It's safe to say that Italian food is some of the most popular in the world. From pizza to pasta and gelato, there's a good chance you've tried a local take on an Italian dish or two. But, have you ever had the pleasure of enjoying true Italian cuisine in the heartland itself?
Italian people are immensely proud of their incredible food and drink, and this pride is well justified. So much so, that many tourists – including several of us here at SIMOVO - visit Italy regularly purely to sample the cuisine! If you thought the pizza you tried in NYC was tasty, you must give the original and best a try.
Before you do, and before you even book a flight or hotel room, make sure you buy and download an eSIM for Italy that will keep you covered for mobile data during your adventures. An eSIM you top up before you travel means you won't have to hunt around for WiFi spots or worry about paying extra roaming rates when you get back home.
[esim flag="🇮🇹" label="Italy" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$8.50" href="/products/italy" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Get connected the moment you land, so maps and restaurant bookings work wherever you go[/esim]In the meantime, however, let's tuck into what you can expect from Italian cuisine, and why food and drink should be a key part of any Italian itinerary.
Why food in Italy is worth exploring
Italy's food is so popular largely because there's been an immense amount of passion and craft put into creating its timeless dishes. To make a pizza or serve a tiramisu that's memorable for all the right reasons, you need more than just a clutch of the right ingredients. You need to have a genuine passion for food!
That said, Italian cuisine is often surprisingly simple if you look at it from the ingredient level alone. It's about perfecting what you make with them, and making sure your ingredients are fresh – high-quality tomatoes, cheeses, olive oil, and flour, for example, are key staples of authentic Italian cooking.
There's also the fact that eating is considered a communal activity across Italy, which tends to be a concept you'll find across the Mediterranean. Good food should never be rushed, and Italian people also know the worth of making sure great-quality food and drink are always available to people across the country.
Italian cooking is such a big deal, in fact, that UNESCO actually awarded it cultural heritage status in 2025! This is a culinary landscape that bends to no other – Italy's food and drink heritage, approach to dining, and the way food is prioritized as one of life's pleasures has earned the country a place in the hearts of millions.
And yet, picking the best Italian dishes to enjoy when you actually visit here can actually be quite tricky. After all, the variations you've enjoyed at home will be nothing like the "real deal" – but you can be assured that they will be incredible!
Best food to try in Italy
The food we've picked to highlight in this guide are, to some people, possibly fairly obvious – but in our collective opinion, you cannot aim to visit and eat your way across Italy without trying authentic pizza, pasta carbonara, risotto, gelato, and tiramisu. Let's take a look at what you can expect when tucking into each.
[numbered title="Pizza" pill="Street food classic"]Pizza is a world-famous dish that's been recreated millions of times, but have you ever sampled the authentic Italian kind? Pizza started here as street food, and traditionally, it is cooked with long-fermented dough and a clutch of fresh, delicious toppings (tomato, cheese, and more). In fact, the idea of "less is more" is very much the Italian standard when it comes to pizza, so don't expect stuffed crust, anchovies, and anything too bizarre![/numbered] [numbered title="Pasta carbonara" pill="Tourist favorite"]Italy is, of course, also famous for its pasta dishes, and pasta carbonara is always a firm favorite with tourists. This delicious dish is a joy in its texture as well as its taste, combining cured pork with egg yolk, pecorino cheese, and pasta. Believe it or not, there's no cream added to traditional pasta carbonara, meaning if you do that at home, you're doing it wrong![/numbered] [numbered title="Risotto" pill="Creamy staple"]Risotto is another Italian staple that's picked up fans from all over the world. A super-creamy rice dish, it's typically made with chopped onion, butter, broth, and parmigiano reggiano. You'll also find that there are regional variations, where you may enjoy seafood, truffles, and mushrooms added along the way.