There are almost as many ways to eat in Italy as there are to be a person. The twenty regions each foster their own unique flavours and techniques, and within those there are untold variations. Michelin star restaurants can be wildly creative, or classic, old-school affairs. Here’s our guide to the gamut of Italian fine dining, featuring some of the most famous restaurants in Italy, and some of the lesser known ones, too. 

Lido 84, Lake Garda

The lakeside dinner of your dreams is in lush little Gardone Riviera, among the cypress trees, oleanders and bougainvillea. This is a joyous, relaxed place to soak in the lake’s majesty, with chefs regularly bustling in and out of the jewel-like turquoise dining room to present dishes made using local sardines, raw mountain milk, olive oil, lemons and Wisteria flowers. 

 

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Accursio, Modica

Modica is one of three Baroque towns in southern Sicily – it’s dazzling and monumental, and somewhat mind-blowingly nestled in a valley 25 minutes from the sea. Accursio’s tasting menu is a vivid introduction to the wildly varied cuisine of Sicilia, taking you from the coast to the mainland, the east to the west. 

Piazza Duomo, Alba

In Piedmont, unassuming Alba lures foodies in their droves with its Barolo wine, gianduja chocolates and highly prized white truffles. And for a seat in meticulous creative genius Enrico Crippa’s rosato pink dining room. This is one of the most awarded Michelin star restaurants in Italy – it’s had three for 13 years. Crippa’s 51-ingredient salad will change the way you think about foliage forever. 

 

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Osteria Francescana, Modena

One of the most famous restaurants in Italy and indeed the world, Massimo Bottura’s colossus is quite used to being called ‘the best’. Bottura’s singular work must be eaten to be believed; his menus are influenced by art and the cultural traditions of his Emilia-Romagna homeland. This is Italian fine dining as exuberant theater. 

Read more about Michelin star chefs around the world. 

Joia, Milan 

Pietro Leemann was one of the first chefs to take Italian fine dining to the green side, and in 1996 his trailblazing Joia became Europe’s first entirely vegetarian venue with a Michelin star. Leemann’s dishes are indulgent, complex and brimming with surprises, and the dining room has all the cool, chic minimalism you’d expect from Milano. 

 

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Glass Hostaria, Rome

Cristina Bowerman draws on American and Asian influences, never forgetting that Glass is a Roman restaurant, located right in the middle of Trastevere, a cobbled neighborhood across the Tiber. In a super-modern space, in which glass wine cases are embedded in floors, Bowerman reimagines Roman classics – her Amatriciana-stuffed ravioli are yolky, silky, rich magnificence. 

Le Monzu, Capri

Picture a romantic table for two in Capri: white tablecloth, plate of exquisite cuttlefish, next to the window where the sun is setting over the sea and some dramatic rock formations. You are picturing Le Monzu, one of the Michelin star resaurants on our Ultimate Italy journey, and the only restaurant with a Michelin star in Capri (its tagline is “Where an extra star shines over the Med”) . It sparkles. 

What to expect when dining at a Michelin star restaurant. 

 

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La Caravella dal 1959, Amalfi

As much a part of Amalfi as the lemons, La Caravella received its first star in 1969 at the helm of Antonio Dipino’s parents. It was later lost, but Chef Antonio won it back in the nineties with his imaginative reinterpretations of local dishes. Beneath spectacular frescoed ceilings, enjoy a Very Amalfi degustazione, ending with “the sun in a dish” – a legendary lemon souffle.

Casa Mazzucchelli, Sasso Marconi

A new star for 2024, Casa Mazzucchelli is just south of abundant Bologna, the city known for its ragus and brodos rather than its Italian fine dining. Brother Massimo takes the warm oak and bronze dining room and sister Aurora leads the kitchen, which is deeply devoted to bread. Look for Aurora’s leavening prowess in sourdough ravioli stuffed with chickpeas, lard and black cabbage, or in braised eel with corn focaccia.

