What are typical meal times in Italy?

December 18, 2025 •

4 min read

Italians often structure their day around meals, with a rhythm that can be surprising to foreigners. Understanding what are typical meal times in Italy is essential for travelers who want to eat like a local and avoid closed restaurant kitchens during the mid-afternoon siesta.

Quick Summary

The Italian eating schedule features distinct and generally later timings for lunch and dinner than in many other countries, centered around cultural rituals like the afternoon pause and evening aperitivo. This guide explains the daily rhythm of Italian dining.

Key Points

Late Dinner Timing: Italians typically eat dinner later, around 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM, particularly in the south or during summer.
Afternoon Closure: Many restaurants close their kitchens between lunch and dinner, often from around 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Breakfast is Light: Morning meals are typically a quick espresso and a pastry at a bar, rather than a heavy meal.
Aperitivo Hour: The pre-dinner ritual of an aperitivo with drinks and light snacks is a significant social event.
Lunch is Leisurely: Midday lunch is a longer, more substantial meal than often seen elsewhere, and many locals go home to eat.
Pace Your Meal: Italians do not rush meals; waiters will not bring the check until you request it.
Dining Regionality: Meal times and dishes can vary slightly depending on the region of Italy you are visiting.

The Italian Daily Meal Schedule

Unlike in some countries where meals are squeezed into a busy schedule, Italian life revolves around food. The day follows a predictable gastronomic rhythm, marked by distinct mealtimes and specific food and drink traditions. For tourists, understanding this flow is key to enjoying authentic cuisine and avoiding disappointment. Most kitchens, especially outside major tourist hubs, strictly adhere to these hours, closing for several hours in the afternoon.

Morning (La Colazione): 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM The Italian breakfast, or colazione, is typically a quick, simple affair. Most Italians grab a cappuccino or an espresso while standing at a local bar (café) counter. This is usually accompanied by a sweet pastry, like a cornetto (croissant). A cappuccino is almost exclusively a morning drink; ordering one after 11:00 AM is a common tourist giveaway.

Mid-Morning Snack (Spuntino): Around 11:00 AM For those who need a little boost before lunch, a light snack (spuntino) is common. This might be another coffee, a quick sandwich, or a pastry from a bar. It’s a brief break, not a full meal, to tide one over until the main midday event.

Afternoon Break (Merenda): 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM This is a casual snack, often enjoyed by children after school. A merenda can be anything from a piece of fruit to a scoop of gelato or even bread with Nutella. It’s a smaller, more informal precursor to the evening's events and helps fill the gap between the late Italian lunch and dinner.

Evening Aperitif (Aperitivo): 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Before dinner, many Italians gather for an aperitivo, a pre-meal drink accompanied by light snacks like olives, nuts, or small finger foods. This is a social ritual, a chance to unwind and socialize with friends and family. In some cities, particularly in the north, the aperitivo might morph into an apericena, which is essentially an all-you-can-eat buffet that can serve as a light dinner.

Dinner (La Cena): 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM (or later) Dinner, or cena, is the most substantial and social meal of the day for many Italians. It usually starts later than in many other cultures, typically beginning around 8:00 or 9:00 PM. In Southern Italy and during the summer, dinner can be pushed back even later, sometimes starting after 9:00 PM. Family gatherings or meals with friends can easily stretch for hours, filled with conversation and multiple courses. A traditional full dinner includes an antipasto, a primo (pasta or risotto), a secondo (meat or fish) with a side (contorno), and a dolce (dessert).

Comparing Meal Schedules: Italy vs. UK/US


Meal	Typical Italian Time	Typical UK/US Time	Italian Cultural Significance	UK/US Cultural Significance
Breakfast	7:00 AM - 9:30 AM	7:00 AM - 9:00 AM	Quick and light, often a coffee and pastry at a bar.	Can be a full, substantial meal at home or a quick, on-the-go option.
Lunch	1:00 PM - 2:30 PM	12:00 PM - 1:00 PM	A significant, leisurely meal, sometimes at home. Many businesses close during this time.	Shorter, more casual meal often eaten quickly during a workday break.
Dinner	8:00 PM - 10:00 PM+	6:00 PM - 8:00 PM	A large, multi-course social event that can last for hours.	Often a family meal, but less emphasis on a lengthy, multi-course format.
Late-Night Food	Aperitivo or limited options	Pubs and restaurants often close earlier	Primarily social hour (aperitivo) or limited late-night street food options.	Late-night food is more common in cities, with many eateries open much later.

Navigating the Italian Dining Experience

To fully embrace Italian food culture, timing is everything. Trying to find a full-service restaurant open at 6:00 PM for dinner is a surefire way to be labeled a tourist. Instead, plan your day around the local rhythm. Enjoy a leisurely morning with an espresso, have a longer, more substantial lunch, and if you get hungry in the late afternoon, grab a merenda. The evening is for socializing, so embrace the aperitivo before a late dinner with friends or family. Most restaurants catering to locals do not open their kitchens for dinner before 7:30 PM. This late dinner time is rooted in a culture that values lingering at the table with good company.

An important etiquette rule to remember is that restaurants do not typically rush diners. A meal is meant to be a relaxing, multi-hour experience. Waiters will not bring the check until you specifically ask for it with the phrase "Il conto, per favore".

Conclusion

Understanding what are typical meal times in Italy is about more than just knowing when to eat; it's about embracing a core part of Italian culture. The slower pace of life, the emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the importance of dining as a communal, social event are all reflected in the daily meal schedule. Adjusting your dining habits to align with the local rhythm—enjoying a light breakfast, a long lunch, a refreshing aperitivo, and a late, unhurried dinner—is the best way to experience Italy authentically. So, when in Rome (or anywhere else in Italy), eat like the Romans do.

For more insight into Italian food culture, consider exploring regional differences and other dining etiquette rules at Curious Appetite Travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but options are limited. You can find simple food like sandwiches at a bar or a slice of pizza from a takeaway shop (pizza al taglio). Restaurants open during this period typically cater to tourists and may not serve the most authentic food.

It is customary to only order a cappuccino in the morning, typically before 11:00 AM. Ordering one after this time, especially after a large meal, is considered an amateur mistake by many Italians.

Yes. While the general schedule holds, dining times tend to be later as you travel south. Dinner in Sicily, for instance, might be later than a meal in Milan.

Tipping is not mandatory in Italy like it is in some countries. Many restaurants include a service charge, or coperto, on the bill. A small, additional tip for excellent service is always appreciated but not expected.

Yes, especially if you plan to eat at a popular restaurant or are dining with a larger party. Since Italians enjoy long, unhurried meals, restaurants do not rush to turn tables and often rely on reservations.

If you are hungry between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, consider joining the local aperitivo scene. Many bars offer a drink accompanied by complimentary snacks, which can serve as a light pre-dinner meal.

While it is possible to find pizza for lunch, it's more of a dinner dish for locals. Pizzerias often open earlier for dinner service than other restaurants. For a midday snack, consider a slice of pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) from a bakery.