best places to eat in rome
best places to eat in rome
Everyone loves Italian food, but where is the best place to eat in Rome? You aren’t going to find a definitive answer. If you ask 10 different people which is the best restaurant, you will probably get 10 different answers. Everyone is so caught up in the culture and the must-see sites that they often overlook the food. This list isn’t in any particular order but I am confident that each one of these places is worth eating at. Enjoy! This article shows where to eat in Rome and the surrounding areas to spend an unforgettable break. We tell you which are the best places to eat and drink that you should not miss, from exclusive restaurants to affordable or creative culinary experiences.
Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and with good reason! There are so many things to see and do here, but if you’re going to be here for a few days, you need to make sure you get some great food. Here are our top five picks for best places to eat in Rome:
- Osteria della Pace
- Da Agostino
- La Buca di Ripetta
- Trattoria da Lucia
- Hostaria da Leo
Rome is a city of food, and there are few places in the world that can match its culinary offerings.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or an elaborate meal, Rome has something for everyone. From pizza to pasta, gelato to gnocchi, Rome has it all! If you’re looking for some of the best places to eat in Rome, check out these spots:
- Osteria da Alberto
This restaurant offers classic Roman fare with a modern twist. The menu is extensive and includes everything from antipasti to dessert. It’s located just steps away from the Spanish Steps and is open every day except Monday (when they’re closed). Reservations are recommended but not required—just stop by on your way in and ask if there’s space available!
- La Bottega del Caffè e Gelato Artigianale
This café offers both coffee and gelato made from locally sourced ingredients, so you know it’s going to be good! It’s also known for its warm atmosphere and friendly staff—you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a friend’s home when you walk through those doors! It’s located near Piazza Navona at #3/4 Via della
restaurants in rome with a view
Marzapane
Originally founded in 2013 near Piazza Fiume, Marzapane relocated just north of Piazza del Popolo to a townhouse on the Via Flaminia in early 2021. The ground-floor kitchen is helmed by chef Tommaso Tonioni who puts his training from Etxebarri and other flame-focused kitchens to good use. The chef’s table menu features an ever-changing selection of dishes that are grilled, smoked, cooked under ash, or prepared in clay vessels. There are three- and five-course tasting menus, as well as a la carte options like rabbit with salt cod and black garlic, pasta with red chickpea miso and rockfish, and heritage pork sausage with caponata.
La Tradizione
Whether you’re shopping for pantry provisions for your Airbnb or hunting for mature cheeses, aged vinegars, and extra-virgin olive oil to take home, La Tradizione has got you covered. The selection of cheeses, up to 400 depending on the season, is unrivaled in Rome, and few gastronomie offer such a prestigious assortment of cured meats. In spite of being one of the city’s premier gourmet food purveyors, the prices are reasonable, owing to its location in the working- and middle-class Trionfale district. Owners Stefano Lobina and Francesco Praticò are devoted to serving their local clientele.
Pizzarium
Gabriele Bonci’s landmark pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) shop near the Vatican Museums has become a globally acclaimed landmark where cold-fermented, heirloom wheat-based dough is topped with exquisite produce from biodynamic farms and artisanal cured meats and cheeses. Most toppings change from day to day, or even hour to hour, but Pizzarium’s signatures (tomato-oregano and potato-mozzarella) are always available. There are only a few high-top tables outside and no seating, so don’t wear yourself out too much wandering the museums before stopping by.
Romanè
Rome’s premier pizza innovator and Trapizzino inventor Stefano Callegari opened his first trattoria in late 2021 just north of the Vatican Museums. The menu is a blend of decadent Roman classics like polpette di bollito (fried meatballs made from pulled braised beef) and fun twists on tradition— the fettuccine al tortellino features handmade pasta strands drenched in a creamy sauce enriched with prosciutto, mortadella, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, evoking the rich filling of tortellini. Romanè is part of the Piatto del Buon Ricordo Association, which has recognized traditional Italian regional cuisine since 1964. If you opt for the trattoria’s specialties as indicated on the menu, you’ll get a hand-painted plate as a souvenir.
Colline Emiliane
A short walk from the Trevi Fountain, this friendly trattoria has been serving satisfying dishes from Emilia-Romagna, a region in northeastern Italy, since 1931; the current owners took the helm in 1967. The menu is rich in egg-based house-made pastas like tortelli di zucca (pumpkin pasta with butter and sage) and tagliatelle alla bolognese (long strands of fresh, egg-based pasta dressed with a rich meat sauce). Save room for meaty mains including bollito misto (assorted simmered meats) and fried liver. Book well in advance and try for a Sunday, when Colline Emiliane serves delicate, bechamel-laced lasagna.
unique eats in rome
Armando al Pantheon
Just 100 feet from Rome’s most intact ancient monument, Armando al Pantheon champions local food traditions. For more than five decades, the Gargioli family has been dutifully producing Roman classics like spaghetti ajo ojo e peperoncino (spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chile) and coda alla vaccinara (oxtail braised in tomato and celery). Among the seasonal side dishes, look for puntarelle (Catalonian chicory) with anchovy sauce and carciofi alla romana (simmered artichokes) in the cooler months. Save room for the torta antica Roma, a ricotta and strawberry jam pie. The lovingly curated wine list gets better every year. Online booking is essential and opens (and books up) one month ahead.
Supplizio
Chef Arcangelo Dandini, known for his formal ristorante L’Arcangelo in Prati, opened this casual street food-inspired spot on the ground floor of a Renaissance building in central Rome in order to bring his fried specialties and signature finger foods to the masses. The name is inspired by suppli, Roman rice balls, which are served in assorted flavors alongside other fried classics, including crocchette di patate (potato croquettes), polpette di alici (anchovy “meatballs”), and, the most decadent of all, crema fritta (pastry cream).
Forno Campo de’ Fiori
In the southwest corner of one of Rome’s most touristy squares, Forno Campo de’ Fiori bakes sweet and savory Roman specialties like jam tarts and flatbreads. Look for pizza alla pala (long slabs baked directly in a deep electric deck oven), which is sold in slices by weight; the unctuous toppings and crispy bases make a surprisingly balanced pair. The pizza con mortadella, perfectly salty slices of pizza bianca sandwiching thin slices of mortadella, is one of the best bites in town.
Drink Kong
Veteran mixologist Patrick Pistolesi opened craft cocktail bar Drink Kong in the shadow of a towering medieval fortress at the cusp of the Monti and Esquilino districts. The bar, however, is anything but dated: Neon accents, tropical plants, and Blade Runner vibes anchor the slick black interior. Rather than individual drinks, the conceptual menu prompts guests to select from a litany of flavors and emotions, which the bartenders then use to mix the ideal cocktail. All this might sound incredibly precious, but Drink Kong is just a fun place to drink well with help from some of Italy’s top talent.