staff

    Is this helpful?

  7. sergio

    Austin1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 27, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was fantastic and ambience was great. Had to wait a while for table even despite having reservation for 8PM. Also, had to ask for food menus to be given after sitting a while. Overall great restaurant & would come back.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Divit

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 27, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great Food, helpful staff, did not feel like I was being rushed out the door while eating. 

    Is this helpful?

  9. Richard

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    a family favorite continually provide outstanding service and delicious meals food portions are large

    Is this helpful?

  10. Marcia Gold

    San Francisco22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 12, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amarena is such a wonderful neighborhood spot with first class food and service. It was a delightful evening. You just can't go wrong there… Start with the spicy cucumber salad and some of the bruschetta… You can go anywhere from there, including the truffle mushroom pasta which is my favorite.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    PAOLO GALLI
  • Private party facilities
    The restaurant is available also for Private Parties (lunch time) everyday. Please contact us 7 days in advance for large parties. Thanks very much.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Russian Hill
  • Cross street
    Green St.
  • Parking details
    Parking lots in the area: On Polk between Broadway and Vallejo and on Pacific and Polk Street.
  • Public transit
    45
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wine

FAQs

Guests describe portions as generous, and several reviewers note that the pasta dishes are filling without being overly heavy.

Yes, Amarena offers outdoor seating, including a charming parklet/sidewalk dining area with string lights; guests frequently mention dining outside and enjoying the parklet on sunny evenings.

Saturday evenings are a lovely choice, guests report getting outdoor seating without a reservation, making it a great option for a relaxed date-night in the parklet.

Yes, Amarena is a warm, intimate spot for a date night, with dimmed lighting, a charming parklet strung with lights, and many guests praising its romantic atmosphere.

Amarena feels like a warm, cozy neighborhood Italian, intimate and dimly lit in the evening, with a convivial, sometimes bustling energy and a welcoming, authentic vibe.

Casual dress is the guide at Amarena, comfortable, neat attire is appropriate and nothing formal is required.

At Amarena you can dine in a cozy indoor dining room, sit at the bar, or enjoy the outdoor parklet/sidewalk seating (heaters are available on cooler evenings).

Yes, families dine here comfortably; reviewers describe family dinners and celebrations, and staff are noted for being accommodating (for example, preparing gluten‑free pasta for a guest with celiac).

Amarena is at its best around happy hour, about 5–6 pm, when pasta and wine are discounted, and the outdoor seating gets comfortable after early evening; later dinner hours tend to be busier.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Russian Hill

Make a reservation

A photo of Amarena restaurant

Amarena

4.6
$31 to $50
Italian
Russian Hill

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today
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