Umbria is a landlocked region in central Italy, the only one on the Italian peninsula with neither a coastline nor a border with another country. Known as the 'Green Heart of Italy', it is a land of rolling hills, oak forests, olive groves, and medieval hill towns. Umbria is famous for the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, the Gothic Duomo of Orvieto, the festivals of Spoleto and Perugia, and a hearty cuisine built around black truffles, cured pork from Norcia, lentils, and the powerful Sagrantino red wine of Montefalco.
Umbria, Italy's green landlocked heart, cooks with the earth: black truffle from Norcia and Spoleto, pork charcuterie perfected by the town of Norcia (the original 'norcineria'), Castelluccio lentils, and hand-rolled eggless pastas such as strangozzi and umbricelli. Wood pigeon (palomba), wild boar, porchetta, and torta al testo flatbread anchor the meat-heavy tradition, while the lone exception to the land is Lake Trasimeno, source of carp 'regina in porchetta', eel, and the tegamaccio fish stew. The glass is filled with powerful Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG, crisp Orvieto Classico, and Grechetto, all finished with rocciata, the region's rolled apple-and-nut pastry.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Umbria.
Strangozzi al Tartufo Nero
Hand-rolled eggless pasta tossed with black truffle from Norcia or Spoleto, shaved generously over the top
Where to try: Spoleto and Norcia trattorias / Il Tempio del Gusto
Price: €12-20
Strangozzi alla Norcina
Pasta in a rich sauce of Norcia sausage, cream, and often black truffle
Where to try: Norcia / Granaro del Monte
Price: €12-18
Palomba alla Ghiotta
Wood pigeon braised or grilled with a sauce of its liver, olives, sage, and wine, a Todi and Orvieto classic
Where to try: Orvieto and Todi trattorias / Trattoria La Palomba
Price: €16-24
Regina in Porchetta
Large Lake Trasimeno carp boned, stuffed with fennel, garlic and herbs, and roasted porchetta-style
Where to try: Lake Trasimeno / Castiglione del Lago
Price: €14-20
Torta al Testo
Unleavened griddle flatbread split and filled with salumi, cheese, or sausage and greens
Where to try: Perugia and Gubbio / Dal Mi' Cocco
Price: €5-10
Lenticchie di Castelluccio
Tiny IGP lentils from the Piano Grande, stewed with Norcia sausage or served in soup
Where to try: Norcia and Castelluccio / Granaro del Monte
Price: €8-14
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
L'Officina
A Michelin Guide-listed restaurant just south of Perugia's centre that pairs Umbrian tradition with refined, contemporary cooking. The kitchen works black truffle, palomba and house-made pasta into seasonal tasting menus.
Known for: Umbrian - contemporary; known for strangozzi with black truffle
Borgo XX Giugno 56, 06121 Perugia PG, Italy
La Taverna
An atmospheric brick-vaulted restaurant just off Perugia's main square, run by chef Claudio Brugalossi and among the city's most consistently recommended tables. The menu centres on truffle ravioli, meaty pappardelle and roast lamb.
Known for: Umbrian traditional; known for truffle ravioli
Via delle Streghe 8, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy
Antica Trattoria San Lorenzo
A small, elegant Michelin-starred restaurant beside Perugia's Duomo where chef Simone Ciccotti reinterprets Umbrian tradition. White truffle and refined pasta courses headline the menu.
Known for: Umbrian fine dining - truffle; known for taglioni with quail egg and truffle
Piazza Danti 19/A, 06122 Perugia PG, Italy
La Bottega del Vino
A wine bar and restaurant near Perugia's Duomo with a panoramic terrace and an extensive Umbrian wine list. Salumi and cheese boards, strangozzi al tartufo and regional mains pair with the cellar.
