Italy may be the number one destination for people in search for the best foods in the world. It’s home to countless Michelin-star restaurants as well as unknown places that serve amazing authentic dishes. When you pair that with the history of the country and can enjoy a meal while overlooking museums and cathedrals, who wouldn’t want to travel here in hunt for the best restaurant to dine at.
Here is a list of some of the most amazing places to grab a bite the next time you are in Italy.
1. Biga Genio e Farina
Address: Via Maqueda, 284-286, 90134 Palermo PA, Italy | Phone: +39 091 746 6899
Biga Genio e Farina Website | Order Online
This amazing Italian restaurant has been crafting and perfecting the art of dough for years through the art of science. In Italy they are considered “street pizza”, but rival any pizza place in the country. The owner Federico Mangano goes out of his way to make sure each piece of dough is cured for at least 48 hours before adding fresh ingredients and firing it into their oven.
Be sure to try several of their uniquely inspired pizza. We haven’t found one yet that isn’t better than the last.
Recommended Meal
Their Margherita pizza is the most popular choice by locals and tourists in Sicily. Fresh ingredients include Fior di Latte Sicilian Mozzarella (raw), Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Oregano from Pantelleria, and Cherry Tomato Sauce. When you combine that with their soft yet crunchy curst, it’s absolute Heaven!
2. Bono Bottega Nostrana
Address: Via di Porta Cavalleggeri, 109/111, 00165 Roma RM, Italy | Phone: +39 06 8923 6830
Bono Bottega Nostrana Website | Make a Reservation | Order Online
As the saying goes, “when in Rome”, you have to try a panini. Bono Bottega Nostrana is one of the most popular restaurants in Rome for their amazing sandwiches and paninis. Each one uses local ingredients to the area and they have perfected the craft in bread making.
One of the unique features of the restaurant is the fact they cure all their own meats to make sure every sandwich they serve is award winning. Locals know of this place already and many go daily, but tourists may not think of checking out a local deli when side tracked with the amazing architecture surrounding them. However, if you happen to find this amazing restaurant you won’t think of sandwich shops the same way.
Recommended Meal
Pizza Romana and Mortazza panini – This combination of ingredients will have your mind and tastebuds confused as you think you are eating a pizza. Their Testaccio or Garbatella are our favorite sandwiches. The spice blend of spicy and savory makes you want to come back for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
3. Club del Doge Restaurant
Address: Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, 2467, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy | Phone: +39 041 794611
Club del Doge Restaurant Website
Situated within the Hotel Gritti Palace, chef Daniele Turco has been creating some of the best crafted Italian cuisine in Venice. In fact their menu primarily focuses on his experiences to insight emotion in every meal. You can opt to go with their regular menu of fine dining or try their signature 6 course tasting menu that includes things like:
- Brown and spider crab, sour cream reduction, bergamot and caviar
- Amberjack with mayonnaise, ginger, puffed rice and black lemon
- Buckwheat tagliatelle pasta, lamb ragout, curry and herbs butter
- Bean cream soup, lobster and puffed pasta
- Cuttlefish, turnip sprouts, “Amatriciana” sauce and pecorino cheese
- Chocolate variations, quince and brownies
The best feature of Club del Doge is that it sits right on the Grand Canal and gives you the most scenic waterfront views as you enjoy an amazing meal.
Recommended Meal
One of their best food items is actually an appetizer. Brown and spider crab, sour cream reduction, bergamot, and caviar. It’s a bit pricy, but the perfect way to start off a meal at this fine dining restaurant.
4. Crostone.it
Address: P.za Castello, n° 72, 10124 Torino TO, Italy | Phone: +39 011 429 9365
Crostone.it Website | Order Online
If you are visiting Turin, locals will often tell you to go try one of the best sandwich shops in the city. Costone.it prides itself on using only the best meats from around the area (Piedmontese cattle). From there their concept blossomed into opening the first raw meat sandwich shop and sausage workshop that has quickly grown as the place place to go for brunch or dinner.
