Italy is a country full of gastronomic adventures. Each town and village has its own unique cuisine. However, the northern city of Palma seems to have more than its fair share. Here are some of our favorite places to eat and drink in this food haven.
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The neatly presented, bite-sized city of Parma is home to some iconic Italian dishes and foods. Reggiano parmigiano and Parma di Prosciutto (world famous Parmesan cheese and Parma ham) are produced here.
If you zoom back a bit, you'll find that the wider Emilia-Romagna region is home to foods like pate, balsamic vinegar, spaghetti, tortellini, meat sauce and even mortadella.
So it's no surprise that Palma is full of bars and restaurants serving only the most delicious dishes.
The locals here know what quality food and quality produce looks like, and high standards are set, met and respected wherever you go in this friendly and down-to-earth riverside city.
If you want to know exactly what to eat here, check out our story 7 Must-Try Foods in Parma.
For the best activities and tours in the area, Click here!
turn up The best accommodation prices in Palma are here.
Our pick of places to eat and drink in Parma
Only a short train ride from major tourist centers such as Milan and Bologna, we were surprised to find that Palma is quite unaccustomed to tourism. The locals are friendly, although they seem surprised to see tourists.
Once we achieve our main goal Visit a Parmesan cheese factory and prosciutto farm A bit far from the city (You must take this trip This is fun by the way) and we set out to explore the city’s food scene.
court restaurant — Enjoy authentic Parma dishes in an old-fashioned setting
Located just off Luigi Carlo Farini's main food street, this huge old-school, Tardis-like restaurant is full of Italian hospitality.
The menu is full of Parma classics served with relish and pride. I came to Parma with a list of things I wanted to eat here; I checked most of them off here!
Everything we ordered here was great and the service and atmosphere were impeccable. Get here early as the queue for tables can build up quickly.
Corrieri Restaurants — Locals go there to enjoy the atmosphere and delicious food
On the recommendation of another restaurant, Trattoria Corrieri took the crown from our favorite restaurant, Trattoria del Tribunale, on our last night in Palma.
On the side of the University of Parma, this cozy little restaurant is full of warmth and life. We walked into a restaurant filled with laughter and happy sounds, the staff was purposeful and well-behaved, and the food was delicious.
Add to that the exposed bricks, checkered tablecloths, waistcoated waiters and a “butcher's cellar” filled with ham shanks and various other salamis, and there's nothing Corrilli doesn't have.
Osteria Virgilio — a bright and friendly lunch spot
The little Osteria Virgilio, on the west side of the Parma River, nestled in the alleys and former working-class neighborhood of Oltretorrente, serves expertly crafted versions of Parma classics with a dazzling feel to match its wine list.
We stopped here for lunch and were very impressed. They also had one of the dishes I was looking for: cavalry horse tartare. But it's chopped so finely that it has an almost pesto smoothness.
We felt so comfortable in this bistro that it was hard for us to leave, especially with so many tempting wines surrounding us.
Tabaccheria Caffetteria Giulia – drinks and snacks during aperitif
on one of the main streets pasejata Across Parma, Giulia is a lively little café with street seating, a quick bar, and plenty of tempting snacks in the cabinet.
We stopped here for a few glasses of wine during an aperitif, where you can eat and drink for a nominal fee.
Service is friendly, drinks are reasonably priced, and snacks are delicious. Checks all those boxes!
Enoteka Tabaro — Great people watching and very good wine
Close to where we were staying in Palma, this fun little bar likes to take itself seriously, but if you can ignore the men's complaints you'll get some excellent people-watching opportunities.
Ordered quickly so the guys who worked here couldn't settle and snagged an outdoor seat at one of the giant wine barrel tables. By the way, the wine is already great and tastes even better.
Honorable mention
We didn't get around to eating at the last few places, but they are worth a try. We will definitely try it next time we are here.
service restaurant — for charcoal grilled meats and handmade pasta
On the edge of the river market, the place was completely packed when we were here (winter), but they did recommend us to Trattoria Corierri, so that's commendable.
The restaurant specializes in authentic home-cooked dishes from the region, specializing in homemade pasta and grilled meats cooked on a huge round charcoal grill.
Da Pepen – the ultimate panini
There's nothing better than a freshly baked panino from an Italian deli, and these guys are famous for their paninos. They offer items like fresh figs, prosciutto and gorgonzola panini, and you can add horse meatballs to your sandwich if that's your thing.
Chaco Ice Cream Parlor — Best ice cream in Parma
It's a big decision – especially without trying it – but it's clearly the best ice cream in a town that knows its food. The website looks slick and the flavors on offer sound pretty avant-garde, but owner and food scientist Stefano Guizzetti seems to know what he's doing. We'll be back, Sefano.
