Italy · best-of list
The 28 Best Restaurants in Italy
All 28 restaurants our route editors picked in Italy, across 14 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect tables and food stops, with Cortina d'Ampezzo contributing the most (3).
Our curated picks
28 restaurants in Italy, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Cortina d'Ampezzo 3 picks
Rifugio Averau
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Mountain hut above Cinque Torri with serious cooking and a terrace.
Tip: Order the polenta dishes; book in season.
Photo: Rifugio Averau · Google
Rifugio Locatelli
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Hut facing the north faces of the Tre Cime, the loop's best lunch stop.
Tip: Hut open roughly late June to late September.
Photo: YOUNG HO Ko · Google
SanBrite
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Michelin-starred restaurant using produce from its own farm.
Tip: Book well ahead; tasting menus only.
Photo: SanBrite · Google
Amalfi 2 picks
Da Gemma
Amalfi · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Family restaurant since 1872 with a terrace above the main street and classic seafood dishes.
Tip: Reserve a terrace table.
Photo: Trattoria da Gemma · Google
Trattoria da Ciccio Cielo-Mare-Terra
Amalfi · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Clifftop trattoria just west of town with big sea views and seafood pasta.
Tip: They offer a free shuttle from Amalfi; ask when booking.
Photo: Da Ciccio Cielo Mare Terra · Google
Bolzano 2 picks
Gasthaus Vögele
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Old-town tavern serving South Tyrolean dishes in wood-paneled rooms.
Tip: Try canederli and a local Lagrein.
Photo: Wirtshaus Vögele · Google
Hopfen & Co.
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Brewpub in a medieval building brewing unfiltered beers.
Tip: Pair a dark beer with sausages and sauerkraut.
Photo: Hopfen & Co. · Google
Chianti 2 picks
Antica Macelleria Cecchini
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Dario Cecchini's butcher shop and restaurants serving bistecca and Chianti meats.
Tip: Reserve Officina della Bistecca for dinner.
Photo: Antica Macelleria Cecchini · Google
Osteria di Passignano
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Michelin-starred restaurant beside the abbey, with an Antinori wine list.
Tip: Reserve well ahead.
Photo: Osteria di Passignano · Google
Florence 2 picks
All'Antico Vinaio
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Huge schiacciata sandwiches stuffed with salumi and pecorino.
Tip: Lines move fast; go mid-afternoon.
Photo: Mark D. Yzaguirre · Google
Mercato Centrale
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Historic market with butchers below and a food hall upstairs.
Tip: Try lampredotto (tripe sandwich) downstairs at Nerbone.
Photo: Sailko · CC BY 3.0
Palermo 2 picks
Antica Focacceria San Francesco
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Historic eatery since 1834 known for pane con la milza and arancine.
Photo: Antica Focacceria S. Francesco dal 1834 · Google
I Segreti del Chiostro
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Convent pastry shop in Santa Caterina selling recipes from Palermo's nuns.
Tip: Cannoli are filled to order.
Photo: Daniel Wang · Google
Positano 2 picks
Chez Black
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Beachfront institution since 1949 for seafood pasta and pizza right on Spiaggia Grande.
Photo: Gyöngyi Ballainé · Google
Da Adolfo
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Beach-shack restaurant in Laurito reached by its own boat (red fish flag) from the pier.
Tip: Reserve; order mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves.
Photo: Brie McDonald · Google
Ravello 2 picks
Rossellinis
Ravello · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Michelin-starred restaurant at Palazzo Avino with a terrace above the coast.
Tip: Book well ahead; jackets suggested.
Photo: Alma Aun · Google
Trattoria Cumpà Cosimo
Ravello · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Long-running family trattoria serving homemade pasta platters and local wine.
Photo: Радослав Желязков · Google
Siena 2 picks
Antica Osteria Da Divo
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Restaurant with tables in Etruscan caves beneath the city.
Tip: Ask for a cave table.
Photo: Osteria da Divo · Google
Osteria Le Logge
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Old pharmacy turned restaurant serving refined Tuscan food.
Tip: Reserve for dinner.
Photo: Massimo Decimomeridio · Google
Sorrento 2 picks
Pizzeria Da Franco
Sorrento · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Bustling no-frills pizzeria serving pizza on paper with beer at shared tables.
Photo: Rémi D (BBK) · Google
Trattoria da Emilia
Sorrento · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Long-running family trattoria on the Marina Grande quay serving fried fish and gnocchi alla sorrentina.
Photo: Frank B Jacobsen · Google
Syracuse 2 picks
Caffè Sicilia
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Noto pastry shop famed for almond granita and cassata.
Photo: Caffè Sicilia · Google
Caseificio Borderi
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Ortigia market cheesemonger known for huge made-to-order sandwiches.
Tip: Lunch only, closed Sundays; expect a line.
Photo: Caseificio Borderi · Google
Val d'Orcia 2 picks
Osteria Acquacheta
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Tiny osteria serving bistecca and pecorino at shared tables.
Tip: Book ahead; two seatings per night.
Photo: Matteo Cattaneo · Google
Trattoria Latte di Luna
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Pienza trattoria known for roast suckling pig and pici.
Tip: Reserve; small and popular.
Photo: 鈴木みゆき · Google
Val Gardena 2 picks
Gostner Schwaige
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Small alpine hut on the Alpe di Siusi known for creative mountain cooking.
Tip: Book lunch; try the hay soup.
Photo: Gostner Schwaige · Google
Rifugio Emilio Comici
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Hut at the foot of Sassolungo known for fresh seafood at altitude.
Tip: Open mid-Jun to early Oct and early Dec to early Apr (09:00-17:00). Closed between seasons.
Photo: Rifugio Emilio Comici · Google
Taormina 1 pick
Bam Bar
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Tiled café known for granita and brioche.
Tip: No bookings; go early to avoid the line.
Photo: Dalacin Dalacin · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Italy?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 28 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Italy has the most restaurants on this list?
Cortina d'Ampezzo has the most (3 of 28), followed by Amalfi (2) and Bolzano (2).
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