On holiday in Italy? Worked up an appetite while wandering the birthplace of the Renaissance on holiday in Florence? Or getting peckish as you dart about the Eternal City on vacation in Rome, trying to fit in as much as possible?
Well, then you’ll be in search of somewhere great to eat! Certainly, you’ll find incredible food all over Italy without having to look very far but if you prefer to eat in more authentic places, the kind of little eatery that is mostly occupied by locals, then you might have to look a little bit further.
Here’s our guide to avoiding the more touristy restaurants in the country’s most famous destinations…
1. Venture past the tourist attractions
If you find a villa in Pisa and are visiting her famous Leaning Tower or you are staying in a vacation rental in Lombardy and have come to see Milan’s beautiful Duomo, when hunger hits hold off a little longer before choosing a restaurant. The places closest to tourist attractions often are targeted to tourists – makes sense, right? And, of course, these places are not all necessarily bad but they are usually busier, more expensive, and often less authentic. So, just go a little further away from these areas and you’re likely to find something special.
2. Avoid restaurants that are trying to lure you in
Another clear sign of a touristy restaurant is that they will have wait staff who are more concerned with flagging people down and getting them inside than taking orders. In fact, this is usually their real purpose and job in the establishment. Not only can these people be quite pushy but they immediately signal a spot that is primarily targeting tourists. Great local restaurants are well-known to locals, even if they are tucked away, and don’t feel the need to shout for attention.
3. Pictures and menus all in English are probably not for locals…
As you might imagine, locals won’t need translations or pictures to read a menu so this is always a sign that a place is more targeted towards tourists. Translation tools through Google and other apps also mean that you can immediately scan pictures and see the translated text to whatever language you please so you don’t even need these sorts of menus anymore. Or, if you want to lean into the experience, ask a member of the wait staff for their suggestions. If you’re really adventurous and have no allergies or serious aversions to consider, you could even order at random and see what you get - you might just find a new favourite dish!
4. Sometimes the touristy option is worth it
All of this being said, sometimes it is actually worth giving in and going for the touristy option. It might also simply be more convenient. For example, you might have someone in your party who needs to eat ASAP or who needs to use a restroom. Or maybe you’re all tired and just want to sit down. Perhaps, it is worth it to enjoy a direct view over the canal on vacation in Venice or the aforementioned Leaning Tower in Pisa, it really all depends. So, while the authentic experiences are valuable and well worth seeking out, sometimes you just have to admit that you’re a tourist and you might even feel all the better for it.