 

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Duomo, Ragusa

Michelin awards two stars to Chef Ciccio Sultano for what they describe as “an intimate portrait of Sicily”. Enjoy a five- or eight-course showcase of the island’s finest almonds, sea urchins, lasagna and cassata in an old apartment, opposite the dramatic Duomo di San Giorgio, which sits with its neoclassical dome and Corinthian columns, like a giant honey-coloured wedding cake. 

Enoteca Pinchiorri, Florence

In a former Renaissance palazzo, with a soundtrack of live piano, this is opulent, dreamy Florence in a nutshell, with three Michelin stars. It’s the sort of restaurant in which the sommelier will find you a glass of wine that pairs with your very soul, and the service is so immaculate the staff seem to float around you. The menu is a catalogue of wonders. 

 

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Enrico Bartolini al Mudec, Milan

Chef Enrico Bartolini has been awarded more Michelin stars for restaurants in Italy than anyone else, and this one is his flagship. Find the exquisite dining room (all soft leather, taupe and gentle lines), on the third floor of Milan’s Museo delle Culture (Mudec). The ‘contemporary classic’ menu is rooted in Milan, but with influences and ingredients from all over Italy. 

Oasis – Sapori Antichi

 

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In the Fischetti family, the women have run the kitchen for 35 years now and the ricotta ravioli with walnut and seared garlic has been there throughout. Today, it’s Michelina and her granddaughter Serena collaborating on dishes that are open to the world, but faithful to local tradition. The restaurant also has a Michelin green star for its connection to the region – the Fischettis use mostly small-scale producers and make olive oil on their own organic farm.

Zia, Rome

Michelin describes Antonio Ziantoni as “a young chef of undoubted talent”. He has a lot of interesting things to say, and he does so through red shrimp with rhubarb and basil, and through tortelli stuffed with pork, plums, Parmesan and bitters, and through rice pudding with coffee and black cardamom. If you want to surprise and delight your taste buds, book a table at Zia. 

How many Michelin star restaurants are there in Italy?

In 2024, there were 395 Michelin star restaurants in Italy. 

Which city in Italy has the most Michelin stars?

In 2024, Rome and Milan topped the leaderboard, with 21 stars apiece. 

Read more: The essential guide to Italy for foodies. 

Distinct, stirring and evocative. The rousing sound of bagpipes is recognized all over the world. An exclusive audience with Highland Piper Andy Coulter is a highlight of our British Royale journey, so we sat down with him to learn more about this revered instrument and his royal connections.

Enjoy an exclusive audience with Andy on: British Royale

Piping through the generations

“I’m what you call an Ulster Scot, I was born in Northern Ireland and now live near Edinburgh,” says Andy. “My father was a piper, my grandfather and my great grandfather. I started when I was 10 years old.

“After school I joined the army and spent many years in the Drums and Pipes. So, I’ve been a Pipe Major a long time. When I left, I worked for Mohammad Al Fayed as close protection security, and he asked me to get a Harrods’s pipe band going. We piped in the store and for dignitaries, as well as at his castle in Scotland.”

You may also enjoy reading: The Ultimate Luxury Shopping Guide to Edinburgh

An instrument of war and heritage

“The pipes date back to the 14^th century are basically a war instrument, although they haven’t been played in combat now for over 40 years, since the Falklands War.” Andy tells us. “A lot of Clan chiefs had pipes or a personal piper to pipe them into battle. They would also pipe them into dinner and pipe them into the grave!

“I play the pipes at lots of funerals and lots of weddings, it’s a very traditional thing here. They are preserving Scottish and Gaelic music and heritage for future generations.”

My royal resume

“When I was in the army my ceremonial work consisted of The Trooping of the Colour and state occasions like the Queen’s Birthday parade,” Andy tells us. He has piped in military tattoos in Denmark, Canada, Germany and France, and at the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. “I also piped at state banquets for Buckingham Palace and the British Royal Family. When a President, King or Queen from another country was visiting, pipers would play around the table.”

