Italy’s Supreme Court made international headlines last week, setting a precedent that allows restaurants in Italy to refuse to serve customers with tap water.
The ruling came in a case brought against a luxury hotel, which had declined a guest’s requests for tap water – leaving her with the only option of purchasing €7 bottled water.
The court decision may seem to open the door for restaurants across the country to deny customers free water. But in reality, it may not make much of a difference: it was already pretty much unheard of to ask for acqua del rubinetto at a restaurant.
When you sit down to eat, whether at a casual trattoria or a Michelin-starred restaurant, you’re served bottled water, usually in glass (acqua in bottiglia).
That's usually because it's assumed you wouldn't dare drink water from the tap. Italians have a strong bias in favour of bottled water, consuming the second-highest amount of any country in the world. I’ve even seen a person in Rome cleaning their car with bottled water.
READ ALSO: Inside Italy: Whatever the reason, bottled water in Italy’s restaurants is here to stay
One of the main reasons is widespread suspicion about tap water’s purity, despite Italy’s water quality ranking among the highest in Europe. Regardless, preferring bottled water is deeply ingrained in Italian culture.
So while you can certainly ask for tap water at a restaurant, it is frowned upon.
Just be prepared for your request to be turned down, since that’s apparently legal.
Another way to look at it is that tipping isn’t customary in Italy, so the €2–€4 you pay for a litre of water at the average establishment is a pretty cheap trade-off.
However, the situation at the bar is a different story.
When you order a caffè, you’re served a small cup or glass of water free of charge - at least in some parts of Italy, especially the south. Getting free water alongside your coffee isn’t a ‘right’, but it’s part of the ritual.
Some places give it automatically, while others wait for you to ask. The water you’re given can come from a bottle or from the tap. The bars I frequent pour it straight from the sink, but it just depends on the place.
READ ALSO: What is it with Italians and bottled water?
If you’re opposed to paying for water, it’s pretty easy to find free sources of fresh, clean drinking water in Italy.
Rome famously has thousands of nasoni pouring out continuous flows of water still piped in through some ancient aqueducts. Most cities have free water dispensing stations – many look like small huts or newspaper kiosks (edicole) – where you can refill a bottle with still or sparkling water.
Honestly, I’d trust any water in Italy as drinkable unless there’s explicitly a sign indicating otherwise – the sign would say "acqua non potabile" (water not drinkable). I’ve even sipped water flowing through a crypt at a Roman basilica, and it tasted totally fine.
Otherwise, you can get water for super cheap (less than €1) by buying it from the supermarket: not from a fridge but in a multi-pack. Surprisingly, it's completely acceptable to tear open a plastic-wrapped 12-pack of water bottles and grab just one or two bottles.
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