I’m a born and bred North Carolinian who fell head over heels for Italy (and as of late, an Italian who is now my husband). After years of traveling the country and now living in the Veneto region, I’ve collected many personal favorite Italian-made products that I’d legit gift anyone on my holiday list, including myself.
These gifts are also memories: the pasta that made me understand why Michelin chefs obsess over water quality, the chic, artisanal panettone from a three-Michelin-starred chef’s collaboration with Gucci, the chamomile liqueur from a distillery that’s been family-run since 1898, and the porcelain plates I’m always begging Santa for. They’re products that tell stories about place, tradition, and the Italian philosophy that good food and beautiful things aren’t luxuries but essential ingredients for living well.
Whether you’re gifting to a fellow Italophile or just looking for a cool gift for someone who loves food and beverage, this guide celebrates the makers, artisans, and producers keeping Italy’s traditions alive while creating products worth crossing an ocean for.
Here are the coolest Italian gifts of the season:
Monograno Felicetti Pasta.
Monograno Felicetti PastaMonograno Felicetti Pasta
Made exclusively in the Fiemme Valley with pure Dolomites water and mountain air, Felicetti’s organic semolina pasta has become the secret weapon of Michelin-starred chefs across Italy. I discovered it as a parting gift from Grand Hotel Fasano (one of my personal favorite hotels under the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio on Lake Garda), and the difference is immediately apparent: the way it clings to sauce, responds to cooking, and releases that subtle mountain fragrance when it hits boiling water. The identity of this pasta, consisting of only flour and mountain water (plus that pure, high-altitude air), is based on uncompromising selection of raw materials and a never-ending search for the best organic semolina. Shop at shopfelicettipasta.com.
Gucci Osteria panettone.
Gucci OsteriaGucci Osteria Strawberry and Chocolate Panettone
When three-Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura collaborates with Gucci on panettone, you know it’s going to be extraordinary. This is my current obsession of panettone season and it’s the most delicious, most chic, most Italian gift that makes for a stunning presentation (I collect the tins). The 2025 strawberry and chocolate panettone reimagines Italy’s most cherished festive treat through the delicate tartness of strawberry balanced by the deep richness of dark chocolate, naturally leavened and crafted with the finest ingredients by Italy’s most skilled pastry artisans. The limited-edition tin box, designed by Gucci with archival motifs, is a work of art in itself—and if you’re in Florence, stop by Gucci Giardino, the all-day café in the same Piazza della Signoria building for an aperitivo. Shop at gucciosteria.com.
Ciccio Sultano with Turiddu Pasta Kit.
I Banchi
Two-Michelin-starred chef Ciccio Sultano has bottled his Sicilian genius, and you can order it online from I Banchi—the more casual eatery from Sultano and Gabriella Cicero with Sicilian cuisine, an artisanal bakery, and a café The Turiddu Pasta Kit is a complete experience for preparing a bold Sicilian dish at home: Italian spaghetti, two bottles of Turiddu sauce (with black olives, capers, anchovies, garlic, onion, and wild fennel), muddica atturrata (toasted crumbs), extra virgin olive oil infused with Nubia red garlic, chili pepper, and oregano, plus dried chili and Sallemi Sicilia PGI olive oil. My husband made spaghetti with Sultano’s cherry tomato sauce upon our return from Sicily, and it was one of the most delicious bites of 2025. (And if you’re in Ragusa Ibla in Sicily, stop by I Banchi and you’ll be forever changed after the arancini with ragù). Shop at ilbanchi.com.
Quoràmi in Venice, Italy.
Jenn RiceQuoràmi Venetian Slippers
The Venetian art of leisurely living extends to what you wear at home, and Quoràmi is one of a slim handful of artisan makers still handcrafting traditional friulane slippers in Venice. These elegant velvet slippers embody that philosophy perfectly—ideal for post-meal relaxation when you want to embrace true Italian dolce far niente. Family-owned and made with Rubelli fabrics, they’re handcrafted with the same attention to detail that Venice has perfected over centuries, best for settling in after a long, luxurious dinner (or they’re perfect for anytime; I wore them recently as my wedding shoe!). Shop at Quorami.com.
Ginori 1735
Now owned by Gucci, Ginori has been Italy’s porcelain standard-bearer since 1735, and in Italy, everyone knows this brand, and it’s a guarantee for high-quality porcelain “Made in Italy” for centuries now. You’ll spot these exquisite plates at The St. Regis Venice’s Ginori Terrace, where they elevate everything from aperitivo to teatime. The Oriente Italiano collection is particularly stunning with mix-and-match colors that create ever-changing table settings. I’m personally obsessed with the entire collection, though the Pinky Dream set is a wise starting point for feeling bougie as hell at any given moment. Shop at ginori1735.com.
