The best restaurants Italy

In an ancient ^16th-century mansion, Alessandra and Gaetano Martini have been running one of northern Italy's must-visit gourmet restaurants for the past 16 years. He, always impeccable in his colorful bow tie, and she, a talented chef of exquisite finesse. In a classic yet distinguished atmosphere, traditional local recipes are wonderfully prepared: pumpkin ravioli, marinated eel, sbrisolonashortbread cake... Everything is tasty and refined. In summer, service takes place in the garden around a ^15th-century coping stone.

Perfect location in the Piazza delle Erbe, under the arcades of the Palazzo della Ragione, for this address well anchored in the local gastronomic tradition. In the front row to enjoy the architectural beauties of Mantua, without giving in to the tourist traps, you can sit down at the small wooden tables. Cento Rampini keeps the best of the regional tradition on the plate: tortelli mantovani, pike in sauce, baked chicken, sabayon and hazelnut crunch. Very good cellar.

In addition to the wide choice of pizzas with thin and crispy dough, you will find on the menu of this restaurant solid pasta dishes, charcuterie boards, grilled fish..., nothing but classic seaside resort food, but with a good quality-price ratio. The large dining room opens onto a terrace and is a little chic with its thick fabric tablecloths. In season, the terrace is literally taken by storm and it is better to book. Despite a high number of tables and a room that is always full, the service is friendly and efficient.

Among the stalls under the arcades of Sottoripa, Il Gran Ristoro is a legendary address where you come to break bread with a succulent panino. There's a good chance you'll have to wait in line, as this is a very popular address with Genoese, but be patient for as long as it takes: the sandwiches, featuring cold meats, grilled vegetables, tasty sauces and cheeses, are incomparable. Enjoy them with a drink at one of the tables under the arcades, or on the harbor. Follow the advice of the owner, who will show you the best combinations.

Excellent refined Tuscan cuisine, which is also served in a completely renovated 16th century palace, a room of which is elegantly decorated with period frescoes. The creativity of the chef, Emiliano Rossi, inspired by the market, will seduce gourmets (as he has done since the opening of his restaurant in 1994). You can enjoy, for example, eggplant gnocchi and mozzarella di bufala, followed by a duck breast with black olives or the famous bistecca alla Fiorentina and, for dessert, a charlotte with mascarpone...

Just a few steps from the Duomo, a trattoria whose exposed beams and colorful tablecloths immediately immerse you in a good-natured atmosphere. Traditional regional cuisine is scrupulously prepared here: tortelli cremaschi, gnocchi with sausage and mozzarella, marrow bone with risotto and braised meat with polenta promise an authentic discovery of the land. The kitchen also offers a number of vegetarian dishes, such as vegetable flans and quiches with quail eggs.

On the corner of Via San Bernardo and Vico Vegetti, in the heart of Genoa's oldest district, this establishment has retained the atmosphere of yesteryear, with its checkered curtains and tablecloths. Here, you can discover old regional recipes such as lettuce stuffed with broth and tripe, or classic fried fish and spaghetti with pesto, but also more original recipes such as fried ravioli (a kind of fried pasta that's absolutely divine) or calf's liver in vinegar sauce, all accompanied by an excellent wine list.

The reputation of the famous Brunello di Montalcino attracts connoisseurs, and many enoteche offer to taste this great red wine classified DOCG, which makes the glory of Montalcino, like that of La Fortezza, with its medieval atmosphere. Founded in 1980, it is one of the first wine merchants in the city. The staff is a fine connoisseur! In addition to good Tuscan hams and cheeses, you will find many local specialities. Perfect to have a snack, discover the regional flavours and, why not, buy a few bottles.

A traditional and family osteria, as we like them, with stone walls and beams on the ceiling, which prepares good primi piatti. Friendly service. The products are fresh, local and deserve a culinary stopover. Probably the best Montalcino table in this price category. The great classified red wine, Brunello di Montalcino, will perfectly match traditional recipes, such as thesucculent coniglio (rabbit) al Brunello.

