Let’s be honest—an enormous reason for traveling has to do with food! Going to Italy naturally means that we plan to eat our weight in pizza and pasta, but there are a couple things to know about dining in the Mediterranean country. Here are some unwritten rules that every tourist should familiarize themselves with.
Right on Time
Restaurants run on a unique schedule in Italy. They open for lunch between 12:00 and 13:00 and close between 14:00 and 15:00 as Italians don’t eat later than 2 p.m. They will then re-open for supper around 19:30. When it comes to the evening, locals prefer to eat late. Expect dinner to be around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. (it can be even later in the south) so keep snacks on hand if you tend to get hangry!
Hidden Costs
An extra fee is added to your bill if you choose to sit down at a certain places. Bars sometimes have a “sitting” and “standing” menu with different prices, and restaurants include a bread and cover charge per person—even if you don’t want bread.
Coffee Culture
Italians don’t drink cappuccinos after 10:00 in the morning. Meals typically end with an espresso (un caffé) served after dessert. Also, ordering a “latte” will get you a glass of milk.
Pizza Perfect
Whatever you do, don’t order pineapple or chicken on your pizza as this is considered sacrilege. As for a “pepperoni” pizza, requesting this will get you a Margherita with bell peppers, so rather ask for salami if you’d like meat.