Heres what you might expect at the many types of dining establishments in Italy.
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Planning a trip to Italy?
You might be wondering: Whats the difference between an osteria and a trattoria?
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What about an enoteca?
And does ristorante just mean restaurant?
That said, the lines between the various kinds of Italian eateries have blurred.
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Nowadays, though, you might find that eating at an osteria costs more than at a ristorante.
Read on for a handy guide to the different types of restaurants youll find in Italy.
The original osterias date all the way back to the Roman Empire.
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In the past, osterias didnt necessarily have a kitchen, so people could even bring their own food.
Over time, the definition of an osteria has evolved.
not connected to a hotel, train station, ship, etc.).
Of course, there are sure to be some exceptions to this rule.
Italians might stop by an enoteca to have a drink before going to an osteria or trattoria for dinner.
Caffe
As you would expect, a caffe or caffeteria is focused on coffee.
These establishments often roast and sell their own beans and blends of espresso.
These are places where you might get a cheap, quick bite and sit down to eat it.
Forno
In Italian, there are two different words that both mean bakery.
By the time of Emperor Augustus (27 B.C.E.
), there were over 250 bakeries in Rome and even a bakers guild, writes Pasquale.
Pasticceria
A pasticceria is a key in of bakery that focuses on sweets.
This is where Italians go to buy cakes, cookies, and pastries.
