Modena
Gelataio Gianluca Degani's fierce devotion to chemical- and additive-free gelato has earned him accolades Italy-wide – this is Emilia-Romagna's best…
Must-see restaurants in Italy
Syracuse
A hybrid deli, wine shop and eatery edging Ortygia's market, trendy Fratelli Burgio is all about artisanal grazing. Consider opting for a tagliere, a…
Florence
In Fabbrica, 1.5km south of Porta Romana along Via Senese on the Oltrarno, fuses Florence's outstanding tradition of craftsmanship with its equally fine…
Bergamo
If you’re staying in the Città Alta, it’s worth letting gravity carry you downhill to seek out this lunch-only, four-table cafe with an out-of-the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Ragusa
With an outdoor terrace facing the pretty Chiesa delle Santissime Anime del Purgatorio, Agli Archi reveals a genuine passion for local ingredients and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Cetara
This tiny eating joint in salt-of-the-earth Cetara is barely larger than a studio flat, with six tables and an open kitchen from which the industrious…
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,…
Sorrento
With its striped blue-and-white walls and red-glass sconces, the Marzialino does a good impersonation of a Parisian bistro in the années folles. It calls…
Modena
Cloistered upstairs in a utilitarian apartment block, Aldina feels like a precious secret guarded loyally by local shoppers from the adjacent produce…
Abruzzo
A casual restaurant that specialises in Abruzzo's classic street food, arrosticini. These charcoal-grilled lamb skewers are seasoned with olive oil and…
Western Sicily
Formally dressed waiters roll out the day's catch on a vintage wooden trolley for diners to inspect and select before cooking at this perennial seafood…
Syracuse
Seafood-loving locals swear by this easy-to-miss osteria (casual tavern), its white-and-blue interior somewhat reminiscent of a Greek-island taverna. The…
Pantelleria
Enjoying sublime sea views from its turquoise-tiled terrace, the Prince and the Pirate cranks out exquisite pantesco (Pantelleria-style) cuisine, from…
Prosciutteria – Cantina dei Papi
Trastevere & Gianicolo
For a taste of Tuscany in Rome, consider a stop at this cheery Florentine prosciutteria (salami shop). Made-to-measure taglieri (wooden chopping boards)…
