Must-see restaurants in Italy

  • Aguglia Persa

    Agrigento

    Set in a mansion with a leafy courtyard just below the train station, this place is a welcome addition to Agrigento's fine-dining scene. Opened in 2015 by…

  • Re di Macchia

    Montalcino

    Husband-and-wife team Antonio and Roberta run this relaxed eatery in the centre of town with great aplomb. Roberta's cooking is much more sophisticated…

  • Locanda di Corte

    Bosa

    Wriggle through Bosa's backstreets to discover this sweet local trattoria on a secluded cobblestoned square. Owners Angelo and Angela work the small…

  • Locanda 4 Cuochi

    Verona

    With its open kitchen, urbane vibe and hotshot chefs, you're right to expect great things from Locanda. Culinary acrobatics play second fiddle to prime…

  • Sangre Rojo

    Lipari

    Dazzling vistas of Salina, Filicudi and Alicudi floating in the Tyrrhenian are reason enough to visit this hilltop restaurant near Lipari's northern tip…

  • Il Libertino

    Trento

    Stroll the bridge over the fast-flowing Adige to this charming wood-panelled restaurant for carefully prepared traditional dishes. Think venison,…

  • L'Antica Scuderia

    Chianti

    The large terrace at this restaurant overlooks one of the Antinori vineyards and is perfect for summer dining. In winter, the elegant dining room comes…

  • Vitoantonio Lombardo

    Matera

    Degustation menus from five to 12 courses provide a sumptuous experience of elevated Italian cuisine at Matera's most innovative restaurant. Menu options…

  • Belle Parti

    Padua

    Prime seasonal produce, impeccable wines and near-faultless service meld into one unforgettable whole at this stellar fine-dining restaurant, resplendent…

  • Coria

    Central Sicily

    Caltagirone's top restaurant is an established address on the island's fine-dining circuit. Its reputation rides on innovative, visually arresting cuisine…

  • Il Geranio

    Capri

    Time to pop the question or quell those predeparture blues? The terrace at this sophisticated spot offers heart-stealing views over the pine trees to…

  • Bar dell'Orso

    Central Tuscany

    Known throughout the region for the affordability and excellence of its food, the Bear Bar bustles from morning to night and is a great place to grab a…

  • Nausikaa

    Martina Franca

    Tucked away down a dogleg alley off Martina Franca's main pedestrian drag is this lovely little modern Italian place, run by brothers Francesco and…

  • I Salaioli

    Pistoia

    One glance at the delectable salami wedges and cheese rounds on the counter begging to be eaten and you'll be smitten. This is one of those fabulous deli…

  • Desogos

    Western Sardinia

    Run by the Desogos family for more than 70 years, this welcoming, old-school trattoria in the historic centre is perfect for a fill-up of hearty mountain…

  • Gelateria De' Coltelli

    Pisa

    Follow the crowd to this world-class gelateria, famed for its sensational artisanal, organic and 100% natural gelato. Flavours are as zesty and appealing…

  • L'Altro Baffo

    Otranto

    This elegant modern restaurant near the castle stands out in Otranto's competitive dining scene. It stays in touch with basic Pugliese and Italian…

  • Alice Ristorante

    Porta Garibaldi & Isola

    The one-Michelin-starred restaurant of talented chef Viviana Varese and sommelier and fish expert Sandra Ciciriello is the pride of Eataly's foodstore…

  • La Cucina di Mamma Elvira

    Lecce

    An offshoot of the stylish Enoteca Mamma Elvira, 'The Kitchen' makes use of a bigger space than that available to its older sibling to deliver more…

  • Ristorante da Paolino

    Abruzzo

    Be sure to book ahead at this bustling and popular little inn-restaurant in the heart of Pescocostanzo. Pasta dishes make expert use of earthy ingredients…

