eating in italy
 

we are wandering the countryside of italy for 3 weeks in may. have 3 bases for wandering. problem: planned on having breakfast in our villa, then day trip (1-2 hour drive) lunch, then back to our place for light dinner. since most restaurants seem to be closed 1-5, when do you eat lunch? enjoying eating and light drink but don't want to drive in evening after wine. am i wrong in my planning?

thanks

I don't think most restaurants close as early as 1:00...more like 2:00 or 2:30. But they don't kick you out at that time, that's usually when they stop taking orders I have found, so as long as you stop for lunch before 2:00 you should be fine.

The problem we always have with day trips that are 1-2 hours away from our base is that you need to leave very early to get there in time before all the shops close up and draw their shutters for lunch - usually around 12:00 to 12:30, and they stay shuttered until 3:00 to 4:00. So seeing two towns in one day means an early start for us.

You are confused. The shops close 1-4 but that is when people eat lunch---typically 1-3.

thanks for clearing up my confusion

toledodd, the way we do it is this:

small breakfast, early start , drive to first place, explore. small lunch, drive to second place while everything is shut, arrive at the time that everything is opening again, tour, then drive back to base for supper.

we prefer to stay in places where we can eat dinner on site or have a choice of restaurants so that one of us doesn't have to forgo the pleasure of drinking some wine with their supper.

Yes, in smaller town many thing close from 12 or 12:30 until 3 or 3:30 pm - so the employees can go home for lunch, And as long as you order your lunch by 2 or a little before you should be fine. Then things open up again in the afternoon - perhaps from 3:30 or 4 until 7 or even 8 - when people then go home for dinner.

Note this is not SO true in larger cities where some places (typically not restaurants but sandwich shops or casuale cafes) will stay open all day so you can get at least a drink or a snack between 3:30 or 4 and 7/8 pm when restaurants open again.

THIS LOOKS LIKE IT WILL FIT INTO OUR PLANS.

THANKS

GOOD!

YOU'RE WELCOME.