If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Italy, the first place to look is to the latest Michelin rankings. Michelin, the world authority on restaurant rankings, has rated hundreds of restaurants in Italy as exceptional places to dine.
As of this writing, there are 12 restaurants in Italy with three Michelin stars. The highest ranking, three Michelin stars means that a restaurant is “worth a special journey.”
One thing you’ll notice is that all 12 of these restaurants are located in northern and central Italy. But restaurants in southern Italy and the Italian islands have been Michein stand-outs in the past and they surely will be again. And, another thing you may notice is that many of these top restaurants are located within hotels, setting you up with an easy way to plan your itinerary.
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10 Best Restaurants in Rome Italy - Where to Eat in Rome | IB
Are you the type of traveler that will make a “special journey” just to dine out? Then, check out the latest list of Michelin 3-starred restaurants in Italy and start planning your trip!
Northern Italy
Osteria Francescana
Location: Modena, Emilia-Romagna
Even casual foodies will probably recognize the name Osteria Francescana and its chef and mastermind Massimo Bottura. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Modena has been featured on countless shows, from Chef’s Table and Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy to the second season of Aziz Ansari’s dramedy Master of None. Combining tradition with innovation, Osteria Francescana takes diners on a gastronomic journey through Emilia-Romagna’s flavors, all presented with artistic flair.
Da Vittorio
Location: Brusaporto, Lombardy
Vittorio, the paterfamilias and namesake who founded this popular restaurant in 1966, passed away in 2005. But the entire Cerea family has since taken the family restaurant to new heights, earning a third star in 2010 and expanding the Da Vittorio empire to include dining outposts in elite destinations like St. Moritz and Shanghai. Located about 10 minutes outside the Bergamo, the Alpine part of Lombardy, Da Vittorio is particularly renowned for its seafood dishes—pretty weird for a mountain town. But in a country like Italy, where you can spend the morning in the mountains and the afternoon on the beach, it’s not unusual to find exceptional seafood dishes even in landlocked provinces.
Tip: The “Elephant Ear” (Orecchia di Elefante) Milanese-style veal cutlet must be ordered in advance.
Piazza Duomo
Location: Alba, Piedmont
Known for its truffles, the Piedmontese city of Alba is the home of the 3-starred Piazza Duomo. Here, Chef Enrico Crippa showcases the culinary traditions of Piedmont in several delightful tasting menus that he labels as “sensorial journeys.” One recent “Viaggio” included tastings of specialties from Piedmont and neighboring regions, while another tasting called “Barolo” took palates on a journey around Piedmont, from Turinese aperitifs to manzo to truffles to profiteroles.
Tip: If staying in Alba or its environs, consider adding a truffle-hunting tour to your itinerary.
St. Hubertus
Location: San Cassiano in Badia, Trentino Alto Adige
The creative outlet of Chef Norbert Niederkofler, this Michelin 3-starred restaurant is located within the Rosa Alpina Hotel, which has breathtaking views of the UNESCO-designated Dolomites. The Rosa Alpina was recently acquired by Aman Hotels and has temporarily closed service—including the restaurant. It plans to re-open for the 2024/25 season, at which time one hopes St. Hubertus reopens, too.
Le Calandre
Location: Rubano, Veneto
Le Calandre, led by the Alajmo family, offers a gastronomic adventure near Padua. Chef Massimiliano Alajmo’s imaginative cuisine combines tradition with modern techniques, resulting in dishes that surprise and delight diners in an elegant and welcoming ambiance. These include dishes like cuttlefish cappuccino, risotto with cocoa coffee and passion fruit, and rabbit ravioli with bitter greens.
Tip: The Alajmo family has built a small fiefdom in the Veneto, with Le Calandre the jewel in the crown that includes cafes, bistros, and other dining venues in Padua, Treviso, and Venice.
