The Best Restaurants in Perugia, My 8 Favorites

*the best restaurants in Perugia has been updated for 2022

Looking for pizza? Check out the best 5 places to eat pizza in Perugia here.

A tricky part of traveling can be deciding on a restaurant. Like the time in Mantova (Mantua in English) when my husband and I found a cute restaurant full of locals. How can it go wrong? We found out the locals were there for their aperitivo…not the food.

There are some great restaurants in Perugia, it’s hard to narrow it down to 8. One reason friends return over and over again, Umbria is a heaven for food lovers. Perugia is full of fantastic Italian comfort food, homegrown delicacies like truffles, and world-class wines. But after a day of sightseeing in Perugia, deciding on a restaurant is the last thing I want to do.

There’s so many options, so the first step is to decide on what you’re looking for. A place the locals return to time and time again? A restaurant full of Umbrian delicacies? Or just something quick and yummy to get you through the hangries?

While my husband and I like to try new spots, or grab some take away Chinese once and awhile, when friends and family visit we stick to showing off the best restaurants in Perugia has to offer. Restaurants that highlight the strong, earthy flavours of Umbrian cooking.

The Basics of Dining in Italy

Unlike in England or the US, most restaurants are closed once a week, usually a Monday. But it can be any day of the week, so I’ve written which day on the restaurant’s description.

Restaurants don’t open until 7.30pm and some as late as 8.30pm.

Tipping isn’t necessary, as it’s included in your bill. But if the service was exceptional it’s always nice to leave something- but no more than 5%.

And unlike the French, Italians feel strongly that fish, including shellfish, should not have any butter, cream, milk or cheese with it. So don’t expect to be given parmigiano to sprinkle over a spaghetti con vongole (spaghetti with clams). I love this rule as milk upsets my stomach and this way I don’t have to worry about asking what is in a dish.

8 Of The Best Restaurants in Perugia

Being that I struggle on deciding anything when hungry, especially on what to eat and at which restaurant, I tend to grab the first thing that I see. Here’s a list of restaurants so you don’t have to worry, these are my go-to restaurants for when friends visit or when we don’t want to cook.

So you don’t end up like us in Mantova with microwaved pumpkin tortellini and risotto with meatballs….

1. Dalla Bianca

Hidden away in the center of Perugia you would never find it unless you looked for it.

There’s nothing fancy about this place. Most of the customers are locals who come in multiple times a week.

The menu’s made up of traditional home cooking from Perugia, and it tastes like my mother in laws excellent cooking. The lunch hour rush is always busy, the service is fast and friendly and the ingredients are all local.

And the most important thing to know? They’re shut on a Saturday, which I never remember.

Cost? Budget, in the best possible way.

Need to book a table? Not necessary.

Open: Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Saturdays.

Addresss and phone number: Via Piantarose, 13/14, 06121 Perugia PG tel: 075 572 7132

2. Osteria Il Gufo

A cozy hip wine bar and restaurant in a funky little area of Perugia full of street art.

Il Gufo has a bar to enjoy a glass of Umbrian wine before dinner. We’ve always had great food here and they serve several vegetarian options.

They have a great selection of Umbrian wines, have a small quality menu, and speak great English.

Cost? I expect to pay around 25 euros or more per person.

Need to book a table? If you get there by 8, probably not. But I usually do to be safe.

Open: Closed on Mondays, serves lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-3pm. Dinner is from 7-11pm

Website/Adress/Phone number: Osteria il Gufo Via della Viola 18, Perugia tel: 075 573 4126

3. La Romantica

A fun, always busy, pizza joint.

Order a half a meter pizza. A sight to see, and how it’s served is even better! They divide it into 3 long strips and so choose 3 pizzas on the menu to have on it. It’s perfect to divide between four people, but everyone needs to agree on the toppings.

It’s not a Roman pizza (thin crust), but similar to a thicker crust from Naples.

The Italian tradition is to pair pizza with an order of fries and a beer, so be prepared to leave in a bit of a carb coma.

Cost? Pizza is cheap. You could eat a pizza with a beer could be under 10 euros.

Need to book a table? If you get there by 8 pm there’s almost always a table.

Open? Every day

Address/website: Borgo XX Giugno, 9, 06121 Perugia PG http://www.laromanticapizzeria.it/

4. Altro Mondo

A favorite lunch spot for local businessmen and women, I love to come here for the vaulted ceilings and the suppli.

What’s a suppli? A small oblong rice ball with a bit of tomato and herbs for flavor and a piece of mozzarella inside. They’re not on the menu, you have to ask for them.

Altro Mondo focuses on high-end classic Perugia dishes, so we come here to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions.

Cost? A pasta dish is around 10-15.

Need to book a table? I don’t think I ever have, but it never hurts.

Open? Closed Sundays. Serve lunch and dinner.

Website/Address: https://ristorante-perugia-altromondo.business.site Via Cesare Caporali, 11, 06100 Perugia PG

5. Dal Mi Cocco

A fun spot with a fixed menu that changes day to day and season to season.

