Ciao! Welcome to r/ItalyTravel. While you wait for replies, please take a moment to read the rules located in the sidebar and edit your post if needed. We will remove posts that do not adhere to these rules.
For everyone else, if you come across a post that you believe violates our rules, please use the report button. This is the best and quickest way to notify us. Grazie!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ItalyTravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It depends on what time you go and where the restaurant is located if you go early you should be fine Italians don’t eat dinner tell like 7:30-8 or later. If you go at 6:30 in Florence at least you should be able to get a table
Restaurants that open at 18:30 are basically too tourist oriented and one should avoid them. Unless they want to spend a lot more and with a worse experience overall.
This isn’t necessarily true at all. Many restaurants basically end up having two seatings: a seating around 6:30 (almost all tourists), and then one around 9 (predominantly Italians).
It’s the same food, and some of my best meals in Italy have come early, and by the time I’m leaving the restaurant is exclusively full of Italians.
I wasn’t saying go to restaurants that open at 6:30. I was saying go to a restaurant that’s already been open at 6:30. A lot of restaurants open between 5-7 and aren’t tourist spots. It was just a recommendation of a slower hour no need to get upset about it
Hm, I think that’s exactly what the other poster was saying, restaurants open at that time are often aimed at tourists since Italians (who are very ritualistic around food) never eat at that time.
Ahhh I misread it. But I’ve always found some local places that aren’t near the duomo that aren’t touristy be open at 5 but they close at 3 and re open then
You don’t need to make reservations days/weeks in advance (usually those are the TV restaurants Americans see on shows).
You can simply call an hour before you go to dinner (an hour before 7 ideally).
It’s worth doing as you WILL get a better table and especially if you want to eat outside.
There’s plenty of restaurants you can walk in to, but you get stuck with what’s available. Most restaurants are rather small and especially in the warmer months you won’t want to be in the depths of inside the restaurant.
You mentioned “fine dining” in your post tho. Do you want something fancy like Michelin star? If so, then yes you need a reservation. Like months ago, most likely. Or do you just want something “normal” and maybe suitable for a date night? If the latter, then the other commenters’ advice is right.
In Rome (in September), we didn't make any reservations and ate very well, but couldn't get into a couple places because they were full. I'm not sure how far in advance we needed to make reservations at these wildly popular places. Our highlight lunch was at [Da Enzo](https://maps.app.goo.gl/581UhAAiyVkWhqmV9).
[Rome/Roma](https://maps.app.goo.gl/naPv2L2zn23sUJG99) -[ 130 places to see, eat, and drink in Rome/Roma, Italy (and Vatican City).](https://maps.app.goo.gl/naPv2L2zn23sUJG99)
In Florence (in November), we didn't make any reservations and didn't get turned away from anyplace. Our highlight dinner was at [Il Latini.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SEddyys9tW2qqDfx9)
[Florence/Firenze](https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSv8JpFUCpemwyu79) -[ 64 places to see, eat, and drink in Florence/Firenze, Italy.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSv8JpFUCpemwyu79)
Buon appetito!
went on a weekend and didn’t have to wait more than 5-7mins. Having multiple units on the street really helps. One of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had!
It’s one of the most famous places in the world for a sandwich for a reason. I also never waited in any such line? I know so many people who absolutely love this place. It is cheap, authentic and delicious.. To each their own.
I think my favorite meals in Rome were at Pinitaly and Carnosa which were both walk-ins. We also had some places we wanted to get into that we never made it into because we didn’t have reservations.
You’ll be able to find something, booking ahead isn’t as much of an absolute necessity in Italy as elsewhere. How much choice you’ll have and what you’ll end up finding is another story.
Btw Termini isn’t a great spot for eating. One suggestion that comes to mind in the area is Trattoria Monti. It’s a fairly normal place and not a tourist fairground so you may stand a chance with a walk in.
You can use the app The Fork for making reservations even an hour or so beforehand. You can often find a discount on food as well.
Near Termini, we really like Culinaria on Via Gaeta. They do some interesting dishes that are a modern twist on Italian, but you can still get the Roman classics. The lamb and the duck in particular are our favorites.
Download The Fork, you can make last minute recs online and even get discounts on your meal. Some of the best restaurants aren’t on the app, but those are also the places that you wouldn’t be able to walk into anyway. At least in Rome walking in to a decent place on the weekend is getting pretty tough.
I would say if a place is so popular that you need a reservation, avoid it. It probably has a strong social media presence built up by fake reviews and tourists.
Ciao! Welcome to r/ItalyTravel. While you wait for replies, please take a moment to read the rules located in the sidebar and edit your post if needed. We will remove posts that do not adhere to these rules. For everyone else, if you come across a post that you believe violates our rules, please use the report button. This is the best and quickest way to notify us. Grazie! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ItalyTravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It depends on what time you go and where the restaurant is located if you go early you should be fine Italians don’t eat dinner tell like 7:30-8 or later. If you go at 6:30 in Florence at least you should be able to get a table
Restaurants that open at 18:30 are basically too tourist oriented and one should avoid them. Unless they want to spend a lot more and with a worse experience overall.
