I often feel as though Rome doesn’t get the love it deserves. This city is simply magical. Imagine walking down a quiet cobblestone street, and as you turn, you see a massive stone amphitheater built nearly 2000 years ago. It’s an incredible experience! The Colosseum’s beauty and history amaze me every time I return. I can imagine the gladiator fights and other spectacular events that took place centuries ago. There’s nowhere else quite like it.
Aside from the Colosseum and other historical sites and neighborhoods in Rome (find out where to visit), the most exciting part of this city is the food. Cafe after gelateria after salumeria line the streets, with endless options for great food and wine. My family loves trying new restaurants and local dishes when we’re traveling and Rome ranks high on our list. Check out some of our favorite spots below. For evening dining, reservations are highly recommended and are usually easy to arrange online.
Food & Drink
Dining in the Best Neighborhoods in Rome
The Spanish Steps
Ginger
Ginger is a great option for breakfast or lunch, with an airy interior flooded with natural light. They offer very healthy options including cold pressed juices, smoothies, salads, sushi—there’s a lot to choose from that will please vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
La Buvette
This is a sweet little cafe on a quaint street where we frequently grabbed a cafe at the bar. La Buvette serves excellent coffee, but also is a great happy hour spot where we enjoyed wine and Campari Spritz’s in the afternoon. The drinks here were among the most generous we encountered in Rome!
Ciampini Roma
Ciampini Roma was another favorite cafe that was a few blocks from our Airbnb. Great coffee, pastries and gelato.
Vitti dal 1898
Located in Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina, Vitti dal 1898 is a perfect spot for an early morning coffee and pastry run. They open earlier then most and have a very friendly staff, which is always a nice way to start the day. Don’t limit your visits to breakfast, though. They have a full menu and amazing gelato.
Campo de' Flori
Hosteria Grappolo D'Oro
When you’re in touristy Campo de’ Flori, it’s important to get out of the main square to find the best quality food at reasonable prices. Hosteria Grappolo D’Oro is a charming spot has authentic pastas, great service and an amazing location just steps from the main square, but in a quiet alley away from it all. Try the house wine—it was one of our favorites.
Emma Pizzeria
Emma Pizzeria is a well regarded pizzeria offering good service and delicious food. If you’re looking for a classic Roman pizza dinner, look no further.
Roscioli
Widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in Rome by both locals and tourists, Roscioli is definitely worth a visit. We enjoyed our experience, but warning: it’s like going to a movie when everyone tells you it’s the BEST…MOVIE…EVER! It’s hard to live up to the hype. We really liked our food, but didn’t love the reservations options which include seatings at 7:00 pm (a bit too early) or 9:30 pm (a bit too late).
Piazza Navona
Enoteca Il Piccolo
Enoteca Il Piccolo is a nice, low key wine bar favorited by locals. It’s unassuming and down-to-earth. A great spot for enjoying a glass of wine with those who actually live in Rome. Snacks are also available. It’s mellow during the day, but gets more lively at night. (Address: Via del Governo Vecchio, 74-75, 00186)
L'Antica Salumeria
We stumbled upon L’Antica Salumeria when we were waiting to visit the Pantheon, and were so glad we did! It’s packed with an incredibly array of salami and cheese that the staff was eager to let us try anything we wanted. The paninis are also outstanding and I left with a variety of delicious Italian cookies, which can be purchased by the pound.
Zuma
Although we did not eat at Zuma, we did stop by to check out this very trendy restaurant with a rooftop terrace atop the Fendi building. Make a reservation in advance and enjoy an incredible view in a beautiful setting. The bar and food menu both looked amazing.
Frigidarium
Frigidarium is a fun gelateria to stop by after dinner in the area. It’s located on a bustling street and offers some of the best gelato flavors we found. Due to its popularity, there’s often a line out the door, but don’t let it detract you—it moves quickly and is worth the wait.
Monti
La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali
We loved this little, family run restaurant for so many reasons. The atmosphere, the staff, the food. All of our dishes were outstanding, especially the pasta. The cacio e pepe with truffles was one of the best dishes of our trip. Definitely check out La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali.
Fatmorgana
Fatmorgana gelateria can be found in a few locations throughout Rome and has some of the best gelato we tried—and we tried a lot.
Testaccio Market
Tastaccio Market
Tastaccio Market is a famous market that is touted for its many stalls filled with leather goods, jewelry, produce and cooked food options.. Unfortunately, we went on a Monday when many of the stalls were closed. Because of that, it’s not on my must-see list, but if you have enough time in Rome, it’s worth a visit. Even though there were few vendors, we picked up some beautiful leather bags, wooden trays and delicious food. And everything was offered at excellent prices.
Fatmorgana
If you venture to Testaccio Market, it’s worth walking a few blocks to check out Pasticceria Barberini. The pastries are like works of art. Tray after tray of gorgeous treats. There are plenty of delicious things to buy and enjoy on the trip or to bring home as gifts.
Salumeria Volpetti
The famous Salumeria Volpetti has everything you could want when it comes to salami and cheese, oil and vinegar, crackers and spreads. It’s right next door to Pasticceria Barberini near Testaccio Market. If you’re in the neighborhood, it’s worth stopping by.