For more royal tales: Secret islands and snowy retreats: 5 hotspots loved by the British Royal family

Enduring connections

“I was piping at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace for King Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife Queen Sofia, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II,” says Highland Piper Andy. “Following our traditional performance, I was asked to play a solo for the Queen Mother. It was a very unexpected and memorable occasion and I find that Luxury Gold guests love hearing all about this.

“I also met the Queen Mother on another occasion, whilst on guard duty at Windsor Castle. This is an amusing story that I share with guest when I meet them in Edinburgh. Suffice to say she left quite an impression on me.”

An exclusive audience for Luxury Gold guests

Andy delights in sharing the details of his encounters with the Queen Mother with Luxury Gold guests, after they dine at the exclusive Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh. A grand finale to their time in the vibrant Scottish capital, Highland Piper Andy tells us “I go in and play a couple of tunes and introduce myself. We then talk, share a few stories and I answer any questions that guests might have. I’ll also get them to join in a bit with me. It is always lots of fun. I find that people are very interested in the bagpipes and piping, I think it resonates with everyone.”

Tantalize your tastebuds: The Luxury Gold guide to the finest Michelin star restaurants in Edinburgh

A cherished heirloom

“My pipes belonged to my great grandfather, and he bought them in 1888,” explains Andy, adding that they gain in value as they are handed down through the generations. “The bag itself is perishable and you also change the reeds when needed. But the pipes themselves are what you pay for. The wood is a very hard brittle wood called Mpingo. It is an African Blackwood, the best wood you can find and is worth around $20,000 a meter.

“When I first meet guests, they are often very intrigued and impressed by my uniform. The question I am asked most is how much does it weigh? It’s heavy because of the traditional Eight Yard kilt, the bonnet, shoes and pipes and comes in at 22 kilos which is about 45 lbs.”

Read how we make British Royale is exceptional: How Travel Concierge Michael Gives a Royal Welcome in the UK

A sound that resonates across the globe

“The Great Highland Pipes that I play originated in Scotland. But there are around 70 different types of bagpipes throughout the world,” says Andy. “There are Scottish Small Pipes and Scottish Parlor Pipes for example. There’s the Northumbrian Pipe and in Ireland the Uilleann Pipes. In Brittany in France, you have the Bretton pipers. They’re all Celtic nations. Pipers also played a similar looking pipe in Northern Spain, and even in Romania and places like that you can find pipes. They all have different styles of course.

“The Great Highland Bagpipes were the musical symbol of war; they were played in battle. My great grandfather played in battle in the Boer War, my grandfather played in the battle in the Somme and at Gallipoli.”

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The next generation

“Pipes will never go out of fashion,” Highland Piper Andy says. “In Scotland the collieries all have pipe bands and that’s where they all stem back to. They are taught in school as well. Every Scottish High School in Scotland has a band or at least a few pipers. New Zealand has more pipers and pipe bands per population than anywhere else in the world and some of the best competition pipe bands can be found in Canada.

“With bagpipes found all over the world, they resonate for so many people. It’s also such a versatile instrument, associated with everything from weddings and dancing to military processions and funerals. Be it a highland fling or the haunting melody of Amazing Grace, when the pipes start playing, they always raise the hairs on the back of your neck.”

For the opportunity to meet Andy Coulter for yourself and hear the unforgettable sound of the Highland Bagpipes, take a look at our British Royale luxury tour.

To whet the palate: Exceptional Dining with Luxury Gold

Where do truffles grow?

One reason truffles are so expensive is that they don’t grow in every part of the world. Historically speaking, truffles were largely only found naturally in European countries like Italy, France, Spain and Slovenia. In recent years, some other countries in North America, South America and Asia have successfully started growing their own.  

You may also enjoy reading: 7 ways you’ll celebrate Tuscan food when you travel with Luxury Gold

How do truffles grow?

Truffles grow beneath trees in a symbiotic relationship by attaching their spores to the tree roots. The transfer of nutrients enables them both to grow. Most truffles grow beneath specific tree species, including hazelnut and poplar, which influence their taste and scent. 

