Syracuse
Bella Vita combines culinary traditions and modern polish, translating into thoughtfully presented dishes like ravioli stuffed with tuna and olives,…
Must-see restaurants in Italy
Syracuse
With its cosy front porch opposite Ortygia's waterfront, this is a handy place for aperitivi after a dip in the sea. It also serves food, whipping up a…
Bari
With domed ceilings, archways and medieval-style artwork on the walls, this restaurant oozes atmosphere, and a quiet (justified) confidence in its classic…
San Polo & Santa Croce
Dapper white-jacketed waiters serve pristine grilled lagoon fish, fresh pasta and desserts made in-house (‘of course’) with a proud flourish, on tables…
San Polo & Santa Croce
Ignore the proliferating pizza stalls and head to Acqua e Mais where you’ll find authentic Venetian street food wrapped in a scartosso (paper cone). The…
Catania
It may not be the best pizzeria in town, but Locanda Cerami lures with its fabulous setting – in the warmer months, tables spread directly below the steps…
Venice
Husband-and-wife team Luigi and Patricia conjure up inventive dishes that excite the palate, drawing from the cuisines of the Veneto, Fruili and Sardinia…
Val d'Orcia
Set just inside Monticchiello's main gate, this eatery has a wonderful terrace with a panoramic view of the Val d'Orcia. Inside, the dining room is…
Genoa
Totally typica Genovese food can be found in the family-run joints hidden in the warren of streets near the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. This, a snug…
Naples
A labourers lunch is the most affordable way to try the best Neapolitan grub. Places such as this cavernous spot are only open at lunchtime and…
Turin
At the vanguard of the gourmet gelato trend, Grom was founded in 2003 by two Torinese friends who eschewed syrups and embraced sustainably sourced fresh…
Venice
When other restaurants close, Impronta stays open to accommodate late lunches, tea sessions, and midnight snacks of club sandwiches. The menu is a mix of…
Giudecca, Lido & the Southern Islands
This simple restaurant halfway along Pellestrina serves lagoon-fresh fish on its pontoon terrace. Go at sunset, when the rose-tinted sky kisses the glassy…
Ancient Rome
With an array of colourful, artfully crafted cakes, tarts and pastries, this pasticceria-cafe puts on a great display. Leave the crowds at the Bocca della…
Bologna
‘We only serve proper Bolognese food here, none of that spaghetti stuff’, announces your loquacious but humorous waiter. You’d better believe him. At Buca…
Noto
Up in Noto Alta, this dimly lit, Slow Food–acclaimed restaurant with an extensive wine list is widely regarded as Noto's best. While much of the menu is…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
A mini-supermarket opposite Trevi Fountain, this busy place has a well-stocked deli where you can choose a filling for your freshly baked panino or pizza…
San Lorenzo & San Marco
The narrow interior of this pasticceria (pastry shop) and cafe in San Marco appears to have changed little since Pietro Robiglio first opened its door to…
Turin
An unpretentious trattoria that dates to Turin's capital days (ie the 1860s), it has a deserved reputation for superb agnolotti al sugo d'arrosto …
Venice
Despite its dialogue with the East, Venice lacks good ethnic eateries, but this wildly popular place aims to set that straight. Run by Ahmed, it dishes up…
Centro Storico
Spend time in Rome and sooner or later you'll eat at Montecarlo, a popular pizzeria just off Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Not the place for a romantic…
Venice
The dishes at this sushi specialist are as beautiful as they are delicious. Specials include succulent grilled eel with figs topped with lemongrass and…
Lecce
A warmly inviting restaurant, this good-value trattoria is known for regional classics. As is proper to Puglia's 'cuisine of the poor', it's often the…
Tridente, Trevi & the Quirinale
The gelato-licking hordes outside make this artisanal gelateria easy to spot. It only does a few strictly seasonal flavours, but they're created to…
The Amalfi Coast
Modest trattoria with spectacular views over the coast, located just past the finishing post on the Sentiero degli Dei. The menu is short and traditional,…
Bologna
Full of swinging hams and pungent cheeses, this traditional (if touristy) delicatessen is conveniently located in the heart of the Quadrilatero. Its…
San Polo & Santa Croce
With outdoor tables occupying the campo in front of San Giacomo dall’Orio, this is a sunny spot from which to watch gondolas drift by. The food, too, is…
Amalfi
The obvious choice just off Piazza del Duomo, this cavernous place attracts a dedicated crowd ranging from off-the-yacht Neapolitans to coachloads of…
Aosta
Grafted onto a section of the old Roman wall, the Vecchia's setting is highly atmospheric. No post-piste boozer, this is a formal place with knowledgeable…
Taormina
Forget the staid, pricey restaurant upstairs; Granduca's charm lies entirely in its vast, lower-level outdoor terrace overlooking the sea – pizza here on…
San Polo & Santa Croce
Musicians, artists and philosophising regulars make this hideaway, positioned under the arcade leading to the Rialto bridge, exceptionally good for…
Arezzo
This cosy bottle-lined room just off Piazza Grande offers a choice of Tuscan wine (by the glass or bottle), platters of cheese and meat, and rustic dishes…
Fiesole
Traditional Tuscan and Mediterranean dishes come out of the busy kitchen at this four-star hotel and restaurant on Fiesole's pretty main square. A classy,…
Palermo
Chintzy Touring is known for its arancine, great fist-sized rice balls stuffed with ragù, spinach or butter, and fried to a perfect golden orange. While…
Venice
At this Cannaregio institution, you'll be seated where there's room and get no menu – you'll have whatever Marisa's cooking. Serves are absurdly abundant…
Vatican City, Borgo & Prati
This fine old-school neighbourhood pizzeria has been slinging out thin, crispy Roman pizzas for as long as most locals can remember. Little has changed…
Centro Storico
Rome’s most famous gelateria, Giolitti has been welcoming visitors for more than a century and continues to impress with its fresh, creamy flavours…
Vatican City, Borgo & Prati
All sunny yellow ceramics, hungry lunch crowds and tantalising deep-fried snacks, this bustling small takeaway brings a little corner of Sicily to Rome…
San Polo & Santa Croce
Traditionally a fritolin was an eatery where diners sat at a communal table and tucked into fried fish. This is the modern equivalent, albeit smarter,…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
A neighbourhood veteran, Ivo’s has been slinging pizzas for over four decades, and still the hungry come. With football on the TV in the corner and the…
