Where to eat in Trieste
Selection of Restaurants and Specialties
Trieste is a city with a unique charm, where history, culture and culinary traditions intertwine, offering food experiences waiting to be discovered through restaurants and typical buffets.
- Trattoria Suban
- Trattoria Nerodiseppia
- Trattoria ai Fiori
- Antico Caffè San Marco
- Trattoria Menarosti
- Chimera di Bacco
- Buffet da Pepi
- Buffet Siora Rosa
Overview
On this page we present our selection of some of the most interesting restaurants in Trieste (see Restaurant Table), along with an overview of some of their most appreciated specialties, praised by customers and reviewed by major food and wine guides.
From historic trattorias such as Trattoria ai Fiori and Trattoria Nerodiseppia, to seafood restaurants like Chimera di Bacco and Trattoria Menarosti, as well as grill houses and gourmet venues such as Al Petes Vino e Cibo and Ristorante Le Terrazze, you can explore the variety of Trieste’s cuisine through iconic dishes such as jota, Trieste-style mixed boiled meats and frico, ensuring an authentic and high-quality culinary experience.
Important notes:
In the following sections you will find some key references to help you better orient your choice among restaurants and their specialties, in particular:
📌 The number next to each restaurant and dish indicates how many gastronomic guides recognize its quality.
📌 The stars shown next to each dish are an internal Tourplan classification, developed based on reviews from major guides: ★★★ dish worth the trip, ★★ must-try dish, ★ dish to try.
📌 The indicative price is an indicative value calculated on a standard meal consisting of a starter + a first course, drinks excluded. See Legend 🔗
Restaurants Table
In the table below you will find a carefully curated list of selected restaurants, created by cross-referencing data from 10 of the most authoritative Italian and international food and wine guides. The selection is not based on proprietary scores or rankings, but on the number of guides that recognize the quality of each restaurant, offering a clear, transparent, and comparable criterion to help guide your choice.
🔎 The guides considered in this selection are: Michelin Guide, Gambero Rosso, l’Espresso Guide, Italian Academy of Cuisine, Slow Food Guide, Bibenda, Il Golosario, Identità Golose, Touring Club Italiano, and TripAdvisor.
- Scroll the table down and to the right to view all column data and quickly access the maps Google Maps ➡️
- To see the explanation of each data column, click on the column header itself (e.g. Org, Index, etc.) at the top of the table.
⏳ Caricamento tabella in corso…
📌 This table is updated every 6–12 months.
🍽️ Trattoria Suban
Type: Historic trattoria / Mitteleuropean cuisine
Area: Karst Plateau (outskirts of Trieste)
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: Car recommended
Trattoria Suban (7) is one of the most representative addresses of Trieste’s and Mitteleuropean culinary tradition. This historic family-run restaurant offers a predominantly meat-based menu that highlights several Slow Food Presidia and recipes linked to the Karst region and the Austro-Hungarian heritage. The setting is elegant yet authentic, with a beautiful outdoor garden that creates a particularly pleasant and relaxing atmosphere during the warmer months.
The wine cellar is carefully curated, featuring a selection of local, Italian and international labels that perfectly complement an intense and identity-driven gastronomic journey.
Starters
- Duck breast with Karst herb sauce (1, ★★★)
- Cheese strudel with truffle fondue (2, ★)
- Hungarian goose ham (1, ★)
- Ham baked in bread crust with horseradish (3, ★★★)
- Marinated beef with vinegar wild strawberries
- Horseradish soup
First courses
- “Servolano” dumpling filled with spinach and sausage in melted butter (2, ★★)
- Red gnocchi with goat cheese (1, ★)
- Karst-style jota soup (2, ★)
- Istrian fusi pasta with hen ragù (1, ★)
Main courses
- “Black bull” grilled steak cooked on the large open charcoal grill (2, ★★)
- Roast veal shank with potatoes cooked in “tecia” (3, ★★)
- Goulash with polenta (1, ★)
- Cabbage roll stuffed with rice and paprika
- Grandmother’s walnut polenta
Desserts
- “Papa” cake with blueberry and raspberry sauce
- Filled palacinke
Trattoria Suban is ideal for those wishing to discover the true gastronomic soul of Trieste, combining Karst traditions, Austro-Hungarian influences and character-driven cuisine in a historic and authentic setting.
