Visit a local market

Speaking of markets, visiting a local market, or mercato, is an authentic way to taste true Italian fare. Even if you aren’t planning on cooking a big meal, you can guarantee that you will find something fresh and delicious to eat. 

I’d be lying if I said that the produce back home tastes just as good as the produce in Italy. It doesn’t. Grab some fruits that are in season, like fresh cherries in the spring or some large figs in both summer and fall. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are the best to buy because they will be bursting with flavor and locally grown.

A big part of the Italian cuisine is food that can be found at a deli or bakery. Any market in Italy is sure to have a deli and bakery overflowing with olives, cheeses, many varieties of cold cuts, or salumi, and fresh bread. Grab some for the family to have as a snack between visiting Italy’s many attractions. 

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: Visit a local market for locally grown produce and artisanal food, like cheeses, bread, and cured meats.

Grocery stores in Italy

If you plan on cooking a lot of your meals, and don’t have time to peruse the many stalls of an outdoor market, grocery stores can be found everywhere in Italy, even in major city centers. These are popular stops for tourists that have accommodations with cooking facilities or just want to pack a picnic.

Grocery stores in city centers are usually small, have little selection, and are slightly more expensive. That being said, most necessities can be found pleasing the pickiest of eaters. Depending on location, common Italian supermarket chains include PAM, Carrefour Express, Conad, and Coop.

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: A local grocery store is great when you may be in a pinch to find necessary items like diapers, deodorant, or even a great bottle of wine.

Aperitivo

The Italian happy hour, otherwise known as Aperitivo, is more than just having a pre-dinner drink. Between 5 – 7 pm, Italy is in aperitivo mode. Restaurants and bars offer a free selection of appetizers along with the purchase of a drink. Italian appetizers are miniature meals with many restaurants providing patrons with small portions of local delicacies. 

The quality of the aperitivo really does depend on the authenticity of the restaurant. Stay away from high tourist areas and you are sure to a great snack before dinner. In Italy, dinner is served later than American standards, usually after 8 pm, so a snack, or aperitivo, is necessary to tie you over from lunch. 

For adults, a typical aperitivo is an Aperol Spritz, that features Aperol, club soda, prosecco, ice cubes, and an orange slice, while kids can enjoy a glass of fresh succo (juice). These refreshing drinks, accompanied by chips, small pizza squares, olives, bread, and pasta will be sure to tie you over until dinner. If you are in the Lombardy region, you may want to change up your Aperol for a Campari spritz, a slightly more bitter version of the same. 

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: Avoid having your aperitivo in busy tourist areas. While the spritz may be good, the appetizers offered are usually minimal and stingy.

Gelato “artigianale”

You may know that Italy is famous for its gelato. A sweet, creamy, lovingly-made treat that you should have at least once (or twice!) a day while visiting. If you want to be more traditional, look out for gelaterias that make gelato artigianale. Artigianale means artisanal, or handmade, and suggests that fresh ingredients are used, without the chemical additives used in other gelatos.

For the most part, all Italian gelato seems to taste really good, however artisanal gelato guarantees quality and flavor.  Make sure to try traditional Italian favorites – pistacchio, hazelnut, and stracciatella. Be aware that many if there are too many ingredients (which should be listed by law) it’s probably not real artisanal gelato. Some flavors may also contain nuts so if you have an allergy make sure to ask the server before deciding.

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: If there are too many flavors, too many ingredients and mountainous peaks of gelato, it’s probably not artisanal. Look for the ingredients – if there are more than 5 listed, pass on to the next place. 

Stay away from restaurants that are in main tourist areas

Most tourists tend to spend most of their time in piazzas or squares near main tourist attractions. Restaurants within the area focus on serving the tourist population and tend to cater to Western standards. In other words, the food in these areas tend to be substandard compared to other restaurants further away. 

