The must try food from Italy includes spaghetti alla carbonara, risotto alla milanese, truffles, lasagne, gelato, burrata, Venetian cicchetti, espresso, tiramisu and pizza Margherita. Each dish is tied to a region, uses a short list of good ingredients and tastes best where it was born, from Rome and Milan to Venice and Naples.
- Why Italian food is worth planning a trip around
- Quick facts: 10 must try foods from Italy
- 1. Spaghetti alla carbonara
- 2. Risotto alla milanese
- 3. Truffles
- 4. Lasagne
- 5. Gelato
- 6. Burrata
- 7. Cicchetti in Venice
- 8. Coffee
- 9. Tiramisu
- 10. Pizza Margherita
- Tips for Indian travellers eating in Italy
- Frequently asked questions
Why Italian food is worth planning a trip around
Italian cooking is regional. A dish that is standard in Rome may be hard to find in Milan, and the pasta shape, cheese and cooking fat change as you move from north to south. That is why food is often the main reason people travel within the country.
The cuisine has formal recognition too. UNESCO added the art of the Neapolitan pizzaiuolo (pizza maker) to its intangible cultural heritage list in 2017, and Italian cuisine as a whole was added to the same list in 2025. For Indian travellers, this means a food-led itinerary is easy to build and well documented.
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Quick facts: 10 must try foods from Italy
| Dish | Type | Best place to try it |
|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti alla carbonara | Pasta | Rome (Lazio) |
| Risotto alla milanese | Rice | Milan (Lombardy) |
| Truffles | Seasonal ingredient | Piedmont, Umbria, Tuscany |
| Lasagne | Baked pasta | Bologna (Emilia-Romagna) |
| Gelato | Dessert | Across Italy |
| Burrata | Fresh cheese | Apulia |
| Cicchetti | Small bites | Venice |
| Espresso and cappuccino | Coffee | Across Italy |
| Tiramisu | Dessert | Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia |
| Pizza Margherita | Pizza | Naples (Campania) |
1. Spaghetti alla carbonara
Carbonara is a Roman pasta and is described as typical of the Lazio region. The traditional version uses guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino romano, eggs and black pepper. Pancetta is an accepted swap.
Most Italian recipes do not use cream. The silky sauce comes from eggs and cheese mixed with hot pasta and a little cooking water.
2. Risotto alla milanese
This is the best-known rice dish of Milan. Saffron gives it a bright yellow colour, and it is slow cooked with stock until creamy. It is sometimes served with ossobuco, a braised veal shank.
Because it is cooked in stock, vegetarians should ask what stock the kitchen uses before ordering.
3. Truffles
Truffles are prized fungi found mainly in Piedmont, Umbria and Tuscany. White truffles are rarer and more aromatic, while black truffles are easier to find and cheaper.
The simplest way to taste them is shaved over fresh pasta, risotto or eggs.
4. Lasagne
Bologna and Modena are known for egg pasta dishes such as lasagne, tortellini and tagliatelle. The classic lasagne layers pasta sheets with meat ragu, bechamel and grated cheese, then bakes it until the top is crisp.
In Emilia-Romagna, Parmigiano Reggiano is preferred over heavy layers of mozzarella.
5. Gelato
Gelato is one of Italy’s most famous desserts and is sold in almost every town. Compared with typical Western ice cream, it is usually denser, with less fat and less air whipped in, which makes the flavour stronger.
6. Burrata
Burrata is a famous fresh cheese of Apulia, the heel of Italy. It has a soft outer shell of mozzarella-style cheese and a creamy filling inside.
It is best eaten fresh and simple: on its own with olive oil, or in a salad with tomatoes and basil. It suits vegetarian travellers well.
7. Cicchetti in Venice
Cicchetti are small bites served in Venetian wine bars known as bacari. Common toppings include salt cod, artichokes, seafood and cured meats, often on bread or polenta.
Locals usually order a few pieces at the counter with a small glass of wine and move on to the next bar. It is an affordable way to sample many flavours in one evening.
8. Coffee
Ordering “un caffe” in Italy gets you an espresso. Other common choices are cappuccino, macchiato (espresso with a little milk foam) and caffe freddo (cold coffee) in summer.
Italians often drink coffee standing at the counter, and it is usually quick.
9. Tiramisu
Tiramisu comes from northeastern Italy, linked to Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Its name comes from “tirami su”, which roughly means “pick me up”.
It is made with savoiardi (sponge finger biscuits) dipped in coffee, layered with a cream of egg yolks, sugar and mascarpone, and dusted with cocoa. Its exact origin is still debated, with Treviso among the places most often credited.
10. Pizza Margherita
Naples is the home of pizza, and the Margherita is its best-known version. It is topped with tomato, mozzarella and basil, colours that match the Italian flag.
UNESCO’s 2017 listing recognised the craft of Neapolitan pizza makers, which makes Naples the obvious place to try it.
Tips for Indian travellers eating in Italy
- Eat regionally: order carbonara in Rome, risotto in Milan and pizza in Naples for the best versions.
- Vegetarian options: pizza Margherita, burrata and gelato are easy picks. For risotto, ask about the stock.
- Coffee: do as locals do and have a quick espresso at the counter.
- Venice evenings: try a few cicchetti across two or three bacari instead of one long dinner.
For more ideas, see our travel section and our lifestyle stories.
Further reading: Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous food in Italy?
Pizza and pasta are the best known worldwide. Pizza Margherita from Naples and pasta dishes such as carbonara and lasagne are the dishes most visitors try first.
Does authentic carbonara have cream?
No. Most traditional Italian recipes use only guanciale, pecorino romano, eggs and black pepper. The creamy texture comes from the eggs and cheese.
Is Italian cuisine a UNESCO heritage?
Yes. Italian cuisine was added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list in 2025. The art of Neapolitan pizza making was listed earlier, in 2017.
What Italian food can vegetarians try?
Pizza Margherita, burrata, risotto made with vegetable stock, and gelato are good choices. Ask the restaurant about stock and cheese if you avoid all animal products.
Sources: Italian cuisine, Wikipedia, Carbonara, Wikipedia, Tiramisu, Wikipedia, UNESCO, Art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo.