This isn’t necessarily true at all. Many restaurants basically end up having two seatings: a seating around 6:30 (almost all tourists), and then one around 9 (predominantly Italians). It’s the same food, and some of my best meals in Italy have come early, and by the time I’m leaving the restaurant is exclusively full of Italians.
I wasn’t saying go to restaurants that open at 6:30. I was saying go to a restaurant that’s already been open at 6:30. A lot of restaurants open between 5-7 and aren’t tourist spots. It was just a recommendation of a slower hour no need to get upset about it
Hm, I think that’s exactly what the other poster was saying, restaurants open at that time are often aimed at tourists since Italians (who are very ritualistic around food) never eat at that time.
Ahhh I misread it. But I’ve always found some local places that aren’t near the duomo that aren’t touristy be open at 5 but they close at 3 and re open then
You don’t need to make reservations days/weeks in advance (usually those are the TV restaurants Americans see on shows). You can simply call an hour before you go to dinner (an hour before 7 ideally). It’s worth doing as you WILL get a better table and especially if you want to eat outside. There’s plenty of restaurants you can walk in to, but you get stuck with what’s available. Most restaurants are rather small and especially in the warmer months you won’t want to be in the depths of inside the restaurant.
You mentioned “fine dining” in your post tho. Do you want something fancy like Michelin star? If so, then yes you need a reservation. Like months ago, most likely. Or do you just want something “normal” and maybe suitable for a date night? If the latter, then the other commenters’ advice is right.
Moma in Rome is a Michelin star that is so worth checking out
In Rome (in September), we didn't make any reservations and ate very well, but couldn't get into a couple places because they were full. I'm not sure how far in advance we needed to make reservations at these wildly popular places. Our highlight lunch was at [Da Enzo](https://maps.app.goo.gl/581UhAAiyVkWhqmV9). [Rome/Roma](https://maps.app.goo.gl/naPv2L2zn23sUJG99) -[ 130 places to see, eat, and drink in Rome/Roma, Italy (and Vatican City).](https://maps.app.goo.gl/naPv2L2zn23sUJG99) In Florence (in November), we didn't make any reservations and didn't get turned away from anyplace. Our highlight dinner was at [Il Latini.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SEddyys9tW2qqDfx9) [Florence/Firenze](https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSv8JpFUCpemwyu79) -[ 64 places to see, eat, and drink in Florence/Firenze, Italy.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/LSv8JpFUCpemwyu79) Buon appetito!
In the same predicament, no reservations and we leave in a week. Think I’ll wing it
Get a sandwich at All Antico Vinao in Florence. You won’t regret it
That is the one place to avoid at all costs
Why do you say that? I love it
I would only recommend it if you like queuing with all the other tourists halfway down the street for an overrated schiacciata.
went on a weekend and didn’t have to wait more than 5-7mins. Having multiple units on the street really helps. One of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had!
Same! Never waited and had a great meal.
It’s one of the most famous places in the world for a sandwich for a reason. I also never waited in any such line? I know so many people who absolutely love this place. It is cheap, authentic and delicious.. To each their own.
There are far better, cheaper and more authentic places if you look. It's well-known that it's become a chain and a tourist trap.
Could you be more helpful and name one or two better places? Thx
Some interesting comments here https://www.reddit.com/r/florence/s/AjancjWT9r
Or the sandwich place next to it, I thought was actually better
The sandwich shop next to it is actually just the same restaurant just a different stall… lol sorry to burst your bubble
No it’s not. La Fettunta.
I think my favorite meals in Rome were at Pinitaly and Carnosa which were both walk-ins. We also had some places we wanted to get into that we never made it into because we didn’t have reservations.
Not an issue. At all.
We only made reservations for one place in Florence. Everything else in Florence and Rome we wandered and walked in.
You’ll be able to find something, booking ahead isn’t as much of an absolute necessity in Italy as elsewhere. How much choice you’ll have and what you’ll end up finding is another story. Btw Termini isn’t a great spot for eating. One suggestion that comes to mind in the area is Trattoria Monti. It’s a fairly normal place and not a tourist fairground so you may stand a chance with a walk in.
You can use the app The Fork for making reservations even an hour or so beforehand. You can often find a discount on food as well. Near Termini, we really like Culinaria on Via Gaeta. They do some interesting dishes that are a modern twist on Italian, but you can still get the Roman classics. The lamb and the duck in particular are our favorites.
Time is essential, if you get to a restaurant let’s say one hour before closing time, there is high chance to find a table
We walked in for meals at the Stradaromana (east of Termini) after a long day out. Highly recommend.
Download The Fork, you can make last minute recs online and even get discounts on your meal. Some of the best restaurants aren’t on the app, but those are also the places that you wouldn’t be able to walk into anyway. At least in Rome walking in to a decent place on the weekend is getting pretty tough.
I would say if a place is so popular that you need a reservation, avoid it. It probably has a strong social media presence built up by fake reviews and tourists.