Parma Restaurants and Dining

(Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

Food-lovers looking for a place to dine out here in Parma will certainly not be disappointed. Parma is a great place to enjoy fine Italian cuisine, and is home to some particularly good restaurants and plenty of fine dining to go around.

For those looking for a less expensive dining option or a light snack, Parma offers a variety of eateries. These include smaller, more informal restaurants, cafes, bars and local markets.

What to Eat

Parma is something of a culinary Mecca and prides itself on its regional cuisine. Prosciutto di Parma, is known throughout the world, as indeed is Parmesan cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano. Both delicacies are produced to rigorously enforced standards. For Parma ham, this even includes the way that it is sliced on serving.

Parmesan cheese is made from the milk of cows fed on the green grass of the Po Valley and is produced today in exactly the same way it was hundreds of years ago.

Parma is also known for its many pasta dishes. Indeed, the city of Parma is home to the vast Barilla pasta factory. Other typical fare that you are likely to encounter when dining out includes asparagus and artichokes served 'alla parmigiana', and 'tortelli', a ravioli usually made from spinach or pumpkin. The majority of the city's Italian restaurants also serve dishes made from pork, rabbit and tripe.

Where to Eat

Whether you're in Parma's historic centre or on the city's outskirts, you will find plenty of upmarket restaurants. As well as offering a fine selection of wines, most of these restaurants provide menus which feature gourmet versions of traditional regional specialities - although this fine dining comes at a price. Parma's most famous restaurant, Parizzi, can be found on Via Repubblica and if the budget can stretch, this is a great place to sample some of the city's most famous dishes.

For diners in Parma who are eating out on a tighter budget, trattorias are certainly worth a visit. These are more casual dining venues than many restaurants and often boast a great atmosphere, offering a good selection of local food at very reasonable prices.

If you're short of time and want to have a short break, then Parma's cafes are good places to enjoy more than just a cup of coffee. Snacks include tortelli, sumptuous Italian ice cream, cakes and pastries.