If you know these etiquette rules for Italian food, you’ll avoid looking like a fool at restaurants in Rome or Naples.
Neapolitan pizza, pasta Genovese, tiramisu, gelato and Tuscan wines — we never get tired of Italian food and drink! But have you ever thought about how dining etiquette varies from country to country just as much as the food itself?
Every country has its own written and unwritten rules at the table. In Italy, where food and drink are a huge part of culture and everyday life, there are quite a few of them.
Major tourist destinations in Italy are used to dealing with the occasional mistake from confused tourists, so you can get away with a few things. But in Italy they don’t really follow the rule that “the customer is always right,” so if you order the wrong wine or side dish with your main course, you may receive some firm recommendations to choose something else.
Want to look like a pro and eat and drink like a real Italian? Then we have some great tips and recommendations for you!
Don’t order cappuccino after 11 a.m.
Italians love coffee — but not just any coffee at any time of day. Cappuccino is considered a morning drink and is typically enjoyed at breakfast. After 11 a.m., people usually stick to espresso.
The reason is that cappuccino contains a lot of milk, which isn’t considered good for digestion later in the day or right after heavy meals like lunch and dinner.
Know your coffee
I could write a long post just about coffee in Italy. There are many different Italian coffee drinks, and many cities and regions have their own local specialties.
Here are some of the most common:
- Espresso / Caffè: A small, strong coffee that can be enjoyed at any time of day.
- Ristretto: The same amount of coffee as an espresso but with half the amount of water. Often drunk standing in one sip.
- Caffè Macchiato: Espresso with a few drops of milk. An acceptable alternative to plain espresso after 11 a.m.
- Latte Macchiato: The opposite of Caffè Macchiato — warm milk with a few drops of espresso.
- Cappuccino: 1/3 espresso, 1/3 hot milk and 1/3 milk foam.
- Caffè Latte: 1/3 espresso and 2/3 hot milk.
- Caffè con panna: Hot coffee topped with whipped cream.
- Caffè Shakerato: A “shaken” iced coffee. Espresso is shaken with ice cubes, like a cocktail. Served in a martini glass and sometimes sweetened with sugar or liqueur. Most common in summer.
- Caffè d’Orzo: The first time I saw this on a menu, I thought it meant “bear coffee” and that it would be extremely strong! But “bear” in Italian is orso, not orzo, which means barley. So this is actually the opposite of “bear coffee”: a caffeine-free coffee made from barley.
- Caffè Lungo / Caffè Americano: These types are mostly for tourists, so ordering them may earn you a few judgmental looks. Lungo or Americano is espresso diluted with water to make it less strong.
- Caffè Corretto: Coffee with added alcohol, usually grappa, brandy, rum or liqueur.
Coffee after dessert, not with it
Another coffee rule! In Norway, we often drink coffee with cake, and in Sweden the concept of “fika” is well known and beloved. In Italy, however, you order coffee AFTER dessert. There are several reasons for this:
- The flavors of coffee and dessert are believed to clash or overpower each other.
- Coffee after a meal helps digestion.
- Coffee after a sweet or creamy dessert balances the entire meal.
And remember — no cappuccino!
Fun fact: International and American coffee chains have had a difficult time establishing themselves in Italy because of these “rules.” Starbucks, for example, has only about 31 locations in Italy and opened its first branch in Rome in 2023. Signature products like frappuccino are still missing from many menus, as they’re considered a serious offense against Italian coffee culture. It’s also uncommon to walk around while drinking coffee in Italy. You either sit at a table or stand at the bar.
Pizza + pineapple = a match made in hell
You can put many unusual toppings on an Italian pizza. Pizza with potatoes, eggs, anchovies, blue cheese, fried sausage, cured ham and melon are all perfectly acceptable. But pineapple has no place on a pizza!
This is considered one of the great culinary sins in Italian food culture. If you find a restaurant with Hawaiian pizza on the menu, you might want to look for another place to eat.
Never add parmesan to seafood
In general, you should be a bit careful about asking for parmesan in Italy. There are very clear rules about what it goes with and how much should be used. Many places also have their own local cheeses that replace parmesan.
Parmesan on seafood is especially bad — almost as serious a crime as pineapple on pizza.
Classic Italian dish: Seafood risotto
SKIP IT: Don’t ask for parmesan on seafood risotto.
No ketchup on pasta in Italy
Ketchup on pasta — and most other dishes — is only acceptable if you’re under the age of 3, and barely even then.
Eat spaghetti with a fork — and only a fork
Spaghetti is eaten by twirling it around your fork. A spoon is for children, and a knife has no place near spaghetti under any circumstances.
Wait with the bread
Do you usually dive into the bread basket while waiting for your food to arrive? I’ve committed this sin many times myself, but the bread is actually meant to accompany the meal.
The proper way to use bread in Italy is called “fare la scarpetta,” which means “to make a little shoe.” This “shoe” is used to mop up the sauce left on your plate.
If you’re very hungry, it’s fine to eat a few pieces of bread with olive oil. Don’t pour the oil directly onto the bread — pour it onto your plate. You can add a few drops of balsamic vinegar and dip the bread elegantly.
When do people eat dinner in Italy?
Italians have very fixed meal times, and it can be difficult to find open restaurants outside these hours.
- Breakfast: 7–10
- Lunch: 12:30–15:00
- Aperitivo: From 6 p.m.
- Dinner: Between 8:30 and 11 p.m.
How to navigate an Italian menu
Italian menus are divided into the following sections:
- Antipasti: Starter / appetizer, e.g. cheese and ham, bruschetta
- Primo: First course, e.g. soup, pasta, risotto
- Secondo: Main course, e.g. meat, fish or chicken
- Contorno: Side dish, e.g. salad, potatoes or grilled vegetables
- Dolce: Dessert
You don’t need to order something from every category — that would be a lot of food. This is usually only done during big family meals or festive dinners where people sit around the table for hours.
Two people can easily share an antipasto and then go straight to the main course. Or maybe you just want a primo followed by dessert? Here there are no strict rules, and you can build your meal however you like.
Choose the right drink in Italy
Food and drink go hand in hand in Italy. People drink wine with dinner and beer with pizza and small dishes. Soft drinks are mainly for children, so if you want something non-alcoholic, you should choose water — still or sparkling.
Cocktails and mixed drinks are typically reserved for aperitivo or later in the evening.
A digestivo is a small, strong drink enjoyed at the end of the meal, meant to relax the body and aid digestion. Traditional Italian digestivi include limoncello, amaro and grappa.
Do you tip in Italy?
In the past, restaurants often added a “coperto,” a small cover charge that includes bread and the seat at the table. This practice is disappearing, and in some cities it’s banned. If you still see it on the bill, it’s not the same as a tip.
Tipping is not required in Italy, but it’s appreciated if you leave something when you’re satisfied with the service.
At more casual places like pizzerias and cafés, it’s common to round up the bill or leave 1–2 euros per person.
In restaurants, people typically tip around 5–10% if they are happy with the service.
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Other travel tips for Italy
Discover Tivoli: The Magical Little Town Outside Rome
7 Fun Things to Do in Naples on a Budget
A Beginner’s Guide to Cinque Terre