🍽️ Trattoria Nerodiseppia
Type: Seafood trattoria / Mediterranean and Istrian cuisine
Area: City center (via Luigi Cadorna)
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot (city center)
Trattoria Nerodiseppia (6) is a highly appreciated address in the heart of Trieste for lovers of seafood and maritime flavors. Open since 2010, this elegant yet welcoming trattoria offers seafood cuisine that blends Italian tradition with Istrian influences, featuring creative dishes and generous portions.
The atmosphere is warm and familiar, perfect for a relaxed dinner after a day exploring the city. The wine list is carefully curated and includes local Karst labels such as Vitovska, alongside Italian and international selections that pair perfectly with fish dishes.
Starters
- Trio of wild salmon, amberjack and prawn tartare with crostini (4, ★★)
- Ribollita soup with leek and prawn tails
First courses
- Linguine with tuna bottarga
- Paccheri with aubergines and seasonal fish (2, ★★)
- Risotto with scallops, clams, king prawns and artichokes
Main courses
- Fried small fish and vegetables
- Grilled meagre with rosemary and Trieste-style “tecia” potatoes (2, ★★)
- Mixed grilled boneless fish
- Creamed salt cod with yellow polenta from Mortegliano (2, ★★)
- Baby octopus stewed in Vitovska wine
Desserts
- Mille-feuille with Chantilly cream (3, ★★)
Trattoria Nerodiseppia is ideal for seafood lovers who want to explore cuisine ranging from raw dishes to creative interpretations of classic seafood recipes, all in a welcoming setting with an excellent selection of local and international wines.
🍽️ Trattoria ai Fiori
Type: Seafood trattoria / Mediterranean cuisine
Area: Old Town (near the harbour)
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot (city center)
Trattoria ai Fiori (5) is a well-known seafood trattoria in the heart of Trieste, appreciated for its simple yet well-executed seafood cuisine and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant offers traditional and reinterpreted seafood dishes with a modern touch, accompanied by an excellent wine selection featuring local, Italian and international labels, perfect for enhancing the flavors of the daily catch.
Starters
- Seafood gratin
- Raw seafood selection (2, ★)
First courses
- Thin spaghetti with spider crab (2, ★)
- Tagliolini with cuttlefish ragù
- Scampi “busara” risotto with porcini powder
Main courses
- Mackerel with spring onion
- Monkfish cheek with mashed potatoes
- Fish of the day from the trolley – baked, salt-crusted or grilled (2, ★)
- Salt cod on pepper cream with Taggiasca olives
Desserts
Orange crème brûlée
🍽️ Antico Caffè San Marco
Type: Historic café & restaurant / local and Mediterranean cuisine
Area: City centre (via Cesare Battisti)
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot (city centre)
Antico Caffè San Marco (1) is a symbol of literary and gastronomic Trieste, founded in 1914 and long a cultural meeting place for artists, writers and intellectuals. The venue has preserved its historic charm with Art Nouveau furnishings and frescoes, while offering an authentic culinary proposal ranging from classic local dishes to contemporary reinterpretations.
Starters
- Spanakotiropita
- Burek
- Salt cod with polenta taragna
First courses
- Vegetable soup
- Jota (sauerkraut, beans, potatoes and pork soup) (1, ★★)
- Smoked potato gnocchi with wild boar ragù
Main courses
- Pork fillet with pepper and lardo with mushrooms and potatoes
- Pheasant with potato gratin and black trumpet mushrooms
- Trieste-style tripe with ham and endive
Desserts
- Green apple and thyme sorbet
- Homemade Presniz
- Homemade Dobos
Antico Caffè San Marco is perfect for those who wish to experience Trieste’s culture and history while tasting traditional dishes in a charming and historic setting.
🍽️ Trattoria Menarosti
Type: Seafood trattoria / regional cuisine
Area: Old Town (pedestrian area)
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot (city centre)
Trattoria Menarosti (5) is a well-known seafood trattoria in the heart of Trieste, appreciated for its simple yet flavorful cuisine. The atmosphere is welcoming and informal, suitable for both group lunches and relaxed dinners. The kitchen focuses on local catch and well-prepared seafood dishes, respecting regional tradition and offering an authentic experience for those who love maritime flavors.
