Find out the best restaurants in Parma to enjoy the best food in the city, from local cuisine to experimental cuisines and happy hour bars.

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Parma is known for its great food and local delicacies: from Parma ham to horse meat, from parmigiano reggiano to tortelli, culatello, spalla cotta and so much more. To taste the real flavor, you need to visit Parma and try one of the local restaurants.

I have been lived in Parma for the last 20 years and I love to dine out, so, in my humble opinion, I can have a word in this topic 🙂

Anyway, let me know your thoughts at the end of the post 🙂

Typical cuisine in Parma

The typical cuisine of Parma has a long and excellent tradition. Parma’s typical dishes are rooted in Emilia Romagna culture, which is why you will often find meat and animal fat products on the tables of the best restaurants in Parma. Over time, however, tradition has blended with innovation and resulted in imaginative, colorful, flavorful dishes.

In this article you will find my personal ranking of the 11 best restaurants in Parma where you can savor all the excellent food of Emilia, considered one of the best in Italy (and in the world).

​Keep reading and take note 🙂

Find out here what to do in Parma in 1 day!

Best restaurants to eat in Parma

Trattoria Corrieri

One of my favorite restaurant in Parma when I feel like eating local food or when family and friends came to visit. The dining room is traditional and simple, makes you immediately feel like home. It is located right in the heart of Parma, close to Via Mazzini. Here you can taste the traditional menu with parmigiano reggiano and cold cuts with torta fritta as starter.

Then, you need to try typical tortelli with spinach, potatoes and pumpkin and end the meal with cavallo pesto (raw horse meat, famous dish in Parma) or punta di vitello.

If you don’t eat meat, like me, you can skip directly to the beautiful desserts. I strongly suggest Torta Susanna, one of my favorite cakes ever, with ricotta cheese and chocolate.

​ Trattoria del Tribunale

Another nice choice if you want to dine in the center of Parma. This historical restaurant is close to Via Farini, the most famous street for aperitivo in the center of Parma. The ideal plan is to start with an Aperol Spritz in one of the cafè and then go to dinner at Trattoria del Tribunale.

The menu offers traditional food of Parma with fresh pasta (tortelli), cold cuts, meats and a good wine list. If you already tried tortelli, taste the wonderful potato gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese and nuts or risotto alla parmigiana.

Trattoria ai due platani

Trattoria ai due platani is a must try in this food tour I am taking you 🙂
The restaurant is in Coloreto, a few minutes by car from the center of Parma, in a nice place surrounded by greenery and plane trees (which give the name to the restaurant).

Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest restaurants in Parma and considered one of the finest, The menu includes the best cured meats, fresh pasta, gnocchi, lasagna, a good variety of meat and home made gelato.

​Ristorante Cocchi

This restaurant is located in the area called “Oltretorrente” meaning “the other side of the river”. It’s not far from Parco Ducale and from Parma University.

Cocchi serves local food of Parma with fresh ingredients and a great selection of wines. The environment is very cozy and perfect for a romantic dinner accompanied by a delicious meal. Here you can taste traditional food of Parma.

Ristorante La Forchetta

I like this restaurant because, besides traditional food from Emilia, it offers also a veriety of seafood plates.

I also like the location, in a elegant historical building near Battistero and Duomo di Parma. Here, local cuisine has a modern touch, creating delicious recipes. Also, you have to try the raw fish plate and capesante gratinate (scallops au gratin).

Ristorante Il Trovatore

Homemade fresh filled pasta and parmigiano reggiano but also gazpacho with burrata and other contemporary plates: this restaurant has it all.

If you like wine, you can choose among a nice list with natural wines and a selection from many italian regions. You can book a table or you can taste the great food at home with takeout orders.

Angiol d’Or

Tradition and creativity are the main ingredients of this well known fine restaurant, definitely one of the best restaurants in Parma. It is located in the center of Parma, with a nice view of Duomo di Parma, so the location is a 10!

Besides typical Parma food, you can taste some seafood specialties such as ricciola fish and octopus. If you like vegetables don’t miss a nice starter with giardiniera, a mix of sweet and sour vegetables.

Osteria dello zingaro

Small and cozy restaurant in the very center of Parma. Easygoing environment and great food are the keywords. You can go here to taste local food or for a quick lunch with large salad bowls. The menu has a good variety and you can also find vegetarian choices (which elsewhere is not always granted).

Monte delle Vigne 

Monte delle Vigne is a winery located in the hills of Ozzano Taro at the foot of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The white and red grape vineyards are the real jewels of this winery, which for the past few years has become the perfect location for Summer Aperistreets.

Since June, in fact, Monte delle Vigne has been organizing aperitifs and themed evenings where it is possible to eat street food and taste fine wines while watching the stars from the vineyard rows.

The Castle Tavern inside the Torrechiara Castle (Langhirano, Parma)

Inside the Torrechiara Castle in Langhirano, the cuisine of the Taverna del Castello will win you over with the refinement of its traditional dishes.

Tradition, again, looks to local products and the seasonality of raw materials. But what will win you over most of all is the magnificence of the view from the castle walls, from where you can enjoy an excellent aperitivo at sunset time.

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Did you like this selection? Let me know your favorite restaurant in Parma and the best food you have tried there!

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