A trip to the Apennine Peninsula - a gourmet paradise! We talk about the prices of food in Italy in 2021 in cafes and restaurants, groceries in stores, the cost of alcohol and fast food. What to try in Italy and how to save money?
Exchange rate: 1 euro ≈ 87 RUB.
Where is it cheaper to eat in Italy?
It is cheaper to live in Italy than in neighboring countries - France, Switzerland and Austria. However, prices for food and drinks in Italy in 2021 cannot be called democratic. The most expensive cities are Rome and Milan. Meals in Venice and Rimini are slightly cheaper.
The prices for groceries in supermarkets throughout the country are about the same, but in small shops and in markets in southern Italy, the cost of groceries is lower. In general, the north of Italy is considered a richer and more expensive region than the south. However, in all tourist centers and resorts there are expensive restaurants and budget cafes, so a trip to Italy will suit tourists with any wallet!
What to try in Italy
Before the main course, Italians eat antipasto... Each region loves its own snacks. Stewed artichokes and toasted bread with herbs, cheese and ham are very popular - bruschetta... One of the gastronomic symbols of Italians - caprese... It is a vibrant appetizer of ripe tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, the colors of which echo the national flag of Italy.
If you like meaty food, check out the pasta. carbonara, chicken with Pollo alla Romana pepper, hearty omelet with sausage and frittatu cheese and veal schnitzel saltimbocca.
Fish lovers love soup caciucco, fish paella, octopus salad with potatoes, swordfish rolls, stuffed cuttlefish and assorted fried seafood. Dessert connoisseurs enjoy tiramisu, panna cotta, Caprese cake and delicious ice cream gelato.
Liqueurs are very popular with Italians. Try dark red cherry amarettomade from lemons limoncello and a bitter drink made from blackberries and herbs campari. Tourists recommend strong liqueur with anise and elderberry sambuca, sweet genepi and infused with wormwood, thyme and mint amaro... If you don't like alcohol, check out the delicious Italian soft drinks - chinotto, sunbitter, crodino and roar.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants in Italy - 2021
How much does it cost to eat in Italy in 2021? Popular among Italians breakfast of pastries cornetti and a cup of cappuccino will cost 2.5 €. For an omelet with spinach and coffee you need to pay 8 €, for a glass of wine with a cheese plate - 10 €.
How much does lunch cost in Italy? The average bill for two is 50-60 €. You will be served pizza, pasta or ravioli, a bottle of wine, dessert and two cups of coffee. An inexpensive menu al giorno (business lunch) without drinks costs from 10 €. If the menu includes a lunch of soup, main course and a glass of wine, it will cost 15-20 €. Olive oil, balsamic sauce and parmesan are usually served free of charge everywhere, but may be included in the bill in tourist places.
Prices in cafes and restaurants in Italy in 2021:
- pizza "Margarita" - 3-4 €;
- assorted pizza - 5-12 €;
- focaccia with rosemary - 4.5 €;
- Minestrone soup - 4.5 €;
- tagliate with seafood - 12 €;
- pasta - 6-12 €;
- lasagna - 8 €;
- fish dish - 20 €;
- dish with truffles - 15 €;
- small bowl of Italian ice cream - 2 €;
- tiramisu - 4 €.
Prices for drinks in Italy
The most popular drink of Italians is coffee. Alcohol in cafes and restaurants is less in demand than coffee.
Prices for drinks in the cafe:
- cappuccino or espresso costs 1.5 €;
- a bottle of water with or without gas - 0.15 €;
- a glass of fruit juice - 3-5 €;
- a glass of Peroni beer 0.33l costs 2-8 €;
- a glass of wine - € 1.5-8;
- alcoholic cocktails - 5-10 €. Tourists often choose Martini Cocktail, Don Giovanni, The Godfather, Bellini and Aperol Syringe.
Italians love weak beer 3.5%. However, the main drink in Italy is wine. In shops, ordinary table wines, or Vino da Tavola, are inexpensive - from 1.5 € for a bottle of 0.7 liters. The prices for quality IGT or IGP wines are several times higher - 4-8 €. DOC vintage wines are much more expensive. A 0.7 liter bottle of Montefalco costs 20 €, Chianti 15-20 €, Montepulciano 20 €. The most expensive DOCG wines pay 50-100 €.
