Buongiorno!
If you’re anything like us, you know that no trip to Italy is complete without indulging in its rich culinary delights. Italy is a country that has so much to offer when it comes to food.Â
From the traditional pasta dishes of Tuscany to the world-famous pizza of Naples, Italy is a foodie’s paradise and a place where every bite is a taste of heaven.
Here’s the thing, you can pretty much go anywhere in Italy and eat like a King or Queen, but did you know there are certain regions which are more renowned for such as Sicily which has a signature dish of cannoli and Tuscany has some of the best cheese in the whole of Italy.Â
Italian food is very regional and wildly diverse: each area of the country has its own unique cuisine, which is influenced by its history, culture, and by the kinds of ingredients it produces.
So let’s get started, and go on the ultimate foodie journey through Italy’s most delicious and iconic dishes where you can explore the best food in Italy.
Rome
Our foodie tour starts in Rome, the eternal city that has been a culinary hub for centuries.
It’s the kind of food you dream about and of course, the best thing you can do when in Rome, is to eat how the Romans do!
It’s in the capital of Italy where you can try dishes like the famous Roman-style pizza and the classic Cacio e Pepe pasta dish which is a simple yet delicious pasta dish made with Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper.
Cacio e Pepe is a stellar example of how the Italians can create a few ordinary culinary staples into something extraordinary and is a real signature dish of Rome.
Some little known facts about food in Rome is that traditionally they only do four different types of pasta?
Did you know that the pizzas here are cracker-thin?
But truth be told, if you are looking for the best food in Italy whilst in Rome, why not try supplà which is similar to a Sicilian arancini and is without doubt one of the tastiest dishes to try in Italy.
A classic Roman supplà is a fried ball stuffed with mozzarella, marinara and risotto-like rice.
A fantastic street food option on the go, a few supplà is the ideal snack to keep you going from lunch to dinner whilst in Rome.
Amatriciana, gricia, carbonara, and the aforementioned cacio e pepe are all standout pasta classics of Rome and are some of the best food in Italy.
From budget and vegan to blowout, this is simply dining to die for!
Florence
Whilst there’s no doubt that the beautiful city of Florence is synonymous with art and culture, it’s also a great place to visit for foodies too!
Not only does it have a fantastic selection of restaurants, Florence is also one of the best cities in Italy when it comes to eating gluten free too!
There’s several restaurants and cafes that cater for coeliacs and you can even enjoy an ice cream cone which is entirely gluten free too which for people on a gluten-free diet is a rare yet welcome treat.
Whilst in Florence, there’s no doubt that you will find some of the best food in Italy, but especially some of the best gelato in the country too.
Of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without a visit to the gelaterias of Florence, where you can try flavours like pistachio, hazelnut, and more.Â
But Florence is not only about gelato, you can also try some of the best steak in Italy, like the famous “bistecca alla fiorentina.”
It’s a thick T-bone steak that is cooked over a wood fire and seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil. You can also taste some of the best wines in Tuscany, like Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and more.
Naples
Where can you find the G.O.A.T. Neapolitan pizza which just so happens to be on our foodie list when it comes to the best food in Italy?!
In Naples of course! Who could resist a classic Neapolitan pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese and juicy and San Marzano tomatoes?
But Naples is not only about pizza, when in Naples make sure you bring your A-game appetite as you will be taken on a true culinary adventure from breakfast to dinner and everything in-between.Â
Naples is the capital of Campania, a region rich with culinary treasures and is located on the coast.
Make sure you try some of the best seafood in Italy and don’t even think about leaving Naples without trying the famed spaghetti alle vongole, which is a pasta dish made with clams, garlic, and white wine.
Or you can also taste the famous “frittura di paranza,” which is a mix of fried seafood like shrimp, calamari, and more. Simply delicious!
Bologna
Bologna is a must visit destination for anyone looking to get to the heart of Italian cuisine.
Not only is it the actual place where Bolognese sauce originated from, it’s also home to the Bologna sausage and a number of varieties of fine wines.Â
The city’s namesake, bolognese – which is known locally as ragu is actually eaten with tagliatelle rather than spaghetti.Â
Bologna is also famous for its stuffed pasta, lasagna al forno, meats like Mortadella and Prosciutto and countless delicious cheeses.
Foodies should head to Bologna in late spring where you can explore the Bologna Finger Food Festival, which takes place over the course of four days where you can try amazing street food.
Try local wines and craft beers and enjoy live performances from both local and international musicians.Â
Alternatively, you might want to take a food tour with a local, which is a fantastic way to immerse yourself into the local cuisine.
