1178 Best Restaurants in Italy

This eatery has minimalist decor and young owners who are committed to local produce—right down to listing all producers on their website—without being scared to experiment. The wine list is really interesting, focusing mainly on small Sicilian bottles, and there is also a good selection of artisanal beer.

After 14 years in Austin, Texas, chef Cristina Bowerman returned to Rome to reconnect with her Italian roots, and her cooking is as innovative as the building she works in (Glass has received numerous recognitions for its design as well as its expertly executed cuisine). The menu, which changes frequently, features dishes like a standout steak tartare and lobster polenta with yuba.

Even on rainy days (which admittedly there aren't many of), the sun seems to shine bright here. You can order what is, arguably, the best granita in the Catania area; the pistachio is so creamy you'll swear it has added dairy. The blood orange highlights the robust flavor of the local citrus while the lemon is refreshingly bright, sweet, and tart; and the chocolate is dark and rich. Area residents pop in to have granita with warm brioche for breakfast, lunch, or as an afternoon snack (yes, granita counts as lunch).

Come for breakfast, a predinner aperitivo, or anything in between at this always lively historic coffeehouse—opened in 1775 and taken over by the famous culinary Alajmo family in 2011—in the center of the action on Piazza San Marco. Choose from a wide selection of pastries at breakfast (though the cappuccino and brioche combo is always a classic), pizzas at lunch, and tramezzini and cicheti all day long.

What Americans know as Sicilian pizza quite frankly doesn't exist in Sicily, but at this historic café and pizzeria that's been around since the 1800s, you'll find the real pizza siciliana. Though you can find the dish throughout the area, especially in Viagrande and Zafferana, Urna is said to be its inventor: they stuff tender calzone pastry with Tuma cheese, anchovies, and black peppercorns, and then deep-fry the half-moon delicacy. The result is a gooey, savory, flaky delight. Eat it in the outside garden or get it to go.

Top-quality local ingredients are used in this modern, brightly lit pizzeria, where a vast range of pizzas are served—including seasonal, gourmet, and gluten-free varieties—with a choice of four different doughs. The eclectic menu also takes in delicious antipasti, burgers, pastas, and seafood. To accompany your meal, order from a good selection of bottled or draught artisan beers. Service is rapid, and the patient staff answer all queries.

Under the porticoes of gorgeous Piazza Matteoti, with its vibrant student and dialect-speaking locals, Grosmi is a reliable choice for excellent coffee, pastries, and people-watching. Although the brioche filled with chocolate, custard, or fruit jam are staples, some opt for a small cake or macaroon to accompany their caffeine fix.

Inside atmospheric stone-walled ancient cellars, the latest incarnation of Guido—which began in 1961 in Costigliole d’Asti—is now managed by the son of the original owners. It serves excellent preparations of traditional dishes best sampled with one of the three tasting menus (including one vegan option), along with superlative pairings of wine from the surrounding regions.

For those who can afford it, lunch or dinner at Harry's Bar is as much a part of a visit to Venice as a walk across Piazza San Marco or a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal. Inside, the suave, subdued beige-on-white decor is unchanged from the 1930s, and the classic Venetian fare is carefully and excellently prepared. Harry's is not just a fine restaurant; it's a cultural institution. When founder Giuseppe Cipriani opened the doors in 1931, the place became a favorite of almost every famous name to visit Venice (including Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Ernest Hemingway) and still attracts much of Venetian high society as regulars. Today, many still remember Harry's as one of the few restaurants in town that continued to serve Jewish patrons during the period of the Fascist racial laws. Don't miss the signature crepes flambées or famous Cipriani chocolate cake for dessert. Because a meal at Harry's is as much about being seen there, book one of the cramped tables on the ground floor—the upper floor of the restaurant is the Venetian equivalent of Siberia (take heart if seated there: views from the second-floor windows look like framed paintings). Be sure to order a Bellini cocktail—a refreshing mix of white peach puree and sparking prosecco—this is its birthplace, after all. On the other hand, true to its retro atmosphere, Harry's makes one of the best martinis in town.

