Italians Food and Drink Regulations

It goes without saying that Italians are serious about their food and beverages. If you’ve ever visited Italy, you may have observed that there are a lot of unwritten laws governing mealtimes, dining manners, and the best time of day to enjoy a cappuccino.

Dining and Drinking Guidelines in Italy

Therefore, familiarize yourself with these (unofficial) guidelines for dining and drinking in Italy before your next trip.

1. A delicious way to start the day is with breakfast.

An espresso or cappuccino served standing up with a cornetto and perhaps other pastries is the standard Italian breakfast.

2. There are established hours for meals.

Italians traditionally have lunch between 1 and 2:30 in the afternoon, though mealtimes can vary significantly. as well as dinner from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

3. Drinking and eating go together.

Italians typically eat something to go with their wine or other alcoholic drinks. Almost everywhere you go, if you purchase an aperitivo anywhere across, you’ll be given a savory snack such as peanuts or doritos.

4. Seasonal eating is practiced by Italians.

Freshness and seasonality are important in Italian cuisine. Even though many fruits and vegetables are now available year-round, Italians are aware that they will taste their best when they are at their prime.

5. Additionally, it is the only time of day when Italians consume cappuccinos.

In Italy, an espresso is available all day long but a cappuccino is just available in the morning. This is so that digestion isn’t hampered by drinking milk a little after eating.

Perhaps switch to a macchiato (a type of espresso with something like a dollop of milk) or a caffè lungo (a variant of coffee with a higher percentage of water and espresso) if one espresso shot is too intense for you.