Prices for alcoholic beverages in Italy in stores in 2021:
- Italian beer, 0.5 l - 1-1.5 €;
- Keglevich vodka, 1 l - 18-53 €;
- Puni whiskey, 0.7 l - 54-74 €;
- brandy Vecchia Romagna and Fogolar, 1 l - 30-50 €.
Tourists are happy to shop in Italy vermouth... Italians have been making fortified and spiced wines since the end of the 18th century. Liter bottles of Martini vermouth are sold for 8.5-37.5 €.
Good as a souvenir from Italy grappa - a strong drink that is obtained from the distillation of grape raw materials. A bottle of 0.7 l costs 9 €, and in a gift box it costs 12 €. Grappa of rare varieties and with long aging is more expensive - 20-70 €. Popular liquor price limoncello depends on the fortress. Bottles with a capacity of 0.7 liters are sold for 8-22 €.
Prices for groceries in shops in Italy - 2021
How much do groceries cost in Italy? Prices differ by region. The most expensive cities are Rome and Milan, although Bennet, Coop, MD, SPAR and Carrefour supermarkets offer good discounts from time to time. Lidl chain stores enjoy the reputation of the most budget-friendly in the country.
Food prices in Italy in 2021:
- baguette - 1 €;
- goat pecorino cheese, 1 kg - 10-13 €;
- mozzarella, 1 kg - 7-8 €;
- ricotta, 1 kg - 7 €;
- parmesan, 1 kg - 10-15 €;
- prosciutto, 100 g - 1-3 €;
- sausage napoli or milano, 100 g - 1-1.5 €;
- mortadella, 100 g - 0.7 €;
- ham, 1 kg - 9-10 €;
- bacon, 1 kg - 10-20 €;
- pasta, 0.5 kg - 0.6 €;
- smoked salmon, 0.25 kg - 5 €;
- shrimp, squid, octopus, 1 kg - 10-20 €;
- tuna, 1 kg - 30 €;
- olives, 1 kg - 5.5 €;
- salad and vegetables, 1 kg - 1-2 €.
Fruit prices in Italy in 2021:
- pears, 1 kg - 1-2 €;
- apples, 1 kg - 0.9-2 €;
- strawberries, 1 kg - 6 €;
- oranges, 1 kg - 1.5 €;
- grapefruits, 1 kg - 1.5 €;
- pomelo, 1 kg - 1.5 €;
- bananas, 1 kg - 1-2 €;
- kiwi, 1 kg - 2.5 €;
- grapes, 1 kg - 2-3.5 €.
Prices in inexpensive grocery stores in Italy
Italian fast food
The lowest food prices in Italy are in street stalls and kiosks. It is a great choice for anyone looking to save as much as possible. Italians and tourists are happy to eat fried chestnuts for 1 € and a pig meat roll porchetta for 10 €. Italian ice cream is sold all over Italy. gelato — 4€.
There are many paninoteca mobile eateries in Italian cities that sell delicious rolls with different fillings. A simple and hearty snack panino costs 3.5 €. The streets are lined with small Al tagli stalls selling pizza. A large piece can be bought for 3-4 €.
What you need to know: features of Italian establishments
Siesta. The hot climate makes adjustments to the work of Italian cafes and restaurants. All establishments close for a long siesta at lunchtime. If you did not have time to have lunch before 15:00, you will have to wait 2-3 hours, have a snack or run for pies to the nearest supermarket.
Communication. Italians do not come to bars and cafes to drink alcohol. Here they communicate, discuss news and watch TV together. In the evening after work, from 17.30 to 21.00, many local residents gather in bars and cafes. They have pleasant gatherings over cocktails or coffee, and the owners put snacks on separate tables or on the bar counter - olives, mini-slices of pizza, chips and cucumbers. In some places, treats are free, in other places their cost is included in the price of cocktails.
