The handsome (and rarely empty) bar at Giulia.
1 / 10

Giulia

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A beloved Italian gem serving refined, rustic cuisine with an emphasis on superlative handmade pastas in a cozy, intimate setting.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
The handsome (and rarely empty) bar at Giulia.

Giulia

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A beloved Italian gem serving refined, rustic cuisine with an emphasis on superlative handmade pastas in a cozy, intimate setting.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Consistently rated as one of the best Italian restaurants, Giulia offers a sublime dining experience worth the wait."

TIP

Reservations are Essential

Book well in advance, or try your luck with walk-in bar seating. Off-peak visits may offer better availability.

Don't Miss Signature Dishes

Highlights include chicken liver crostini, squid ink pasta, and the unforgettable pistachio gelato.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 5:30PM

Cuisine

Italian

Price

$$$

Phone

(617) 441-2800

Address

1682 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Handmade Pasta Perfection

Handmade Pasta Perfection

Experience the artistry of house-made pastas with unique regional flavors and fresh ingredients. A true Italian culinary journey.

Best Italian Restaurants in Boston Worth Going Out to Dinner ForCambridge Massachusetts Restaurant Guide
Exceptional Appetizers & Desserts

Exceptional Appetizers & Desserts

From delicate crudo to surprising gelato flavors, start and end your meal with memorable, expertly crafted dishes.

Google Review
Rustic, Welcoming Atmosphere

Rustic, Welcoming Atmosphere

A cozy, intimate setting with exposed brick and candlelight, perfect for lingering over a romantic meal.

14 Best Restaurants in Cambridge, MA: Fine Dining & Cool EatsRestaurants in Boston
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Replying to @angelhopesyoullstay if someone could PLEASE help us get a reservation at Giulia in the next week I would be FOREVER grateful #boston #giulia #giuliaroberts #bostonfoodies #bostonfoodie #bostonrestaurant #bostonrestaurants #italianfood #bostoncreator #foodie #foodtok #italianrestaurant #bostongirlies #newengland
@urfavemillennial
1.1K likes • 52.2K views

Reservations are Essential

Book well in advance, or try your luck with walk-in bar seating. Off-peak visits may offer better availability.

Don't Miss Signature Dishes

Highlights include chicken liver crostini, squid ink pasta, and the unforgettable pistachio gelato.

📍Giulia - how did #traveltok miss this one!? 🍷
@galilee.creative
9 likes • 332 views
Replying to @em all of your manifestations worked!!!! #boston #bostonfoodies #bostontiktok #bostonrestaurant #giulia #cambridgema #cambridgefood #bostoncreator #cambridgecreator #chicagocreator
@urfavemillennial
246 likes • 11.3K views

Consider the Bar for Walk-ins

If you can't secure a reservation, the bar area offers a great dining experience, though seating is limited.

Explore Daily Specials

Look beyond the regular menu for unique, seasonal flavor combinations crafted by the chef.

the Giulia salad is a huge success around here 🤩 #salad #italian #restaurant #boston #downtownboston #bostontiktok #bostonma #bostonfoodies #tivoli
@tivolicatering
39 likes • 1.5K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Reservations are Essential

Book well in advance, or try your luck with walk-in bar seating. Off-peak visits may offer better availability.

Don't Miss Signature Dishes

Highlights include chicken liver crostini, squid ink pasta, and the unforgettable pistachio gelato.

Consider the Bar for Walk-ins

If you can't secure a reservation, the bar area offers a great dining experience, though seating is limited.

Explore Daily Specials

Look beyond the regular menu for unique, seasonal flavor combinations crafted by the chef.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Giulia is celebrated for its exceptional, handmade Italian cuisine, particularly its pastas, which are consistently praised. Diners also rave about the welcoming yet rustic atmosphere and attentive service. While portions are noted as small and prices are on the higher side, the overall dining experience is considered a standout.

"Simply the best. The service is attentive, friendly, and helpful. The atmosphere is lovely. And most importantly the food is exceptional. I had been looking for an Italian restaurant with simple, delicious pastas and this is it. The squash agnolotti (filled pillow pastas) was my surprise favorite. If it sounds good on the menu it will probably be even better when it comes out!"

