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This is where you’ll find the best food in Italy

The Michelin Guide for Italy 2016 has been released, awarding 334 Italian eateries a coveted star rating. And the best city to eat in Italy might surprise you...

Published: 22 December 2015 10:45 CET
This is where you'll find the best food in Italy
Photo: Katherine Lim/Flickr

1. Naples

Photo: Alexandra Svatikova/Flickr

It's only the fourth largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan Rome and Turin. But as the birthplace of pizza, it perhaps shouldn't be too much of a surprise that to learn that Naples was the region awarded most Michelin stars in the 2016 Italy Michelin Guide. Don Geppi in Sant'Agnello was a newcomer to the list, getting its first star, while in Naples' city centre itself, Il Comandante and Palazzo Petrucci were each recognized as quality restaurants with a star.

2. Rome


Photo: Dennis Jarvis/Flickr

The eternal city just missed out on the top spot but can be proud of its 19 starred restaurants, including one three-star establishment, La Pergola, and two with two stars, Oliver Glowig and Il Pagliaccio.

3. Bolzano

Photo: Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr

There’s never been a better time to visit Bolzano. On Monday we reported that it had been named the Italian city with the best quality of life, and their food is also held in high regard. Nineteen restaurants in the region were awarded Michelin stars, including four two-star restaurants.

4. Milan

Photo: Jose Mª Izquierdo Galiot/Flickr

Milan had a tasty 15 restaurants included in the rankings, rising up the list thanks to three new entries into the guide; Armani, Seta and Tokuyoshi.

5. Cuneo, Piedmont

Photo: Sara/Flickr

This region in the mountainous north west of the country has one three-star restaurant, Piazza Duomo in the town of Alba, one two-star establishment, and ten further one-star restaurants, one of which was a new entry in the guide this year.

6. Salerno, Campania

Photo: Sabrina Campagna/Flickr

Salerno is home to twelve restaurants which made the list, and two for the first time ever: Re Mauri and Osteria Arbustico

7. Brescia

Photo: Marco Assini/AFP

Close to Milan, Brescia is another foodie haven in the north. 11 of its eateries are Michelin-starred, with two of them boasting two stars – Miramonti l'Altro and Villa Feltrinelli.

8. Venice

Photo: Heiner Adams/Flickr

As if you needed another reason to add beautiful Venice to your bucket list, it turns out it serves good food. The region has one two-star restaurant, Antica Osteria Cera, and nine one-star.

9. Turin

Photo: Maëlick/Flickr

Nine restaurants in the region of Turin were acknowledged in the prestigious guide, though all of these were outside the city of Turin itself, including two in skiing village Madonna di Campiglio; Dolomieu and Il Gallo Cedrone.

 

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FOOD AND DRINK

Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

As well as its most famous cocktails, Italy has a long tradition of making refreshing aperitivo drinks without the alcohol.

Published: 11 April 2024 12:01 CEST
Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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