10 Can't-Miss Restaurants in Italy
It’s true that every region of Italy has its own culinary tradition and specialty, but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on trying the classic Italian dishes when you’re traveling around the country. Some restaurants are so famous they receive recognition worldwide, while others serve such amazing food they go unnoticed by most tourists, but all of them will leave you wishing you had more room in your stomach to finish your plate! Here are 10 can’t-miss restaurants in Italy.
Venice: Da Fiore
For an authentic Venetian dining experience, skip La Fenice, as tempting as it might be to visit one of Venice’s most celebrated restaurants, and instead try Da Fiore on Fondamente Nove. The tiny eatery is by no means a secret—the food is fantastic, service top notch and prices affordable—but if you want to beat your fellow tourists to a table here (which will be difficult given how popular it is), do so early. Reservations are a must.Tuscany: Hosteria San Lorenzo
This charming, family-run trattoria boasts simple Tuscan cuisine at its finest. When you walk into Hosteria San Lorenzo, you’ll be blown away by how delicious everything looks—and it tastes even better. The perfect way to end a meal here is with a glass of homemade limoncello.Florence: Carabé
Although it’s located just steps from Florence’s famous Piazza Santa Croce, Carabé is easy to miss: The modest restaurant can be easy to pass by. After all, it doesn’t exactly boast a large sign out front or its own website.Rome: Fiamma
To quote Anthony Bourdain, Fiamma is perhaps, my favorite restaurant in all of Italy. Located a short walk from Rome’s Tiburtina train station, Fiamma offers a creative take on classic Italian cuisine. The menu changes with each season—when we visited, there was an emphasis on vegetables and fish—but you can expect to find staples like octopus carpaccio, garganelli with porcini mushrooms and veal shank as well.Naples: Mangia e Bevi
A typical Napoletano restaurant located in Vomero (one of Naples’ hills), Mangia e Bevi is an authentic restaurant that serves good pizza and pasta. To top it off, its signature dessert, cannoli siciliani, is a must to try. The prices are low and will suit any budget. For only €8 you can have a delicious three-course meal! This restaurant is definitely a go to place when visiting Naples!Amalfi Coast: Gambero Rosso Ristorante Delle Sirene
Located on Positano’s Cinque Terre coastline, Gambero Rosso Ristorante Delle Sirene is a contemporary restaurant that overlooks both Amalfi and Positano. The owner who is also an award-winning chef creates menus that change daily, using locally sourced ingredients to bring you signature dishes of authentic Italian cuisine. If you want to try your luck at catching fresh fish for dinner, then all you have to do is catch it yourself!Sicily: Palazzo Petrolo Locanda Di Sant'Agata
Palermo, Sicily Palazzo Petrolo Locanda Di Sant'Agata is one of those places that feels like home, from when you first step foot into its inviting courtyard. The staff makes you feel like you're at a relative's dinner party—only with food so good, they might have to fight to get you out of there.Cinque Terre, Liguria region (northwest): La Capannina A Cornetto
This quaint restaurant serves fresh seafood caught daily off of Cinque Terre. The second-floor location offers stunning views of Vernazza and its coastline—it’s a great spot to sit back and enjoy a seafood lunch while taking in panoramic sea views.Lake Como (Northeast Lombardy): Osteria Al Pontile & Lo Scoglio Blu – Varenna
Trattoria Del Pescatore (on Lake Como) – Verona: Osteria Ora d’Aria – Venice: Trattoria Da Fiorentino & Osteria Al Leon D’Oro – Milan: Ristorante La Piola – Florence: Ristorante I Due Fratellini & Osteria Il Giglio – Rome: Taverna dei Quattro Venti, Gino e Carlo, and Tavernaccio – Naples: Antica Cucina Napoletana.Rome/Pompeii area (southwest): Mocciola Conca D'Oro – Vico Equense
More of a bar than restaurant, Mocciola Conca D'Oro is usually packed with Italian families (always a good sign). The menu offers both traditional and modern food, with a focus on fresh seafood. If you're not sure what to order, try ossobuco (braised veal shank) and tagliatelle al nero di seppia (black cuttlefish pasta).