Best Panettone in Italy: Our Favourite Picks

Italy isn’t just famous for its art and historic streets.

It’s also a paradise for food lovers.

And during the holidays, nothing is more iconic than panettone.

From the classic version with candied fruit to gourmet flavours like chocolate, pistachio, and limoncello, there’s a panettone for every taste.

Our love for Italian panettone

We’re not panettone experts, but we absolutely love this traditional Italian sweet bread.

Its light, fluffy texture keeps us coming back for more.

Every festive season, whether we're in Milan, Rome, Florence, or another Italian city, we make it a mission to try as many panettoni as we can.

🎁 Panettone also makes a fantastic souvenir—just be sure to leave some space in your luggage.

Skip the guesswork and discover our favourite panettone picks below.

A slice of soft, aromatic panettone is one of our favourite Italian treats

Our top 3 places to buy panettone in Italy

La Rinascente Department Store in Rome (near the Spanish Steps)

At Christmastime, the food hall of this iconic Rome store—just a five-minute walk from the charming Laurina 33 guesthouse—welcomes visitors with a dazzling display of panettones in bright, colourful boxes.

Visit around New Year’s or in January, and you can often find premium panettones on deep discount for just €10–€15.

Leonardo Firenze Bakery in Florence

Whenever we’re in Florence, a stop at Leonardo Firenze Bakery is a must.

Their artisan panettones are light, fragrant, and full of flavour, with options ranging from classic candied fruit to chocolate and pistachio.

Beautifully wrapped and handmade, they also make a perfect gift.

Tre Marie Café & Store in Milan

During our last visit to Milan, we came across Tre Marie on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, near San Babila Metro Station.

Their artisanal panettones are baked in the heart of Milan and come in a range of flavours, from classic candied citrus and raisins to chocolate, coffee, and lemon with almond paste—our favourite.

Prices start around €20, but January sales can bring them down to around €11 for a 750g panettone. We visited from nearby Bergamo, just a 30-minute train ride away.

The shelves at Tre Marie in Milan are stacked with fresh, fragrant panettone loaves—classic, chocolate, coffee, lemon, pistachio...

Best panettone in Italy – City by city

Where to buy the best panettone in Rome

• Passticeria Grué (Viale Regina Margherita, 95)
• Casa Manfredi (Viale Aventino 91-93)
• Dolcemascolo (Viale G. Mazzini 84-86)
• Nero Vaniglia (Circonvallazione Ostiense 201)
• Pasticceria Veneziani (Via Tagliamento 86)
• Le Levain Roma (Via L. Santini 22 - Trastevere, Via Piave 8 - Sallustiano)

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Where to find the best panettone in Milan

• Marchesi 1824
  We had the most delicious pastry filled with pistachio custard here.
• LePolveri
  A cult-favourite micro-bakery known for its natural fermentation and artisanal breads. Their panettone is so popular it’s sold by reservation only—plan ahead.
• Panificio Davide Longoni
  A destination for bread lovers. Longoni experiments with ancient grains, wild fermentations, and non-traditional flours for deeply flavourful, rustic loaves.
• Pasticceria Polenghi
  Family-run since 1945, this old-school pasticceria makes just 400 classic Milanese panettone each year. Run by 70-something Angelo, using tools passed down through generations.
  
  

Where to buy best panettone in Florence

• Galleria Iginio Massari Firenze (Via de' Vecchietti, 3)
• Caffè Gilli (Via Roma 1/R)
• Gucci Osteria (Piazza della Signoria, 10)
• Leonardo Firenze (Via dei Macci, 65R)
• Pasticceria Buonamici (Via dell'Orto, 27R)

Where to shop for the best panettone in Bologna

• Il Forno di Calzolari (Via Marchesana, 4B)
• Cremeria Santo Stefano (Via Santo Stefano, 70C)
• Forno Brisa (Via Galliera, 34D)
• Regina di Quadri (Via Castiglione, 73A)
• Gino Fabbri (Via Cadriano, 27/2A)

Where to buy best panettone in Veneto region

• Olivieri 1882 (Arzignano)

So, whether you’re gifting, sharing, or enjoying it yourself, now you know which panettone deserves a spot at your Christmas table!

Is Panettone bread or cake? Let’s settle the debate!

Panettone is a bread, but the way we eat it is more like a cake. The sourdough base is incredibly rich, made of eggs, sugar, softened butter and dried fruits.

It can also be flavoured with chocolate drops, pastry or pistachio cream and topped with chocolate or other glazes.

How do Italians eat their panettone?

Traditionally, Italians eat a slice of panettone at breakfast.

Slice yourself a pillowy piece of panettone and enjoy with a strong espresso first thing, for the true Italian experience.

The simplest and perhaps most traditional way to enjoy panettone is to cut it into wedge-shaped slices and eat it as is, savouring its soft, sweet crumb and the bursts of candied fruit or chocolate chips, depending on the variety.

Be sure to smell it before you eat it — such a divine aroma!

Creative ways to serve Italian panettone:

• Our favourite is a simple slice on a plate served with a few tablespoons of lemon or orange curd (the sweetness of panettone goes well with tanginess of citrus curd).
  
  
• We also adore spreading a spoon full of pistachio spread over a slice of panettone for a very special treat. The second favourite is chocolate spread!
  
  
• Warm your panettone in the oven, then cut into individual portions and serve with a dash of double cream and a dollop of jam for a real winter warmer.
  
  
• Enjoy a slice of panettone alongside a cup of coffee or tea, or a sweet wine like Vin Santo. Just tear a piece of panettone and dip it into the drink.
  
  
• Toast the slice of panettone lightly, then spread a bit of butter on top. The heat warms the fruits inside, releasing their aromas, and makes the crust a little crispier. The butter adds an extra layer of richness to the already rich bread.
  
  
• Panettone can be used as a base for desserts. Transform it into luxurious bread and butter puddings or serve the slices with a scoop of gelato.
  
  

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