  • Lo Scalo

    Lake Maggiore West Bank

    Cannobio's best restaurant, Lo Scalo serves cuisine that is sophisticated and precise, featuring dishes such as a suckling pig with spring onions and…

  • Corteinfiore

    Trani

    The decking, stiff tablecloths and marquee setting of this famed Trani seafood restaurant set hopes racing, and the food, wine and service deliver in full…

  • Disìu

    Central Sicily

    This unassuming but modern cafe is one of Sicily's best ice-cream spots. Excellent gelati and granite (flavoured crushed ice with local seasonal fruits)…

  • Tavernetta all'Androna

    Grado

    Hidden down a narrow alley behind the basilica, this elegant family restaurant enjoys a tiny piazza all to itself. Take a seat and let your host guide you…

  • Vitello d'Oro

    Udine

    Udine’s oldest restaurant, dating to 1849, now has a new lease of life courtesy of its fabulous new interior, which reveals the beauty of the restaurant's…

  • A Cuvèa

    San Remo

    This cosy, warmly lit place lined with wine bottles overflows with locals tucking into homemade traditional dishes such as tagliolini with seafood or…

  • Ristorante Taverna

    Belluno

    Tucked away on Via Cipro, where Cypriot wine was once sold, this traditional tavern offers a warm welcome in its cosy, wood-panelled interior. While…

  • Il Portico

    Eastern Sardinia

    You’ll receive a warm welcome at this restaurant, where abstract paintings grace the walls and jazzy music plays. Behind the scenes, the talented Graziano…

  • Il Tirabusciò

    Northeastern Sardinia

    Sardinian mountain fare at its finest, Il Tirabusciò (which translates as the corkscrew) is a cosy spot in the quaint village of Calangianus 9km east of…

  • Agriturismo El Brite de Larieto

    Cortina d’Ampezzo

    This idyllic farm enjoys a sunny situation amid thick larch forest with fabulous views from its terrace and a quaint Alpine interior. It produces its own…

  • Gelateria Pasticceria Badiani

    Florence

    Known throughout Italy for the quality of its handmade gelato and sweet pastries, Badiani is located in the Campo de’ Marte neighbourhood just outside the…

  • Al Gallo

    Pordenone

    Bright, forward-looking Al Gallo is all crisp white walls and vibrant blue, sea-inspired paintings by Grado artist Gianni Maran. It sets the scene…

  • Cibus

    Sulcis

    Santadi's local wines provide the ideal accompaniment to rustic country fare at this delightful osteria not long open. Handsomely decorated with wooden…

  • Ristoro di Lamole

    Chianti

    Family-run, this eyrie in the hilltop village of Lamole, 8km east of Panzano and 9km southeast of Greve, offers its diners one of the most spectacular…

  • Osteria Vecchia Mulino

    Northwestern Tuscany

    Run with passion and humour by the gregarious Andrea Bertucci, this 160-year-old osteria has no menu but rather a symphony of cold dishes crafted from…

  • Antica Trattoria Aurora

    Southern Tuscany

    Tucked just inside the historic walls of tranquil Magliano in Toscana, Aurora is one of the best restaurants in the Maremma. The refined cuisine is…

  • Il Cappello

    Trento

    Decked out with linen tablecloths, wooden beams and a quiet courtyard terrace, this intimate dining room hidden away between Trento's duomo and castle…

  • Osteria Trefanti

    San Polo & Santa Croce

    La Serenissima's spice trade lives on at simple, elegant Trefanti, where gnocchi might get an intriguing kick from cinnamon, and turbot is flavoured with…

  • Il Grillo è Buoncantore

    Chiusi

    Chef and sommelier Tiziana Tacchi is passionate about the cuisine and wine of the Chiusi region and showcases both in this acclaimed Slow Food destination…

  • Ristorante Al Coccio

    Eastern Tuscany

    Sisters Sara and Loide Battistelli head the kitchen and dining room of this elegant restaurant, which serves organic produce and plenty of gluten-free…

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