Last updated on February 20th, 2025
Do you want to travel to Italy but worry about how you’ll eat dairy-free in Italia?
Don’t let your dietary restrictions keep you from visiting Italy!
Fortunately, Italy has come a long way in terms of allergy awareness and catering to dairy-free travelers. It’s actually quite easy to eat in Italy if you don’t eat dairy.
So much of traditional Italian cuisine and culinary traditions are based on la cucina povera, or simple food that’s inexpensive to prepare yet satisfying. So much regional famous Italian food consists of plants, seafood, and locally-reared meat, none of which has dairy in it!
I’ve been living in Italy since 2012, eating and cooking plenty of dairy-free meals. Join me as I share with you my ultimate guide to eating dairy-free in Italy including:
- How to eat dairy free in Italy at each meal including breakfast, lunch, dinner and at merenda (or snack time)
- Which dairy-free foods and dishes to choose at each course
- Foods to avoid if you are following a dairy-free diet diet in Italy
- Buying dairy-free products here
- Tips and helpful vocabulary for eating dairy-free in Italy
Allergies & Dietary Restrictions in Italy: If you’re traveling in Italy and have special dietary needs, be sure to check out:
Eating with Dietary Restrictions in Italy
How to Eat Vegetarian In Italy
How to Eat Vegan in Italy
Eating Gluten-Free in Italy
Eating in Italy While Pregnant
Eating Dairy-Free in Italy
Eating Lactose-Free in Italy
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How To Eat Dairy-Free In Italy Throughout The Day
No matter what time of day it is in Italy or what meal you are sitting down to, keep these ideas in mind as a traveler with allergies in Italy.
For detailed examples of what you might find and what to avoid, skip down to Eating Dairy-Free At Restaurants in Italy.
How To Eat Dairy-Free In Italy At Breakfast
Whether you are staying at a hotel, B&B or going out to have a traditional Italian breakfast at a bar, you can easily find dairy-free milk alternatives for your coffee beverages or cereal.
Keep in mind when eating dairy free in Italy:
- Milk alternatives will be soy and less-commonly, oat and almond milks.
- Italian pastry does have butter in it and other breakfast items might have pastry cream, which is made with milk. Bread in Italy typically doesn’t have dairy, making it a good option at a hotel.
- If you are eating breakfast out at a bar, stick to a salato breakfast item (a savory sandwich such as a prosciutto sandwich) or ask if any of the sweet pastries are dairy-free (some may be vegan made with oil and non-dairy alternatives).
- All coffee beverages can be made with a milk alternative in a bar but if you are worried about cross contamination then you should be vocal about this.
How To Eat Dairy-Free In Italy At Lunch And Dinner
Eating out for lunch or dinner at any type of eatery in Italy as a dairy-free traveler is quite easy.
Keep in mind when eating dairy free in Italy:
- Most pasta (as long as it’s not lasagne or stuffed) doesn’t contain dairy.
- Choose pasta sauces that don’t include cheese such as tomato sauce, pesto, puttanesca, garlic and hot pepper, meat sauce or made with fresh, seasonal vegetables.
- No matter what you are ordering, however, ALWAYS specify to your waiter that you cannot eat dairy (whatever it is for you) because some sauces may have hidden dairy
- Avoid polenta, risotto and any baked or stuffed pasta which are always prepared with butter and cheese.
- Meat and seafood (secondi) will not have dairy unless prepared in a traditional regional method (you should be able to tell in the description of the food item if it’s prepared with dairy).
- As a general rule, stick to grilled, pan fried, deep fried or roasted meats and seafoods.
- Side dishes tend to be made from vegetables and legumes, making them naturally dairy-free.
How To Eat Dairy-Free In Italy At Snack Time
If Italians get hungry between meals they will grab a piece of focaccia, a small sandwich or other small sweet item from a bar if they are out. At home or at work, they are likely to opt for fruit. Since you are traveling, Italian street food, bread, sandwiches and snacks from grocery stores are going to be your best bet.
Tip: Savory items tend to be better dairy-free options in Italy as most desserts and sweet treats do contain dairy.
Keep in mind the following when eating dairy-free snacks in Italy:
- Bread from a bakery is usually dairy-free, making it an ideal snack, specifically focaccia and schiacciata.
- Pizza rossa is a vegan and dairy-free pizza to order at bakeries or pizza windows in Italy and enjoy as street food.
- Order any sandwich without the cheese for a dairy-free snack on the road (also a good option for a quick lunch).
- Keep nuts and fruit handy, both of which can be purchased fresh from open air markets in Italy.
- Cured meats are another great snack which you can find at grocery stores, markets and small delis or pizzicherie in Italy.
Eating Dairy-Free At Restaurants In Italy
As I mentioned, the best way to ensure you get what you want at a restaurant in Italy as a dairy-free traveler is to always tell your server and ask for suggestions. From the simplest trattoria to Michelin guide restaurants, you shouldn’t have an issue finding something regional and delicious to eat.
