Best food in Italy. You are likely thinking about this as you are planning out that Italy trip. You might be deciding on where to go and base vacations off the food. Food that is consumed on vacation is everything! Whatever the reason is, this post is breaking down the best dishes and sweets you will find in Italy.
Italians are known for their cuisine around the world. If you are a frequent traveler or are yearning to go to Italy, this post will tell you the best food in Italy to try. You are going to learn about sweets, pasta, pizza, and more. After reading this post, you will either have your ticket to Italy, or a full food itinerary for that big Italy trip.
This post is a travel guide to the best food in Italy.
1. Bolognese
First up is Bolognese. Bolognese originated in Bologna, Italy. A Bolognese sauce is a red meat sauce with some yummy extras served over pasta. If you have never had it before and are a lover of red sauce, you need to try this. While Bolognese is served in almost all regions of Italy, if you want to have the best and original, go to Bologna.
2. Neapolitan Pizza
Next up is Neapolitan pizza. The origination is the name, Naples. For the best pizza, you need to visit Naples. Naples has some amazing pizza that is more like the thin crust if you are a lover of New York Style pizza. You will be able to find pizza all over Naples. Keep in mind if you are not traveling to Naples, you will still be able to find pizza, but it might be more difficult in certain regions. If you are a pizza lover, be sure to check out this style of pizza in your Italy travels.
3. Lasagna
Lasagna is all over Rome. If you are a lasagna lover, or maybe you have never had it, be sure to grab it in Rome. Rome has amazing cuisine and ensure you are looking around the places where there are more locals. Do not go to restaurants near major tourist sites or you will likely pay more for lower quality. Not all restaurants are this way, but a lot of these restaurants want to attract tourists. Find out where the locals go, you will not be disappointed and will get treated like family. Italians are the sweetest.
4. Tortellini
Fourth is tortellini. Tortellini is a stuffed pasta that usually has cheese, spinach, or something delicious inside. It could be served with a white wine garlic sauce, red sauce, pesto, truffle sauce, etc. If you are a lover of tortellini or have never tried it, the most authentic is found in Bologna. However, I have tried tortellini in Rome and it was also mouthwatering delicious. While some dishes originate in different regions, you might get an authentic dish based on where the cooks are from. Also, some chefs are amazing and cook everything to perfection. In addition, you never know where the cooks originated from.
5. Ravioli
Ravioli in Italy is the best since almost all the pastas are made from scratch. Like the pasta mentioned above, ravioli is a stuffed pasta that is typically stuffed with veggies, cheese, or meat. Like it’s friend – tortellini, it could be served with any type of sauce. Ravioli is found all over Italy but is more prevalent and known in the Northern region of Italy.
6. Cacio e pepe
This is a simple pasta dish, but full of flavor. Sometimes the simplest things in life are literally the best. The ingredients are pecorino romano cheese and black pepper. This is a known dish in Rome/Tuscany region so if you are in that area, be sure to order this dish. However, just like many of the other dishes, it could be found all over Italy.
7. Carbonara
Seventh on the list is Carbonara. This dish is made of pasta, pancetta, cheese, eggs, and pasta water. Carbonara is a dish you could find all over Italy as it has gained popularity in the last few years. It is popular among Italian restaurants all over the states if you are an Italian food lover. Just like many pasta dishes, the ingredients are simple, but the results create a superb dish.
8. Fettucine Alfredo
Fettucine Alfredo is a simple dish in Italy that consists of parmesan cheese, black pepper, and butter served over Fettucine pasta. In the states, we usually add more ingredients, but in Italy you will see it with less. However, this does not diminish the perfect blend of flavors in this popular pasta dish. Shockingly, this is not a very popular dish among Italians and could be difficult to find depending on the region you are traveling to. Be sure to check the restaurants if you are looking for this specific dish.
9. Arancini
Arancini are deep fried rice balls that are coated in breadcrumbs. These are a staple of Sicily. The fillings may vary based on the restaurant. Also, like many other dishes, even if you had arancini in the past outside of Italy, this will taste different (in a good way 🙂 ). Be sure to try these as you will not be disappointed.
10. Gnocchi
Next up is gnocchi and an Italian favorite of many people. This is another dish you might have already had outside of Italy. Gnocchi is potato pasta that is served with various sauces. This is a popular dish in Sorrento; however, you could find it in other regions of Italy.
11. Caprese salad
If you have never had a caprese salad and love fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, you will love this salad. You will likely find this all over Italy. The fresh ingredients in Italy make for an amazing salad. Also, this dish is usually an appetizer and could be shared with whomever you are traveling with.
12. Prosciutto
Next up is prosciutto. While you can find prosciutto in many parts of the world, especially if you live in the states, the prosciutto in Italy is perfect. Prosciutto is commonly served with cheese platters or an antipasti dish. Be sure to add this to your appetizer order when you are in Italy. In addition, this could be found all over Italy.
12. Risotto
Risotto is an Italian rice dish that contains a broth, butter, white wine, and a combination of other ingredients depending on the restaurant. Whether you have had risotto or not, if you love a creamy sauce, you will love this. You will likely be able to find this in most regions in Italy.
13. Gelato
If you are a lover of ice cream, gelato is a must try when in Italy. Luckily, you will find amazing gelato all over Italy! Honestly, I had gelato sometimes twice a day while visiting Italy. That is how creamy and delicious it is. The consistency and taste is similar to ice cream, but better. Whatever region you are staying in, look up the best local gelato spots. While all gelato is amazing, some places have more flavors.
14. Tiramisu
Next up is, Tiramisu is a popular dessert in Italy and has always been a popular dessert around the world. Tiramisu is a custard type dessert and found all over Italy. If you are a lover of coffee and chocolate, this will soon become your favorite dessert.
15. Cannoli
Ok, next up on the best food in Italy list is Cannoli’s. Cannoli’s are one of the most commonly known Italian desserts. This is because they are found at many Italian restaurants all over the world. In Italy, believe it or not, cannoli’s are not everywhere. They are commonly found in Sicily. These delicious pastries are crunchy on the outside and have a cream inside.
16. Torta della nonna
You might be thinking – What is a torta della nonna? This dessert is popular in the Tuscany region of Italy. The dessert is also referred to as grandma’s cake and have various ingredients but have a lemon/vanilla tart flavoring.
17. Wine
Last on the list is wine. Not a food but goes with meals. 🙂 If you are a wine lover, the wine is Italy is like some you have never tasted. The house wine is delicious and usually half the price of bottle wine. Wine is very popular among Italians and you will likely find wine at all or almost all restaurants. In addition, the red wine is usually chilled and will cause you to always chill your red wine going forward.
Ciao!
Happy and safe travels! xx
This post was all about the best food in Italy.
For more travel inspiration for Italy, you will love this related post: Italy Travel Guide | Perfect 15 day Itinerary in Italy
Enter your email below for a free PDF ultimate travel checklist. This checklist is customizable so you could add and remove anything that does not apply to you. Entering your email below and clicking that follow button on Pinterest will keep you up to date on travel guides, travel budget tips, and travel organization tips. Ensure you never miss the latest travel budget tips, travel organization tips, or travel guides.