Alain Ducasse's first restaurant in Italy, now under the leadership of chef Enrico Bartolini, awarded a Michelin star for his demanding, generous cuisine. With seating for up to 100 guests, this large trattoria occupies the barn of a charming residence, formerly owned by the Duke of Tuscany, in the heart of a vast 500-hectare vineyard. The wine list, created by sommelier Gérard Margeon, is equally sensational.

The city's leading restaurant, founded in 1948. If you're looking for a romantic meal, don't go. This good downtown trattoria, just a few steps from Piazza dei Priori, serves truffle and mushroom specialties. Next door to the restaurant is an enoteca of the same name, offering a good selection of wines, as well as charcuterie and cheese tastings.

A neighborhood brewery as we like it, in the heart of the historic center of Soave. As soon as the aperitif is served, the good mood is in the air around the wooden counter where the regulars crowd to sip a good glass of local wine and to munch on bruschette and appetizers of all kinds. At the table, authentic and generous cuisine: polenta, bigoli in sauce, baccalà mantecato, but also fresh pasta with truffles, juicy beef ribs, and a trio of polenta that you won't soon forget.

A simple little café on Bardonecchia's main street. Open all day for a coffee or cappuccino in the morning, accompanied by a good choice of pastries, at lunchtime you'll find a variety of large paninis and simple but nourishing Italian dishes, and for aperitivo you can enjoy a spritz or other drink on the terrace, with nibbles to nibble on while you wait for dinner. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is good.

A small café-restaurant located in Piazza del Duomo, where it is good to stop between visits. Its great added value is, without hesitation, a charming inner courtyard with a very pleasant shaded terrace. Around a small fountain, sparrows come to chirp, while you enjoy a good cappuccino with a brioche or a lunch on the go. Sandwiches, pasta and large salads are on the menu. The regulars come here to sip a little black cheese seized at the counter, and then meet there in the evening for a spritz.

There are not many good restaurants in the centre of Orgosolo, but all of them will point you in the direction of the Supramonte. This bed and breakfast also offers a real Sardinian culinary experience in the middle of the forest. You can sit on the benches under the trees and enjoy a variety of local products "à la bonne franquette": cold cuts, spit-roasted pig, lamb chops, sheep's cheese and homemade desserts, all at will. The good wine helps and the meal often ends with Sardinian songs.

Close to Piazza del Campo, there is a restaurant that serves traditional Tuscan cuisine with a medieval touch, without being a classic tourist catch. You can discover the authentic and surprising flavours of the 15th century, such as chicken with chickpeas or torta di fiore: a ginger pie, pecorino and edible flowers. You can also choose a more modern dish such as, in season, homemade tagliatelle with fresh truffles, or lamb with tomatoes, lemon, cumin, coriander and roasted almonds.

A new philosophy in the heart of Florence, in the ancient cloister of Santa Maria: Quinoa is the first "Gluten Free" restaurant in the city. Food specialists and chefs have combined their know-how to create a quality cuisine exclusively gluten-free. An ambitious project that allows to discover new recipes but also traditional dishes based on this cereal called quinoa, a flour rich in fibre and protein but gluten-free. In short, a charming place in the heart of history serving an innovative cuisine!

It didn't take long for this restaurant to earn a good reputation, as much for its friendly atmosphere as for its food. Here, seafood and local produce are served on generous plates. Fish and shellfish soup with grilled toast or grilled eggplant with mozzarella and tomatoes are as simple as they are excellent. For dessert, a pistachio soufflé, financier-style with a runny heart? A revelation! A fine cellar too.

Rôtisserie with typical Venetian cuisine. Enjoy on the thumb (or take away) all truly Venetian dishes, from baccalà (try the tris of baccalà con polenta) in the fish Risotto.

A number of reasons will lead you to this warm trattoria located in the heart of Trastevere, the small square that is an enchantment, the small external tables and a simple and clean environment. The management is in care of a community made up of physically and mentally disabled young people who take care of the room, who cook, who paint and display their paintings… Try vegetable Couscous, Zucchini pasta, mint, sage or fettuccine in Sicilian.

The address will delight carnivores and those who are tired of fish: here, chianina meat, lamb and rustic sausages are grilled over a wood fire in the large fireplace of the main room. The appetizers and pasta dishes are rooted in the Apulian peasant tradition, and there are cheese and cold cuts platters, orecchiette with rapa cakes and gnocchi with sausage and cardoncelli mushrooms on the menu. A simple and tasty cuisine. Pleasant terrace in the shade of the alley in good weather.

