Last updated on February 24th, 2025
As someone who’s had dietary restrictions in the past, I know what it’s like to try and plan a trip abroad and worry about going hungry. Although it may seem overwhelming, visiting Italy with dietary restrictions is possible as long as you do a little research beforehand.
I’ve been living in Italy since 2012 and I’ve had plenty of time to experience eating here with dietary restrictions and helping others as well.
In this article, I will go over eating with special diets in Italy including:
- eating vegan in Italy
- eating vegetarian in Italy
- eating gluten-free in Italy
- eating dairy-free in Italy
- eating lactose-free in Italy
- eating in Italy while pregnant
- eating in Italy with a nut allergy
For each type of special diet, I’ll go over the basics, including:
- the dietary restriction in italiano (in the Italian language)
- my top tips for eating with the particular dietary restriction in Italy
- food to order
- city guides for the dietary restriction, should I have them
So fret not! Eating in Italy with dietary restrictions and special diets isn’t hard. It just takes a bit of understanding before you jet off to la bella Italia!
Keep In Mind: As a general rule, always notify the server of your diet or condition to avoid mistakes. Most restaurants are happy to accommodate you and would never want to serve you something you can’t eat. After all, it’s Italy – they don’t want you to go hungry!
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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Eating Vegan In Italy
How To Say You Are Vegan In Italian: Sono vegano/a
Eating vegan is actually one of the easiest special diets to follow in Italy because many famous Italian foods were born out of the idea of la cucina povera or the “poor man’s cooking.” This refers to the idea of preparing delicious, flavorful and caloric foods in a cheap way, using the local produce and products (lots of beans and veggies).
Every region has their own vegan dishes invented centuries ago and still live strong today, playing a vital role in the mainstream Italian diet.
For vegans in Italy, I suggest ordering a bunch of side dishes off of the contorno section of the menu alongside vegan pasta dishes, rice dishes and polenta. You will be happy to know Italy’s most famous pizza, pizza marinara, is vegan!
Look for these foods if you are vegan in Italy:
- Pizza rossa/marinara – made with tomato sauce and no cheese. Asked for other vegan pizza toppings
- Pasta asciutta – dried pasta is vegan. Order with vegetable sauces such as tomato, broccoli, aglio, olio e pepperoncino (avoid egg pasta such as tagliatelle, stuffed pasta and lasagne)
- Pasta e fagioli – pasta and beans
- Polenta & Risotto – polenta and risotto may be prepared vegan as long as you notify your waiter beforehand.
- Contorni – make a whole meal of roasted potatoes, cooked vegetables, beans and salads
Other Articles To Reference:
Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants In Florence
Eating Vegan In Venice
Eating Vegan in Rome
How to Eat Vegan in Italy
Eating Vegetarian In Italy
How To Say You Are Vegetarian In Italian: Sono vegetariano/a
Being a vegetarian in Italy is certainly easy (although few Italians will understand why you would ever want to be!). Many first courses such as pasta, rice and polenta are naturally meatless.
The main courses are where you might have trouble as a vegetarian in Italy (this is the section of the menu where beef, poultry and fish is listed). Skip this and order several contorni or side dishes where you will find more than enough vegetables and beans. Don’t expect to find meat-alternatives such as tofu.
Pizza in Italy is often made vegetarian with seasonal produce and regional specialties such as gorgonzola e noci (with gorgonzola and walnuts), primavera (spring vegetable pizza), pizza bianca (white pizza without tomato sauce) or funghi di stagione (seasonal mushrooms such as truffle or porcini).
Other Articles To Reference:
Vegetarian Dishes To Try In Italy
How to Eat Vegetarian In Italy
Eating Vegetarian In Venice
Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants In Florence
Eating Gluten-Free In Italy
How To Say You Are Gluten-Free In Italian: Sono celiaco/a OR Non posso mangiare glutine (I have celiac disease/I can’t eat gluten)
While on the surface it might seem challenging to eat gluten-free in Italy, it’s actually not at all. If you have a serious allergy or disease such as celiac (coeliac) disease, you may need to seek out certified AIC restaurants to avoid cross contamination.
If you have an intolerance or can afford the small risk of cross contamination, you will likely find a wide selection of gluten-free Italian food at any restaurant under the secondo or main dishes section of the menu.
