Merano (Meran)
Andrea Fenoglio is one of the region's best-loved chefs and his big personality fills this small early 20th-century room. The food here is inventive, for…
Must-see restaurants in Italy
Vulcano
Maurizio, owner of this devilishly good restaurant between the port and the volcano, spent 20 winters in Goa, India. Eastern influences sneak into his…
Sorrento
Casual Da Franco's long wooden tables are rarely short of customers, many of them here for the superlative pizza. Served in tin trays, it's made the…
Orta San Giulio
Cross the threshold from the sunny street to the dark stone and wood interior of this suitably lived-in old cantina where a bar the size of a residential…
Naples
A veritable porthole to Sicily, this takeaway stand peddles authentic island street food. Savoury bites include various types of arancini (deep-fried rice…
Cilento Coast
Located across from the beach in the pretty southernmost part of Santa Maria, popular Arlecchino has picture windows overlooking the small sweep of sand…
Turin
At this Quadrilatero Romano institution, it can be almost impossible to secure a table. Do book ahead, don't expect flash decor and pay the not-always…
Lake Como
Set along a narrow pedestrian lane in the upper part of Varenna, Il Cavatappi is an intimate spot with just seven tables set amid arched ceilings and…
Abruzzo
You could easily walk right past this restaurant; it doesn’t brag about its existence. Instead, its reputation is carried by word of mouth – which in…
Perugia
Buried under the Cinema Zenith, Perugia's oldest cinema, this local favourite draws a savvy alternative crowd. In keeping with the art-house atmosphere,…
Palermo
All clean lines, timber panels and tinted mirrors, intimate, family-run Ferro wouldn't look out of place in London or Sydney. Whether you're savouring a…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Beloved of locals and tourists alike, this bustling place in Trevi is everything an Italian trattoria should be. Order an antipasto or pasta (excellent)…
Syracuse
This friendly, family-run spot made its name serving delicious couscous, but chef-owner Kamel also knows his way around a fish − the must-try fritto misto…
Western Sicily
Just north of the hydrofoil dock, this family-run waterfront eatery is a seafood-lover's fantasy. Chef-owner Peppe Bevilacqua goes to the market daily,…
Ischia
For 80 years lucky diners have been watching the sun set at this terraced restaurant by the Spanish mission–style Soccorso church in Forio. Pick between a…
The Dolomites
The dining room of Berghotel Ladinia is appealingly cosy, or you can soak up the sun on the protected terrace on warmer days. Mountain-style food is done…
Cremona
Behind the dilapidated facade lurks a diamond in the rough. Some of the vaulted rooms come with ceiling frescoes, dark timber tables come with ancient…
The Lunigiana
A wonderful family affair with two generations in the kitchen and Veronica front of house, this staunchly traditional trattoria is an ode to regional…
Golfo dei Poeti
Just across from Piazza Garibaldi, Dal Pudu is a tiny storefront serving up some of the best seafood in town. A chalkboard menu lists the day's specials,…
Parma
This experimental farm-to-table gelataria wants nothing to do with additives, preservatives, hydrogenated vegetable oils, added fats or starches, and…
Modica
In Italian, radici means roots, which is exactly where this polished osteria heads back to. The cheaper offspring of Michelin-starred restaurant Accursio,…
Palazzo del Freddo di Giovanni Fassi
Monti, Esquilino & San Lorenzo
Established in 1880, this vast temple to gelato is now operated by the founder's great-grandson, Andrea Fassi. Choose from myriad flavours of gelato, or…
Ragusa
Powerhouse chef Vincenzo Candiano steers this softly lit, Michelin-starred darling, evocatively set in a series of rocky caves. Reserve a linen-draped…
Lipari
On Lipari's main pedestrian thoroughfare, just down from the ferry port, L'Officina incorporates fresh-caught seafood into appetisers (mussel soup, squid…
Naples
Wood-panelled, family-run Da Tonino has been feeding locals since 1880. Now run by the fifth and sixth generations, its gingham-print tables lure everyone…
Palermo
This third-generation pastry shop remains one of Palermo's best. Defy your dentist with made-from-scratch staples like cassata or cannolo, or tuck into…
Turin
Chiodi Latini serves elegantly prepared Slow Food fast. Amid a sunny space with tall ceilings, upbeat jazz and big windows facing onto a lively stretch of…
VyTA Enoteca Regionale del Lazio
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
Showcasing food and wine of the Lazio region, this mega-stylish address owes its design to fashionable Roman architect Daniela Colli and its contemporary…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
Friendly staff serve superb sashimi, ponzu-marinated carpaccios and a full range of rolls at this elegant Japanese restaurant, which earnt the first…
Bergamo
In the upper town, tucked close to the Venetian walls, La Tana remains exceptionally popular for painstakingly prepared Bergamesque dishes served in a sun…
Taranto
Unsurprisingly, seafood is the thing at the Red Cat. Relaxed and unpretentious, its heavy tablecloths, deep wine glasses and solid cutlery set the scene…
Venice
It’s worth going the extra mile to find this osteria (casual tavern) where Venetian neighbours gather to gossip over good glasses of Valpolicella and…
Sorrento
Head to the upstairs terrace with its traditional tiles and trailing grape vines and you seem miles away from the alleyways outside. With a deserved…
Western Sicily
Tucked into the cobbled courtyard at the heart of Scopello, this busy bar has a lovely terrace that really is ideal for savouring late-afternoon drinks or…
Abruzzo
This handsome hotel-restaurant located on a quiet square in Pescasseroli's centro storico (historic centre) is a little more gourmet than your average…
Western Sicily
Dodge the tourist crowds and duck into this traditional eatery, complete with fish-net-strung walls and B&W action shots of island fishermen working their…
Monterosso
Monterosso's most memorable setting for a meal is undoubtedly this 13th-century tower with a terrace overlooking the sea. Painstakingly prepared seafood …
Lecce
Tucked away down a shopping street in Lecce's New Town, L'Arzilla Furcina features a compact and stylish space showcasing seasonal and local ingredients…
Bolzano (Bozen)
Going strong for nearly a century, this wood-panelled osteria next door to the Chiesa dei Francescani is a welcoming venue for seasonal Tyrolean…
The Dolomites
Slip off the Lalongia slopes into the warren of cosy wood-panelled rooms at this painstakingly restored 17th-century baita (mountain cabin), and settle in…
