Rome is such a large city that you likely could throw a stone in any neighborhood and hit multiple restaurants and bars. This can make choosing the right spot tricky! Personally, I try to do as much research as I can before traveling to narrow down our best options. Now are they always going to be winners? Probably not. While it can’t always be helped, we do try to avoid super touristy places as much as possible. That’s not to say they’re all bad though. Some places are famous (and super busy) for a reason! Below you’ll find a rundown of everywhere we can recommend to eat and drink in Rome, Italy – plus a few spots that are on our list for future trips!
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Planning a trip to Rome? See how I spent 5 days exploring the Italian capital.
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Checking out multiple Italian cities? Head to my Italy travel page for more ideas.
Popular Dishes in Rome
Like most of Italy, Rome is known for it’s freshly prepared seasonal dishes and pasta. Some of the most popular Roman dishes you can expect to find on a restaurant menu during your trip include:
- Cacio e pepe (pecorino romano and pepper pasta)
- Carbonara (pasta with guanciale or pancetta, pecorino romano, eggs and black pepper)
- Bucatini all’Amatriciana (pasta in a red sauce made with guanciale and pecorino romano)
- Suppli (rice ball snacks, similar to arancini)
- Coda alla vaccinara (ox tail stew)
- Pizza al Taglio (rectangular pizza “by the cut”)
Restaurants
Roma Sparita
Piazza di Santa Cecilia, 24, 00153 Roma.
It’s a bit of a trek from the city center, but the late great Anthony Bourdain said they have the best cacio e pepe in Rome. So of course we had to try it! While I’m not sure if it’s the best, because we only tried a few, it was pretty delicious. It’s served in a crispy parmesan bowl, which really took it up a notch. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with more cheese.
Ristorante Roof Garden
Via Tor de’ Conti, 25, 00184 Roma.
We had dinner on our first night in the city at this restaurant located on the top floor of the Hotel Forum di Roma. Since we visited in early May, it wasn’t quite warm enough for the rooftop to be open air yet. But we still had some great views! While we really enjoyed the food, the atmosphere was a little stuffy/formal for a normal night out so just keep that in mind. It’s a great spot for a special occasion though, just ask the man we witnessed preparing to propose!
La Taverna Madonna Dei Monti
Via della Madonna dei Monti, 16, 00184 Roma
I’m normally one to make plans for every meal, but I somehow missed a day and we luckily stumbled upon this taverna while walking around. While it wasn’t my favorite cacio e pepe of the trip, it was solid. The outdoor seating was perfect for sipping on Aperol spritzes and doing some people watching.
Not Worth the Hype
Ristorante Pancrazio
Piazza del Biscione, 92, 00186 Roma.
I’m honestly surprised how highly rated this restaurant is on Google, because we just weren’t impressed. Its big claim to fame is the restaurant is built over the ruins of the Theater of Pompey, which is where Julius Caesar was assassinated. Honestly, the only thing I really enjoyed/could recommend was the affogato I got to end the meal. The rest of the food we had wasn’t all that memorable.
Pizza
We tried both traditional style pie and pizza al taglio while in Rome. When you order a traditional pizza in Italy at a sit-down restaurant, you generally eat a whole one by yourself. Be prepared to cut it yourself too! As for pizza al taglio, these rectangular trays of pizza are cut and sold by weight.
Pizzeria alle Carrette
Via della Madonna dei Monti, 95, 00184
This pizzeria is located in the Monti district near the Roman Forum, making it the perfect stop after exploring the ancient ruins. They have a nice outdoor seating area and make a mean Aperol spritz.
Pizza Florida
00186, Via Florida, 25, 00186 Roma
If you’re looking for a slice to-go, I’d recommend Pizza Florida in the city center. It’s across the street from a cat sanctuary! That alone would have sold it for me, but the pizza slices were also great. I was so distracted by trying to see the cats that I didn’t even take any photos of our pizza before I inhaled it!
Mami
Via della Pace, 27A, 00186 Roma
It’s hard to say if I liked Pizza Florida or Mami better, so maybe just try both! I personally loved that I could get a little single serve bottle of prosecco to go with my slice here.
ROME FOOD TOURS
Check out these exciting options:
Breakfast & Snacks
Antico Forno Serpenti
Via dei Serpenti, 122/123, 00184 Roma
We found this little café near our room which was a great option for a quick breakfast most mornings. While we enjoyed the large variety of pastries, the coffee wasn’t anything to write home about (but it got the job done). Unfortunately I wasn’t as much of a coffee lover then as I am now, so our next trip to Rome will have to feature a lot more espresso! In the afternoons you can also order pizza and sandwiches.
Flor Gelato
Via Cavour, 337, 00184 Roma
If you’re craving some gelato after visiting the Colosseum or the Roman Forum, make sure to stop by Flor Gelato. I’m glad we didn’t realize how close this was to our room, or we would’ve probably been there every day!
Bars
Ai Tre Scalini
Via Panisperna, 251, 00184 Roma
This cozy bottiglieria (wine bar) has been around since 1895 and is a great place for dinner, drinks, or both! We were able to make reservations when we went, but unfortunately it looks like they’ve since stopped taking them (likely because of how busy they always are!). They have a large wine list and we ended the last night of our trip here with some limoncello and tiramisu.
Drink Kong
Piazza di S. Martino Ai Monti, 8, 00184 Roma
After visiting Drink Kong, I can see why it is consistently ranked as one of the 50 best bars in the world. The Japanese-inspired décor was modern and fun, plus all of the drinks and dumplings we had were amazing. We were given a complimentary glass of prosecco and small bites while we perused the menu, which I think was a nice touch. We made ourselves a reservation since we weren’t sure how crowded it would be, and I was thankful for it because the communal/couch seating areas filled up pretty fast.
On The List for Our Next Visit
Since unfortunately trips only last so long, there always ends up being a few places we want to visit but don’t make it to. These are all the highly rated spots we can’t wait to try next time we’re in Rome!
La Casa del Caffè Tazza d’Oro – Via degli Orfani, 84, 00186 Roma.
This coffee roaster near the Pantheon has been open since 1944!
Wisdomless Club – Via Sora, 33, 00186 Roma.
An upscale cocktail bar, art gallery, AND tattoo parlor all in one? Sign me up.
Mercato Testaccio – Via Aldo Manuzio, 66b, 00153 Roma.
This bustling market has nearly 100 stalls full of street food, bakeries, produce, meats, and more.
Trattoria Pennestri – Via Giovanni da Empoli, 5, 00154 Roma.
A contemporary Roman restaurant located in the Ostiense neighborhood.
Osteria da Fortunata – Via del Pellegrino, 11/12, 00186 Roma.
Probably a bit touristy, but this spot is famous for its homemade pasta.
Freni e Frizioni – Via del Politeama, 4, 00153 Roma.
Another ‘best bar in the world’, this cocktail bar is popular for aperitivo and its terrace seating.
Where is your favorite place to eat or grab a drink in Rome, Italy?
Let me know in the comments!
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