Renowned for its simply crafted dishes made with the freshest seasonal catch, Cosenza's best seafood restaurant has (appropriately enough) a minimalist, blue-and-white, nautical-theme interior. Guided by a waiter, you might start with a selection of antipasti to share, followed by a classic pasta allo scoglio (spaghetti with mixed seafood) and a main fritto misto di mare (medley of fried seafood).

The concept of a "home restaurant," where people set up small restaurants in their homes, is becoming increasingly popular in Sicily. A five-minute car ride from Scala dei Turchi, you'll find "A Casa di Donatella," a tiny dining room inside the home of Donatella, a passionate home cook. Don't expect fine dining, but rather a warm home environment where you'll sample hearty homemade pastas and fresh seafood. If you're looking for an affordable and unique experience, give it a try. Reservations are essential, so call ahead (via WhatsApp).

An offshoot of the highly regarded (but evenings-only) Hostaria Ducale restaurant off Piazza De Ferrari, this more casual and modern place located on the upper floor of Genoa's Mercato Orientale makes the most of the fresh produce arrayed on the stalls below. The small but select menu of meat and seafood dishes changes all the time; recent highlights include fried anchovies, ossobuco ravioli, and, for dessert, zabaglione with brioche and salted caramel. The flavors are somehow enhanced by the bird's-eye view over the busy market below.

The trusty Hostaria (open since 1954) has rustic fireside dining downstairs and more elegantly decorated rooms upstairs, where there's also an intimate terrace under the Duomo. It's a great place for sampling regional specialties such as orzotto (barley prepared like risotto), delicious cjalzòns or cjarsons (ravioli from the Carnia), and seasonal meat dishes, accompanied by a fabulous wine list. Service is pleasant and attentive.

Gabriella Cicero's one-stop restaurant and gourmet food shop delvers a plethora of Sicilian slow-foodie delights, from scrumptious street-food scaccia and panelle staples to an exquisite, superb-value tasting menu foregrounding Sicilian produce and culinary history. Under the stylishly adorned stone vaults of the centuries-old Palazzo Diquattro, diners dive into classic seafood spaghetto taratatatà (with tuna roe, almonds, and lemon), then the unmissable chocolate-glazed pork collar with artichoke and potato purée. The wonderful staff expertly match wines from the extensively-stocked cantina.  

There's a steady stream of locals of all ages at this traditional but fashionable spot on a typical vicolo of the old town. The small and reasonably priced daily menu follows the seasons, with generous portions of fish and pasta, sandwiches, vegetables, and homemade desserts.

A hop, skip, and a jump from Orsanmichele in the centro storico and in existence since 1875, I Fratellini sells wines by the glass and has a lengthy list of panini, including pecorino with sundried tomatoes and spicy wild-boar salami with a creamy cheese spread. There are no tables, although there are a few chairs set on the street, as this is strictly a sandwich counter.

In a contemporary villa built entirely of wood on the outskirts of Asti, chef Enrico Pivieri uses a mix of local and international ingredients to create new takes on traditional dishes with a global flair. The Shaken Horse is especially strong in seafood—rare for meat-heavy Piedmont—with such creative plates as gnocchi with cuttlefish ink in miso broth with smoked sardines and fried Sicilian anchovies with giardiniera (pickled vegetables in vinegar).

The three Troiani brothers—Angelo in the kitchen and Giuseppe and Massimo presiding over the dining room and wine cellar—have been quietly redefining the experience of Italian alta cucina (haute cuisine) since 1990 at this well-regarded establishment in a tiny, nondescript alley north of Piazza Navona. The service is attentive without being overbearing, and the wine list is exceptional.

Opened in 1981 by Elia Rizzo, the nationally renowned fine-dining Desco cuisine is now crafted by talented son Matteo. True to Italian and Rizzo culinary traditions, he preserves natural flavors through careful ingredient selection, adding daring combinations inspired by stints in kitchens around the world. For an extravagant gastronomic adventure, try the multicourse seasonal tasting menu. Il Desco's interior is elegant and colorful, with sculpture, paintings, and an impressive 16th-century lacunar ceiling.

Divine, cutting-edge food and Tuscan classics are served in this one-room space, where in winter you may find a roaring fireplace, and in warmer months there's outdoor seating on a pretty little piazza. If mushrooms or tartufo are in season, try homemade pasta topped with them. A local favorite during winter is the coniglio con olive (rabbit stew with olives). There are also three set tasting menus.