Fine Dining Tip: If you are headed to a fancy restaurant or Michelin guide/starred restaurant, always notify the restaurant at least 48 hours before your reservation and be sure they can accommodate you. If you show up without warning, they may have a pre-set menu that is decided days beforehand and cannot be modified.
Dairy-Free Antipasti (Appetizers)
Choose from any of the following which tend to be dairy-free appetizers in Italy:
- Tagliere di salumi – charcuterie board
- Crostini neri – liver pate on toasted bread
- Bruschetta – toasted bread with fresh tomatoes
- Prosciutto e melone – regional prosciutto with fresh melon
- Impepata di cozze – cooked mussels
- Insalata di polpo – octopus salad usually made with potatoes, lemon and parsley.
- Carpaccio – raw thin slices of meat or can be made with fish
- Tartar – raw beef or fish cut into small bites
Dairy-Free Primi (First Courses)
Ordering dairy-free pasta and soup in Italy is pretty straightforward and easy to find no matter what region you are in. Try the following:
- Pasta made with a tomato-based sauce, vegetables or meat/seafood based sauces (avoid stuffed pasta and lasagne) such as arrabbiata, amatriciana, pomodoro, ragù, puttanesca, alla norma, alle vongole (with clams), ai frutti di mare (with mixed seafood). You can read all about these sauces in Popular Italian Pasta Sauces and Famous Italian Pasta Dishes – by Region.
- Pasta e fagioli – pasta with beans
- Soups – including vegetable soup (minestrone), lentil soup, farro soup and bean soups
- Panzanella – bread and summer vegetable salad
- Ribollita – vegetable and bread based soup
- Pappa al pomodoro – tomato and bread soup
Tip: Primi change significantly depending on what region you are in Italy.
Coastal towns will serve a lot of pasta with seafood while mainland cities tend to eat more tomato-based and heavier pasta dishes.
Northern Italy eats more stuffed pasta, polenta and rice while central and southern regions eat more semolina and egg pasta.
Read my regional food guides for explanations of each.
Dairy-Free Secondi (Second Courses)
Most Italian second courses are dairy-free including:
- Grilled meats – including poultry, beef and pork
- Seafood – shellfish and whole fish
- Egg dishes
- Fried foods – may be mixed
- Stews such as spezzatino or peposo
Dairy-Free Contorni (Sides)
Most side dishes in Italy are naturally made dairyp-free including:
- Fagiolini al pomodoro – stewed green beans in tomato sauce
- Fagioli all’olio – cannellini beans with olive oil
- Fagioli all’uccelletto – white beans with tomato sauce
- Insalata Siciliana – fennel and orange salad
- Caponata – sweet and sour stewed eggplant
- Patate arroste – roasted potatoes
- Patate fritte – french fries (make sure they are not fried in oil with gluten)
- Puree di patate – mashed potatoes
- Verdure saltate / ripassate – sauteed seasonal greens in olive oil and garlic
- Puntarelle – chicory in an anchovy and olive oil dressing
- Peperonata – stewed bell peppers
- Cianfotta – stewed summer vegetables
- Crauti – sauerkraut
- Insalata di rinforzo – pickled vegetables and olives with anchovies
- Friggitelli – pan fried small green peppers
- Vignarola– stewed spring vegetables
- Verdure lesse – steamed mixed vegetables
- Verdure alla griglia – grilled mixed vegetables
- Carciofi alla Giudia – fried Roman artichokes
- Bietole al pomodoro – swiss chard cooked in tomato sauce
- Radicchio rosso alla Trevisana alla griglia – grilled radicchio
Tip: Seasonal vegetables tend to be made without any dairy but avoid them if they are gratinati, meaning they are made with a white sauce (bechamel).
Dairy-Free Dolci (Desserts)
Many Italian desserts are made with cream, milk or other dairy products so it’s important to confirm before ordering. Here is a short list of common Italian desserts usually made without dairy:
- Ricciarelli – almond cookies
- Poached Pears
- Macedonia – fresh fruit salad
- Granita – shaved ice
- Sorbetto – sorbet
- Cremolata – macerated fruit and ice
- Castagnaccio – chestnut cake (in the fall in Tuscany)
- Amaretti Cookies – almond cookies
- Panforte – dried fruit and nut cake
- Torrone – nougat with nuts
- Cantuccini e Vin Santo – biscotti served with sweet wine
Dairy-Free Pizza In Italy
Pizza in Italy typically has cheese on it but the most famous pizza called the marinara pizza is actually naturally dairy-free! Sometimes called pizza rossa, this simple pizza is topped with pizza sauce and perhaps some herbs and olive oil. You can order it at any pizzeria in Italy and find it at bakeries, grocery stores and at delis. It’s one of Italy’s most beloved snacks and street foods.