Alexander

"Great food and service. I know they can get away with it because they are so good but my only gripe with this place is that you have to have a reservation to get a table. To me it comes off a bit off putting if you are trying it out for the first time and didn’t know….(which happened to us) since it’s not common for most restaurants to ONLY allow reservations. Anyways the bar is your only option if you didn’t manage to snag a coveted reservation and the bar service was wonderful so I can’t complain. Overall, I loved the food and the standout item for me was actually the chicken liver crostini and the pistachio gelato dessert."

Rachel Iacomini

"My wife was flying home from a business trip in Tampa and asked me to pick a place to go out to dinner for my birthday and I chose Giulia. We arrived and got on the waitlist to sit at the bar, our favorite place to dine. The hostess was so pleasant and when it was time for us, she didn’t call or text, she came and found us and ushered us to our seats. We were greeted by Matt and our Giulia experience began. The atmosphere is so relaxed and welcoming, the food is absolutely fresh and delicious and the service is attentive and impeccable. We started with cocktails, mine was the mezcal with habanero, Margie’s was one with special rum, pineapple and orgeat, both well balanced and wonderful.
We chose to start with the eggplant caponata. The mix of flavors and textures with the sweet pepper and golden raisins and the toasted almonds and capers were simply delicious. We both ordered a full bodied, red wine to go with the dishes to follow. Next, not on the menu, was a truffle pasta special that was absolutely special. The creamy, buttery sauce, cheeses, fresh pasta and truffles were truly amazing.
We followed up the pasta with the house made sausage which sounded like a “beans and greens” dish, which we love and absolutely did not disappoint. And I have to say, the portions at Giulia do not over do it, they are right sized and let you try multiple choices from their wonderful selection.
Next was on to dessert and when Matt told us the chef was excited about how the chocolate chip, mint ice cream had come out, we just had to try it. And we were totally glad we did, every spoonful was joyful. We dubbed this dessert “Chef’s Excitement “ and shared the new name with Matt who chuckled at our excitement. Paired with a port for me and a Vin Santo for Margie, it was the perfect finish.
Overall, Giulia is a magnificent dining experience, every dish is a well portioned masterpiece, the service is impeccable and we cannot wait to come back."

David Cullerot

What People Like

Exquisite handmade pasta
Warm and rustic ambiance
Attentive and friendly service

What People Dislike

Difficult to get reservations
Small portions for the price

Frequently Asked Questions

Reservations are highly sought after and often book up weeks in advance. It's recommended to book online as soon as possible. Consider trying for bar seating if you can't secure a table.

The Best Restaurants In Cambridge - BostonGoogle Review

Giulia has a rustic and cozy atmosphere, suggesting a smart casual dress code. While not explicitly stated, most diners dress comfortably yet stylishly.

The handmade pastas are legendary, particularly the pappardelle with wild boar. Other highly recommended dishes include the chicken liver crostini and the pistachio gelato for dessert.

Best Restaurants in Porter Square · CambridgeGoogle Review

Yes, Giulia offers vegetarian dishes, with pasta options often available to accommodate this dietary preference.

Google Review

Due to its popularity, it's best to visit during off-peak hours or weekdays for a slightly better chance of seating without a reservation. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Diners often note that portions at Giulia are on the smaller side, which allows guests to sample multiple dishes.

Google Review+1

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Chef Michael Pagliarini’s lovingly house-made pastas put this Italian restaurant on the map when it opened a dozen years ago. While those pastas—particularly the fan-favorite pappardelle with braised wild boar—certainly don’t require any extra adornment, we won’t judge if you decide to splurge on a seasonal truffle add-on for a bit more decadence. Don’t be afraid to try a truffle dessert, too, when available: We’re still dreaming about a visit at the tail-end of white-truffle season, when we indulged in white-truffle gelato with white-truffle meringue, honey olive oil cake, and—you guessed it—shaved white truffles.

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It might seem hyperbolic to proclaim Giulia as my favorite Italian restaurant in America, but I’m not prone to exaggeration when it comes to something as important as pasta. Since opening in December 2012, this neighborhood spot between Porter and Harvard squares has been a go-to for Cantabrigians, Bostonians, and visitors alike, who come for locally-sourced, seasonally-inflected fare like Sardinian flatbread with ramp pesto, lobster and asparagus tortellini in brodo, and house made lamb sausage with wild fennel risotto. The vibe is casual, the food is sublime.

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