Here Is How to Order Drinks in Italiano

An easy-to-follow guide to ordering drinks for your next trip to Italy

Made by the author on Copilot and edited on Ipiccy

ITALIAN FROM SCRATCH #9

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How To Order Drinks In Italiano

Italy is all about the amazing food and coffee scene. It'd be a total bummer if you went there and couldn't even order a cup of Joe.

I mean, what's the point of visiting Italy if you can't indulge in their coffee culture? You have to be able to walk into a cafe and order your caffeine fix like a local.

Alright, let me break it down for you on how to order drinks like a pro when you’re in Italy.

I will teach you all the essential phrases and etiquette you need to confidently stroll into any bar or café and get your drink on without looking like a total tourist. It’s going to be a breeze after you read this, trust me.

Learn the Basics

Before we learn specific drink orders, you need to familiarize yourself with some fundamental Italian phrases related to ordering beverages.

Here are a few phrases that you will need in a cafe in Italy and you will most definitely hear everyone around you using them:

1- Posso avere + Drink? = Can I have + Drink ?

This is a very polite question to tell your waiter what you want.

Posso avere un’acqua? = Can I have a water?

You may wonder where the subject ( I ) is in this sentence, as we have agreed before, Italians rarely use subject pronouns because the verb conjugation often indicates the subject.

The verb we have here is (POTERE) (To be able to)

This is an irregular verb and it is conjugated to Posso with the subject ( I )

It is equal to say (Io posso) and (Posso) directly because it is understood who is taking from context

The word (Acqua) is feminine and takes the indefinite article (Una) so it should be (Una acqua) but this is difficult to pronounce so one of the two A’s is omitted and replaced with an apostrophe, check the last lesson on indefinite articles in Italian here: How to Use Indefinite Articles In Italian

2- Vorrei + Drink = I would like + Drink

Some people would say (Voglio) which means (I want). This is not wrong of course but it makes you come off as rude, as if you are demanding the waiter to bring you something.

The best polite way is to say I would like something

Vorrei un bicchiere d’acqua per favore = I would like a glass of water please.

The verb we have here is (VOLERE) (To want)

This is also an irregular verb that is conjugated to (Voglio) when you talk about yourself in the present tense and you want to say (I want).

It is conjugated to (Vorrei) (I would like) when you want to be more polite, this conjugation is not a new tense, it is a conditional form of the verb to show more politeness.

3- Prendo + Drink

Another way to say what you want in a bar or a cafe is to say: I will take something.

Prendo un caffè per favore = I will take a coffee please

The verb here is (PRENDERE) (To Take)

It is a regular verb and it follows the regular verb patterns, we still have not gotten to that point yet, but it is okay if you do not understand it now, we will discuss it in more detail in the future, do not worry.

4- Per favore = Please

To sound more polite and kind to your waiter, you can always add (Per favore) to your order.

This will give you a great first impression with Italians even if they know that you are a stranger and they will forgive your mistakes but it is an easy way to sound more polite.

5- Il conto, per favore = The bill, please

Now after you finished drinking and you want to pay the bill you can simply say (Il conto per favore). This is to request your bill in a nice and easy way.

6- Posso pagare? = Can I pay?

Another way to ask for the bill is to say: Posso pagare? You can also say: Posso pagare il conto per favore? = Can I pay the bill, please?

PAGARE means (To pay) and it is a regular verb.

Master Coffee Culture

Needless to say Italy is famous for its espresso-based coffee drinks, Italians can’t live without coffee every day.

Here are some popular coffee orders:

• Un caffè — a shot of espresso.
• Un caffè macchiato — espresso with a splash of milk.
• Un latte macchiato — milk with a splash of espresso
• Un caffè lungo — a long espresso, similar to an Americano.
• Un cappuccino — an espresso with steamed milk and a layer of foam, typically enjoyed in the morning.
• Un caffè doppio — a double shot of espresso for extra strength
• Un’acqua minerale — a mineral water.
• Un’aqua — a water
• Una bibita analcolica — a non-alcoholic beverage.
• Una spremuta d'arancia— a freshly squeezed orange juice.
• Una limonata— A lemonade.
• Un tè — A tea
• Un tè freddo — An iced tea.
• Un tè con latte — A tea with milk
• Una ciocolata calda — A hot chocolate
• Un succo d’arancia — An orange juice
• Un succo di mela — An apple juice
• Un’aranciata — A fizzy orange soda

Practice Etiquette

When ordering drinks in Italy, it’s essential to observe local customs and etiquette.

• Always greet the bartender or server with a polite “Buongiorno” (good morning) or “Buonasera” (good evening).
• When ordering coffee at the bar, pay first at the cashier, and then present your receipt to the barista.
• In restaurants, it’s customary to wait for the server to take your order rather than approaching the bar directly.
• Remember to say “Grazie” when receiving your drink and “Grazie, arrivederci” (thank you, goodbye) when leaving.

That’s it for today’s lesson, I hope you guys enjoyed it, and stay tuned for future lessons. Alla prossima, ciao ciao!