1 item you should never order in Italian restaurants after 11am | Europe | Travel
Think twice when placing your order after 11:00am (Image: Reach PLC)
For many coffee drinkers, the day doesn’t really start until they get their first caffeine boost.
But when you’re on holiday, routines often fly out the window. You can wake up later than usual, enjoy a leisurely breakfast or have a cappuccino at lunch.
But in Italy this simple layout may cause a confused look.
While visiting Tremosine sul Garda, a collection of villages on the western shore of Lake Garda, officially recognized as one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, I was surprised to learn that locals consider ordering a cappuccino after around 11 a.m. a tourist treat.
Speaking about the tradition, a woman who grew up in Pieve, Tremosine’s largest village, explained that Italians traditionally consider cappuccino as a breakfast drink.
Italians consider cappuccino as a breakfast drink (Image: Paige Freshwater)
Instead, after lunch or dinner, it’s much more common to finish the meal with a shot of espresso before paying the bill and continuing on with your day.
He added that ordering a cappuccino is more likely in Italy’s busier tourist hubs, where cafes are accustomed to international visitors.
But in quieter mountain villages like Tremosine in Pieve, where only 200 people live, don’t be surprised if your order is greeted with a raised eyebrow or an amused smile.
The modern cappuccino has its roots in the Viennese drink kapuziner, which became popular in 17th-century coffeehouses and is traditionally made with coffee, cream, sugar and spices.
The cappuccino as we know it today first appeared in northern Italy, but with the widespread use of steamed milk in the 20th century, it evolved into the drink now served around the world.
Travel experts at Walks of Italy explain: “Do not order a cappuccino in the afternoon in Italy… If you want to ‘fit in’ to Italy, you may encounter a very funny appearance, especially in local cafes that are not used to tourists.”
Pieve is the largest village in Tremosine sul Garda (Image: Paige Freshwater)
“Italians have a weakness for cappuccino in the afternoon. Some say the milk and foam make it more like a meal, while others believe that dairy products are not good for digestion after lunch. You won’t see an Italian ordering a cappuccino after dinner.”
But not every Italian agrees with this so-called rule.
One Reddit user said: “I’m Italian and I heard about this ‘no cappuccino after lunch’ rule from my international friends and I was surprised. One of my favorite snacks when I was a kid was cappuccino and pastry.”
“It was actually my grandparents who started this tradition. They would pick me up from school, go to a cafe for cappuccino and cake, and then go to the park. A lot of other kids were doing exactly the same thing.”
Another added: “They won’t say no if you ask for a cappuccino. My American mother-in-law wanted an iced latte and I got her no problem. But don’t expect them to be particularly enthusiastic about it.”
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