In Rome, dinner doesn't typically start until 7:00 or 7:30 pm, but many Romans eat much later than this (around 9:00 pm). To get on schedule, plan on having lunch around 1:30 pm and dinner between 7:30 and 9:00 pm.
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Romans tend to eat dinner between the hours of 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Going out for dinner in Rome usually involves several courses, wine, and plenty of chatting. Most menus will offer four courses and usually include antipasta, primo piatto, secondo piatto and dolce.
Most Italians eat dinner around 8pm or 9pm. They may eat later in the summer, especially in the south of the country when dinner could be at 10pm or even later. Visitors should be aware that opening hours at Italian restaurants are limited.
Don't dine too early; Romans show up lateLike 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.
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.
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.
When it comes to tipping at restaurants, Italians will tell you they only tip on truly exceptional service or when dining in the finest restaurants. Even then, they usually only tip an extra 10 to 15 percent, or often just the change left over from the bill.
And please, do not burp or fart in public, it is considered extremely rude. Also, loud swearing and drinking alcohol from a bottle while walking the street, is frowned upon. Most Italians like some alcohol, but usually avoid to get drunk. Public scenes of drunkenness are much less tolerated than in other countries.
This is a big reason why we recommend long pants, capris, or shorts and skirts below the knee, as well as blouses and shirts rather than tank tops. There's also an expectation that people visiting churches in Italy should be quiet.