This rustic-meets-glamorous bistro attracts locals for its flawless execution of Roman classics (many served photogenically in metal cooking pans) as well as original dishes. Its bar is known among amaro connoisseurs for having the largest selection in Rome, and the bitter liquors are the stars of the expertly crafted cocktail menu.

When you’re not in the mood for an Italian-style lunch or dinner (read: leisurely), head to the Mercato Centrale for a selection of foods—from more than 20 food stands—like fresh pasta, fish, roast meats, pizza, and fried dishes; more international options including ramen and Peruvian plates; and a good choice of cocktails, wines, and beer. But don’t fill up on the mains, as you’ll also find a delightful selection of baked goods and, of course, gelato, for a sweet finish.

Brotherly love (and ownership) and quality seafood are among the things that make this old-town restaurant so exceptional. Modern artwork, stone pillars, and arched ceilings help to provide a fitting setting for the predominantly traditional cuisine livened up with modern elements. Appetizers created by the Ladu brothers might include tuna tartare, and smoked salmon with burrata. The seasonal menu always features local fish and might include homemade pastas such as lados con ragù di galletto ruspante e casizzolu (disc-shape pasta with a sauce of free-range rooster and local cheese). Desserts such as pineapple salad with lemon sorbet or pecorino cheese with fig jam are not to be missed. Service is attentive and welcoming. Booking is recommended.

You might not expect to find an ultramodern place to dine within a few minutes' drive of Agrigento's ancient temples. Yet, this restaurant offers pleasing versions of Sicilian classics in a trendy, country-chic atmosphere (think moody lighting and funky geometric tile floors mixed with walls lined with old-fashioned crockery and cookware) and is popular with young locals. The thoughtful wine list offers reasonable prices on local wines and those from throughout Sicily. Weather permitting, dine on the terrace for outstanding temple views. You can make reservations online.

Just above the Grotta Azzurra with a to-die-for view of the Sorrentine coast and Vesuvius, Il Riccio is a true Mediterranean experience. Capri Palace Jumeirah's executive culinary chef Andrea Migliaccio, supported by executive chef Salvatore Elefante, has created a menu featuring innovative takes on typical Neapolitan recipes, based mainly on seafood. For those with a sweet tooth, the famous dessert room offers the widest selection of local pastries on the island. Alas, sun beds at the beach club are reserved for the hotel's guests.

Though it has only four tables and four small stools at an equally small bar, Il Santino is blessed with a big wine list and superior cheeses, cured meats, and other delicacies. It's the perfect place to have a snack or a light meal.

Florentines and other lovers of good food flock to "The Holy Drinker" for Tuscan-inspired dishes—perhaps the exceptional verdure sott'olio or the terrina di fegatini (a creamy chicken-liver spread) to start, followed by one of the divine pastas. Unpretentious white walls, dark wood furniture, and paper placemats provide the simple decor. The extensive wine list is well priced.

Tucked away from Via G. Orlandi, there's always a warm, relaxed family welcome and deliciously simple Caprese food here. Do book a spot in the gorgeously gnarled, vine-dappled garden setting. Opened in 1960 as a rustic family inn, each generation has added innovative menu touches, including scialatielli pasta with potato in the mix, tuna with sesame seed crust, and homemade desserts including torta Caprese

Find some of the best food in Portovenere at this airy, affordable, and casual portside restaurant. The menu is typical "Ligure," ranging from meat to pasta with seafood, and also offers farinata (fried pancake), focaccia, and pizza. The turquoise and white decor and benches with pillows for lounging create a playful, relaxing atmosphere.

In the back of a butcher shop that's been operating since 1968, the Pennisi family opened this meat-focused 30-seat restaurant in December 2017. In the front, you'll find cases full of dry-aged beef; house-made sausages, guanciale, lardo, pancetta, and headcheese; whole chickens; beef liver and veal tongue; and skewers of hand-rolled involtini. You choose your meat from the cases, and they prepare it over a live-fire grill in the back, which you can watch through the plate-glass wall.