[/numbered] [numbered title="Gelato" pill="Low-fat treat"]Italian gelato is simple, sweet, and uses very few ingredients. It's seen as a low-fat alternative to regular ice cream, and it typically uses more whole milk. There's a nice balance of sugars and natural flavors, and you'll often find eggs are used to stabilize custard flavors. It's also served warmer than ice cream, giving it an irresistible melt-on-the-tongue sensation.[/numbered] [numbered title="Tiramisu" pill="Classic dessert"]Is there a dessert out there considered better than tiramisu? It's certainly a contender for the best ever, and you simply cannot beat Italy's traditional takes. This rich, velvety dessert is made from savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone, coffee, egg yolk, sugar, and cocoa powder. Again, there are some variations depending on where you travel, but always make sure to try the classic and best first.[/numbered]Regional dishes to discover in Italy
Beyond our top picks, here are some more regional dishes you'll want to try on your own terms as you explore Italy:
[numbered title="Risi e Bisi" pill="Veneto"]A cross between soup and risotto made using fresh greens.[/numbered] [numbered title="Panzanella" pill="Tuscany"]A salad made with soaked bread, tomato, onion, basil, and more.[/numbered] [numbered title="Cacio e Pepe" pill="Rome"]A delicious sauce made from black peppercorns, pecorino romano, and pasta water.[/numbered] [numbered title="Arancini" pill="Sicily"]Rice balls typically stuffed with meat or cheese, then coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried.[/numbered] [numbered title="Cannoli" pill="Sicily"]Fried pastry tubes filled with ricotta and studded with chocolate or fruit.[/numbered] [numbered title="Cicchetti" pill="Venice"]A variety of snacks typically served in Venice's wine bars.[/numbered]Food tips for travelers in Italy
If you're set on making the most of Italy's cuisine up close, we can hardly blame you! There is no best time to visit Italy when it comes to sampling the best food – but here are some other crucial tips and tricks worth keeping in mind if you're set on dining across the country.
[tip title="Seek out chalkboard menus"]Prioritize restaurants and cafés with authentic, chalkboard menus and limited food varieties – chances are you're dining somewhere that has perfected a specific dish or two, and that is a world away from the tourist traps.[/tip] [tip title="Order bottled water"]Italian restaurants generally don't serve tap water, so make sure to ask for it still or sparkling from the bottle.[/tip] [tip title="Know the meal structure"]Meals in Italian restaurants generally follow a pattern, starting with the antipasto or appetizer, followed by the primo (risotto or pasta), then the secondo, or main, followed by contorni (sides), and dolce, or dessert. It's also customary here to round things off with a coffee. However, you don't have to order every single course unless you want to![/tip] [tip title="Don't rush your meal"]Don't rush your meal! Servers will give you time to savor every bite, and you simply need to ask for the bill when you're ready. Tipping isn't expected in Italy, but leaving around 10% is welcomed if you've had a good time.[/tip] [tip title="Save your bread for the sauce"]Save your bread – use it to mop up sauce during your main meal – don't fill up on it before the main dishes arrive.[/tip] [faq] [q]What are the must-try foods in Italy?[/q] [a]Authentic pizza, pasta carbonara, risotto, gelato, and tiramisu are the essentials, alongside regional specialties like cacio e pepe, arancini, and cannoli.[/a] [q]Does traditional carbonara contain cream?[/q] [a]No – authentic pasta carbonara is made with cured pork, egg yolk, and pecorino cheese, with no cream at all.[/a] [q]What's the difference between gelato and ice cream?[/q] [a]Gelato has less fat (closer to 5-7% versus ice cream's 10%+), uses more whole milk than cream, and is served slightly warmer, giving it a softer, more intense flavor.[/a] [q]What order do Italian meal courses come in?[/q] [a]Antipasto (starter), primo (usually pasta or risotto), secondo (main) with contorni (sides), then dolce (dessert) and coffee – though you don't need to order every course.[/a] [q]Is tipping expected in Italy?[/q] [a]No – it's not required, but leaving around 10% is a nice gesture if you've had great service.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇮🇹" label="Italy" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$8.50" href="/products/italy" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Grab an Italy eSIM and travel with one less thing to worry about[/esim]
