Dinner starts at 7:30, or... whenever ~

Although Italians do not eat their evening meal as late as Spaniards, it is common for restaurants to operate a little later than people are accustomed to in their country. Many restaurants don't open until six or seven o'clock (particularly outside of tourist traps). Restaurants frequently operate on a flexible schedule, opening and shutting whenever they want. It's not uncommon for a restaurant to close for three days while the owner travels to Naples to see relatives.

One of the top Things about Italy You Should Know is that most restaurants have set hours of operation and close in the afternoon. At 6:00 p.m., pressing your hungry face against the restaurant glass will not change that. Instead, eat when the Italians do – lunch is normally between 1-2 p.m., and most people are finished by 2.30 p.m. Dinner is a little different, because some people usually eat around 8 p.m., but the further south you go, the later you'll eat. A reservation for 8.30pm is a good rule of thumb.