Must-see restaurants in Italy

  • Acqu' e Sale

    Sorrento

    This so-called 'water and salt' restaurant with a dazzling blue-and-white interior is right next to the ferry terminal. Seafood here is worth getting…

  • Officina del Mare

    Naples

    While this place lacks the waterfront views of its neighbours, it also lacks the dated kitsch. Furthermore, both the chef and sommelier hail from Naples'…

  • Ristorante Max

    Positano

    Dining at Max's is like dining in the stately home of an aristocratic friend – a room stuffed with art, statuettes, rich carpets and literary tomes. Not…

  • Sabatini

    Spoleto

    Forget studying the menu – just go for one of the tasting menus and loosen a belt notch in readiness for dish after delectable dish. This is home cooking…

  • Doppiozeroo

    Southern Rome

    This easy-going cafe, restaurant and wine bar hybrid was once a bakery, hence the name (‘double zero’ is a type of flour). These days it attracts trendy…

  • La Lampara

    Procida

    Enjoying a quaint harbour view that has adorned many a guidebook, La Lampara looks down on Procida's agreeably lived-in marina from its seagull's-eye…

  • Archestrato di Gela

    Palermo

    If you're serious about wood-fired pie, book at least two days ahead at what many consider to be the best pizzeria in town. The puffy, Neapolitan-style…

  • Porta di Basso

    Peschici

    Superb views of the ocean drop away from the floor-to-ceiling windows beside intimate alcove tables at this adventurous and stylish clifftop restaurant…

  • Gelateria Dassie

    Treviso

    No one should leave Treviso without savouring an award-winning gelato by Stefano Dassie, one of Italy's top gelatisti. The Dassie family has a 45-year…

  • Tramura

    Trapani

    Grandly set on the coastal walkway atop the old city walls, this casual eatery sports brilliant sea views with not a car in sight. Potted plants suspended…

  • Next2

    Positano

    Local produce and polished takes on tradition underscore sophisticated Next2. Standouts include the signature conchiglioni ripieni di ragù alla bolognese…

  • Mercato Orientale Genova

    Genoa

    In 2019 a gourmet food hall landed in Genoa's oldest market, offering nearly a dozen different stands. You can dine on wood-oven-fired pizzas, pastas,…

  • Al Vicolo

    Catania

    Clued-in Al Vicolo wears several hats well: bustling pizzeria, gourmet deli and designer bistro. The competent pizzas are huge, with a signature bordo…

  • Enoteca La Torre

    Vatican City, Borgo & Prati

    The romantic art nouveau Villa Laetitia provides an aristocratic setting for this refined Michelin-starred restaurant. It's a solid member in good…

  • Vineria San Fortunato

    Todi

    Wine lovers are in their element at this slick wine bar, where Umbrian and Tuscan wines are perfectly matched with delicious tasting platters of salumi e…

  • Caupona Taverna di Sicilia

    Trapani

    Fresh fish rules the menu at this fabulous family-run spot two blocks from the port, which markets itself very much as 'la casa del cuscus trapanese' (the…

  • Trattoria Casottel

    Milan

    Those hankering for home-cooking by a real Italian nonna need look no further. In a rustic farmhouse in the gritty Corvetto area, Signora Isa cooks up…

  • Salvmeria

    Venice

    Fashioned from an old deli, Marco Ginepri’s cool cichetteria serves accomplished food and excellent Veneto wines by the glass. Gourmet cicheti (Venetian…

  • Mercato Ritrovato

    Bologna

    This lively, eco-focused Saturday market is a wonderful spot to escape fellow tourists and wander among booths of craft beer, wine, artisanal cheeses,…

  • Lido Zabbara

    Western Sicily

    For tasty, reasonably priced food near the ruins, hit this low-key beach eatery, rocking it on the sand since 1969. Affable long-time owner Jòjò welcomes…

  • Ristorante Sotto Sale

    Western Sicily

    Favignana's favourite spot for a romantic dinner, Sotto Sale caters to a sophisticated crowd with beautifully presented nouvelle Sicilian cuisine. Savour…

  • Ristorante da Rino

    Como

    When the (acclaimed) specialities of the house all involve truffles, you know you're onto a good thing. They're all over the menu here, including truffles…

  • La Vineria

    Brescia

    Near the Piazza della Loggia, La Vineria serves up delectable regional cuisine at al fresco tables under a portico or in a classy dining room with vaulted…

  • Il Baretto al Baglioni

    Milan

    Il Baretto's cosy, clubby atmosphere and top-notch, no-nonsense Milanese menu keep its wood-panelled dining rooms packed with silver-haired foxes and…

  • Palazzo Petrucci

    Naples

    Fine-dining, beachside Petrucci excites palates with unexpected takes on Italian traditions. Here, 'lasagna' might mean mozzarella with raw prawn and…

  • Pasticceria Dal Mas

    Venice

    This historic Venetian bakery-cafe sparkles with mirrors, marble and metal trim, fitting for the pastries displayed within. Despite the perpetual morning…

  • Sissi

    Merano (Meran)

    Andrea Fenoglio is one of the region's best-loved chefs and his big personality fills this small early 20th-century room. The food here is inventive, for…

  • Pizzeria Da Franco

    Sorrento

    Casual Da Franco's long wooden tables are rarely short of customers, many of them here for the superlative pizza. Served in tin trays, it's made the…

  • Serafino

    Naples

    A veritable porthole to Sicily, this takeaway stand peddles authentic island street food. Savoury bites include various types of arancini (deep-fried rice…

  • Enoteca Al Boeuc

    Orta San Giulio

    Cross the threshold from the sunny street to the dark stone and wood interior of this suitably lived-in old cantina where a bar the size of a residential…

  • Il Cavatappi

    Lake Como

    Set along a narrow pedestrian lane in the upper part of Varenna, Il Cavatappi is an intimate spot with just seven tables set amid arched ceilings and…

  • Consorzio

    Turin

    At this Quadrilatero Romano institution, it can be almost impossible to secure a table. Do book ahead, don't expect flash decor and pay the not-always…

  • Arlecchino

    Cilento Coast

    Located across from the beach in the pretty southernmost part of Santa Maria, popular Arlecchino has picture windows overlooking the small sweep of sand…

  • Ristorante-Pizzeria Majella

    Abruzzo

    You could easily walk right past this restaurant; it doesn’t brag about its existence. Instead, its reputation is carried by word of mouth – which in…

  • Ristorante Ferro

    Palermo

    All clean lines, timber panels and tinted mirrors, intimate, family-run Ferro wouldn't look out of place in London or Sydney. Whether you're savouring a…

  • Nadir

    Perugia

    Buried under the Cinema Zenith, Perugia's oldest cinema, this local favourite draws a savvy alternative crowd. In keeping with the art-house atmosphere,…

  • La Medusa

    Syracuse

    This friendly, family-run spot made its name serving delicious couscous, but chef-owner Kamel also knows his way around a fish − the must-try fritto misto…

  • Hostaria Romana

    Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale

    Beloved of locals and tourists alike, this bustling place in Trevi is everything an Italian trattoria should be. Order an antipasto or pasta (excellent)…

  • Trattoria Il Veliero

    Western Sicily

    Just north of the hydrofoil dock, this family-run waterfront eatery is a seafood-lover's fantasy. Chef-owner Peppe Bevilacqua goes to the market daily,…

  • Umberto a Mare

    Ischia

    For 80 years lucky diners have been watching the sun set at this terraced restaurant by the Spanish mission–style Soccorso church in Forio. Pick between a…

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