Which italians eat dinner late

Testaccio might be in the midst of gentrification, but Sandro is where the old guard comes every day. They sit here dawn to dusk, sipping wine, reading newspapers, and chatting in Roman dialect, which occasionally descends into arguments about politics or the correct preparation of puntarelle.

The best coffee in Rome might just be on a nondescript block in Prati, the wealthy residential neighborhood north of the Vatican. Even if you have a sweet tooth, resist the urge to get your coffee with sugar here.

Go with a simple artichoke to start, and then one of the many wonderful pastas. The spaghetti with clams is briny and fresh, and the specialty of the house is rigatoni allo sgobbone , a plate of short pasta in a rich, piquant sauce of tomato, prosciutto, wine and just a dash of cream.

A dish of homemade meatballs with mashed potatoes, and a slice of Mont Blanc cake chestnuts and meringue is what you want afterwards. Lo Sgobbone is one of those restaurants that operates entirely at its own place, by its own rules. Expect men in suits, their ties flopped over a shoulder, here on business lunches. After almost years, the goal is good food and a pleasant time. A look at the menu, which tells you the name of the butcher, the baker, the greengrocer and everyone else who provides the ingredients, bodes well.

Thousands of Chinese have immigrated to Rome in the last half-century, where they have slowly made their cuisine a fixture in the city. Understandably, much of the Chinese food in Rome is toned-down fare designed to appeal to a predominantly Italian clientele. Located right next to Termini station, this is the place that many Chinese in Rome come to eat.

Handmade dumplings pop with ginger and scallion. This is an idyllic way to catch up with friends or spend time with colleagues after work, before it gets too late in the evening. Investigate Where to Get the Best Aperitivo in Florence and try a refreshing spritz , an Italian cocktail made with chilled prosecco , aperol , and a fresh orange wedge.

Dining out in Italy, especially for the first time, is an exciting sensory experience. First of all, Italians always order water with their meal. Water is not free, but it is also not expensive, and it is not normal to order tap water, acqua di rubinetto , although it is possible. Every Italian bar or restaurant will offer acqua frizzante or sparkling water and acqua naturale or still water for just a few euros.

Italians also almost always order vino or wine, and only sometimes birra or beer, with their food. They never order too much alcohol to drink and usually always order something to eat while they drink.

Italians often chose the house red or white wines in restaurants. House wines, as well as higher end wines, in Italy are incredibly flavorful and satisfying.

After a sit down meal, ask the waiter for the check or il conto. Tipping is not expected in Italy. With exceptionally good food and service, it is acceptable to leave a ten percent tip, but anything more will seem a little outlandish, although very generous, in Italy. Italians really do spend time savoring their food and drink, as well as their time around the table.

They often cook with fresh, simple ingredients and eat seasonally. In this way, Italians eat very healthily and intuitively. The rarely diet or cut out foods; they will happily order dessert after multiple other courses when out to dinner at restaurants. Most Italian families eat a big family lunch every Sunday. Italians do not put different foods together on one plate, instead they eat in courses.

So, the salad ofter comes after the first course and the meat, not the other way around. Bread or pane is a dietary staple, but not a whole side dish, in Italy. Freshly cut pieces of bread are always on the table and Italians use a piece bread at the end of the meal to mop up the sauces and flavors left on their plates. Italians will always have wine on the table at dinner or Sunday lunch. They drink red wine, vino rosso , with meat and white wine, vino bianco , with fish. Despite its popularity, Italians do not use both a fork and spoon when eating spaghetti.

Actually, when eating pastas that twirl, Italians simply use only a fork. We use SafetyWing nomad insurance , which does cover it and is available worldwide. If you also want cancellation cover in case you contract Covid before travel and quarantine cover, Heymondo travel insurance is a great option for all nationalities. Watch our video of Italian food rules and top tips to make the most of your foodie trip to Italy. Back to Contents. Appetisers such as bruschetta toast with toppings , grilled and marinated vegetables, and meat and cheese platters.

They can be quite filling or absolutely humungous in Puglia and Basilicata so we always share. Antipasti are often our favourite part of the meal as they are so diverse, feature regional specialities, and are often vegetable-heavy less so in the north.

There are hundreds of pasta shapes in Italy so learn the regional specialities for your destination. Otherwise, you might not recognise pasta on the menu as it will be called something like trofie in Liguria or orecchiette in Puglia.

Vegetarians can also make a meal from sides. The menu is usually quite simple and will include fruit, gelato, a cake or tart, and a regional speciality. A cheaper alternative to dessert in a restaurant is heading to a gelateria and enjoying a cone on an evening stroll.

It comes after dessert, not with it. Italian dishes vary widely depending on the region. I share some of my favourites at the end of this post. Most Italians eat dinner around 8pm or 9pm.

They may eat later in the summer, especially in the south of the country when dinner could be at 10pm or even later.