Best Food in Ancona What To Eat In The City

---

Best food in Ancona: traditional fish dishes

If you are wondering what the best food in Ancona is, start from the traditional dishes that locals love. Ancona is a port city on the Adriatic Sea, so fish, seafood and simple comfort food play a big role in everyday life.

Moscioli

Moscioli of Portonovo: The Wild Mussels You Must Try in Ancona

Moscioli of Portonovo are one of the most iconic foods to try in Ancona and along the Conero Riviera. These wild mussels grow naturally on the rocky seabed near Portonovo and are considered one of the most authentic specialties of local seafood cuisine.

---

Stoccafisso all’Anconetana

is a slow-cooked stockfish dish with potatoes, tomato, olives and herbs. even has a local Academy that protects the recipe.

Discover the full story and recipe here: Stoccafisso all’Anconetana Recipe – Traditional Fish from Ancona.

---

Brodetto all’ Anconetana

is a rich fish soup made with many different types of Adriatic fish, tomato, vinegar and toasted bread. It was born as a fishermen’s dish on board and today is one of the symbols of Ancona’s cuisine.

You can read more and see the recipe here: Brodetto all’Anconetana – Traditional Fish Soup from Ancona.

---

Seafood with character: Sea Snails in Porchetta

Another part of the best food in Ancona is made of “poor” but very tasty seafood. Among these, sea snails cooked “in porchetta” are one of the most characteristic dishes.

In the Ancona area, different types of sea snails are known as bombetti, crocette, raguse or “baci di mare”. They are slowly cooked with garlic, tomato, white wine, chilli and wild fennel, following a traditional method called “in porchetta”. The result is a spicy, aromatic sauce that locals love to eat with plenty of bread.

You can learn more and try the recipe here: Bombetti in Porchetta – Traditional Sea Snails from Ancona.

---

Smoked Maccheroncini

(Maccheroncini al Fumè)

A Local Comfort Food Classic

Today, those who want to try this nostalgic local classic can also find Maccheroncini al Fumè at Alambicco Bistrò (Gin & Food), a charming place hidden between Corso Garibaldi and Corso Mazzini, in the heart of Ancona’s old streets.

Ancona is not only about seafood. One local pasta dish is especially popular with locals There is also a famous pasta dish that many locals connect with nights out and the old port.

Smoked Maccheroncini (maccheroncini al fumè)

is a creamy pasta made with smoked pancetta, tomato, cream and a secret mix of cheeses. It became legendary at the historic restaurant “La Terrazza” on the Santa Maria pier, where people from Ancona used to go after discos and dance halls closed at midnight. Today this smoked maccheroncini recipe is one of the most nostalgic comfort foods in the region. 

Now you can also taste Maccheroncini al Fumè at Alambicco Bistrò (Gin & Food), a characteristic venue tucked between Corso Garibaldi and Corso Mazzini, in the narrow streets of the old city center.

You can read the full story and recipe here: Smoked Maccheroncini Recipe – Legendary Late-Night Pasta from Ancona.

Where to taste the best food in Ancona

To taste the best food in Ancona, look for seafood restaurants and traditional trattorias near the port and along the Conero Riviera.

Many places offer brodetto, stoccafisso, sea snails in porchetta but you can find Smoked Maccheroncini at Alambicco Gin & Food

If you want to eat like a local, combine these dishes with regional wines from Marche, such as Verdicchio or Rosso Conero, and take your time to enjoy the relaxed rhythm of this Adriatic city.

---

Cuttlefish with peas

Cuttlefish with peas: a traditional seafood dish from Ancona

Cuttlefish with peas is one of the traditional seafood dishes of Ancona and the Marche coast. Made with tender cuttlefish, peas, olive oil and a light tomato base, it is a simple and authentic recipe that reflects the home-style flavors of the Adriatic

---