Your guide will take you through cafes, food markets and restaurants where you can try some of the best food in Italy.
Venice
As a city built on waterways, it makes sense that Venice’s cuisine would feature exceptionally fresh seafood but Venetian cuisine can be garnered from many different countries around the world, but particularly Middle Eastern cuisine. Â
Venice is a dream for foodies and you will find some of the best food in Italy here.
All diets are catered for, even coeliacs or those on a gluten free diet will flourish.
You can expect to indulge in authentic local seafood dishes like bigoli in salsa (pasta doused in anchovy sauce) as well as risotto al nero di seppia (risotto infused with cuttlefish ink) and more.
Make sure you try some cicchetti (Venetian-style tapas whilst you are visiting where you will find everything from cured meats and cheeses to little fried meatballs.
Don’t forget to team it with an aperitivo or two!
One standout dish to try is Risi e bisi which sounds amazing just from its name.
It’s a simple dish of just rice and peas and is a classic Venetian dish that can be found on menus all over the city.
Lake Garda
From its world-class vineyards to its lush olive groves, the local cuisine in Lake Garda is a dream come true for foodies and it is in this dreamy setting that you will find some of the best food in Italy.
With plenty of freshwater fish, crispy vegetables, olive oils and fruit, you can eat very healthily when visiting Lake Garda.
When it comes to eating out in Lake Garda, all you need to do is to prepare your tastebuds for something quite extraordinary.
From agoni, a type of freshwater sardine and fogassa to creamy more-ish risottos and sugared chestnuts, the menus of Lake Garda are teeming with the most tremendous ingredients.Â
The food of Italy’s largest lake reflects the culinary traditions and delights of three northern Italian regions which is arguably the best food in Italy according to many visitors.Â
Sicily
When it comes to the picturesque island of Sicily, the food is simply the icing on the cake when it comes to an unforgettable break away.
Sicily’s la dolce vita certainly lends itself to a fortnight of sun-blush tomatoes, al dente carbs and a barrel of wine, but you might just want to take a deep dive into the culinary delights of Sicily.
Taking inspiration from Spain, Italy as well as Arabian and African influences, Sicilian cuisine is a veritable melting pot of intoxicating flavours.Â
From gourmet-grade tasting menus to dreamy local restaurants turning out dish after dish of mesmerising morsels, many of which include local ingredients such as saffron, raisins and of course – lemons!
Whether you favour the iconic Sicilian dish that is arancini which is ideal for snacking on as you stroll around the streets of Sicily, caponata, the sardine-fuelled sarde a beccafico and of course that unforgettable sweet treat – cannoli!
Rome
Our foodie tour starts in Rome, the eternal city that has been a culinary hub for centuries.
It’s the kind of food you dream about and of course, the best thing you can do when in Rome, is to eat how the Romans do!
It’s in the capital of Italy where you can try dishes like the famous Roman-style pizza and the classic Cacio e Pepe pasta dish which is a simple yet delicious pasta dish made with Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper.
Cacio e Pepe is a stellar example of how the Italians can create a few ordinary culinary staples into something extraordinary and is a real signature dish of Rome.
Some little known facts about food in Rome is that traditionally they only do four different types of pasta?
Did you know that the pizzas here are cracker-thin? But truth be told, if you are looking for the best food in Italy whilst in Rome, why not try supplà which is similar to a Sicilian arancini and is without doubt one of the tastiest dishes to try in Italy.
A classic Roman supplà is a fried ball stuffed with mozzarella, marinara and risotto-like rice.
A fantastic street food option on the go, a few supplà is the ideal snack to keep you going from lunch to dinner whilst in Rome.
Amatriciana, gricia, carbonara, and the aforementioned cacio e pepe are all standout pasta classics of Rome and are some of the best food in Italy.
From budget and vegan to blowout, this is simply dining to die for!
Florence
Whilst there’s no doubt that the beautiful city of Florence is synonymous with art and culture, it’s also a great place to visit for foodies too!
Not only does it have a fantastic selection of restaurants,
Florence is also one of the best cities in Italy when it comes to eating gluten free too!
There’s several restaurants and cafes that cater for coeliacs and you can even enjoy an ice cream cone which is entirely gluten free too which for people on a gluten-free diet is a rare yet welcome treat.
Whilst in Florence, there’s no doubt that you will find some of the best food in Italy, but especially some of the best gelato in the country too.
