Loading Page...

Is 7 too early for dinner in Italy?

Don't dine too early; Romans show up late Like the Spanish, Romans are known for dining out late. Restaurants are usually open for lunch from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and they open back up for dinner around 7:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.



People Also Ask

In the northern nation of Norway, residents prefer to get their eating done relatively early in the evening. In fact, the normal time for middag, a Norwegian supper of hearty dishes like stews and mutton casseroles, falls in the early-bird-special time frame of 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

MORE DETAILS

Italy is known for it's very late meals - lunch is about 1.30pm (earliest!) and dinner depends on the season - it can be as late at 11pm! One of the reasons for such late dinners, is so that the members of the family can wait for each other to come back from work and sit down at the table all together.

MORE DETAILS

It is important to remember that everything is a give and take. Spoiler: Tipping is close to non-existent in Italy. A few euros here and there. That said, don't expect your waiter to stop by and ask you how things are going every 45 seconds and to refill your water every time you take a sip.

MORE DETAILS

Eat at the right hours As for dinner, we're a bit more flexible. We don't eat as late as our Spanish neighbors by any means, but most people won't sit down to dinner before 8 p.m., and in most places, looking for a full dinner after 10:30 p.m. can get complicated, as well.

MORE DETAILS

If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.

MORE DETAILS