Why are truffles expensive?

Truffles are expensive because they’re so rare to harvest. Grown naturally only in a few European countries, truffle hunting is a centuries-old practice in which truffle hunters rarely share their hunting grounds with anyone else. The most expensive truffles are white truffles found in Italy’s Piedmont region. The International Alba White Truffle Fair is the preeminent truffle fair where you’ll find the largest, most expensive truffles for sale.

Bookmark for later: Where to find the most rare and expensive food in the world  

Where can I hunt for truffles with truffle hunters? 

Luxury Gold’s Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast tour is a two week itinerary filled with unforgettable activities, including hunting for truffles with a local farmer in Istria. You can also hunt for truffles on our Ultimate Italy tour in Florence. Keep in mind that the best time to harvest white truffles is typically between September and November, though peak season may alter based on the summer season’s temperatures, spring’s rainfall, and if the holes where the prior year’s truffles were found were filled properly. Black truffle harvest is between April and October in some areas like Slovenia, and their bounty is also impacted by seasonal climate fluctuations.

Read more about truffle hunting: A day in the life of one of Croatia’s top truffle hunters

Where can I taste a truffle?

Although only found in select countries, you can taste truffles at restaurants across the world. Casa di Langa, a hotel just outside of Alba, Italy, has a restaurant with a case of fresh truffles you can choose from. Restaurant Zigante in Livade, Croatia, is another fantastic dining destination where truffles are blended in delicious ways, including in truffle ice cream.

You may also enjoy: Indulge your inner gourmet with these luxury food experiences

Italy

Italy is the epicenter for truffles. When the most expensive truffles are up for auction, it’s likely that they were found in the Italian countryside. Truffle hunters stay silent about where they find these fungi in Le Marche, Tuscany, Piedmont, and Umbria, but the restaurants in these regions aren’t shy about featuring them in both fine and rustic dishes. 

Truffle hunting on the Ultimate Italy tour is the ultimate way to find and taste fresh Italian truffles.

Croatia

Italy may stay in the limelight for having the most expensive truffles, but Croatia’s Istria region has a bounty of its own worthy of your attention. The truffle capital of Croatia wasn’t lauded as such pre-1999, until a hunter and his dog dug up what became the largest white truffle in the world. Now, the Istrian Peninsula is regarded as a popular destination for truffle hunting and sampling.

Get off the beaten path and uncover gems like fresh truffles on the Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast tour.

Spain

The majority of Spain’s truffles are black truffles and its black winter truffles are especially popular, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, it was until the mid-1900s that truffle hunters from France started seeking out the black diamond truffles they knew in the hills of Spain. When Spanish farmers realized how valuable these truffles were, they seized the opportunity and have since become the world’s largest producer of black winter truffles. 

Discover Iberia on: Spain & Portugal in Style

You may also enjoy: For Fine Dining in Spain, This City Sets the Gold Standard

France 

It should be no surprise that anything grown in French soil is delectable; that includes truffles. France produces nearly one-third of the world’s truffles. The “black diamond” is a popular truffle found in Provence and Southwest France. Also known as the Périgord truffle, black diamond truffles are known for their strong scent and distinctive taste.

Sample truffle-infused dishes as you explore the French countryside on our Ultimate Southern France tour.  

Bookmark for later: Sophisticated and Stylish: why Southern France is Unmissable

Slovenia

Slovenia shares a small piece of the Istrian Peninsula with Croatia. With Italy as its adjacent neighbor, one shouldn’t be shocked to learn that Slovenia is an underrated destination for truffle hunting and dining. One of the unique experiences you can have in Slovenia that you seldom can elsewhere is hunting for the rare spring white bianchetti truffle which is harvested around March each year. 

With Exceptional Dining a hallmark of every Luxury Gold journey, see how you can enjoy a truffle-infused vacation, or other gastronomical pleasures with our worldwide collection of luxury tours.