Basil-topped pizza, and paper-thin linguine served with homemade sauce, and cone after cone of gelato… are you hungry yet?
In Italy, a homemade meal is synonymous with a muisultra warm welcome, and the famous dishes the country is known for are so good, they’re worth the flight. “In Italy, we loved the homemade pastas, rich tomato sauces, fresh seafood, and the WINE,” said traveler Donna Marie. We couldn’t agree more.
Wondering what to eat in Italy? Check out a handful (or mouthful!) of regional dishes you’ve just gotta taste on a Food & Wine Tour of Italy, and some of the top Italian places to eat at. Fair warning: There are carbs ahead.
1. Margherita pizza
While you really can’t go wrong ordering pizza anywhere in Italy, the city of Naples lays claim to what is arguably some of the best. This classic pie is made with a simple dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. It’s no coincidence that the green, white, and red ingredients of a traditional margherita pizza match the colors of the Italian flag—it was invented in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889, after all. And, while we wouldn’t go so far as to say this is the most popular food in Italy, it’s up there!
What really makes this dish shine is the simplicity and freshness of the ingredients. Everything from the San Marzano tomatoes to the type of flour used in the dough matters. Each pie is then cooked in a blisteringly hot stone oven for just over a minute—that’s it!—and comes out as one of the best bites of your life. There’s good reason why this dish comes to mind when talking about famous Italian food. Simply put: Nobody does pizza like Neapolitans do, and you haven’t really seen Naples until you’ve had a slice.
2. Arancini
Origin: Sicily
If you’ve never had a fried rice ball in Sicily, you’re gonna want to fix that immediately. Arancini are handmade with slightly varied ingredients and preparations on different parts of the island, but are often filled with meat ragù and peas, or ham and mozzarella. The ball (or cone) of risotto is then rolled in breadcrumb and dropped in the deep frier. What’s not to like about a warm, cheesy ball of goodness?! It’s one of the top Italian dishes for a reason.
While Italians usually prefer sitting and truly savoring a meal, arancini are snacks that you can enjoy while you explore. “Sicily is a land of incredible street food, where taste and freshness can be enjoyed on the go,” said staffer and Italy native Giada. “Arancini are where simplicity reaches the highest levels of complexity and taste.
3. Caprese salad
Origin: Capri
Say it in Italian: Insalata Caprese
Did you know that a simple dish of sliced tomatoes, basil, cow’s-milk mozzarella cheese (fior di latte), and a generous drizzle of EVOO could knock your socks off? This four-ingredient salad is proof—and just like all the most popular foods in Italy, the secret is in the super fresh, locally grown ingredients. “Insalata Caprese takes its name from the island of Capri,” said staffer and Italy native Marco. “It is the perfect light summer lunch, when the basil and the tomatoes are picked fresh from the garden.”
Of course, this is a dish that you could easily whip up in your own kitchen, but we’d suggest flying to Capri for the real thing! You’d be hard-pressed to recreate the Italy-fresh flavors of a Caprese back home, where the tomatoes weren’t ripened on a sunny Mediterranean island, and the mozzarella wasn’t made on a farm down the road.
4. Tagliatelle with ragù
If you’re asking yourself, “What food is Italy famous for?” there’s really no right answer—but we do know that Bologna is one of the best places in Italy for foodies. It’s nicknamed “La Grassa,” or the fat one, thanks to its indulgent culinary traditions, and tagliatelle alla bolognese is a shining star on that list. Saying it’s one of the best Italian dishes ever is an understatement!
Picture this: hand-rolled ribbons of long, flat pasta tossed in a ragù sauce made with meat, wine, and tomatoes. Swoon. This signature dish is even better topped with a generous sprinkling of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese made in nearby Parma. Order a nice glass of vino rosso to go with it, and you’ll be golden—and you’ll also be planning your return trip to Bologna, the meal is that good!
5. Ribollita
English translation: The soup’s name means “reboiled”—it dates back to when poor farm workers would reheat it so it lasted multiple days.
The Tuscany region is another one of the top places to eat in Italy, and if you happen to swing by Florence during the chillier months, then there’s no better dish to try than ribollita. This filling Tuscan soup is full of all the good stuff: cannellini beans, veggies galore (**“Black cabbage is the key ingredient,” said staffer and Italy native Fabrizio), and chunks of stale, unsalted Tuscan bread** that soften in the broth. (Yes, even this Italian soup has bread in it! Italy is a carb-lover’s paradise, that’s for sure.)
“Sitting down to a bowl of this hearty soup is one of the best ways to warm up on a fall or winter day in Florence,” said staffer Jamie. “There’s something so comforting about the simple, Tuscan flavors. It’s a little like minestrone soup, but the bread that’s added makes it really delicious.”