Ristorante Dal Pescatore Santini
Location: Canneto sull’Oglio, Lombardy
“The Fisherman’s Place,” Ristorante Dal Pescatore Santini is a Michelin restaurant that has built its name on its fish dishes, many centered on freshwater fish from the River Po. Holding its three Michelin stars since 1996, Dal Pescatore is run by the Santini family, with Nadia as its chef. Located in a tiny village that has a fairytale-like feel, this family restaurant features fantastical dishes like Terrina with Lobster, Caviar Oscietra Royal and Extra-Virgin Olive Oil of Tuscany; Risotto with peas, sweet herbs, tuna roe and black bread with herbs; and Grilled Eel with green Chicory from the vegetable garden.
Enrico Bartolini al Mudec
Location: Milan, Lombardy
Milan’s only restaurant with three Michelin stars (as of this writing) is Enrico Bartolini al Mudec is a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers modern Italian cuisine in a stylish setting. One of the most prolific of Italy’s award-winning chefs, Bartolini commands several Michelin stars across multiple restaurants across Italy. But Mudec, with dishes like spaghettone with smoked eel and baby squid, is the flagship.
Villa Crespi
Location: Orta San Giulio, Lombardy
Last but not least in the list of top restaurants in northern Italy is Villa Crespi, which earned its third Michelin star in 2022. Helmed by Antonino Cannavacciuolo, a famed Neopolitan chef known as being a judge on Master Chef Italia, the Michelin-starred restaurant is located in a beautiful 19th-century Relaix & Chateaux villa hotel.
Central Italy
La Pergola
Location: Rome, Lazio
La Pergola is Rome’s only 3-star Michelin restaurant (though the city has a number of other Michelin 1- and 2-stars). Set inside the Rome Cavalieri (a Waldorf Astoria hotel), La Pergola is run by Chef Heinz Beck, whose culinary mastery shines through innovative dishes that reflect both his German background and Italian/Roman ingredients. Some menu items here include deep-fried zucchini flower with caviar on shellfish and saffron consommé, pigeon with honey, propolis and pollen, and Marinated Valdostan beef in mountain pine on acorns and borage.
Tip: Rome Cavalieri is a favorite hotel for its seclusion and elegant gardens and pool. Book a stay here to increase your chances of running into celebrities at breakfast (such as what happened in the meet-cute between Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian). You wouldn’t have to dine at La Pergola every night—unless you wanted to.
Uliassi
Location: Senigallia, Marche
Overlooking the Adriatic Sea in Senigallia, Uliassi is named for and run by Chef Mauro Uliassi. Featuring dishes like raw amberjack “a la puttanesca” and the regional specialty Anconetana fish soup, Uliassi is a reason alone to visit one of Italy’s lesser-known but feature-packed regions—Marche.
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Location: Florence, Tuscany
Situated in the heart of Florence, Enoteca Pinchiorri has been a beacon of fine dining since 1972 and earned its first Michelin 3-star rating in 1993. Owner and chef Annie Féolde’s refined cuisine, paired with an extraordinary wine collection, creates an indulgent sensory experience that celebrates Tuscan gastronomy and culture. Some tasting menu items at Enoteca Pinchiorri include capellini cooked in porcini mushrooms broth, saffron cream, and sautéed snails with herbs, fresh peas, slightly spicy avocado, coconut sauce, and green tea. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list, with over 10,000 bottles from all over the world.
Reale
Location: Castel di Sangro, Abruzzo
The capolavoro of self-taught Abruzzese chef Niko Romito, Reale is a grand dining experience inside a 16th-century monastery in the chef’s native village. Romito’s modern Italian cuisine focuses on sustainability with many ingredients gathered from the mountains around this rugged part of Italy. Reale earned its third Michelin star in 2014 and you can combine a world-class meal here with a stay at the Casadonna hotel, run by Romito’s daughter.
Tip: Want to try the flavor combinations dreamed up by Niko Romito but can’t make it to Abruzzo (or afford Michelin 3-star prices)? Check out Spazio Niko Romito, which has branches in Milan and Rome.
Sources: Michelin
FAQs
What time do Italians go to bed? ›
11:00pm – Midnight.
What is the #1 dish in Italy? ›1. Pizza. Though a slab of flat bread served with oil and spices was around long before the unification Italy, there's perhaps no dish that is as common or as representative of the country as the humble pizza.