Gustiamo Party in Cucina gift basket.
GustiamoAnything From Gustiamo
If you’re gifting to someone who loves Italian products but you’re not sure where to start, a Gustiamo gift card is the golden ticket. This is one of the best online sources for artisanal Italian goods and they have everything from Caffè Sicilia almond torrone from Noto (soft, creamy, and packed with intensely flavored Sicilian almonds) to Testa conservas (the best tinned fish in the business, hands down), and countless other products from small Italian producers you won’t find anywhere else in the States. If you want something more curated, the Party in Cucina gift basket comes with everything from Faella pasta and San Marzano tomatoes to Giamaica Moka coffee in a handsome wooden crate. Shop at gustiamo.com.
Poli Elisir Camomilla.
Poli Distillery Poli Distillery Elisir Camomilla
Founded in 1898 by GioBatta Poli in Bassano del Grappa, in the heart of the Veneto region, this prestigious distillery is known for its grappas—but I’m obsessed with their Elisir Camomilla, a sweet liqueur made with natural infusion of chamomile flowers. Its floral aroma is like drinking a chamomile tea with a bit of honey and booze (the perfect sleepy time elixir). The gorgeous bottle is a perfect addition to any bar cart. Shop at poligrappa.com.
Cioccolato di Modica Sabadì collection.
Cioccolato di Modica SabadìCioccolato di Modica Sabadì
This ancient Sicilian chocolate is still made using a cold-processing method introduced by the Spanish centuries ago. Ingredients are never heated above 45°C, so the sugar crystals stay whole and give it that signature grainy texture. Sabadi is my go-to with hip packaging, but the product inside is next level. My favorite flavors are ginger and white pepper, which really showcase that unique crunch. It’s both rustic and refined, a taste of Sicily’s Spanish colonial history in edible form. Shop at sabadi.it.
Aspide Spritz.
Silvio CartaAspide
Sardinia’s small-production answer to Aperol offers a more complex, artisanal take on the Italian aperitivo ritual. Made by the family-run Silvio Carta distillery with wild Sardinian botanicals (think Mediterranean maquis, blood orange, and a hint of pine from the island’s forests), this bitter leans more savory than sweet with an unmistakable saline hint and a prolonged aftertaste of blood orange and zest. Perfect for spritz lovers looking beyond the usual suspects. Shop at silviacarta.com.
Santa Maria Novella Melograno diffuser.
Santa Maria NovellaSanta Maria Novella Melograno Diffuser
The historic Florentine pharmacy, founded by Dominican friars in 1221, creates fragrances that arrive in packaging so beautiful it’s a gift in itself (I’m a total sucker for the packaging). The Melograno (pomegranate) scent is one of their most iconic fragrances, an olfactory journey evoking the rare beauty and magic of Persia, where the pomegranate grows and begins its journey to the Mediterranean. A fruit symbolizing abundance and good fortune, this diffuser is a staple in my house year-round, though it’s especially chic for holiday decor and bar carts. If you’re ever in Florence, their Via della Scala boutique is worth a pilgrimage. Shop at smnovella.com.
Bialetti Moka Express.
Bialetti Bialetti Moka Express
The iconic stovetop espresso maker that’s graced Italian kitchens for generations remains the most authentic way to brew coffee at home. The ritual of unscrewing the pot, filling it with water and finely ground coffee, and waiting for the distinctive gurgling sound is as much a part of Italian mornings as the coffee itself. The original is the best gift for anyone serious about their morning espresso, but if you have a fashion-forward friend, the Dolce & Gabbana collection in Mediterranean blue is a solid bet. Shop at bialetti.com.
illy Holiday Tree Pack
illyilly Coffee
The pioneer of Italian espresso culture. Next time you’re in a bar, if you see the Illy brand, you know you’re in good hands. This Trieste-based company uses only arabica coffee sourced from the best farms around the world, and their commitment to quality has made them the standard-bearer for Italian espresso. It’s common because it’s consistently excellent, which is exactly what you want from your morning coffee. The illy Art Collection cups are also a favorite for gifting, and if you want a gift you don’t have to wrap, the Holiday Tree Pack with a trio of Classico, Intenso, and Arabica Selection Brasile won’t disappoint. Shop at illy.com.
Marvis ginger mint toothpaste.
Marvis/TargetMarvis Toothpaste
Literally the best non-food gift for a gourmand. This Florence-born toothpaste features sophisticated flavor profiles (think cinnamon mint, ginger mint…my favorite…, and jasmine mint) in timeless apothecary-style packaging that never gets old. The chic packaging alone makes it gift-worthy, but the gourmand flavors are what keep it on bathroom counters from Rome to New York. It’s the kind of thing that makes brushing your teeth feel luxurious. Shop at Target.com
Dining and Cooking