Dining Out With Kids In Italy – What To Expect + Tips

Last updated on April 19th, 2024

Are you planning a trip to Italy with your family and wondering if you can expect the same as you do back home at a restaurant? 

I am a mom of four living in Italy (since 2012), and while eating out with four kids isn’t something I do regularly, I can help you navigate the restaurant scene with kids in Italy including what to expect in terms of:

• Italian meal times
• Italian restaurant hours
• Italian menus for kids
• Italian proportions
• How to find a kid-friendly restaurant near you
• Tips for eating out with kids in Italy 
• Helpful vocabulary

No matter how old your kids are, you can be confident about enjoying your meal out as a family – read on!

General Expectations at Restaurant in Italy With Kids

Generally speaking, dining out in Italy isn’t too different from other countries. The main differences are that there will most likely not be a kid’s menu and that the restaurant will not provide entertainment such as coloring sheets. 

You won’t find booster seats but highchairs are always available. If you want to get your kids fed quickly, order something for them when the waiter first comes to take drink orders. Take a look at my list of the best food items for kids at restaurants in Italy.

The other main thing to keep in mind when dining out in Italy with children is that they will usually be charged full price for items off the menu unless they do happen to have a menu specifically designed with smaller portions. 

Italian Meal Times

It’s really helpful as a parent to understand that meal times are different than you might be accustomed to back home. 

These meal times indicate when Italians typically eat, not when food is served. For example, Italians typically eat lunch between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm but restaurants usually start serving food at noon. 

To read more about Italy’s different meals, check out
Italian Breakfast – A Traveler’s Guide To Breakfast In Italy
Merenda – Italy’s Snack Time!
Aperitivo In Italy – How Italians Do Pre-dinner Drinks + How To Recreate It At Home

Italian Restaurant Hours

You can’t always eat whenever you want in Italy because restaurants and other eateries hold specific hours in which the kitchen is open.

Italian restaurants usually start serving food around noon and then close in the afternoon and don’t start serving food until around 7:00 pm. Restaurant hours differ vastly from the north to the south. In northern Italy, restaurants start serving food as early as 6:00 pm while in southern Italy you will be lucky if you find a place that opens before 7:30. 

Traditional Bar Hours In Italy

Luckily, you can always get something to eat at a bar in Italy, no matter the time of day. Keep in mind the following general food schedule served at bars:

• Opening-12:00: breakfast
• 12:00-2:00: lunch
• 2:00-3:30: post lunch coffee rush
• 4:00-5:30: afternoon snack
• 6:00-9:00: aperitivo 
• 8:00-10:00: dinner
• 9:00-closing: after dinner drinks

Breakfast items and savory sandwiches are available from opening time, 7:00 am to noonish. Around noon, bars set up for its casual lunch rush, serving simple first and second courses at inexpensive prices. 

Expect a peak at bars after lunch as people rush in to grab coffee. There will then be another busy moment after school around 4:30 when school lets out and then aperitivo hour starts up around 6:00 pm. You can also hang out at bars for post-dinner drinks and digestifs. 

To read in more detail about meal times and structure, check out
Traditional Italian Meal Structure – A Guide For Travelers
What Time Do Italians Eat Dinner? + Dinner Info From A Local Living In Italy

Italian Menus For Kids

At restaurants in Italy, kid’s menus aren’t common. Usually, kids just order off the regular menu. This is for two main reasons: the first being that Italian kids usually eat what their parents eat and aren’t permitted ‘special’ meals. Secondly, Italian food is in itself kid-friendly and enjoyed by even the pickiest of eaters (I mean, who doesn’t love a carbonara?).

This being said, some restaurants do have kid’s menus (especially in Northern Italy like in Trentino).

Keep in mind that if you don’t see something your kid will eat, you can always ask for a simple pasta asciutta such as pasta with butter and parmesan, pesto or tomato sauce.

Italian Food Culture: Learn about School Lunches in Italy.