Today they serve over 20 amazing choices of sandwiches as well as more options with their sausages.
Recommended Meal
Although we didn’t try close to all their sandwich choices, we loved their Bra, Porcini, and Castelmagno sandwich from their beef sausage workshop. The flavors of the beef were truly some of the best meat we’ve ever had.
5. Da Vittorio
Address: Via Cantalupa, 17, 24060 Brusaporto BG, Italy | Phone: +39 035 681024
Da Vittorio Website | Order Online
It’s no surprise that this amazing restaurant in Italy received a 3 star Michelin rating back in 2020. They constantly strive to keep up with local traditions with a twist of genius. Their rotating menu revolves around the seasons and guests can experience dishes that they never though could be elevated the way they are here.
Da Vittorio offers a full menu of meats, fish, seafood, truffles, and more. They do lean a bit more on the seafood side of things and cater to the fresh ingredients to enhance the flavors. They also own a vineyard and love to pair each meal with a selection of their fine wines.
Recommended Meal
Guinea fowl ravioli, tubers, buttermilk and black truffle.
This signature dish really is cooked to perfection. The way they take their time to make sure every bite is as good as the last leaves no doubt how they got their Michelin stars.
6. Dal Pescatore
Address: Via Runate, 15, 46013 Canneto sull’Oglio MN, Italy | Phone: +39 0376 723001
Another amazing three star Michelin restaurant is Dal Pescatore which attracts tourists from all over the world. It’s a hidden gem located within Runate, Italy and in recent years has transformed from only serving Italian cuisine to now adding French twists to their already award winning menu.
As soon as you enter you will instantly feel like upper class as everything about the restaurant screams royalty.
Recommended Meal
Pumpkin Tortelli with Butter and Parmesan
If you go to Dal Pescatore in the fall months, this seasonal dish is one of the best pumpkin themed food we have ever eaten.
7. Don Alfonso 1890
Address: Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, Corso Sant’Agata, 11/13, 80061 | Phone: +39 081 878 0026
With some of the best views of the Mediterranean, Don Alfonso 1890 is a two star Michelin restaurant that goes above and beyond at showcasing Southern Italian cuisine. They opened up their restaurant in a 19th century Neapolitan palace and even have a roman tunnel that houses 25,000 bottles of wine for pairings and an aging chamber for local cheeses. It’s truly an impressive restaurant in SantAgata village.
What sets this top restaurant apart from other local establishments is their dedication to keeping their menu local. In fact, most of their meat, poultry, and vegetables are all grown on their nearby farm. They constantly are trying to innovate and enhance each meal to make sure every time you come, you can experience a new take on Southern Italian cuisine.
Recommended Meal
Crab soup and braised pork shoulder
They have so many great items on their menu, but the tenderness they achieve in their pork is unlike anything we have had.
8. Enoteca Pinchiorri
9. Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia
10. Hachi Ristorante Giapponese
11. Il Desco
12. Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia
13. Il Palagio
14. Il Pellicano
15. Indian Palace
16. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
17. La Pergola
18. La Sponda
30 Amazing Restaurants in Italy
Biga Genio e Farina
Bono Bottega Nostrana
Club del Doge Restaurant
Crostone.it
Da Vittorio
Dal Pescatore
Don Alfonso 1890
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Fiola at Dopolavoro Venezia
Hachi Ristorante Giapponese
Il Desco
Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia
Il Palagio
Il Pellicano
Indian Palace
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
La Pergola
La Sponda
La Stazione Del Pescatore
La Voglia di Genova – A Coae de Zena
Le Calandre
Locanda dell’Isola Comacina
Marea Seafood & Beverage
MEC Restaurant
Osteria Francescana
Piazza Duomo
Ratanà
Reale
SantoPalato
The Gallery Pizzart Food & Drink
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs