Cagliari
One of only three Michelin-starred restaurants in Sardinia, Dal Corsaro has long been a bastion of high-end culinary creativity. Calling the shots is chef…
Must-see restaurants in Italy
San Lorenzo & San Marco
The inevitable line outside the door says it all. This bakery is a Florentine favourite for pizza slices and chunks of schiacciata (Tuscan flatbread)…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
After cutting his teeth in the kitchens of a few of the culinary world’s most reputable names (think Georges Blanc and Gordon Ramsay), up-and-coming chef…
Turin
Breathing new life into a former industrial district, EDIT (which stands for Eat Drink Innovate Together) is set in a capacious two-storey building that…
Genoa
This old-fashioned tavern near the waterfront has been around in one form or another since the 1600s. Wooden tables, low-arched brick ceilings and a few…
Sorrento
Warm, buzzing and elegantly rustic, multilevel Zi'Ntonio draws everyone from local families and couples to clued-up out-of-towners. While earthy standouts…
Lake Como West Bank
A five-minute uphill walk from the waterfront along a jasmine-perfumed residential lane, this hotel restaurant sits atop a little rise. Inside, the timber…
Catania
Cats would kill for a table at Fratelli Vittorio, a cult-status eatery whose counter glistens with Catania's freshest fish and seafood. It's not…
Naples
Modern, casual Vero serves flavour-packed, flesh-free food at piazza-side tables and in an intimate, barrel-vaulted basement. The menu celebrates fusion…
Santa Maria Novella
Grab a vintage pew between book- and bottle-lined shelves inside the city's most dynamic independent bookshop, select a glass of well-chosen wine, and…
Stresa
The street profile isn’t a knockout and the interior isn’t particularly exciting either, but a quick opinion poll of local tastes will reveal that…
Taormina
With seating on an intimate, candlelit courtyard, this coveted nosh spot (book ahead!) is the passion project of siblings Jacqueline and Sara Ragusa. The…
Lake Maggiore & Around
Many folks make the sacrifice of climbing up in the evening for a romantic evening meal at the stile liberty (Italian art nouveau) Al Borducan. Inside is…
Ragusa
With an outdoor terrace facing the pretty Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio, Agli Archi reveals a genuine passion for local ingredients and…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton is one of Milan's most decorated, and his namesake restaurant sits in a futuristic glass tower amid the skyscrapers of…
Lake Como West Bank
With its shady terrace jutting out over the water, this is about the most romantic spot you could choose to eat around the Cadenabbia area. Marianna cooks…
Central Coast & Elba
Fine wine, wood-aged grappa, olive oil, honey and other gourmet treats produced on the restaurant's farm and vineyard go into the sensational cuisine of…
Antica Pizzeria e Trattoria al '22
Naples
Despite its pizza-centric menu, loud, familial Al '22 is famous for its parmigiana di melanzane (aubergine parmigiana), baked in terracotta ramekins and…
Verona
Tucked away in a backstreet, this osteria (casual tavern) is a popular treat typically frequented at mealtimes by whole families. The vintage Liberty…
Naples
On-point Dialetti takes its cues from cities like New York, London and Sydney. You'll find a snug, vintage-pimped lounge corner at the front, a communal…
Santa Croce
Niçoise chef Annie Féolde applies French techniques to her refined Tuscan cuisine and does it so well that this is the only restaurant in Tuscany to…
Cremona
For a break from risottos and pastas, this elegant Japanese spot makes a fine destination. Amid vaulted brick ceilings and flickering candles, Kandoo…
Catania
Affable Aurora and Carminia run this adorable little eatery, with alfresco tables on atmospheric Via Crociferi. The weekly-changing menu celebrates…
Sorrento
Festooned with garlic and with cured hams hanging from the ceiling, this down-to-earth favourite proves that top-notch produce and simplicity are the keys…
Ionian Coast
Book ahead for a table at what is Santa Maria la Scala's best seafood restaurant. As you enter you'll find the fish counter, where your order is picked…
Southeastern Sicily
A playful, contemporary cafe, pasticceria and providore, Don Tabaré collaborates with high-profile Sicilian chefs and food artisans to offer high-quality,…
Bergamo
Things have changed little since the original wine dealer started here in 1848. Elegant tables with delicate wrought-iron-backed chairs, globe lamps and…
Costa Smeralda
Hidden in granite mountains brushed with olive, myrtle and mastic trees, this stazzu (Gallurese stone-built country house) has a delightful garden terrace…
Lake Maggiore
If you like fresh lake fish then this is the place to come. Set right on the lake and surrounded by greenery, this hotel-restaurant serves up a mix of…
Positano
Superbly prepared dishes are served here by the third generation of restaurateurs. The emphasis is on fish dishes, which range from the adventurous, like…
Lake Iseo
On the southern shore of the island, this perfectly located spot serves a mouthwatering plate of mixed grilled lake fish as well as trout ravioli with…
The Dolomites
A welcoming oasis in the heart of the mountains, Rifugio Fanes seduces passing hikers with its sunny front terrace and platters of delicious South…
Central Lombardy
A sprawling yellow 18th-century farmhouse, La Coldana seats its guests in bustling dining rooms or out in a quiet garden. The kitchen is a cauldron of…
Santa Croce
A particular favourite with Florence's vegetarian and vegan crowd, this retro-fashioned cafe in Santa Croce is a hipster spot to hang out over freshly…
Lake Maggiore West Bank
Widely praised by locals, L'Imbuto is a modern, convivial lakeside restaurant that serves up creative, expertly prepared dishes that are excellent value…
Lake Como West Bank
The jet set loves this elegant eatery high above Cernobbio, and for good reason. Book a front-row table and you'll have unobstructed views of the lake…
Sorrento
With just six gingham-clothed tables in what resembles a homely front room with the kitchen beyond, this restaurant looks as though it belongs in a small…
Sorrento
Housed in a former monks’ wine cellar, this sophisticated restaurant offers far-from-monastic cuisine. The emphasis is on innovative regional cooking, so…
Piedmont
One of Saluzzo's iconic gathering spots, Le Quattro Stagioni has a cavernous but warmly lit dining room with vaulted ceilings, and fresh flowers on the…
Antica Pizza Fritta da Zia Esterina Sorbillo
Naples
This takeaway hotspot serves up huge, superlative pizza fritta, deep-fried pizza dough traditionally filled with pork cicoli (dried lard cubes), provola,…
