The Best Food in Rome

Dining in Rome is a delight. Here you will find everything about the best restaurants in Rome for pizza, pasta, and gelato. We have already undertaken a culinary food tour through the former working-class neighborhood of Testaccio in Rome twice. One thing is for sure: you will return from Rome a few pounds heavier. No wonder, because Roman food is a revelation and truly delicious!

I want to warn you about the typical tourist traps when it comes to dining. Read this article for inspiration and follow my advice to go on a culinary tour of Rome to discover the best food in the city. Here are my tips for delicious dining in Rome, along with some insider suggestions for the best restaurants that we have tried and can highly recommend.

Here you can find the most important sights in Rome or here my itinerary for 5 days in Rome (for me, this is the optimal length for a city trip).

To find the best dining tips in Rome, you should book this food tour with Eating Rome:

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We asked every guide on our tours (food tour, Colosseum tour, Vatican Museums tour) where they like to eat in Rome. Here are their answers regarding the attractions nearby:

Pizza is probably the first dish that comes to mind when searching for restaurants in Rome. But since the city offers so much variety, finding the best pizzeria can be a challenge. Neapolitan pizza, Roman pizza, Pinsa, Focaccia... the selection is vast. That's why I want to share with you 5 places for the best pizzas in Rome.

If you get hungry while strolling through the Campo dei Fiori market, there is one of the best places for pizza in Rome Antico Forno Roscioli.

As you wander through Campo dei Fiori and get hungry, this is the perfect spot to grab pizza on the go: these pizzas are baked in 1.5-meter long pieces, then sliced and sold. This pizzeria opened in 1972, making it one of the oldest in Rome, especially in the historic city center. You have all kinds of pizza options: Rossa (Roman style: thin and crispy), Bianca (a bit thicker, like a Roman version of flatbread), and Focaccia (a bread similar to pizza that you can get plain or with all types of toppings). If you want to try the classic, go for a simple Pizza Bianca topped with olive oil and salt. You can either pack your pizza to eat along the Tiber River or enjoy it on site at one of the standing tables.

This pizzeria in Trastevere was recommended to us by Domenico, our food tour guide. The seating is rather unremarkable on the street, but the pizzas are incredibly good. It doesn't matter where you sit. One of the best pizzas in Rome!

Volpetti Più not only offers one of the best pizza al taglio (Translation: A piece of pizza 'cut,' not round pizza) in the city. Here we test a classic Pizza Margherita. I have never eaten such a flavorful and delicious Pizza Margherita before. Any additional ingredient would be superfluous. How can this taste experience be topped?

Volpetti Più is also very popular among Romans and is considered one of the top locations for lunch.

If you are looking for a pizzeria near the Colosseum that is the opposite of a classic tourist trap, you must go to Li Rioni. This pizzeria was a tip from friends who studied in Rome. A great place with mostly locals. A fantastic pizzeria, mostly visited by Italians. The prices are fair for its proximity to the Colosseum.

At this pizzeria, you will always find long lines. No wonder, because the pizza is truly great. The price is also very fair for the location.

One rule of Italian cuisine is: less is more. The ultimate dish that underscores this rule is the Roman dish Cacio e Pepe: a dish made from only three ingredients: spaghetti (or tonnarelli, alternatively another type of pasta), Pecorino cheese, and black pepper. Practically every Roman restaurant serves a version of this classic, but where can you find the best one?

Flavio al Velavevodetto is built into the Monte Testaccio shard hill and is still a hidden gem for tourists. If you don't want to encounter tourists (except for us), this is the right place to be in this Osteria. Authentic cooking is done here according to the traditional Cucina Romana under the watchful eyes of chef Flavio de Maio. Here you can definitely enjoy one of the best Cacio e Pepe in Rome.

Also delicious were the Carbonara and Amatriciana. The menu features other traditionally cooked Roman dishes such as meatballs, Puntarelle (a type of chicory), Carciofo alla giudia (fried artichoke), and of course the pasta classics like Carbonara, Amatriciana, and Cacio e Pepe.