What is the most famous restaurant in the world Italy? ›Osteria Francescana - Massimo Bottura - Modena, Italy.
Do Italians shower in the morning? ›Showering is most popular in Spain, Italy, Germany and France, where consumers tend to use shower products primarily in the morning to feel clean and refreshed.
What is a typical Italian breakfast? ›Breakfast in Italy: what to expect
Homemade breakfast in Italy is usually a straightforward affair. Traditional breakfast drinks in Italian households are coffee, tea and cocoa milk for the kids and the main breakfast foods are bread with butter and jam, biscuits and cereals.
A typical Italian lunch consists of a primo (pasta, soup or risotto dish), a secondo (meat or fish-based dish) and a contorno (side dish). Italians love their carbs and enjoy adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese to their dishes. Italians also exhibit a truly incredible talent for reinventing leftovers.
How many meals a day in Italy? ›Italians have very clear in mind that there are three main meals throughout the day.
What is the most popular drink in Italy? ›It should come as no surprise that wine is one of the most popular Italian drinks. Both the production and consumption of wine play an important role in Italian history and culture.
What is the most popular dessert in Italy? ›Tiramisù (Veneto)
Probably the most famous of all Italian desserts, Tiramisù is a powerful layering of coffee-soaked savoiardi (sponge finger biscuits) and a rich cream made with mascarpone cheese, eggs and sugar, sometimes spiced up with a drop of liqueur.
- Italian Breakfast = No cappuccino after 10:30 a.m. This is perhaps the most well-known, but warrants some explanation. ...
- Keep it simple. ...
- NO Parmigiano cheese with seafood. ...
- Only water or wine with your meal. ...
- Don't eat bread with your pasta. ...
- No chicken on pizza or pasta.
What is considered the best restaurant in Italy? ›
What is The Most Famous Restaurant In Italy? Osteria Francescana is the most famous restaurant in Italy. It was opened by chef Massimo Bottura and has earned three Michelin stars since opening in 1995.
Which is the No 1 restaurant in the world? ›| Year | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Eleven Madison Park | Osteria Francescana |
| 2018 | Osteria Francescana | El Celler de Can Roca |
| 2019 | Mirazur | Noma |
| 2021 | Noma | Geranium |
Bologna. Known by many as the 'culinary capital of Italy', the city of Bologna is arguably the best food city in Italy, but then again, it's a city that's become a favorite over the years. Food here leans heavy toward meat, and combines with fresh local ingredients to make a good number of stick-to-your-ribs dishes.
How often should a woman shower? ›While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.
How do you turn on a shower in Italy? ›Often there are sinks in each individual bathroom, but you're supposed to use the main sink/soap/hand towels. What is this? If you don't see a knob or handle to turn on the water, look down. Again, for hygiene reasons, there's often a foot pedal to push to turn the water on.
What is an Italian shower? ›An Italian shower, more commonly known as a roll-in shower, is simply a shower with no curb or step between the shower and the bathroom floor.
What time is dinner in Italy? ›The Typical Italian Dinner
Italian dinner or la cena, usually from 8:00 to 10:00pm, is another time that Italians enjoy sitting down together and socializing. Dinner can be much later than 10:00pm, especially if eating out or dining at a friend's house.
First off, tipping in Italy is neither mandatory nor expected, but if you do decide to do so, the gesture is a very clear indicator that you appreciated the service provided.
What is a true Italian meal? ›Pasta, risotto, soup, polenta, and casserole—the “pastabilities” are endless when choosing what primo piatto you want to indulge in. By the time primi rolls around, you're absolutely famished. As you can tell, this course is definitely heavier than the first two but will be a little lighter than the Secondi Piatti.
What is an Italian snack? ›An Italian snack is known as spuntino, a term which can include anything from olives and crisps to small plates shared between friends. Bars and cafés might serve spuntino in a similar way to tapas, and while they wouldn't be eaten as the opener to a larger meal elements of antipasto are commonly consumed as snacks.