For around 13 euros you’ll get an antipasta, a first, a second and a contorno. (starter, pasta, meat, and vegetable side dish) A digestivo (liqueur)  after is included. Wine, water and a caffe are all extra.

Fun, cheap and easy for sharing we always have a lot of fun here.

If you’ve got allergies or need a selection of options, might not be the place for you.

Everything, including the restaurant’s name, is written in local dialect-so even an Italian may not understand the menu.

Cost? Inexpensive.

Need to book a table? No, there shouldn’t be any need.

Open? Closed Mondays, they’re open for lunch from 1pm till 2.30 and for dinner from 8.30pm till 10pm

Address: Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 12, 06123 Perugia PG

6. Osteria A Priori

A good restaurant for Umbrian food, the perfect spot if you want handmade pasta with truffles. It’s just off the main piazza in the centre of Perugia.

It’s in a nice building with lots of vaulted ceilings and separate rooms. And like most restaurants in Italy it’s kid friendly.

There’s a good selection of Umbrian wines.

Cost? Average. 10 euro and up for a plate of pasta

Need to book a table? I would strongly advise booking on a Friday or Saturday night.

Open? For lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays. Lunch is 12.30-2.30 Dinner is 7.30pm till 10pm

Website/Address/phone number: https://www.osteriaapriori.it Via dei Priori, 39
06123 Perugia PG tel: 075 57 27 098

7. Locanda del Morlacchi

Hidden behind the theatre, also called Morlacchi, I love coming to enjoy a drink and the view.

We’ve enjoyed everything we’ve eaten here. Great prosciutto from Norcia, seafood pasta (pasta all scoglio), truffle dishes and a great range of Umbrian wines.

Cost? We normally pay about 25-30 euros a person. We share a starter, each have a main, a glass of wine and share a dessert.

Need to book a table? Yes, ask to sit outside and try and be there for a sunset.

Open? Closed on Tuesdays. Lunch and Dinner, 12.30-2.30 and 7.30-10.00

Address: Via del Verzaro 39 Phone Number 075 465 1240

8. La pecora nera – Polpette & Co.

The black sheep. This is a restaurant that does meat balls or in Italian, polpette. But not just with meat.

Their menu of meatballs have vegan options, gluten free, fish and some great salads.

You also get to sit at the beginning of the walk for the medieval aqueducts, which is handy. Even if you aren’t planning on walking it, it’s a great photo.

Cost? As little as 10 euros should get you a sandwich and drink.

Need to book a table? Nope!

Open? Everyday for lunch and dinner

Address: Via Baldeschi Phone Number: 075 572 2739

Wondering what to order? Highlights to look for on a Menu in Perugia

I think the traditional dishes from Perugia and Umbria are some of the best dishes. And any of the best restaurants in Perugia should have a few on the menu. Although they can be meat heavy, lentils, or lenticchie, and beans are essentials in Umbrian cuisine. Truffles also make for a vegan dish! Here are some traditional dishes I love to order:

Crostini con pate toasted bread with pate. Filled with herbs like sage, liver pate is a Umbrian classic! Regular crostini are great as well with freshly pressed olive oil from Umbria.

Pasta alla Norcina a short pasta with a sauce of Umbrian sausage and cream. The lighter more traditional version which my Mother in Law cooks is with ricotta(made with sheep milk), as it’s a pastoral dish.

Pasta con Tartufi neri a long pasta with black truffles and oil. Umbria is the province that produces the most black truffles in Italy. Usually garlic is added and it can be unsuitable for vegetarians if sardines are added to enhance the flavor.

Cinghiale or wild boar which are all over central Italy. It can be cooked into a pasta sauce, ragu di cinghiale or in a stew, normally with a tomato base called umido di cinghiale.

What about the wine? If you’ll be having a meaty dish a glass of Sangrantino (red wine) goes great with it. Otherwise, for red wines a Sangiovese is a lighter option for a before dinner drink. For white wine look for a local option from the small town of Torgiano or the more famous Orvieto.

What are Antipasti, Primi, Secondi and Contorni on a Menu?

• An antipasto is a starter.
  
• Primi, or firsts, are the pastas, risottos and gnocchi. They always serve the primo before a secondo, hence the name.
  
• Secondi, or seconds, are the meat and fish dishes, with some vegetarian options like a melanzane parmigiana.
  
• Contorni, are side dishes. Normally a cooked greens, potatoes and salads
  

Traditionally everyone one would order a Primo and a Secondo, but that’s a lot of food! Nowadays it’s more common to order just one.  My husband and I split a first and a second to save space for a dessert.

And After Eating at One of the Best Restaurants in Perugia?

From spring until autumn gelaterias are open late, so take a stroll through town and find the best gelato at Mastro Cianuri. If you’re curious about how ordering a gelato works or what the typical flavours are, I’ve written all about gelato here.

Planning on visiting Assisi?

Check out my favourite restaurants in Assisi here.