The surname Roscioli is a well-known name in Rome. The family founded the Forno in 1824 (here you get one of the best pizzas in Rome) and expanded their offerings by opening new restaurants due to their success.

At Ristorante Salumeria Roscioli, you will find all the Roman classics, from Cacio e Pepe to Carbonara. Their version of Cacio e Pepe is made with tonnarelli noodles. Instead of just using Pecorino cheese, Roscioli adds some Moliterno cheese. The dish is prepared with Malaysian pepper, along with some Javan and Sarawak pepper, added at the very end.

This sensational preparation definitely makes Ristorante Salumeria Roscioli one of the best places for Cacio e Pepe in Rome.

In this restaurant in Trastevere, you can also enjoy one of the best Cacio e Pepe in Rome. Roma Sparita became extremely popular after the famous chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain featured the place in his show No Reservations in 2011 and showcased the restaurant's unique style. The classic dish is served here in a Parmesan cheese bowl.

Since then, some Roman restaurants have tried to copy this (also in Germany). But Roma Sparita is still one of the ultimate Cacio e Pepe hotspots in Rome. Another plus: The restaurant has a large terrace with umbrellas overlooking one of the most beautiful squares in Trastevere, making it a perfect spot for hot summer days. If you want to secure a spot, be sure to reserve in advance, as it often gets crowded.

Rome's most famous gelateria has been around since 1914. The family of owner Armando has been making its own ice cream since 1890, using natural ingredients sourced locally. You must be patient here; the lines are often very long. If a combination of ice creams you've chosen doesn't work out, Armando kindly points it out and recommends something more suitable.

The machine for making cream (Panna) is probably as old as the shop itself. It's recommended that we try this cream. Indeed: delicious is an understatement.

Address: Via Amerigo Vespucci 35

Opening hours: Daily 7 AM - 12 AM

Ba'Ghetto on Via Livorno 10 is the oldest Jewish restaurant in the Jewish Quarter. It offers a selection of traditional Roman and Middle Eastern dishes such as fried artichokes and zucchini, falafel, shakshuka, and couscous.

It was opened in the 1980s by Amram and Ester Dabush, later supported by their four sons Avi, Ilan, Eran, and Amit, who followed in their parents' footsteps and opened two new locations: Baghetto Milky and Su'ghetto. Since the original Ba'ghetto does not use dairy products in its kitchen, Baghetto Milky was opened to offer precisely that: pizzas and dishes with dairy, fish, and cheese. Su'ghetto, the newest addition, features a slightly more modern atmosphere and offers kosher dishes (without dairy).

All three restaurants are truly delicious. Do you love Italian and Israeli cuisine? Then head to one of the Ba'ghetto restaurants.

I have marked all three restaurants on Google Maps.

Walking through the doors of this can seem like stepping into culinary heaven in Rome. Opened 40 years ago by the brothers Emilio and Claudio Volpetti, this delicatessen offers over 150 types of cheese, an impressive selection of cured meats, high-quality oils, balsamic vinegars, and spices. Here we get to taste various balsamics, truffle salts, and olive oils.

As part of the food tour in Testaccio, we receive small bowls with Prosciutto di San Daniele, Salame al Barolo, Pecorino al Tartufo, and Parmigiano Reggiano. A flavor explosion is happening in my mouth again. We shop enthusiastically. Perfect for souvenirs for friends and family.

We can't resist and buy balsamic vinegar for about 15 euros. But it is definitely worth it. Friends also acquire truffle salt, which also leaves my backpack smelling intensely.

You can also purchase small cakes, pizzas, and other snacks for lunch at the counter. Since we still have several stops ahead, we reluctantly move on.

This vibrant café and pastry shop opened in 1934 and has been serving sweet treats ever since. We are served a typical Roman Cornetto and Tiramisu in a decorative chocolate bowl.

At Barberini, everything from a typical Italian breakfast, consisting of cappuccino and Cornetto, is available at the counter until the afternoon, along with tea and cakes. Homemade delicacies abound. Locals love to take the time for a stop at Via Marmorata 41.