Located in the centre of the village, this trattoria is pleasant first of all for its setting. White benches and tablecloths, wooden chairs and wainscotting everywhere give a refined chalet atmosphere. You can also opt for the terrace in summer, exceptional and surrounded by greenery. Regional specialities, Italian classics and pizzas are served here. The most important thing is to preserve the flavour of home cooking, as in the original tagliatelle with venison and juniper stew or roast pork with blueberries. Appetizing, isn't it?

An address that differs from other (sometimes too many) tourist restaurants in the city. Here, in the central square of Fiesole, the chef has created a rich and typical menu of the region, such as the tasty bistecca alla fiorentina, fresh and homemade tagliatelle with bean cream, dried tomatoes and pistachios, or Cinta Senese's fillet on its bed of shallots. Otherwise, to have a drink, it takes place at the counter. The service is attentive and the atmosphere of the tavern is successful. In short, this is where you can have fun!

A beautiful culinary moment in perspective! We love this address on the other side of the public gardens, combining a touch of aristocratic hospitality with the exaltation of the flavours of Salento. The cuisine is both authentic and refined, seasonal dishes and recipes of the peasant tradition are presented in carefully prepared plates, and modest fave e cicorie (chicory bean purée), enhanced by a drizzle of fragrant olive oil, are transformed into a gastronomic dish! Excellent wines and very good value for money.

Parlor has recently entered the panorama of restaurants in Bologna. The owners, Giacomo and Andrea, play the card of originality and homemade. In addition to the traditional pasta dishes, the restaurant offers four different tartars on the evening menu as well as fresh fish. Refined cuisine and homemade preparation, even your jam on the cheesecake is made on the spot! Parlor is also a lively cocktail bar at aperitivo time and has a fine selection of wines from all over the peninsula

A classic of Florentine cuisine, located right next to Santa Maria Novella, a stone's throw from the cathedral and chic via Tornabuoni. This restaurant is a landmark for Florentines, over 130 years old and renowned for its famous bistecca alla fiorentina on embers and meats on its famous spit. First-rate meat at a fair price, with the same quality and expertise as our other specialities. A historic venue where intimacy and romance are the order of the day, as is the friendliness of the staff.

The restaurant is located at an altitude of over 2,200 meters in the Lumen Museum of Photography, which opened a few years ago. So this restaurant is right up there with the clouds at the top of Plan de Corones and is only accessible by cable car. It is open at lunchtime with late service until the beginning of the day. In the kitchen, the team of the talented chef Norbert Niederkofler, three starred! He brings his "cook the mountain" touch to sublimate the alpine flavors and proposes affordable and contemporary dishes in a cosy setting.

It is a pearl of the seas that you must try if you love fish and seafood in all its forms. The fish shop that sells its fresh wonders during the day has opened a small restaurant with a row of tables as a terrace under the roof of the Mercato delle Erbe. Here, only small dishes are served for a few euros each. On the menu: raw specialties (tartars, carpacci), fried (squid, prawns) and cooked. We loved the prawns with Greek Kataifi dough, this crispy envelope of fried filaments, a real delight.

It's worth taking a few steps out of the center of Stresa and pushing to this pizzeria near the train station. If the outside doesn't look like much, you won't leave disappointed after tasting the dishes offered, whether you opt for a pizza or a dish. First of all, the pizzas, cooked on a wood fire, are creamy and well filled, among the best on the lake. For the dishes, whether it is fish (octopus carpaccio, scampi, lavaret and others, from the lake or the sea), pasta or meat, everything is very tasty. Very good service too.

One of the city's oldest osterie, this little neighborhood canteen is in the pure Venetian culinary tradition. It's best to reserve in the evening, as the three charming little indoor rooms fill up quickly. No terrace in summer. Follow your desires and affinities and let yourself be carried away. It's a sure bet for quality and authenticity. And if you've never tried baccala (salt cod in cream sauce), you can go there with your eyes closed. Ciccheti are also very popular.

