From Tuscan steak to Sicilian cannoli, discover Italy through its regional cuisine.
In Italy, each region offers its specialties, shaped by geography, climate, and centuries of tradition. While pizza and pasta are globally loved, true Italian cuisine is intensely regional. Here’s a culinary journey through the boot-shaped peninsula, showcasing iconic dishes from north to south.
What to Eat
Tuscany: Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Tuscany is known for its rustic, hearty food that celebrates local ingredients. The undisputed king of Tuscan cuisine is Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a thick-cut T-bone steak typically from the Chianina breed of cattle.
One of the oldest and largest cattle breeds in the world, Chianina cattle are free-ranged, producing exceptionally flavourful and tender meat. True to Tuscan tradition, the steak is seasoned simply with olive oil, salt and pepper, allowing the natural character of the beef to shine.
Cooked over an open flame, Bistecca alla Fiorentina is typically seared on the outside and left rare on the inside, a method that reflects Tuscany’s love for bold, honest flavours and an unpretentious approach to food.
Try it at: I’Tuscani
Address: Piazza di S. Pancrazio, 2r, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening Hours:
[Mondays, Thursdays to Sundays]: 12PM – 2.30PM, 6PM – 11PM
[Tuesdays & Wednesdays]: Closed
Emilia-Romagna: Tagliatelle al Ragù
Often referred to as Italy’s food capital, Emilia-Romagna is the birthplace of many iconic foods, including Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, and balsamic vinegar of Modena. But perhaps its most famous export is Tagliatelle al Ragù, commonly misrepresented abroad as “Spaghetti Bolognese.”
The authentic version features hand-rolled egg pasta coated in a slow-cooked meat sauce made with minced beef, pork, soffritto (finely diced onions, carrots, and celery), tomato, wine, and a touch of milk. Rich and comforting, this dish is a cornerstone of northern Italian cuisine.
Try it at: Sfoglia Rina
Address: Via Castiglione, 5/b, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy
Opening Hours: Daily, 11.30AM – 7PM (last order; restaurant closes at 8pm)
Veneto: Risotto al Nero di Seppia
In Venice and the surrounding region of Veneto, seafood reigns supreme. A standout dish is Risotto al Nero di Seppia, risotto cooked with cuttlefish and its ink, giving the dish a striking black hue and a deep, briny flavour. Finished with white wine, garlic, and parsley, it’s a dramatic and delicious reflection of the Adriatic Sea’s influence on Venetian cooking. (Definitely not a dish for first dates!)
Try it at: Rio Novo
Address: Fondamenta, C. de ca’ Bernardo, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy
Opening Hours: Daily, 11AM – 11PM (Open until 11PM on Mondays)
Liguria: Trofie al Pesto
With its rugged coastline and terraced hillsides, Liguria is the birthplace of pesto. At its most authentic, the iconic green sauce is made using the basil grown in Genoam combinned with prized Ligurian olive oil, italian garlic, pine nuts and Pecorino cheese.
The sauce is traditionally paired with trofie, a short, twisted pasta designed to hold onto every spoonful. Fragrant, fresh and unapologetically simple, trofie al pesto captures the essence of Ligurian cooking — clean flavours, quality ingredients and nothing unnecessary.
Try it at: Pesto Fiore
Address: Via Fiume, 14, 19122 La Spezia SP, Italy
Opening Hours: Daily, 10.30AM – 7PM (Thursdays open at 9AM)
Campania: Pizza Napoletana
No culinary tour of Italy is complete without a stop in Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Pizza Napoletana is a UNESCO-protected dish defined by strict traditions and flawless simplicity.
The dough is made exclusively from wheat flour, water, yeast and salt, producing a base that is lightly aerated, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Baked in a wood-fired oven, the pizza never exceeds 35cm in diameter and features a gently raised edge (cornicione) of 1–2cm.
Topped with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, fresh basil and olive oil, the classic Margherita — with its red, white and green hues — pays tribute to the Italian flag and remains a global symbol of Italy’s culinary mastery.
Try it at: Pizzeria Antonio Sorbillo
Address: Via dei Tribunali, 38, 80138 Napoli NA, Italy
Opening Hours:
[Mondays to Fridays]: 12PM – 11PM
[Saturdays]: 12PM – 12 Midnight
Closed on Sundays
Lazio: Cacio e Pepe
Rome, the capital of Lazio, is home to some of Italy’s most beloved pasta dishes, but few are as iconic or deceptively simple as Cacio e Pepe. Made with just three ingredients—pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper—this creamy, peppery delight showcases the power of simplicity. The secret lies in the technique: combining starchy pasta water and finely grated cheese to create a rich, smooth sauce that clings to every strand of spaghetti or tonnarelli.
Try it at Osteria Cacio e Pepe
Address: Vicolo del Cinque, 15, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Hours: Daily, 12PM – 2AM
Sicily: Cannoli
Sicily’s cuisine is an intoxicating blend of Mediterranean, Arab, and Norman influences, with an emphasis on bold spices, citrus, and sweet confections. Among its most famous desserts is the cannolo, a crispy, fried pastry tube filled with sweetened ricotta cheese, sometimes flavoured with chocolate chips, candied orange, or pistachios. Once reserved for festivals, cannoli are now a staple of Sicilian bakeries and a beloved treat worldwide.
Try it at: Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto
Address: Corso Umberto I, 87, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy
Opening Hours:
[March – May]: 9AM – 10PM
[June – September]: 9AM – 12 Midnight
Puglia: Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa
In Italy’s heel, Puglia offers sun-drenched cuisine rooted in agriculture and tradition. Orecchiette, or “little ears,” is the region’s signature pasta, often served with cime di rapa (turnip tops), garlic, anchovies, and chilli flakes. This earthy, slightly bitter dish is a perfect example of cucina povera, peasant cooking that transforms humble ingredients into something extraordinary.
Try it at: Osteria del Tempo Perso
Address: Via Gaetano Tanzarella Vitale 47, 72017, Ostuni, Italy
Opening Hours:
[October – May]
Lunch (Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays): 12.30PM – 2.30PMDinner: 7.00PM – 10.30PM
[June – September]
Lunch (Sundays & Public Holidays): 12.30PM – 2.30PMDinner: 7PM – 10.30PM
Eating in Italy
Italy’s regional cuisines are as diverse as its landscapes, from alpine pastures to sun-baked coastlines. Take a journey across the country and eat to your heart’s content — from biting into a succulent Florentine steak to savouring the last crumbs of a Sicilian cannolo. Each region tells its story through food, turning every meal into a delicious piece of edible history.
