How To Eat Like a Local in Italy

Few countries take food more seriously than Italy, and with good reason: Their cuisine is among the best in the world — indeed, countless people who’ve never even visited the Boot consider Italian cuisine their favorite. But next time you’re lucky enough to actually find yourself in Italy, go for the most authentic experience possible by following these six tips for eating like a local.

Skip the Savory Breakfast

Most of the dishes we consider classically Italian are savory, not sweet: pasta, pizza, and paninis, just to name a few. None of those is a breakfast food, however, and that isn’t a coincidence. By and large, Italians prefer to start their day with something sweet, with cornettos (the Italian take on croissants) being among the most popular. These and other pastries are almost always paired with coffee, especially cappuccino or espresso — one study found that 84% of Italians drink coffee as soon as they wake up every morning.

And Go for a Late Dinner

Anyone who’s ever visited Rome in the summer knows there’s something uniquely appealing about a late dinner accompanied by an equally late sunset. Regardless of what time day ends and night begins, however, Italians prefer to eat the last meal of the day later than folks in most other countries. You aren’t likely to find an early-bird special in Venice or Turin, as dinner often doesn’t begin until 8 or 9 p.m. And the farther south you go, the later dinner will be. This is due to both warmer weather and ingrained traditions that, like your nonna’s lasagna recipe, won’t be changing anytime soon.

Eat Pasta as a Starter

Those of us who love our carbs tend to think of pasta as an entree or main course. Not so in Italy, where it’s usually the primo (first course) rather than secondo (second course). The latter will usually be meat or fish, with a smaller portion of spaghetti, lasagna, or even gnocchi whetting your appetite first.

Don’t Drink Cappuccino in the Afternoon

The flip side of 84% of Italians drinking coffee first thing in the morning is that they have strong opinions on exactly what type to drink — and when. Cappuccino is considered a morning beverage due to its high milk content, making it a faux pas to order one in the afternoon. This isn’t purely based on arbitrary traditions: Milk is considered fairly difficult to digest, so only having it in the morning is thought to give your body more time to process it and avoid a funny tummy before bed. If you do need a caffeine fix in the p.m., go for an espresso or macchiato.

Think Locally

Though we tend to associate a number of classic dishes with Italy as a whole, many of them are regional specialties. You wouldn’t expect a Philly cheesesteak from San Diego to be as authentic as one from Philadelphia, so why would you expect to find the same kind of Bolognese in Rome as you would in Bologna? Florence, for instance, is known more for its meat than it is for its pasta, especially the famed bistecca alla Fiorentina, which literally means “beefsteak Florentine style.” If you’re in Bologna, go for the delicious lasagna Bolognese. Wherever you travel to in Italy, do your research ahead of time and focus on regional specialties as much as possible.

Be Mindful of Opening and Closing Times

Italian restaurants tend to close for several hours between lunch and dinner, which has surely perplexed many a traveler used to more generous hours. And while there’s much to be said for the convenience of finding a spot that’s open between the hours of, say, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., locals might warn that these establishments cater to tourists and are therefore less authentic. Italians eat dinner late, often taking a post-work evening stroll known as la passeggiata before doing so, which means that the spot around the corner from your hotel that doesn’t open until 7:30 at night likely offers a more authentic experience.