My Picks: For the best pizza during your travels, check out Best Pizza In Venice and Best Pizza in Florence.
If you are sitting down at a pizzeria and you want something a bit more complex and interesting, ask if they can make you a pizza marinara with vegetables, mushrooms, prosciutto, sausage, speck or any other dairy-free pizza topping you are craving.
More On Pizza: Don’t miss Do Italians Eat Pizza With A Fork? and How Do Italians Eat Pizza?
Dairy Free Gelato In Italy
So many traditional Italian gelato flavors are naturally dairy-free!
When ordering gelato in Italy, look for vegan flavors or sorbetto (sorbet), both of which will be fruit, chocolate or nut based without any dairy! I actually think these flavors tend to be some of the best because they typically embrace the seasonal fruit and use the best quality ingredients.
Alternatively, you can also try granita in Sicily or cremolata.
Dig Deeper: Read What Is Sorbetto? and The Difference Between Gelato, Ice Cream and Sorbet, Cremolata and Granita.
Dairy-Free Gelato Recommendations: Check out my top picks for Florence – Venice – Rome.
Foods To Avoid For Dairy-Free Diets In Italy
Here is a short list of common food items you might see in Italy but do actually contain dairy and should be avoided.
- Supplì/Arancini – fried rice balls
- Sformato – a savory flan made with milk and cheese
- Caprese – mozzarella and tomato salad
- Insalata di pollo – made with mayo (but not always so do ask!)
- Canederli – bread balls made with cheese and milk
- Lasagne
- Gnudi – ricotta and swiss chard dumplings
- Stuffed pastas
- Polenta
- Risotto
- Tagliere di formaggio – cheese board
- Polpette – meatballs may be made with milk and cheese
- Verdure gratinate – any kind of seasonal vegetable prepared this way is likely to be made with dairy.
Buying Dairy-Free Products In Italy
Milk is one of the ingredients, according to EU law, that must be labeled if present in pre-packed or non-prepacked foods.
Dairy is also one of the allergies legally required to be marked on the menu in restaurants and cafes.vThis makes buying dairy-free foods while grocery shopping in Italy pretty easy. Always look for words indicating that dairy is present: contiene latte, contiene latticini.
You can easily find oat, almond, coconut and almond milk at most grocery stores and even plant-based yogurt options.
Tips For Eating Dairy-Free In Italy
Below are important summarized points from this article to review and reference as you travel through Italy with food allergies or dairy-free diets:
- Even if you think everything you are ordering is dairy-free, always inform your server of your diet or allergy.
- Cross-contamination does happen so if you have a serious allergy, call a restaurant before you book and inform your hotel.
- Always read labels before consumption of pre-packaged goods looking for the terms or senza latticini (without dairy) or contiene latticini (made with dairy)
- Keep dairy-free snacks in your bag while traveling such as fresh fruit, nuts or regional bread and sandwiches.
- Some food items can be ordered without the cheese such as in sandwiches, pizza or some rice dishes.
Eating Dairy-Free in Italy? Check out
My Guide to Eating Dairy-Free in Italy
A Day of Dairy-Free Eating in Italy
Dairy-Free Gelato Flavors in Italy
Dairy-Free Desserts in Italy
Where to Find Dairy-Free Gelato in Florence – Venice – Rome
What is Sorbetto?
Eating Lactose-Free in Italy
Helpful Vocabulary For Eating Dairy-Free In Italy
| Italian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Allergia | ahl-ler-jee-ah | allergy |
| Ho un’allergia | oh oon ahl-ler-jee-ah | I have a (food) allergy |
| latticini | laht-tee-chee-nee | dairy products |
| Senza latticini | sehn-zah laht-tee-chee-nee | dairy-free |
| Senza lattosio | sehn-zah laht-toh-zee-oh | lactose-free |
| Senza formaggio | sehn-zah fohr-mahj-joh | cheese |
| Può contenere tracce di latticini | pwoh-cohn-teh-nehr-eh trahch-cheh dee laht-tee-chee-nee | May contain traces of dairy |
| Non posso mangiare latticini | nohn poh-soh mahn-jahr-eh laht-tee-chee-nee | I can’t eat dairy |
| Hai qualcosa senza latticini? | ayy kwahl-koh-zah sehn-zah laht-tee-chee-nee? | Do you have something dairy-free? |
| Contiene….? | cohn-tee-ehn-neh | Does it have…? |
| Non posso mangiare… | Nohn poh-soh mahn-jahr-eh | I cannot eat… |
| Vorrei… | vohr-reh… | I would like.. |
| Formaggio | fohr-mahj-joh | cheese |
| Le uova | leh woh-vah | eggs |
| Latte di soia/avena/mandorla | laht-teh dee soy-ah/ah-veh-nah/man-door-lah | soy/oat/almond milk |
| Panna | pahn-nah | cream |
| Burro | boor-roh | butter |
