restaurants

Julia - first it would depend in the type of restaurant you are going to and perhaps what time of day. Many guidebooks that reference specific restaurants will give you the details on whether or not they accept or require reservations - if not ask your concierge.

Despite having reservations, each restaurant has its own "policy." Whenever we go to Firenze we book a reservation at "Il Latini" with our favorite waiter, Nino. Yet upon arrival at either the 7:30 OR 9:30 sitting we still WAIT IN LINE - reservations or not!

It is a common practice to book through your hotel. Just note that it is also practice to tip the concierge if he/she gets you reservations at a "popular" restaurant - more depending on HOW popular! Italians generally eat much later and many restaurants here do not even open till 7:30-8:00 PM for dinner.

I would not book a restaurant in Italy. The fun part is walking the streets and finding a restaurant that looks interesting. Booking and trying to find the restaurant that you want could be a little difficult as many of the streets are small and narrow and it can get kind of confusing trying to find it on a map.

I have never had a problem with just arriving. Italians tend to eat late - 8:00pm or so, so beat the rush or dine with the locals. Unless of course you are intending to dine at a Michelin hat restaurant, then you may need to book months in advance!!

You don't need to book ahead of time, unless you are planning to take 15 people to a super popular restaurant on a Saturday night around 9pm. Otherwise you're fine. At the most you wait a bit, but they will always squeeze you in. Italians eat out because they enjoy eating and spending time with friends, they don't eat in places just to be seen because they are "in". Plus, in a place like Rome or Florence, if you don't like it there go two doors down and find another place just as good.