I’m an American who lived in Rome. These were the 6 most surprising things about grocery shopping in Italy.

• When I moved from the US to Italy, I was surprised by how different grocery shopping was.
• I noticed that Italians seemed to shop for groceries more frequently than Americans.
• Some Italian grocery stores welcome dogs, and even have special carts for them.

When I first moved from the US to Italy in 2022, I expected some cultural differences, like slower-paced dinners, smaller coffee sizes, and fewer 24/7 conveniences.

However, what surprised me most was how different something as simple as grocery shopping felt. The products on the shelves weren’t the only thing that had changed — I felt the entire rhythm, environment, and unspoken etiquette of the chore had, too.

Though I returned to the States earlier this year, here are six things about grocery shopping in Italy that I’m still thinking about.

Grocery shopping was rarely just one stop

In Italy, I learned that grocery shopping is often a multi-stop process.

I’d pick up fresh produce, cheeses, and cured meats from a local market like Mercato Trionfale in Rome, then head to a small supermarket nearby for pantry staples like pasta, olive oil, or cleaning supplies.

In my experience, it was less about convenience and more about quality — I’d get the best peaches from the fruit vendor who knew me by name, or my favorite prosciutto from the butcher who gave me a recommendation.

This is very different from my experience in the US, where I often go to one big grocery store or place an order on Instacart for everything I need.

People seemed to shop more frequently

Similarly, I also noticed that Italians seemed to shop more frequently, buying just enough for a few days rather than stocking up for weeks at a time. Meanwhile, in the US, it’s more common to go on giant hauls and shop less often.

Though going to the store more than once a week wasn’t always easy, it wasn’t a bad thing, either. I liked that this way of shopping meant having fresher ingredients on hand more regularly.

The stores were smaller — and felt more personal

Even in bigger cities like Milan or Rome, it seemed like many grocery stores were much smaller than the sprawling supermarkets I was used to in the US. Think neighborhood shops instead of warehouse-style aisles.

The selection was still impressive, but there was less of the overwhelming “50 brands of peanut butter” vibe.

The smaller locations also meant I was more likely to see the same cashiers and fellow shoppers every week. Seeing familiar faces became part of my routine, almost like a community touchpoint rather than just an errand.

Eggs and milk aren’t in the refrigerated section

One thing that initially threw me off was seeing eggs and milk on regular shelves, completely unrefrigerated, which isn’t the case in the US.

Eggs in Italy (and much of Europe) go through a different sanitization process, so they’re safe at room temperature.

Milk also undergoes a different pasteurization process, so it has a longer shelf life and doesn’t need to be refrigerated in most stores.

Some grocery stores allowed dogs, and even had specialized carts

One of the first times I went to a grocery store in Rome, I saw a woman pushing a cart with a little compartment in the front. Inside was a tiny terrier sitting happily, surveying the pasta aisle.

It turns out that in Italy, some grocery stores allow customers to bring their dogs and may even have special carts for them to ride along safely.

In the US, shoppers generally aren’t allowed to bring dogs into grocery stores (unless they’re service animals), and even then, they’re usually prohibited from riding in the carts.

Grocery shopping in Italy didn’t feel like a chore

Living in Italy taught me that grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a rushed, utilitarian task. It can be social, intentional, and even joyful.

I still love the convenience of an American-style one-and-done grocery trip or simply ordering everything I need from an app and saving tons of time, but I miss the ritual of stopping by my local market, saying hi to the local vendors, and carrying home a little paper-wrapped bundle of something fresh.

Now that I’m back in the US, I try to bring a little of that Italian approach with me — even if my dog still can’t ride in the cart.

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