Making Restaurant Reservations in Italy

Food, Italian Culture, Tourist Information, Travel Planning

Good restaurants in Italy book up for dinner during the busier times of year, generally from mid-March well into November. Don’t hesitate to make reservations so you don’t find yourself stumbling into a restaurant that has a waiter out front waving in tourists. It might be a good restaurant, but usually the best ones don’t need that effort.

Here are two online services for making restaurant reservations in Italy: www.thefork.com or https://www.quandoo.it/en

Some restaurants have websites and online booking or an email address you can use.  Some have FaceBook pages.  When emailing, best to use European date format DD/MM and time format, 24 hour clock, so 7pm is 19:00.

Many good restaurants are firmly rooted in the 20th century and you must telephone, since they don’t take online restaurants. Call during Italy lunch time or at about 6pm their time when they are preparing for dinner service, remembering the time difference. Someone will speak English.

Italians generally don’t make dinner reservations before 8pm (20:00), so a good tactic to get into a popular restaurant is to make a reservation for 7-7:30 (19:00-19:30) before Italian crowd. More and more restaurants, especially in tourist destinations, are realizing the value of two table turns if they accommodate tourists at 7pm.

If you have a large group, try to study how they will seat you in the restaurant. In tight quarters you might be squished together or seated at separate tables. Ask if they have a special area for larger groups.

For Easter, the day after Easter, Christmas and Boxing Day, book 2+ months in advance.

If you reserve a vacation rental with Italy Perfect, we provide our guests with a list of good restaurants in the cities where we have properties to our guests .

Hidden Fantasy Rome Neighborhood – Coppedè Quarter

Italian Culture, Rome

Take a delightful break from the dense history and architecture of the central part of Rome among the whimsical and strange architecture of the Coppedè district.  It is just east of the Borghese Gardens in an upscale neighborhood, filled with embassies. From the Spanish Steps it is a 15 minute taxi ride, 30 minutes by bus or a 40 minute walk.

This amazing district was designed by Gino Coppedè (1866-1927) an architect and designer who joyously designed buildings throughout Italy with Art Nouveau style. In Rome the homes and structures evidence styles from medieval, baroque, greek and just plain fantasy! Continue reading Hidden Fantasy Rome Neighborhood – Coppedè Quarter →

Announcing Felicita, Italy Perfect’s Newest Florence Apartment

Florence, Italy Perfect Vacation Rentals

The newest addition to our Florence luxury apartments is Felicita, a bright and beautifully laid-out 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment in a fabulous historic center location.

Views? Check! Terrace? Check? Lovely decor? Check! Elevator? Check! Air Conditioning? Check!

We love the Oltrarno area of Florence, just on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio bridge but only a few minutes walk from the bustling downtown area. A calmer atmosphere pervades this area, with wonderful restaurants, artisan workshops carrying on centuries-old traditions of art restoration, gilding, jewelry making, bespoke shoemakers and antique shops. We think you’ll love this area too and the special location of the Felicita apartment on picturesque Piazza Santa Felicita. Continue reading Announcing Felicita, Italy Perfect’s Newest Florence Apartment →

How I Started Italy Perfect Vacation Rentals

Florence, Italy Perfect Vacation Rentals

Lisa Byrne, founder of Italy Perfect, shares her story of Casetta Bonsi, the little house in Florence that gave Italy Perfect its start.

I can’t tell you how many times people say to me “I wish I had your job!”

I’m so lucky to wake up excited to go to work every day, to share my love of Italy with others and to help guests achieve their dream trip to Italy. We reached a major milestone this month, Italy Perfect is celebrating 15 successful years in business! During that time we have helped over 30,000 travelers enjoy a stay in one of the over 150 vacation rentals properties that we’re proud to represent. We so enjoy hearing from returning guests who first came on their honeymoon, now returning with the family in tow. It gives us pleasure to learn about each client’s reason for visiting Italy, whether it is to celebrate an anniversary, retirement or graduation, or to reconnect with long lost Italian relatives, the desire to indulge in Italian hospitality, culture and food is a given.  Thank you all for your business and for the wonderful referrals of friends and family. Continue reading How I Started Italy Perfect Vacation Rentals →

A Roman Holiday: Staying near the Spanish Steps in the Sabini Sistina Apartment

Italy Perfect Vacation Rentals, Rome, Tourist Information

Renowned travel blogger Leah Travels tells us all about  her enjoyable stay in Rome. 

The Spanish Steps have been an inspiration for poets, painters and artists since the early 1720s. They’re also a landmark I frequented during my fourth visit to Rome in June. My Italy Perfect apartment was just a one-minute walk from Piazza di Spagna, the home of the Spanish Steps. Continue reading A Roman Holiday: Staying near the Spanish Steps in the Sabini Sistina Apartment →