Best
Rome Restaurants
Best
Rome Restaurants
Our favourites:
best restaurant in rome
Rome makes you hungry! So the question is, where can you find good pasta and delicious pizza?
In Rome, there’s hardly a street where you can’t find something to eat, so you definitely won’t go hungry! We have some favorite places in Rome, some of which are conveniently located near the most beautiful attractions. Others are a bit hidden, away from the tourist crowds. 😊
And as an extra tip, we’ll also tell you about an exclusive rooftop bar.
Tastes, as you know, vary. That’s why we’re listing only our personal favorites here. Because some people like it fancy and expensive, others prefer authentic and traditional, and yet others just want something good on the go. Here, you’ll find a bit of everything. 😊
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DEFINITELY KNOW
- In Italy, there's a distinction between "Primo" and "Secondo," which means first and second courses. "Primo" includes dishes without meat or fish, like pasta or risotto. "Secondo" consists of fish and meat dishes, which are typically eaten AFTER pasta or risotto. Pizza doesn't belong to either category, so it's eaten separately. The menu usually follows this classification.
- It's customary to pay 1-3 Euros per person for the cover charge ("coperto") or bread. (This is NOT a replacement for the tip!). The amount charged for "coperto" is usually indicated on the menu.
- It's unusual for everyone at the table to pay separately. Instead, the total bill is typically divided among the people at the table, which also makes it easier for the service staff during settlement.
- Many dishes can be prepared as vegetarian upon request (often it's just the bacon or "guanciale" that needs to be omitted).
- In Italy, it's considered a no-go to drink cappuccino after lunch or dinner or to order a pizza with pineapple. 😊
Foodtour
Ideas
OUR TIPS
SORTED BY LOCATION
Near Colosseum
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In Trastevere
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In San Giovanni
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Near Pantheon
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Organic in Testaccio
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Near the Vatican
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Rooftop Tip
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Grab on the go
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RESTAURANTS
NEAR THE COLOSSEUM
Just a few minutes’ walk from the Colosseum is “Pizza Forum”, a pizzeria that not only serves pizza quickly, but also makes good pizza! If you’re not a fan of pizza, you can also find pasta or rice dishes here. The price-to-quality ratio is excellent, the service is friendly, and the location is perfect—especially if you’ve visited the Colosseum in the morning and worked up an appetite!
In the same street, albeit on the other side and a bit further towards the Basilica of San Giovanni di Laterano, you’ll find “Hostaria Isidoro”, which not only fills our hungry stomachs, but also makes them happy! Typical Roman dishes are on the menu alongside “Italian classics.” There are only a few outdoor seating options, but if you manage to snag one, you’ll be glad you did!
Pizza Forum
Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 34-38
00184 Rome
Open daily from 10:30 AM to 12:00 AM
Menu: www.pizzaforumroma.it/menu
Google Rating: 4.3 (4744 reviews)
Hosteria Isidoro
Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 59/A
00184 Rome
Open daily from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Menu: www.hostariaisidoro.com/menu-isidoro
Google Rating: 4.3 (1140 reviews)
PIZZA FORUM
Hosteria Isidoro
Restaurants
in Trastevere
Yes, Trastevere is probably the neighborhood with the most restaurants! So if you’re here in the evening, you should expect that many restaurants are already fully booked. (Making a reservation is definitely recommended.)
Lunchtime is a different story in Trastevere… You eat here in an atmosphere that resembles a small village—narrow streets, plants on the house walls, and laundry hanging from one window to another.