Business lunch. Many establishments have a "menu of the day" menu al giorno - the Italian analogue of our business lunch. It is offered on weekdays and only at certain times, usually from 12:00 to 14:00. Depending on the restaurant, the filling of the "menu of the day" is different. For 10 € you can order the first and second course. Drinks are paid separately.
Extra charges. In addition to the cost of dishes, establishments have fees for table setting. coperto and service charge servizio e copreto - 2-4 €. They are common throughout the country, with the exception of the Lazio and Rome regions. There coperto is prohibited by law, and the servizio e copreto fee of 10% of the bill must be indicated on the menu.
Different prices. The price for a drink in Italy depends on where you are going to drink your coffee, wine or beer.There are two price lists in cafes and bars: al tavoto - at the table and al banko - behind the bar. Prices at the table are higher than at the bar. For example, an Americano coffee brought by a waiter costs 2 €. The same coffee al banko - half the price, i.e. 1 €. A bottle of wine at the bar is € 8-12, and at the table € 10-20.
Coffee. If you order coffee, in Italy you will automatically be served your favorite espresso of the locals. They drink it all day. When ordering a latte, they will most likely pour a glass of regular milk. It is customary to drink latte and cappuccino coffee in Italy until 11:00 or in the evening after dessert.
Alcoholic beverage sales time in the country is limited. In bars, clubs and restaurants, alcohol cannot be bought from 3:00 to 6:00, on the streets, in public places and places along highways from 22:00 to 6:00, and in vending machines from 0:00 to 7:00 ... Restrictions are lifted on holidays, on days of festivals and fairs.
Tip. Italians are calm about them. It is customary to give "tea" only in large cities. Italians themselves do not leave a tip or pay 5 €. If you are served very well, you can leave up to 5% of the bill to the waiters. They will be very happy.
Where to eat deliciously and inexpensively in Italy
IN Rome the highest food prices. However, there are plenty of places to dine on a budget. If you fancy trying Italian cuisine, head to the Trastevere area. According to tourists, delicious and cheap dishes are served in restaurants Impiccetta, Dar Poeta, Carlo Menta, Bottega Fienaroli, Rugantino, Pane e Salame cafes, Gelateria Giolitti and Fuorinorma.
According to tourists, in Venice food prices are quite reasonable. Budget food in Bigoi Venezia cafe, where they make homemade bigoli pasta with sauces for 5 €. Low prices and great choice at Cocaeta pancake - a serving of spring rolls costs 6 €. Tourists love the L'Angelo pizzeria next to St. Mark's Cathedral, the We love Italy eatery near Ponte di Rialto, and the Basegó and All'Arco bars, which serve cichetto snacks popular with Italians for € 2. What to see in Venice →
Milan a city as expensive as Rome. In order not to spend a lot of money on lunch and dinner, we recommend the Basilico Fresco restaurant, the Luini panzerotti, the Ciacco gelateria, the Brera café-bar and the Al Cantinone trattoria. What to see in Milan →
If you come to Rimini and if you want to eat cheap Italian food, check out Poker Cafe, La mi mama, La dolce vita, Trattoria Sole bar, La Cappa, Ristorante Guido, Il pescato del Canevone, La Marianna or Da Lele restaurants. Prices there are focused on local residents, so a hearty lunch will cost 15-20 €. Holidays in Rimini →
How to save money on food in Italy
- In the tourist centers of Italy, food prices are high - find out in advance about the places where food is tasty and cheap.
- Dine at Italians' cafes and restaurants that are aloof from attractions and busy streets.
- Eat in places with local names: taverns, trattorias, osteria and family restaurants - rosticheria. All of them will delight you with excellent food and affordable prices.
- To save on food, rent an apartment or an apartment with a kitchen, buy food and cook yourself.
- Catch promotions in supermarkets.
- Look for QUI shelving in stores. Meat, cheeses, pastries and juices are spread on them, the sale period of which ends. Discounts of 50% and higher are offered on such products, so they are willingly disassembled during the day.
- If you buy beer in packs of 3 or more, you can save about 25%.
- Choose drinks al banko - at the bar.
- You can have a snack to take away so as not to pay additional fees. You can eat in the picturesque park or have a picnic.
Find out how to have a cheap vacation in Italy.
