Fresh, handcrafted pasta dishes including Pappardelle Bolognese and ravioli, made daily with premium ingredients.
Classic and modern Italian mains such as scallops with risotto, lamb chops, and pan-seared chicken thighs.
Shareable starters like meatballs, focaccia, roasted Brussels sprouts, and calamari rings.
A curated selection of cocktails, wines, and spirits, with attentive drink recommendations and service.
Indulgent sweets including affogato, mango sorbet, and other Italian-inspired treats.
Accommodations for groups and special occasions in a stylish setting with personalized service.

Authentic Italian flavors crafted with passion in the heart of Raleigh.
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Vivace is a beloved Italian restaurant and bar in Raleigh, offering a warm, inviting atmosphere for casual dinners, special occasions, and everything in between. We specialize in house-made pasta, fresh ingredients, and classic Italian dishes like Pappardelle Bolognese, scallops with risotto, and lamb chops. With a moderate price point, we provide an upscale dining experience that's accessible to all, complemented by a curated selection of cocktails and wines. Our dedicated team ensures attentive service, making every visit memorable. Whether you're craving a cozy meal or celebrating with friends, Vivace delivers authentic Italian cuisine with a modern twist.
Best Bolenese Pasta, in the business, All made in house. Chris, Brad and Olivia, are always class act~ my Cheers Restaurant~Spiced Apple Cinnabon Chello
Great dinner with friends at this Italian dinner. Food was delicious. We shared apps of meatballs, foccacia & roasted brussel sprouts. I had the Pappardelle Bolognese and it was perfect. Noodles tasted fresh & done right & the meat sauce was good. Some folks opted for the affogato for dessert. They said it was perfect. Took off one star because they had the music cranked so loud that people had to shout to be heard. Why do restaurants do that? It's annoying. Go for the food & ask them to turn it down. :-)
My husband and I visited Vivace during our visit from Ohio and I can’t recommend this place enough. I can’t remember our servers name but he was a bald guy with glasses from New York and he made our visit amazing. He was attentive, accommodating, and pleasant. He gave great recommendations for food and drinks. I explained what type of drink I like and he pointed out a drink that I absolutely loved, and that’s rare for me. I got the scallops and risotto that was prepared just right and my husband had the lamb chops that were seasoned and grilled to perfection. We had calamari as an appetizer and I explained that I didn’t like the tentacles and he made sure we only had the rings. My husband and I truly enjoyed our visit here not only for the amazing food but the service as well.
the service was great. it was a little noisy. but the place was packed. the food was mostly good. I had the pan seared chicken thighs with the gnocchi and salad. the thighs were really good. perfectly seasoned and seared perfectly. did not care for gnocchi and salad was not very tasty. the dressing used was a too sweet for me. there were 6 in our party. all the plates looked good and everyone said there meal was tasty. if you go here you have to try the mango sorbet. absolutely delicious 😋
My dining experience at Vivace was one of the most disappointing meals I’ve had at an Italian restaurant, especially given its pricing. The issues began immediately with cold, stale bread and unappetizing spreads—hardly an inviting start. The ravioli were undercooked and bland, the crispy chicken was greasy and overcooked, and the gnocchi were rubbery and underseasoned. My steak ordered medium, arrived well-done, dry, and salty. Even the sides missed the mark—the caprese salad had unripe, mealy tomatoes, and the mushrooms tasted sour and cooked long time ago. The cocktails were another letdown: watered-down, lacking flavor, and—most shockingly—garnished with brown, wilted mint that had clearly oxidized. If a restaurant can’t even manage fresh garnishes, it calls into question their attention to detail across the board. For the prices charged, Vivace delivered an unacceptable level of quality. Between the poorly executed dishes, stale ingredients, and careless drink preparation, I cannot recommend this restaurant in its current state.
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