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Eat & Drink
Even though the statement may ignite heated arguments (accompanied by many hand gestures) in other parts of Italy, the truth is that Rome is considered one of the best cities in the country for traditional Italian food. The abundance of restaurants in town is unbelievable, but unfortunately, many (not to say most) have become very touristic and to some degree lost some authenticity. This is not to say you will not see many foreigners at the best restaurants either, as Rome is a highly popular destination for people seeking outstanding food, so you will surely see a mix of locals and travelers in most eating venues. Aside from the typical Italian dishes, do not miss some local Roman specialties, such as the famous spaghetti cacio e pepe with pecorino cheese and pepper, fried artichokes alla giudia, zucchini with different fillings fiori di zucca, porchetta (pork) sandwich and seasonal fragole (very small wild strawberries) in desserts. You will not find a huge quantity of fancy restaurants in Rome, the flare is more easygoing than most venues at other capital cities in Europe. The restaurants in town focus on food quality and tradition, they are mostly old school, those types of warm noisy places families have dined in for generations. You can safely count on dining like a Roman emperor, though! Buon appetito!
The sign in the exterior of La Carbonara is quite solemn in expressing the sentiment of the establishment: “…this is no MasterChef… there is no Gordon Ramsay around … we are not a fast food shop…”. It is explicit in affirming the message that the very traditional family run osteria wants to provide freshly prepared, made-to-order, traditionally Roman meals to be savored and enjoyed slowly.… Read more »
This very traditional Roman restaurant, with its quintessential red chairs, serves typical Italian dishes as well as Bolognese ones, the most famous being tagliatelle with meat ragu, original from the city of Bologna. We were delighted with the melanzana (eggplant) parmigiana with which we started our feast, as well as the thinly sliced carpaccio. The antipasti were followed by a delicious caneloni filled with ricotta… Read more »
Upon entering Salumeria Roscioli, your senses will be pleasantly captivated by all things Italian: shelves full of wine and pesto bottles, proscuitto hanging on walls, cheese refrigerators. It is located near Campo de Fiori, worth a visit on market days, in one of our preferred areas in town called Regole. Should a table not be available, request a seat at the counter, an equally enjoyable… Read more »
This busy Roman market is frequented by many locals who work in the region and are looking for a nice meal, as well as a few travelers willing to enjoy some typical Italian delicacies. There are many modern food stalls in this renovated market, where you help yourself and enjoy your meal at communal tables. Pastas, cheese and salami boards, pizzas, fish and meat dishes,… Read more »
In our last long stay in Rome we decided to try Da Felice. Expectations were high so we made reservations for the last night, so as not to spoil other meals with comparisons. And we were right. The best Cacio e Pepe of our lives, fantastic roasted lamb with potatoes, lightly baked aubergine, Spaghetti alla Felice with tomatoes and perfectly cooked ricotta. For dessert, we… Read more »
If you are in the Monti region (Romans say “zona”), some blocks from the Forum and Coliseum, refresh yourself in this tiny hidden gelateria. The chocolate flavors are some of the best we had in town (madagascar was incredible), as well the stracciatela. Other more creative flavors were equally tempting, like basil walnuts and honey, coffee chocolate, banana and sesame brittle, peach with wine… but… Read more »
The line outside is generally a good indication of what is to come. The ambiance is relaxed, the décor frugal with a few tables covered in checkered tablecloths and cloth napkins, and there is no wine list, as they only serve the house wine selection. Yet, the food is probably one of the best in Trastevere. It is located in the less touristic part of… Read more »
It is “the” place to be in Rome right now for the younger adults. Drinks at a bar with an easygoing see-and-be-seen kind of vibe, very typically Roman in a small piazza, with people coming for happy hour after work on their scooters, live DJs, excellent creative cocktails, and a laid-back atmosphere. The later it gets the more lively it becomes, after 7pm the house… Read more »
Located in Trastevere, a lively region loved by Italians and visitors alike, near monuments and historic buildings, this restaurant has excellent Italian food in an unpretentious but distinctive setting. The menu is quite extensive with many appetizers, and as many “piatti” (dishes) as you can think of. Our choices were baked mozzarella with Italian prosciutto, followed by creamy ravioli (the ingredients of the filling are… Read more »
Not very typical but the San Crispino does not leave the gelato on display for your appreciation, the justification being that gelato must be kept under lids in order to keep cold. There are signs everywhere saying that the gelato is artisanal. We opted for traditional pistachio, which was not just creamy but had small pieces of pistachio in the ice cream. The highlight though… Read more »
A super traditional old school restaurant with a faithful clientele, located in the Jewish ghettos. It is right in a typical Roman patio with fading paint and plant pots hung on walls, traditional tables and chairs as well as waiters who appear to have been serving there for life. Lovely classical china and silver tableware complete the environment. We had the famous artichokes giuidia as… Read more »
A true old school trattoria where tradition and a faithful clientele are the pillars. The ambience is as old style as possible and they offer an extensive menu. Many antipasti, typical meat dishes including trippe a la romana (for the brave), fish and seafood with pasta or by itself. If you are looking for a trendy cool Italian venue, this is not the place, but… Read more »
A typical homely Italian restaurant in lively Trastevere. This restaurant is tiny, maybe 12 tables, with mamma’s plaid tablecloths and nonna’s food. Tables near us had families that probably have been tasting Tony’s food for generations. Tony himself interacts a lot: he comes to the table, checks if everything was satisfactory and shows great appreciation when customers compliment his food. We were in a large… Read more »
An ice cream and chocolate chain to be found in many cities of Italy. It is worth trying, particularly on very hot summer days, in which case we recommend the refreshing mango or lemon. Chocolate lovers do not waste time and order the chocolate nougatine, superb! Spoil yourself and buy some chocolates or their incredible own version of the Nutella spread to take back to… Read more »