Of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without a visit to the gelaterias of Florence, where you can try flavours like pistachio, hazelnut, and more.Â
But Florence is not only about gelato, you can also try some of the best steak in Italy, like the famous “bistecca alla fiorentina.”
It’s a thick T-bone steak that is cooked over a wood fire and seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
You can also taste some of the best wines in Tuscany, like Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and more.
Naples
Where can you find the G.O.A.T. Neapolitan pizza which just so happens to be on our foodie list when it comes to the best food in Italy?!
In Naples of course! Who could resist a classic Neapolitan pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese and juicy and San Marzano tomatoes?
But Naples is not only about pizza, when in Naples make sure you bring your A-game appetite as you will be taken on a true culinary adventure from breakfast to dinner and everything in-between.Â
Naples is the capital of Campania, a region rich with culinary treasures and is located on the coast.
Make sure you try some of the best seafood in Italy and don’t even think about leaving Naples without trying the famed spaghetti alle vongole, which is a pasta dish made with clams, garlic, and white wine.
Or you can also taste the famous “frittura di paranza,” which is a mix of fried seafood like shrimp, calamari, and more. Simply delicious!
Bologna
Bologna is a must visit destination for anyone looking to get to the heart of Italian cuisine.
Not only is it the actual place where Bolognese sauce originated from, it’s also home to the Bologna sausage and a number of varieties of fine wines.Â
The city’s namesake, bolognese – which is known locally as ragu is actually eaten with tagliatelle rather than spaghetti.Â
Bologna is also famous for its stuffed pasta, lasagna al forno, meats like Mortadella and Prosciutto and countless delicious cheeses.
Foodies should head to Bologna in late spring where you can explore the Bologna Finger Food Festival, which takes place over the course of four days where you can try amazing street food, try local wines and craft beers and enjoy live performances from both local and international musicians.Â
Alternatively, you might want to take a food tour with a local, which is a fantastic way to immerse yourself into the local cuisine.
Your guide will take you through cafes, food markets and restaurants where you can try some of the best food in Italy.
Venice
As a city built on waterways, it makes sense that Venice’s cuisine would feature exceptionally fresh seafood but Venetian cuisine can be garnered from many different countries around the world, but particularly Middle Eastern cuisine. Â
Venice is a dream for foodies and you will find some of the best food in Italy here.
All diets are catered for, even coeliacs or those on a gluten free diet will flourish.
You can expect to indulge in authentic local seafood dishes like bigoli in salsa (pasta doused in anchovy sauce) as well as risotto al nero di seppia (risotto infused with cuttlefish ink) and more.
Make sure you try some cicchetti (Venetian-style tapas whilst you are visiting where you will find everything from cured meats and cheeses to little fried meatballs.
Don’t forget to team it with an aperitivo or two!
One standout dish to try is Risi e bisi which sounds amazing just from its name.
It’s a simple dish of just rice and peas and is a classic Venetian dish that can be found on menus all over the city.
Lake Garda
From its world-class vineyards to its lush olive groves, the local cuisine in Lake Garda is a dream come true for foodies and it is in this dreamy setting that you will find some of the best food in Italy.
With plenty of freshwater fish, crispy vegetables, olive oils and fruit, you can eat very healthily when visiting Lake Garda.
When it comes to eating out in Lake Garda, all you need to do is to prepare your tastebuds for something quite extraordinary.
From agoni, a type of freshwater sardine and fogassa to creamy more-ish risottos and sugared chestnuts, the menus of Lake Garda are teeming with the most tremendous ingredients.Â
The food of Italy’s largest lake reflects the culinary traditions and delights of three northern Italian regions which is arguably the best food in Italy according to many visitors.Â
Sicily
When it comes to the picturesque island of Sicily, the food is simply the icing on the cake when it comes to an unforgettable break away.
Sicily’s la dolce vita certainly lends itself to a fortnight of sun-blush tomatoes, al dente carbs and a barrel of wine, but you might just want to take a deep dive into the culinary delights of Sicily.
Taking inspiration from Spain, Italy as well as Arabian and African influences, Sicilian cuisine is a veritable melting pot of intoxicating flavours.Â
From gourmet-grade tasting menus to dreamy local restaurants turning out dish after dish of mesmerising morsels, many of which include local ingredients such as saffron, raisins and of course – lemons!
Whether you favour the iconic Sicilian dish that is arancini which is ideal for snacking on as you stroll around the streets of Sicily, caponata, the sardine-fuelled sarde a beccafico and of course that unforgettable sweet treat – cannoli!
