When traveling, we realize how little idiosyncrasies and daily practices can be drastically different than our own. Breakfast is one of my favorite little details to learn about and take part in. Of course, in doing my research into Italian culture and food traditions, I knew I had to celebrate la colazione - the Italian breakfast.

Unlike the American fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, cereal and iced coffees, Italians start their days very differently. I’ll say it - I think I’m made to start my days in Italy. Is this a sign that we should relocate? In this post I’m unpacking all the deliciousness that comes at the crack of dawn each beautiful day in Italy. Here we go!

La Colazione All'Italiana

La colazione all'italiana is light, sweet and always washed down with espresso. Some classic Italian breakfast foods include cornetti, various sweet pastries, cookies (yes, cookies for breakfast!), espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, or caffe latte. Other treats like fruit, muesli, yogurt and bread rolls can often be found when eating at home too!

It’s also worth noting that Italian days start much later than a typical American work day. And even still, it’s very common for working Italians to have a quick snack during the mid-morning!

How To Start Your Day The (Typical) Italian Way

1. Make your way to the nearest bar. In most cities, towns and small villages, there is a local cafe/bar that’s become the starting point for most working locals to start their day.

2. Stand at the bar. This is an important detail. Standing al banco (at the bar) while either chatting with friends or sifting through the daily newspaper is a what most Italians would consider appropriate behavior for breakfast. Sure, sitting isn’t necessarily bad… but most cafe’s won’t come to take your order. Put your order in at the bar and get your blood flowing! Don’t even think about asking for a breakfast to go. “To go” cups are essentially nonexistent, as locals do not take their breakfasts on the road.

3. Order the espresso-laden drink of your choice. Now, I’ll let you in on a very well known secret… milkier coffee drinks are only “allowed” during the morning hours. The later in the day you get, the least accepted it is to order a drink with milk in it! So soak in your cappuccino or latte macchiato early in the day to avoid being teased or stand out like a sore thumb.

A quick coffee run down:

• Caffè / Caffè Normale: An espresso. If you’re hoping to blend in, this will be your go-to! Caffès are ordered throughout every hour of the day… at breakfast, as an afternoon snack or even after dinner.

• Caffè Latte – Espresso with lots of milk.

• Cappuccino - A double shot of espresso with foamy milk. Your “breakfast-only” / pre 11 AM milky treat! Since it is fattier and certainly more decadent, it’s also worth noting that most Italians only order this item with no sides or pastries!

• Caffè Macchiato: Espresso “marked” with a toss of frothed milk. This is sort of your happy middle ground order - especially if you don’t love a plain espresso! You won’t be judged for ordering these at any hour of the day!

• Caffè Americano: Named after the famous drip coffee used in the US, this is a diluted espresso.

• Caffè Lungo: “Long coffee,” this is an espresso with a splash of hot water, but not as watered down as an Americano!

• Caffè Corretto: “Corrected coffee,” this is an espresso with a splash of grappa.

4. Finally, choose a baked good. You know you want to! The sweetness of a pastry balances out the acidic espresso-laden drinks! When in Rome, right? Indulge a little bit to start your day. It’s what the locals do.

Some favorites:

• Pane, Burro e Marmelatta: Bread, fresh butter and local jam. It sounds simple but it is oh so good!

• Cornetto: Whatever you do, don’t accidentally call these a croissant! These airy, delicious pastries often come stuffed with fruit jams, chocolate, almonds and lots of butter!

• Panino: It’s quite common to order a small sandwich with breakfast! Many of these are light and include sweet and soft cheeses, prosciutto and on a semi-sweet bun. Don’t expect an oily, heavy way to start your day here!

• Biscotti: Sure, a cookie isn’t necessarily welcomed as “breakfast food” for us Americans, but they are celebrated and loved in Italy! These crunchy cookies are not overly sugary, simple and the perfect texture to dunk into your coffee!

5. Enjoy… then pay! It’s typical for customers to enjoy their order and then later offering up their receipt and payment at the register afterwards!

Regional Breakfast Traditions

Now, Italian breakfasts are certainly not one and the same throughout the country. Here are just some of the regional specialities and traditional fare offered at the start of each new day.

• Brioche & Granita - Sicily

  Sweet, doughy, pillowy brioche pastries are often filled with vanilla cream, jam or almond paste. These sweet buns are washed with frozen, sugary, granita. Originally introduced from the snow collected from Mount Etna, these iced drinks are a sugary jolt most Sicilians prefer to start their days with!

• Maritozzo – Lazio

  Soft and filled with the softest whipped cream, the maritozzo is the crown jewel of a classic Roman breafast. It’s indulgent and so, so good!

• Savoiardi – Sardinia

  Known as “lady fingers” here in the states, these crumbly, spoon-shaped cookies are the perfect dunk-able sweet.

• Pasticciotto - Puglia 

  This ricotta or egg custard filled pastry is small but oh so decadent! Typically served warm, these are the perfect pairing with a caffè early in the morning.

• Sfogliatella – Campania

  A pastry of semolina flour, milk, dried fruit, sugar, wine, lard and lemon liqueur, the sfogliatella is baked treat made in the shape similar to a monk’s hood. You’ll find three main variations in the Campania region, one filled with pastry cream and black cherries, another filled with ricotta, semolina and candied fruit, and another that’s made much thinner and crunchier.

No matter what pastry you pick to start your day with, it’s always a good idea to observe locals’ selections and go from there!

As I continue learning about Italian food traditions, I find myself celebrating the small traditions such as breakfast. Every now and then, I’ll channel my own Italian morning with the proper dishes and drinks, attitude and mindset I’d have when exploring an Italian city or village. It’s a little mental escape and mindful form of exploration right at home!

Have you ever done the same? What are your favorite breakfast items from around the world?
Wouldn’t it be fun to do breakfasts around the world a few days out of the year?!