True story. We were once caught without any food, with hungry, or rather, hangry, kids that needed to eat. Like, I’m saying not even a snack. Parents of the year right here! We stopped at a local restaurant in a main tourist area and were very disappointed when the server gave us hotdogs on our pizza. Yup… hotdogs… in Italy.

If you are looking for a true Italian experience journey away from the main piazzas. The further you go, the more authentic the food and experience become. A good way to find great food in Italy is to ask a local. When you meet someone you can trust just ask, they are usually happy to help.

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick Tip: Stay away from the touristy areas if you want to eat well (and not pay through the roof). Ask around to see where locals go and eat there. The food will be better quality and less expensive.

No food after 2 pm

Plan your means strategically, especially when traveling with kids. Make sure to schedule a big meal before 2 pm because most restaurants will be closed until about 7 pm. Italians that follow the traditional way of life finish work at 1 pm and return to work at about 5 pm. This time is called riposo, or rest.  

Riposo or siesta is a time where Italians go home and rest before the evening shift at work. With that said, a traditional Italian restaurant will not be open during these times. If you are looking for a meal during those hours restaurants catering to tourism and American fast food may be your only option. Plan ahead, to ensure that your meals are authentic Italian and of the highest quality. 

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick Tip: If you are out-and-about plan big meals just before 2 pm as most restaurants close. If you really need to get some grub, visit a deli or grocery store to get bread and cold cuts to make a sandwich.

Eating in public places

Italians take eating very seriously. Having food is considered a blessing and when you eat it should be in a respectful manner. If they must eat on the go, they usually do so standing up.

With that being said, it is frowned upon to be eating on the ground in public places. This includes eating on sidewalks, curbsides, in monuments, and church steps. Italians are fiercely protective of their culture and are offended (and shocked) that many people eat in these places, especially if they leave garbage and mess behind.

So much so, that police will guide you off the steps if you are found eating in front of a monument or church. Recently, people were banned from eating (and sitting) on the Spanish Steps for this very reason.  If you are looking to have a picnic look for a nearby park like the Borghese Villa in Rome, or the Boboli Gardens in Florence. 

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: Avoid eating on sidewalks, church steps or in monuments. If you want to eat your own packed lunch, visit a local park and take a break. 

Pizza

Pizza in Italy is taken very seriously, to the extent that chefs consider it a passion and art. Each region of Italy makes a slightly different style of pizza.  Napoli is considered to have the best pizza, with many chefs (pizzaiolo) dedicating their careers to perfecting the art of pizza making. Once you have a taste you will definitely experience the dedication to perfection. 

Pizza in Italy is different to pizza in North America. Italian pizza is thin and simple, with minimal toppings and is meant to be eaten folded in you’re eating it on-the-go. Rule of thumb, if you see a long lineup in front of a pizzeria it’s likely that it’s worth the wait. 

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: When eating in a restaurant in Italy, each person should order their own pizza and it should be eaten with a fork and knife.

Stay away from menus in English

A rule of thumb when looking for a good meal in Italy is to steer away from restaurants that offer an English menu. An English menu suggests that it caters to tourism and is usually an indicator that the food being served lacks authenticity. 

Stay away from any restaurant that has spaghetti and meatballs on the menu. Contrary to popular belief spaghetti and meatballs, in fact, is not an Italian dish and is considered to be a Western interpretation of Italian cuisine. While Italians do make meatballs, they are served on a plate as a side dish.

If you’re travelling with kids, and they really need to have some familiar food, ask the server if they can adjust the menu to make it more kid-friendly. For instance, maybe putting less pepper in a pasta Carbonara. Italians love to cater to children and it’s their joy to see them happy, and more importantly, full.  Most kids love pizza and pasta, so you should always find something even in a local place.

This will make sure that you are eating good food in Italy

Quick tip: If you want authentic Italian food, avoid restaurants that have menus in English. Almost everyone in Italy speaks English, so even if the menu is in Italian, your server should be able to translate.