Il Bacio Ristorante Italiano
Nonna's recipes in a Cole Bay strip-mall trattoria where Chef Pietro still greets every table
Why Go
Tucked into The Hills shopping center on Welfare Road, Il Bacio is the kind of place that surprises you — you walk past the storefronts expecting nothing, then step into a warm, low-lit Italian dining room where a chef named Pietro is braising short ribs for 24 hours and hand-shaping pasta in the back. Opened in January 2026, it has already climbed to the top of Cole Bay's dining rankings, and the reason is unfussy: real Italian food, cooked slowly, served by people who remember your name by the second course.
The Experience
The room feels transplanted from a side street in Rome — soft lighting, banquettes, a covered outdoor terrace that catches the evening trade-wind breeze off the lagoon. This is a Dutch-side dinner spot rather than a lunch drop-in, so expect a leisurely two-hour arc: aperitivo, antipasti, a shared pasta, mains, and dessert. Chef Pietro named the restaurant after 'the last kiss' his mother gave him, and that story runs through the whole menu — recipes handed down and cooked without shortcuts. Friday through Sunday there's live music and big matches on the outdoor screen, giving weekends a livelier trattoria energy while weekdays stay quieter and more intimate. Service, led by a server the regulars ask for by name (Titi), is warm without being performative — Pietro himself will usually swing by your table mid-meal.
What to Try
Start with the beef carpaccio, then split Nonna's lasagna — the braised-meat ragù is the house calling card and the single dish reviewers mention most. Pasta obsessives should go for the fettuccine Bolognese (that same 24-hour braise) or the seafood risotto. The Roman-style thin-and-crispy pizzas are a strong lighter option, and the chicken parmesan and short ribs both punch above their menu price. Save room for the homemade tiramisu, and if you're in a group, order the Nutella pizza for the table — it's become a signature dessert. Vegetarian and gluten-free eaters are well handled; ask the server for the off-menu adaptations.
Insider Tip
Reserve — even midweek. It's a small room, it's the #1-ranked Cole Bay restaurant, and walk-ins on Friday through Sunday (when the live music runs) often get turned away. Call +1 721-584-1799 a day ahead, request Titi's section if you want the full personal-service treatment, and ask Pietro what came in fresh that day: the specials aren't always on the printed menu and are usually the best thing in the kitchen. Cash or card both work; USD is standard on the Dutch side.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Unit K, The Hills Shopping Mall, 69 Welfare Road, Cole Bay (Dutch side, ~5 min from Simpson Bay, ~10 min from Philipsburg). Hours: Mon–Thu 5pm–11pm, Fri–Sun 5pm–midnight; dinner only, no lunch service. Price: $$–$$$ (roughly USD $25–$45 mains, pizzas from ~$18). Payment: USD accepted, cards welcome. Reservations strongly recommended, especially weekends. Dress: smart casual — nobody's in a jacket, but skip the beach coverup. Wheelchair accessible, kid-friendly, full bar and wine list, free WiFi, private dining room available. Parking on-site at The Hills shopping center.
Pair It With
- Aqua Mania Adventures Guide — Book a morning or afternoon sail, snorkel, or lagoon tour out of Simpson Bay just up the road, then land at Il Bacio for a slow Italian dinner to close out the day.
- Aquarius Spa BV Guide — A late-afternoon massage or facial at this nearby Simpson Bay spa is the perfect pre-dinner wind-down before Pietro's 24-hour ragù.
- 3quency Salon, Spa and Barber Shop — A blowout or fresh cut right in Cole Bay makes an easy pre-dinner stop if you're turning the night into a proper date or special-occasion outing.