What time of day do Italians eat? ›
“Here's how to eat on an Italian schedule: we eat colazione (breakfast) as we get up, pranzo (lunch) in between 12.30 and 2 pm, merenda (afternoon snack) in between 4 and 5 pm, and cena (dinner) in between 7 and 8.30 pm…”
How many hours do Italians work per day? ›In Italy, normal working time is 40 hours per week—eight hours a day, for five working days. However, there are some collective agreements (such as the logistics agreement), which provide for a lower weekly working time of 39 hours.
What are the best foods to try in Italy? ›- Margherita pizza. Origin: Naples. ...
- Arancini. Origin: Sicily. ...
- Caprese salad. Origin: Capri. ...
- Tagliatelle with ragù Origin: Bologna. ...
- Ribollita. Origin: Florence. ...
- Trofie with basil pesto. Origin: The Italian Riviera. ...
- Saffron risotto. Origin: Milan. ...
- Spaghetti with clams. Origin: Naples.
ON AVERAGE, ITALIANS SLEEP 7 HOURS PER NIGHT – The research reveals that Italians sleep, on average, 7 hours per night, but 30% of respondents sleep an insufficient number of hours.
Do Italians eat late at night? ›It's not unusual for Italians to sit down for dinner at 9 or even 10 in the evening, although the later diners could find themselves with grumpy waiters when the kitchen starts to close at about 11:30pm.
What is the Italian bed tradition? ›In Sicily there is the tradition of preparing the bride and groom's bed: a day before the wedding the bride's friends and sisters go to the bride's house to prepare it. They use white linen or silk sheets, often accompanied by lace, and decorate the room. Only the women who know the bride can assist in the preparation.
Do Italians sleep during the day? ›Italians often close their shops at midday, and in the morning on Sundays and Mondays — for riposo, or as you may know it better: siesta. But, it's not all about a much-needed snooze in peak heat.
Can an American live full time in Italy? ›Living in Italy as an American
Living in Italy as a US citizen is possible if you have the right permit. There are 2 types of residence permits in Italy: 1. Permesso di Soggiorno: a temporary, renewable residence permit with varying durations of validity.
Standard double bed 160 x 190 cm
The measurements of a standard double bed in Italy are 160 x 190 cm, the most common measure for many years, the basic rule when choosing a bed is to calculate at least 25 cm more than the height of its users.
Italy. In Italy, the average bedtime is 12:35 am. People in Italy also tend to get up relatively early, waking up before 8:00 am.
What special rules must you follow when dining in Italy? ›
- Pass food to your left.
- Don't eat with elbows on the table.
- Proper handling of utensils.
- Don't use a spoon to eat pasta.
- Tip between 10 to 15 percent for excellent service.
- It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender.
- Stand up out of respect when an older person enters the room.
- It is important to dress neatly and respectfully.
- Cover your mouth when yawning or sneezing.
- Hats should be removed indoors.
It is common to give air kisses on both cheeks (starting with your left) when greeting those you know well. This is called the 'il bacetto'. However, in Southern Italy, men generally only kiss family members and prefer to give a pat on the back to show affection in a greeting.
What is the kissing etiquette in Italy? ›The general rule of the cheek kisses is to give one or two light kisses, one on each side. Your lips shouldn't touch the other person's cheek unless you are extremely good friends; instead, aim to lightly touch your cheek to theirs.
What is an Italian nap? ›Siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon after a heavy meal. The term comes from the latin phrase, hora sexta, meaning the sixth hour after dawn. The tradition of siesta is usually observed in countries with warmer climates.
What days are things closed in Italy? ›The vast majority are open every day from Tuesday to Sunday, but it is always advisable to check in advance. Many shops are also closed on Monday mornings.
What do Italians do on their free time? ›Though the popularity of home and wireless entertainment has grown, the use of public spaces remains important. Young Italians meet friends on a daily basis, often in the cities' piazzas in the evenings, making frequent trips to bars, cinemas, pizzerias, and discos.
What do Italians do every Sunday? ›Italian-Americans are well known for keeping the pasta sabbath. Every Sunday around 2:00 or 3:00 pm, the whole family (and likely some extra cousins) will sit down for a big pasta meal. This is the way it has been done for most first- and second-generation Italian families.