Starters
- Natural spider crab (2, ★★)
- Hot seafood starters
First courses
- Fish soup with bones
- Seafood risotto (2, ★★)
Main courses
- Boiled fish
- Fish in savor (marinated with onions and vinegar)
- Fried fish (2, ★)
Desserts
- Apple strudel
- Cream puff pastry slice
Trattoria Menarosti is ideal for those looking for genuine and well-executed seafood cuisine, with traditional dishes that highlight the flavor of fresh local fish in a simple yet pleasant setting, perfect for a relaxed dining experience in the heart of Trieste.
🍽️ Chimera di Bacco
Type: Meat and seafood restaurant / contemporary cuisine
Area: Old Town
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot (city centre)
Chimera di Bacco (5) is a lively restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere, ideal for those seeking contemporary cuisine that moves between meat and seafood with creative touches. The menu features classic dishes reinterpreted with a modern twist and carefully presented portions, perfect for a romantic dinner or a convivial meal with friends or colleagues.
Starters
- Fassone beef tartare
- Pumpkin flan with Malghesine gorgonzola, chestnut honey and crispy Parmigiano
- Pan-scrambled eggs with slices of Istrian truffle
- Mosaic of raw seafood… with selected salts and oils (1, ★)
- Scallops in hazelnut bread crust with stewed pumpkin and its seed oil
First courses
- Dalmatian-style fish stew with baked polenta (2, ★★)
- Chitarra pasta with crab in Istrian-style busara sauce (2, ★★)
- Carnaroli rice creamed with king prawns and chanterelles
- Fusi pasta with Boscarin beef ragù (native Istrian cattle) (1, ★)
Main courses
- Lamb shank cooked at 82°C for 12 hours, with red potato purée and marrow reduction (1, ★)
- Beef fillet wrapped in “Crudo del Carso”, Tabor cheese fondue and Terrano wine sauce (1, ★)
- Stone bass cooked on Sicciole salt flavored with Karst herbs and steamed vegetables (1, ★)
- Mixed fried seafood (Italo Svevo’s recipe)
- Fonda sea bass from Piran with leek fondue and Jerusalem artichoke cream
Desserts
- Homemade apple strudel with its ice cream
Chimera di Bacco is recommended for those who desire a dynamic cuisine well balanced between land and sea, with well-structured dishes and refined portions served in a modern yet welcoming atmosphere.
🍽️ Buffet da Pepi
Type: Triestine buffet / traditional meat cuisine
Area: City centre
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot
Buffet da Pepi (4) is one of the most famous Triestine buffets, a true institution for those wanting to immerse themselves in the city’s culinary tradition. Pepi, like all Triestine buffets, offers a menu of meats and typical cold cuts, often accompanied by hot dishes, boiled meats, and sides with sauerkraut and potatoes.
Starters
- Spicy “Liptauer” cheese on dark bread (soft cheese spread seasoned with capers, onion, anchovies, mustard, paprika)
- Hot Triestine cooked ham (with bone), mustard and kren, with “salzstangen” (crispy bread sticks with salt crystals) (2, ★★)
- Kaiserfleisch (smoked pork chops) with sauerkraut
- Porzina and potatoes in tecia (pork neck stew with seasoning) (2, ★★)
- Salted tongue (1, ★)
- Pig’s head with mixed sides (1, ★)
- Mixed boiled meats – assorted sausages (Kranj, Vienna), cotechino, mustard and sauerkraut (2, ★★)
Desserts
Apple strudel
🍽️ Buffet Siora Rosa
Type: Triestine buffet / traditional meat cuisine
Area: City centre
Indicative price: see Table
Accessibility: On foot
Siora Rosa is a typical Triestine buffet, where the city’s tradition is expressed through meat dishes and simple but tasty sides. The atmosphere is informal and friendly, perfect for those who want to taste local cuisine in an authentic and welcoming setting.
First Courses
- Bread gnocchi with ragù (2, ★★)
- Jota soup (beans, potatoes, and sauerkraut) (1, ★)
- Lasagna with seasonal vegetables (1, ★)
Main Courses
- Vienna sausages with sauerkraut and roasted potatoes
- Boiled pork with sausages and sauerkraut, cod
- Porzina and potatoes in tecia (pork neck stew, seasoned) (2, ★)
- Cooked ham in bread crust (2, ★)