Saturday Dinner at La Pergola---sports jacket and tie....or dark suit?

[DaisyM]

Planning on packing a sports jacket and a couple of ties for my husband, but wondering if a dark suit is more appropriate for a Saturday dinner at La Pergola. Thank you.

[mbfant]

Don't worry about it. A jacket is required. The other diners will be wearing the full range. Certainly Saturday at La Pergola is a chance to dress up for those so inclined, but I've yet to hear of a man who would be happy to travel with a suit so he can dress up for dinner on his vacation. Just make sure he has a clean shirt, a decent jacket, trousers other than jeans, and shoes not intended for sport.

[DaisyM]

I think my husband will be so happy to just be on vacation that he'd gladly wear his tux if need be!

[petergins]

On attire (and not just La Pergola) is it acceptable for gents to wear casual trousers and open neck shirt atmost restaurants other than the fanciest in the evenings? Should we use the same criteria we would in NY for example? Also are shorts acceptable at trattorias at lunch between sightseeing gigs? Thanks as always.

[mbfant]

This has been discussed at length, but it comes up every so often. Rome is a very casual city, very used to tourists. And tourists have needs, wardrobewise, that local people don't. And even locals dress casually for most restaurants.
Only the very fanciest -- La Pergola and Imago that I know of -- require a jacket, and I don't think even they require ties. Open neck shirts are fine. If you want to avoid raising eyebrows, the key is to try not to interpret relaxed as "looking like an unmade bed" and casual as "about to take a swim." Essentially, if you look as though you took some care to get dressed, you will be fine. Trattorias in tourist areas are not easily shocked. The real giveaway is footwear. Replace the trainers with mocassins in the evening and you'll be comfy and look fine. Note that tourists wear summer clothes a lot earlier than locals, so your shorts (Bermudas, I hope) may stand out less because they are casual than because the locals still think it's too chilly.

[petergins]

Thanks much for the insider guidelines.

[jen kalb]

it seems to me that NY evening dining dress standards would be a good analog.
I cant recall seeing locals wearing shorts in Central Rome or other Italian cities however, at any time. Is it done? My husband doesnt put on shorts there unless he is heading off for a swim. thats not to negative anything mbfant has said above.

Id bear in mind that many of the trattorie in Central rome are business dining destinations at lunchtime, so there will be people dressed for work, shopping etc there.

[petergins]

A very helpful perspective. Thank you. A friend mentioned Ristorante de Vincenza as one she liked. Also San Marco. Thoughts anyone? And shout outs to Mss. Minchilli and Parla for their great apps.