Restaurants in Italy

Some Italian restaurants in Rome tend to be more focused on functionality than aesthetics but it serves them well as these homely trattorias and bistros are full of delicious food made with the freshest ingredients from the markets. In fact, some of these restaurants are family-run businesses that usually serve the same dishes for years, but people do keep coming back every day for more. Most of these restaurants serve a range of fine wines and although you may be enjoying a delicious meal in a straightforward place, take heart that at least it’s not a pretentious restaurant that makes you feel uncomfortable!

So, when in Rome, don’t miss out Trattoria Monti with its excellent food and remarkable wine list and friendly service and options for vegetarians as well. There’s also La Pergola, where you can enjoy delicious Italian food such as potato gnocchi with caviar and chives while looking out over the city from the top floor of the Cavalieri Hotel. Another unmissable Roman eatery would be Bonci Pizzarium where only the best seasonal ingredients go into creating the most delicious pizza you have ever eaten. For thin wood-fired pizza romana, Li Rioni serves you well but if it’s gelato you’re after, then look no further than Fatamorgana with its organic, gluten-free gelato with inventive flavours such as black cherries and beer or baklava.

Milan might be known as the fashion capital of Italy but a look at some of the bars and restaurants here will reveal that the touch of trendiness has reached these as well. While the familiar favourites remain deeply entrenched in memory, there are interesting twists which make them all the more appealing. If you want to eat the best Italian food in Milan, then don’t look for showy restaurants but focus on those which bring the best and freshest ingredients to the table using interesting and traditional techniques.

Seafood lovers will agree that one of the best places to eat in Italy, particularly Milan, is Pescaria with its rustic fisherman sort of feel to it. The sandwiches here are sublime while the fresh seafood is paired with unusual ingredients, but it is the octopus sandwich with ricotta cheese that is said to be the best. For some home cooking in an elegant environment, look no further than Dongio with its fresh pasta in tomato sauce or the Italian version of eggplant Parmesan which is so much better when it is called parmigiana di melanzane. Langosteria is another favoured Italian restaurant featuring seafood like king crab or oysters. For a different sort of pizza, try the Pesto di Basilico at Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo where your pizza is covered in pesto. For the creamiest risottos, head straight to Ratana.

Deciding what to eat in Italy is not difficult even though the choices are plentiful. It’s where would you eat it, as it’s easy to get lost in the numerous places there, especially in a beautiful city such as Venice. There are casual cafés where you can eat cheap but delicious fare but on the other end, there are also affordable, family-run restaurants where you can eat fulfilling meals. If you don’t mind shelling out more money, there are also Michelin starred restaurants, some of which require deposits as part of the booking, so you can understand the sort of food that you will get to experience here is indeed out of this world.

In Venice, among the many Italian restaurants you can eat at, the foremost could well be Enoteca Al Volto, one of the oldest wine bars in Venice. The old world charm here is complemented by delicious and generous portions of classic dishes such as spaghetti with clams. Meat lovers will rejoice when they enter Al Timon with its seared slices of steak, served with plenty of potatoes and vegetables. Most of these restaurants look out over the water, adding an element of unmistakable allure. In Osteria La Zucca, don’t miss out on the signature pumpkin and ricotta flan or the lasagne in Antiche Carampane. Other places to enjoy Italian food here include Ristorante Riviera or CoVino.

The historic city of Florence is flush with crowds who are always on the lookout for the typical sightseeing spots. But food is another game altogether. Traditional Florentine food such as minestrone or grilled meats can be found in Trattoria Da Burde Firenze, not too far from the historical centre of the city. The Trattoria Sabatino is where you need to go for non-fussy and inexpensive food such as roast chicken while Ristorante Il Guscio is just the opposite, where classic favourites such as dumplings are elevated to gourmet status.

If you’re feeling exhausted by all the Italian food, then Culinaria Bistro brings French and Moroccan cuisine serving lemon and sesame chicken and couscous tagines. In S. Forno, all your carb-fuelled dreams come true as you enjoy fresh panini with freshly churned butter or choose from the amazing selection of cakes, biscotti, loaves and salted flatbread pizzas. Lastly, Enoteca Bellini is a warm and family-like restaurant where you can enjoy anchovy toasts that are delicious and quite unmatchable.

Other Italian restaurants include La Pizza Sorbillo in Naples which many believe, is the home of the best pizza. If you’ve managed to zero in on the best places to eat in Italy, then do note that SOTC brings a multitude of interesting offers and deals on Italy holidays which will make your trip hassle-free and bookings painless.