Wondering what to expect at an authentic Italian restaurant? Follow the experience from arriving and ordering drinks to understanding the menu, choosing courses, dessert, coffee and paying the bill.
What Most Travelers Don’t Know About Eating at Restaurants in Italy
Restaurant Reservations in Italian
Want to reserve a table in Italy with confidence? In this practical beginner Italian lesson, you’ll learn essential Italian restaurant reservation phrases and useful vocabulary for booking a table, asking questions, and communicating naturally in restaurants across Italy.
This lesson is ideal for travelers, tourists, beginners learning Italian, and anyone preparing for real-world Italian conversations.
Essential Italian Reservation Vocabulary
La prenotazione — The reservation
Prenotare — To book / reserve
Vorrei prenotare… — I would like to reserve…
Vorrei fare una prenotazione a nome di…
— I would like to make a reservation under the name of…
Useful Restaurant Reservation Phrases
Vorrei un tavolo all’aperto / nel settore non fumatori.
— I would like a table outside / in the non-smoking section.Vorrei un tavolo lontano dalla / vicino alla finestra.
— I would like a table away from / near the window.Per quante persone?
— For how many people?Per quando?
— For when?Per quale giorno?
— For which day?A che ora?
— At what time?A che nome?
— Under what name?È possibile pagare con carta di credito?
— Is it possible to pay with a credit card?
Useful Time Expressions in Italian
Domani — Tomorrow
Dopodomani — The day after tomorrow
Oggi — Today
Questo fine settimana — This weekend
Knowing how to make reservations in Italian helps you:
book restaurant tables confidently
communicate naturally while traveling
improve your conversational Italian
feel more comfortable in real-life situations
understand common questions from restaurant staff
Whether you’re planning a vacation in Italy or simply improving your Italian speaking skills, these phrases are practical and essential for everyday travel conversations.