Look for these foods if you are gluten-free in Italy:
- Peposo – red wine beef stew (at one of my spots in Where Locals Eat In Florence)
- Vitello Tonnato – thin slices of beef with a tuna caper sauce (Piedmont)
- Chicken cacciatore – tomato based stewed chicken
- Coniglio – rabbit
- Faraona – guinea hen
- Grigliata mista – grilled mix meat
- Pollo al mattone – brick pressed chicken
- Bistecca Fiorentina – Florentine steak (at on of the places of my list of Where to Eat Bistecca Fiorentina in Florence)
- Salsiccie – sausages (Umbria)
- Pesce spade – swordfish
- Salmone – salmon
- Scampi – shrimp (such as shrimp fra diavola)
- Totano/calamari – squid (avoid stuffed options)
- Polpo alla piastra – grilled octopus (Sicily)
When ordering these mains, be sure to fill up on a wide selection of gluten-free side dishes such as beans, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes and salads.
Avoid the following foods if you are gluten-free in Italy:
- Pasta – most pasta, including gnocchi, is made with flour. Some restaurants will make gluten-free pasta, in which case it’s fine
- Pizza – unless specifically gluten-free including pinsa or calzone
- Cotoletta – breaded veal cutlet
- Fried foods – any kind of fritto will be made with flour or breadcrumbs
- Arancini – fried rice balls coated with breadcrumbs
- Polpette – meatballs often made with breadcrumbs
- Involtini – rolled meat sometimes coated in flour or breadcrumbs
- Osso buco or spezzatino – stews
- Scaloppina – cooked meat usually made with flour
- Bread – all kinds
- Pastries
Gluten-Free in Italy: Read up on eating senza glutine in Italy:
Eating Gluten-Free in Italy – Florence – Venice – Rome
Gluten-Free Meals in Italy
Gluten-Free Italian Side Dishes
Gluten-Free Italian Desserts
Gluten-Free Cicchetti in Venice
Is Gelato Gluten-Free?
Eating Dairy-Free In Italy
How To Say You Are Dairy-Free In Italian: Non posso mangiare latticini/lattosio (I cannot eat dairy/lactose)
Eating dairy or lactose-free in Italy is similar to eating vegan in Italy. This also means it’s not too hard to find healthy and delicious food no matter where you are, even at snack or breakfast time.
Most main courses (beef, poultry and seafood) in Italy are going to be dairy-free. Avoid ordering sauces and pastas with cream or butter sauces such as lasagne. Rice and polenta may be made without dairy but you need to confirm beforehand.
Even pizza, gelato and dessert can be dairy-free. Order pizza rossa (marinara) with other non-dairy toppings. Choose from sorbet or fruit flavored gelato and many Italian cookies are dairy-free.
Here is a short list of common food items to avoid if you are dairy-free in Italy:
- 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
- Stuffed pastas
- 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.
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
Eating Lactose-Free In Italy
How To Say You Are Lactose-Free In Italian: Non posso mangiare lattosio (I cannot eat lactose)
If you are lactose free, you will want to follow the general guidelines for eating dairy-free as indicated above. The only difference is that dairy products low in lactose such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and butter may be OK for you to eat depending on how severe your intolerance is.
For Example, if you order pasta pesto, it might be fine for you because it’s made with parmesan cheese and very little is used to actually coat the pasta. Lasagne, however, isn’t a good choice because it will be made with both parmesan and a lot of milk.
Fact: Parmigiano-Reggiano is actually extremely low in lactose so if you are lactose free, this may be an ok cheese for you! Carbonara and Cacio e pepe are both made with aged pecorino.
Grocery shopping tends to be a bit easier because Italy makes several lactose-free alternatives including mozzarella, stracchino, milk, yogurt, butter and even feta cheese. So if you are doing a little cooking in your rental apartment you won’t have problems.
Other Articles To Reference:
Eating Lactose-Free in Italy
Eating In Italy While Pregnant
How To Say You Are Pregnant In Italian: Sono Incinta
Eating in Italy while pregnant is a no-brainer because so much of Italian cooking is naturally sourced locally and seasonally. The Mediterranean diet naturally embodies a wholesome approach to cooking and eating, making eating in Italy while pregnant a breeze.
The big ideas to keep in mind are no raw meat, salumi and other cured meats, no unpasteurized products such as cheese and no raw eggs (no custards, tiramisù or cream gelato flavors). That’s it! Most everything else is going to be super healthy for you and your baby.
