One of my favourite cities. It’s impossible to spend a day walking round and not fall in love with it. ‘Rome is one enormous mausoleum… There is no today or tomorrow in Rome; it is perpetual yesterday’.
A few notes;
📝 There are two main types of pizza in Rome; Pizza Romana which is served by the whole pie and has a super thin and crispy base, and Pizza al taglio which is thicker crispy square slices served by weight (definitely my favourite of the two).
📝 The pasta sauces of choice here are carbonara, amatriciana, all griccia cacio e pepe. Stick to these and you won’t go wrong.
📝 Supplì is the Roman name for arancini and a popular snack.
📝 Artichoke (carciofi) is also a city favourite too. Carciofi alla Romana is braised with lemon, mint and parsley until meltingly soft while carciofi alla giudia (Jewish style) is deep fried.
📝A few good gelato spots to checkout; Gelateria Del Teatro, Il Gelato Di San Crispino, Otaleg, Giolitti.
📝 Make sure you buy your Vatican & Coliseum tickets ahead of time and go for the first slot in the morning. It’ll save you a lot of stress.
1. Roscioli Ristorante Salumeria
📍Regola. An upmarket salumeria which also serves as ristorante, and happens to be one of the best in the city. Great salumi, cheese & pasta. Make sure you book ahead online as you’ll be lucky to get a walk-in. I prefer to sit upstairs in the deli over downstairs in the wine cellar.
2. Bonci
📍Prati. My favourite pizza spot in the city. Crispy square slices piled with interesting toppings that change daily. A good spot to visit after a trip to the Vatican. They have one in Chicago now too.
3. La Tavernaccia
📍 Portuense. Pasta and traditional Roman dishes. Make sure you get the Spaghettoni all’uovo alla Gricia.
4. Roma Sparita
📍Travestere. Another great pasta restaurant in a quiet square in Travestere. Serving all the classics. Famous visited by Tony Bourdain at the end of a No Reservations episode where he praised the cacio e pepe.
5. Nannarella
📍Travestere. I love the tonnarello pasta here – especially the carbonara. I’d pass on the cacio e pepe though. At €8.50-€9 a pasta it was slightly cheaper than average too. Expect queues but quick service once you’re in.
6. Armando Al Pantheon
📍Sant’Eustachio. Located only a few feet away from the Pantheon. Book ahead to get a table outside. Great pasta dishes. All the classics.
7. Antico Forno Roscioli
📍Regola. Same owners as Roscioli Salumeria. Another great pizza al taglio spot as well as other pasties & breads.
8. Forno Campo De Fiori
📍Regola. A popular bakery in Campo ‘de Fiori. Famous for their pizza rosso & sandwiches. In the right season you can also get a zucchini flower pizza.
9. Il Goccetto
📍Ponte. It actually says Vino Olio on the sign but it’s called Il Gocetto. My favourite wine bar in Rome. They also serve some great small plates of antipasti here.
10. Trapizzino
📍All over Rome. A popular Roman snack – A triangle of freshly baked pizza dough filled with different toppings. Chicken cacciatore (garlic & wine sauce) & meatball are my favourite.
11. Supplizio
📍Ponte. A good spot for Roman street food – suppli (Roman fried rice balls) and other snacks.
12. Mordi e Vai
📍Testaccio. A famous sandwich shop in Testaccio Market. I recommend the best seller #1 “Alesso di Scottana” – slow-cooked beef topped with chicory and bread dipped in the meat jus before serving (which I always love). If you’re brave try the trippa (tripe) alla Romana sandwich here too.
13. Pizzeria La Boccaccia
📍Monti, Travestere. Another great pizza al taglio spot.
14. Pizza Florida
📍Sant’Angelo. Looks like just another average pizzeria from the outside but the pizza al taglio is pretty top notch here. Classic toppings. Crunchy bases.
15. Pasticceria Regoli dal 1916
📍Esquilino. Great coffee and pastries. Eat standing up at the bar or takeaway. Try the maritozzi con panna.
16. Casa Manco
📍Testaccio, Trastevere. A great pizza al taglio spot in Testaccio Market & Trastevere.
17. Pastasciutta
📍Borgo. A good takeout pasta spot ground the corner from the Vatican if you fancy a quick plate of pasta in the street.
18. Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara
📍Regola. Go to try fried baccala (salt codfish) & Roman salad. A lively terrace that is popular among locals.
19. Otaleg
📍 Trastevere. A great gelato spot in Trastevere.
20. Mercato Centrale
📍Esquilino. A modern food market next to Rome Central Station with great places to eat and drink. A few highlights; Trappizino, Bonci pizza, Il Cornetto Salato.
James Dimitri 