Italian Proportions

When Italian families eat out at restaurants, kids generally order off of the regular menu, eating the same portion sizes as adults. Sometimes, kids will share a plate in which case you can ask for un piatto in più. 

Expect first courses to be fairly large and second courses to be more reasonable. Note that if you want side dishes, you will need to order those separately, which can be shared at the table. 

How To Find A Kid-Friendly Restaurant In Italy

The best tip for finding a kid-friendly restaurant is to ask a local. They will surely be able to provide you with a recommendation for a spot with outdoor seating, plenty of room or kid-friendly food. In addition, look for:

• Outdoor seating
• A restaurant that doesn’t pack in their tables
• A casual option (no fancy glassware or dress code)
• Words like trattoria or osteria, meaning family run and generally easy going
• Restaurants in piazze or squares in a limited traffic zone (ZTL limitato) so kids can run freely while they wait for the food
• Menus with items you know your kids will eat or a varied menu

Kids in Italy: Curious to read more about eating with kids in Italy? Check out
Best Squares To Eat And Drink With Kids In Venice
8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice – From A Mom Of Four Living In Italy
Where To Get A Quick Bite With Kids In Florence (Without Going Out Of Your Way!)
Where To Eat With Kids In Florence
School Lunches In Italy – What An Italian School Lunch Menu Looks Like
Kid-Friendly Foods to Order at Restaurants in Italy
Dining Out With Kids In Italy – What To Expect + Tips
School Lunches in Italy

Tips For Eating Out With Kids In Italy

With these top tips for eating out with kids in Italy, you can be sure to actually enjoy your meal instead of feeling rushed or uncomfortable. 

• Plan Ahead: Try and plan ahead as much as possible. Book your table ahead of time by either calling or emailing the restaurant, avoiding wait times. Book at the earliest time possible, usually around 7:00 pm when restaurants open. 
• Eat Outdoors: If the weather permits, it’s always better to eat outdoors, giving your kids more wiggle room and space to move around while they wait for the food.
• Choose Lunch: If you can, opt to eat lunch at a restaurant, rather than dinner. Dinner is usually more expensive and is more crowded. Lunch tends to be more casual and is served at more ‘kid-friendly’ times. 
• Apericena Is Your Best Friend: At dinner, consider apericena, a buffet style light dinner with first courses, appetizers and plenty of nibbles served with drinks. It’s enough to tie kids over or even take the place of dinner out. 
• Bring Entertainment: Restaurants in Italy are not going to provide placemats and colors for your children. A small box of Legos is always what works best for my kids. 
• Don’t Force It: Sometimes, meals out (especially with younger kids) can get ugly. If this happens and you would rather leave, just tell the waiter you have changed your mind and would like the food to go. 
• Pack Snacks: Although I wouldn’t pull snacks out at a restaurant, when traveling with kids, ALWAYS keep snacks you know they like handy. If you didn’t get a chance to pre-book your table and find yourself waiting, snacks are key. 
• Half Portions: Some restaurants will make kid-friendly or half-portions. I find this not very common but it’s always worth asking.
• Order Off The Menu: If you are in the rare circumstance that your kid won’t eat anything off the menu, you can always ask for a pasta with butter and parmesan cheese or a plate of pasta with tomato sauce. I have never been to a restaurant that won’t do this for you. 
• Eat At A Bar: Il bar in Italy is going to be your best friend as a parent traveling with kids. They are always open during the day and never stop serving some kind of food. 
• Take It To A Pizzeria: A lot of pizzerie serve other dishes besides pizza, a safe bet with kids. Look for eateries called ristorante – pizzeria and you are sure to find something for the whole family.

Helpful Vocabulary For Eating With Kids In Italy

Eating in Italy Basics: If you are curious to know more about navigating dining in Italy, you may be interested in
How To Order Food In Italian
Tipping In Italy – When & How Much From A Local
What Is A Coperto?  All About Italy’s Cover Charge
A Visitor’s Guide To Eating In Italy