If you are eating out at restaurants and enjoying all the pasta, consider supplementing these with a secondo or main course of protein (be sure to ask for it well cooked and not raw as the Italians tend to like their red meat).
And of course, consider your caffeine and alcohol intake. Order coffee decaf after you have had your max caffeine for the day and opt for non-alcoholic Italian beverages.
You may want to avoid these foods while pregnant in Italy:
- Salumi – any kind of cured meat including prosciutto crudo, salame, finocchiona, bresaola, speck
- Formaggi crudi – unpasteurized cheeses like mozzarella – confirm before ordering
- Carpaccio – raw beef or fish
- Tartare/carne cruda – raw beef
- Pesce crudo – raw fish
- Tonno – avoid tuna if you can, which is high in mercury unless it’s canned or cooked well-done.
- Bistecca – steak (or ask for it well done)
- Tiramisù – contains raw eggs
- Zabaione – contains raw eggs
- Cannoli – confirm that the ricotta is pasteurized before ordering
- Mozzarella – technically fresh mozzarella is not cooked to a high enough temperature to be considered pasteurized. If it’s cooked like on pizza, it’s ok
Pregnant Travelers: You may be interested to know more about what to expect in terms of food when traveling in Italy in
Eating in Italy While Pregnant
My 10 Favorite Snacks To Eat In Italy While Pregnant
10 Foods You May Want To Avoid In Italy While Pregnant (And What To Order Instead!)
10 Foods I Ate In Italy While Pregnant
Eating In Venice While Pregnant
Eating in Tuscany While Pregnant
Eating in Rome While Pregnant
Eating With A Nut Allergy In Italy
How To Say You Have A Nut Allergy In Italian: Sono allergico a noci/arachidi/pistacchi/mandorle/pinoli/nocciole (I am allergic to walnuts/peanuts/pistachios/almonds/pine nuts/hazelnuts)
Having a nut allergy can be quite serious but luckily Italians don’t cook with a lot of nuts. They like to eat nuts fresh after a meal, especially when they are in season in the fall and winter and love a nut gelato flavor but they are not a common ingredient in Italian cooking.
Unfortunately, there are many really good Italian desserts with hidden nuts so even if a dessert seems like it doesn’t have nuts, always ask (ricciarelli, cantuccini, for example).
Southern Italy uses more nuts so keep this in mind and always notify restaurants before ordering, being sure to specify that they cannot be used even as a garnish.
Foods to avoid with a nut allergy in Italy:
- Castagnaccio – a tuscan chestnut cake
- Pesto
- Salsa di noci – walnut sauce
- Pesce Spada alla Siciliana – swordfish made with pine nuts
- Caponata – stewed vegetables with pine nuts
- Nut gelato, sorbet and granita
- Torta della nonna – cake made with pine nuts
- Colomba – An easter cake made with almonds
- Panforte – dried fruit and nut cake
- Torrone – nougat made with nuts
- Gianduia – chocolate hazelnut spread/candy
Other Articles To Reference:
Italian Nuts – A Guide To Nuts in Italy
Tips For Eating With Dietary Restrictions And Special Diets In Italy
- Always notify your server of your dietary restriction before ordering. Some seemingly ok dishes may actually betray your needs.
- Don’t be afraid to make a whole meal out of side dishes and appetizers if you have a special diet in Italy.
- If dining at a fancy or Michelin restaurant, be sure the restaurant can accommodate you 48 hours prior to your reservation.
- Cross-contamination does happen so if you have a serious allergy, call a restaurant before you book and inform your hotel before your stay.
- Always read labels before consumption of pre-packaged goods looking for the terms senza lattosio (lactose-free) or senza latticini (without dairy) or contiene lattosio (made with lactose), contiene latticini (made with dairy), senza glutine (gluten-free), prodotto vegano (vegan item), può contenere tracce di… (may contain traces of…)
Good To Know: All Italian restaurants are now required by EU regulations to disclose if their food contains allergens from an extensive list of food categories including dairy and nuts*
And that’s a wrap on eating with special diets in Italy. Keep in mind that this is just a summary of the most important points of eating with dietary restrictions in Italy but you can easily find out more by reading my in-depth guides to each. Buon appetito!
Curious to know more about Italy’s seasonal foods, dishes, and produce? Check out
Foods to Eat in Italy by Month in January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December and by Season in Spring – Summer – Fall – Winter.
Italian Fruits and Vegetables in Season in January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December.
Italian Nuts