Address: Via Marmorata 41, Testaccio, Opening hours: Daily 7:30 AM - 9 PM, except Sundays 9 AM - 2 PM

The new market hall in Testaccio is located at the corner of Via Galvani/Via Franklin. Opening hours are Monday - Thursday and Saturday: 7 AM - 2 PM and Sunday 7 AM - 7 PM. Here butchers, fish, and vegetable vendors sell their goods, all sourced from the region.

Once, the goods were delivered one floor below by boat across the water. Today, that is of course no longer possible.

Here are the food stalls you should visit in Mercato di Testaccio and try their goods:

Massimo offers a great selection of bread, pizza, pastries, and sandwiches as well as vegetables, stuffed tomatoes, and roast chicken. This stall is just right to sample traditionally made bread. Bruscetta al pomodoro. It could not taste more intense, and the bread is fresher and crisper.

The family-run fruit and vegetable stand in Testaccio Market has been passed down through three generations.

With a large selection of fresh and high-quality products, the always-smiling Paola and Francesca are always on hand. They help you choose your purchases and give recipe tips.

This stall is something truly special. The prosciutteria is run by the delightful couple Lina and Enzo. They have spent every day together behind the small counter for 30 years. They are known not only for their excellent cold cuts and cheese but also for their friendly service.

Here we sample Insalata Caprese (the delicious buffalo mozzarella comes from them). A hidden gem is the wonderful Prosciutto Crudo from Norcia in Umbria and the fresh buffalo mozzarella from Campania.

This little pastry shop at the Testaccio market is known throughout Rome for its cannoli. In addition, there is a large assortment of desserts, pastries, and savory snacks. Owner Costanza incorporates influences from her hometown of Palermo.

She also offers delicacies that come from both innovative new recipes as well as classic Sicilian tradition.

Website:http://www.dessart.it Opening hours: 7:30 AM - 2 PM, closed on Sundays

Monte Testaccio is not one of the seven hills of Rome. It was created by systematically accumulating broken ancient amphorae that came from tax payments from the provinces. The hill is nearly 35 meters high and has a circumference of 1500 meters. In some establishments - including Flavio al Velavevodetto, you can still view parts of the shard hill:

Pizza master Stefano Callegari conquered Rome with his street food shop. Here you can get small pizza pockets with extraordinary ingredients like potatoes, sausage, or beer to take away. But we are here to test the famous "Suppli alla genovese": fried rice balls. We are so stuffed that not everyone finishes their Suppli and has to pack it first.

Address: Via Giovanni Branca 88 Opening hours: Daily 12 - 11 PM

The Eternal City of Rome appears as a living museum of art and history. There are probably far more sights here than anywhere else in the world. But for half a day, we escape from the flow of tourists and take a pleasant walk to places that locals cherish and love:

On the tour, you visit Rome's best delicatessen, taste the 3 most famous pasta dishes with wine and street food. At the New York Times celebrated Trapizzino (00100 Pizza), you can find Suppli. During a gelato tasting in Testaccio, you learn to differentiate good gelato from bad gelato.

One of the best pizzas in Rome was just as essential as a visit to the market in Testaccio. We started with a typical Roman breakfast: cornetto at the bar of a bakery and espresso.

The 'real' Rome with rich culture, delicious food, and you meet wonderful people and hear their stories. A unique insight into the daily life of Romans that we will not forget soon.

The Testaccio neighborhood got its name from Monte Testaccio, an artificial hill that formed in antiquity as a shard dump for broken oil amphorae.

You can still recognize the shards very well today. The former working-class neighborhood has not yet been fully discovered by tourism, even though Rome's best delicatessens and restaurants are located here. This is the center of gastronomes in Rome. Therefore, I have listed my best tips for Testaccio for you.

On the way to the Nuovo Mercato Testaccio, we pass a few sights. The Pyramid of Cestius, John Keats' mysterious grave at the Protestant cemetery, and the birthplace of the AS Roma football club.

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