Known for: Umbrian - wine-focused; known for strangozzi al tartufo and Umbrian wines
Via del Sole 1, 06122 Perugia PG, Italy
Dal Mi' Cocco
A beloved budget historic trattoria on Corso Garibaldi famous for a generous fixed multi-course menu of Umbrian home cooking. Torta al testo, umbricelli and roast meats keep students and locals coming back.
Known for: Umbrian - fixed-menu home cooking; known for torta al testo
Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi 12, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy
Osteria a Priori
A cosy osteria-enoteca on Via dei Priori championing zero-kilometre Umbrian ingredients with a strong regional wine list. The kitchen turns out pâté, ragù tagliatelle and wild boar with lentils.
Known for: Umbrian - km-zero / slow food; known for zero-kilometre Umbrian cooking
Via dei Priori 39, 06123 Perugia PG, Italy
La Locanda del Cardinale
A Michelin-listed restaurant in Assisi set over the mosaics of a Roman villa inside a medieval stone house. Black truffle tasting plates and refined regional meats define the menu.
Known for: Modern Umbrian fine dining; known for black truffle tasting plates
Piazza del Vescovado 8, 06081 Assisi PG, Italy
Trattoria Pallotta
A long-standing family trattoria near Assisi's Piazza del Comune by the frescoed Volta Pinta archway. House strangozzi alla Pallotta, pigeon and rabbit, and homemade salumi anchor the menu.
Known for: Umbrian traditional - family-run; known for strangozzi alla Pallotta
Vicolo della Volta Pinta 3, 06081 Assisi PG, Italy
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Umbrian
Umbrian Traditional
Modern Umbrian Fine Dining
Contemporary Umbrian
Refined Umbrian
Creative Umbrian Fine Dining
Italian
Mediterranean
Mountain Umbrian
Refined
Traditional Norcia
Umbrian Creative
Umbrian Fine Dining
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Torta al Testo
Griddle-cooked flatbread stuffed with salumi, cheese or sausage and chard, eaten on the go
Find it at: Perugia and Gubbio bakeries and stalls
Porchetta
Herb-roasted whole pig sliced into crusty rolls, a market and festival staple
Find it at: Umbrian markets and porchetta vans
Crostini al Tartufo
Toasted bread spread with warm black truffle paste, a ubiquitous antipasto and snack
Find it at: Norcia and Spoleto delis and bars
Baci Perugina
Hazelnut-and-chocolate kisses born in Perugia, sold across the city
Find it at: Perugia / Casa del Cioccolato Perugina
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercato Coperto di Perugia
Perugia's covered market with produce, cheese, salumi, truffle products and lake fish
Hours: Mon-Sat 7AM-1:30PM
Norcineria Shops of Norcia
Norcia's cluster of historic pork-butcher shops selling prosciutto, salumi, truffle and lentils
Hours: Daily roughly 9AM-7:30PM
Mercato di Foligno
Lively weekly produce and food market in the Valle Umbra town of Foligno
Hours: Tue and Sat mornings
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch runs roughly 12:30-2:30 PM; dinner generally starts around 8 PM
Truffle is shaved to order in season (black winter truffle peaks Dec-Mar)—ask for it fresh, not preserved
Pair red meats and game with Sagrantino di Montefalco; choose Orvieto Classico or Grechetto for whites
Coperto (cover charge of about EUR 2-4 per person) is standard; rounding up or leaving 5-10% is appreciated
- Vegetarian
- Good options—truffle pastas, lentil and chickpea dishes, torta al testo with cheese, and vegetable antipasti are widely available
- Halal
- Very limited; Perugia has a few options but smaller hill towns have almost none
- Gluten free
- Increasingly available in Perugia and tourist towns; ask for 'senza glutine'
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €8-16 per meal | Torta al testo, porchetta rolls, and trattoria fixed-menu lunches |
| Mid-range | €25-45 per meal | Traditional osterie serving truffle pasta, game and Sagrantino |
| Upscale | €80+ per meal | Michelin-starred dining at Vespasia, Trippini or Casa Vissani with wine pairings |