A beautiful find near San Donato in Poggio, on the heights of a hill with a typical view of Chianti. In the heart of a hamlet that stands like a micro-centre of life and that time does not seem to have disrupted, this table promises a journey back in time, surrounded by a preserved countryside. Its terrace calls you. You won't regret it, even if the price is a little higher than usual. The reason? The originality, the precise cuisine, the seasonality, and the raw materials of great freshness, for a friendly moment and very pretty dishes.

In the center of Arvier, below the hotel of the same name, you'll find the Cantina du Clou, a restaurant with a large dining room that doubles as a wine bar. The cuisine is very typical and refined: specialties include various cuts of beef, wood-fired raclette, foie gras, several types of risottoand desserts prepared with great care. An excellent wine list, with choices by the glass, from Valle d'Aosta as well as from the best Italian and French producers. Pleasant terrace.

An emblematic establishment in downtown Aosta, with a decoration that's... surprising! Cowbells hang above the tables and counter, while old working tools and, above all, a fine collection of copper cheese-making cauldrons hang on the walls of the small dining room. The menu is rich, rigorously traditional (charcuterie and fondues in the spotlight!), and the raw materials are of excellent quality. The owner will talk to you about the history of his region and even let you taste his homemade alcohol.

A real gem in the center of Aosta. Officina della Pasta - literally "the pasta workshop" - is an artisanal laboratory that makes fresh pasta (gnocchi, lasagne, ravioli, etc.) and cooks it right on the spot. All you have to do is choose the type of pasta and one of the many sauces available to accompany it. The dishes, simple and inexpensive, are a real treat for the taste buds. The staff are smiling and helpful. On-site and take-away service, also offers home-made pasta in bags.

In the main street, the "Maison du Bandit", in reference to an ancestor of the owner who, like the mountain dwellers of yesteryear, traded illegally with Switzerland to escape poverty, is a very interesting little establishment. Managed by a Frenchwoman, it offers Valle d'Aosta-style catering, whether for a frugal meal or a hearty dinner. The ingredients are of the highest quality and sourced as far as possible from the region: you can even choose the piece of meat you eat! Good wine list. Pleasant terrace.

One of the best wine libraries in the center. Amidst the shelves displaying dozens of different labels, you can enjoy a quick meal seated next to a barrel, choosing one of the dishes of the day accompanied, of course, by a glass of wine. The wines on offer come mainly from the Aosta Valley and neighbouring Piedmont. Both the best-known brands and smaller producers are represented, and it's easy to come across ampelographic rarities or niche but sought-after productions.

The Posta restaurant takes our taste buds to the other side of the Apennines, to Tuscany, and rivals many establishments in the city of Medici. A traditional cuisine perfectly executed and well balanced. The pasta and cakes are homemade, a real delight. Don't miss: the ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, the rare and juicy bistecca alla fiorentina, the pappardelle with wild boar ragout and the offal preparations(lampredotto, sweetbreads). A family address, elegant and warm, very popular with the locals.

A good-natured (and maybe even kid-friendly) pub-restaurant near the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele III. The menu is particularly extensive. There are many vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. There is a large selection of salads, paninis and well executed pizzas. Without being a gastronomic address, the Gli Atenati is a nice place for a cheap dinner in Messina until late, but above all a good bar to enjoy a craft beer. The atmosphere is particularly local, which is its charm.

"Prosciutto, vino e... cose buone"! Indeed, the appeal of this osteria is more than just ham and wine! The small room is cozy and intimate, lulled by an old blues tune in the background, and the tables are arranged around five massive 16th century granite columns. The cuisine is from the heart, handed down from mother to daughter: it reveals the authenticity of the Friulian land and is accompanied by carefully selected regional wines. For dessert, gubana is served with a small glass of good grappa.

This restaurant has set a requirement to use only local and seasonal products. Even the meat is from Favignana whenever possible, if not from Sicily. But it is above all the compositions that are remarkably creative. What about millefeuille with ricotta and Sicilian blackberry jelly, tuna in citrus and strawberry tartar or carpaccio with pistachios? The list of pleasures is long. So as not to spoil anything, the room is as modern as the kitchen, with beautiful photos on the walls, and the terrace is distinguished. A favorite.

Top-quality meat, wriggling fish in the window, antipasti all more appetizing one than the other: the strong points of this restaurant are numerous. Opened in 2018, it is very dynamic and offers a wide range of tasty fish dishes, starting with the famous local couscous or clam pasta with pistachio pesto. Original and appetizing no? The setting is pleasant, with exposed rough stone walls, a few pictures on the wall and modern but sober furniture. Very nice compositions of plates.

Here is an affordable, elegant and refined gastronomic table, stamped "slow food". On the menu, Aeolian specialities, revisited with sophistication, like the octopus tentacles artistically arranged with pearls of Cantalupo melon or this carpaccio of Mazzara red prawns with orange and bitter cocoa on a bed of peaches. The chef's speciality is the IDDU pasta "the vision of Stromboli", with a black crepe, ricotta from Vulcano, orange zest, red prawns, candied tomatoes and Bronte pistachios. Unique! The choice will be difficult.

This address, which offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area, is one of the best known in Todi. Always in search of new flavours, the chef, Fausto Todini, has worked abroad, notably in Vienna, Israel and Holland, before returning to Italy to offer traditional cuisine, such as the marvellous polenta (for those who love it!)... Here, you can enjoy many Umbrian dishes: soups, game, pasta, dishes flavoured with aromatic herbs from the region, not forgetting the dishes with truffles and porcini mushrooms. A real treat!

Restaurant located in the sumptuous Villa Marta hotel, an 18th century residence. An intimate place where the quality of the cuisine blends perfectly with the romanticism of the place and its Renaissance garden. The dishes are typically Tuscan (tortello luchese with stew sauce and zuppa alla frantoiana...) with a new touch of cuisine that only improves the quality and presentation; all this accompanied by fresh products exclusively from the surrounding countryside. The menu gives pride of place to seasonal products. In summer, Thursday evenings are barbecue days!

This new restaurant, with its terrace in front of Punta Petrolo in the center of Castelmare del Golfo, is without a doubt one of its best restaurants. The Sardinian polpette (sardine dumplings with tomato) are absolutely divine as a starter, as are the sea urchins. Here we serve perfectly grilled whole fish or delicately marinated fish fillets. The chef's welcome is equal to his 100% Sicilian cuisine, made from the best local fish and with an authentic taste in the plates.

Riddle me this: where to enjoy the best couscous in town? A thousand and one formulas of this famous dish are offered here: with sea urchins and squid ink, with truffles, with lamb or the traditional couscous of San Vito. You will be installed in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by orange, lemon and jasmine trees. Other specialities of this restaurant: its fresh home-made pasta (trenette or busiate typical of Trapanese) or in secondo the candied squid with Bettafico style sardines (breaded sardines, pine nuts, lemons, raisins).

A stone's throw from the Pantheon, led by the international chief Massimo Riccioli who owns it, Rosetta is the first «nostrum» fish restaurant in Rome. The supply is carefully selected every day upon arrival at the port, guaranteed freshness premium. The menu is composed according to the mood of the chef. A sea-oriented cuisine where oyster tasting has a privileged place. Choosing between succulent fish or seafood simply grilled or home specialties is particularly difficult. A Oyster Bar, open from 12 p. m. to 7 p. m., offers a more informal approach, the chef's great cuisine. Elegant setting, nice terrace and impeccable service.

Deamama is more than just a restaurant, it's a project that Mario and Luciana have been working on for 8 years: to create a restaurant that's open both inside and out. Offering a 180° view of the harbour, as well as a look into the kitchens. No walls, just huge picture windows! Gastronomic cuisine with Sardinian generosity. With the same passion, Mario and his team celebrate meat, fish and veggie (and even vegan) dishes. What a wonderful balance of flavors, textures and colors! This restaurant really has a soul, and we were charmed!

The restaurant of the hotel Il Querceto is a pure delight. We were amazed by the quality of execution of the dishes, the presentation of the plates and the great finesse in the mouth. Meat or fish, rice or pasta, it's a no-fail. An avalanche of flavors that you can enjoy in the summer on the terrace at sunset - as romantic as it gets. The staff is very attentive, Massimiliano watches over his team like a conductor and has recruited a prestigious chef. This is one of our best addresses in Sardinia that we recommend with our eyes closed.