At the “La Scaletta” restaurant as well as at “Rione 13”, you’ll find such delicious food that even locals come here to indulge themselves! They serve tasty pizza and incredibly good pasta, both of which can be paired with delightful antipasti dishes! Don’t forget to save room for dessert, as the “Dolci” are recommended. 🙂
La Scaletta
Via Della Scala, 8,
00153 Rome
Open daily from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Menu: https://www.facebook.com/scaletta8/
Google Rating: Unfortunately, only 3.9 (1006 reviews), but don’t let that deter you 😉
Rione 13
Via Roma Libera, 19,
00153 Rome
Open daily from 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Menu: https://www.rione13ristorante.com/menu
Google Rating: 4.4 (1306 reviews)
Extra-Tip from Tourist Celine:
Otello
Via della Pelliccia, 47/53
Monday – Thursday, 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Friday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Menu: https://trastevere-trattoria-otello.it/
Google Rating: 4.7 (11,000 reviews)
Always long queues!
The food pictures are from 2017… Bad camera, bad lighting – sorry.
Susi is probably yelling too because it’s surely super touristy, but I liked it 😉
La Scaletta
Rione 13
Otello
Restaurants
In San Giovanni
There is a restaurant in San Giovanni that is easily overlooked from the outside, but inside, it’s surprisingly spacious! We’re talking about “Il ritrovo a San Giovanni”, which translates to “the meeting place in San Giovanni.”
Here, everyone who wants to eat well comes together! The waiter has been working here for over a decade and knows some guests by name. You can feel this relaxed atmosphere, which makes the pizza taste even better! The pasta, rice, and meat dishes here are highly recommended, as well as the Tiramisú!
Il ritrovo a San Giovanni
Via la Spezia, 36-42,
00182 Rome
Tuesday – Friday: 7 p.m. – 11.15 p.m.
Saturdays: 6.30 p.m. – 11.15 p.m.
Sundays: 12.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m. + 6.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.
Menu: www.ilritrovoroma.com/menu-2/
Google Rating: 4.7 (1138 reviews)
Restaurants
near the Pantheon
Until a year ago, I would never have recommended anyone to eat near the Pantheon. Most of the restaurants there are overcrowded, and the quality of the food leaves much to be desired! So take care, what you choose!
However, this is not the case at “Hosteria de Pastini”, a restaurant that has been in the same family for generations. The friendliness of the staff makes the dining experience even more enjoyable! Everything tastes great here: pizza, pasta, meat, and fish!
Hosteria de Pastini
Via dei Pastini, 126/128,
00186 Rome
Open daily from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Menu: http://www.hostariadepastini.it/menu/
Google Rating: 4.5 (3233 reviews)
Restaurant
in Testaccio
If you’re in Testaccio near the Cestius Pyramid or taking the train to Ostia Lido, be sure to visit the vegetarian restaurant “100% BIO”. Even if you follow a vegan diet, you’ll find options here. The restaurant is small but offers an unbeatably good (and fresh!) lunch buffet where you pay by the gram.
As the name suggests, all dishes are made from 100% organic ingredients, and you can taste the quality. While you won’t find classic pizza and typical pasta dishes on the menu, which are commonly found on most menus in Rome, you’ll dine alongside locals who come here for their lunch break!
100% bio.
Piazza di Porta S. Paolo, 6/a,
00153 Rome
Monday – Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Buffet examples: www.centopercento.bio
Google Rating: 4.4 (1232 reviews)
Restaurants
near the Vatican
Visiting the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica can work up an appetite (speaking from experience!). It’s essential to find good food quickly. How fortunate that we have the “Pizzeria San Marco” and the “Ristorante Cresci”. If you’re a pizza lover, you’ll leave the pizzeria happy and satisfied. Even though the menu offers other dishes, trusting the pizza maker is a good choice.
At “Cresci“, you can enjoy delicious specialties throughout the day. Cappuccino and cornetto (croissant) in the morning, spaghetti for lunch, and square pizza in the evening! Since the restaurant isn’t too large, it quickly creates a familiar atmosphere, and you’ll notice that even the locals appreciate dining here. 🙂
Pizzeria San Marco
Via Tacito, 29,
00193 Rome
Open daily from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Menu: https://www.pizzeriasanmarcoroma.com/via-tacito-it/il-menu
Google Rating: 3.9 (2030 reviews)
Cresci (Roma)
Via Alcide de Gasperi, 11-17,
00165 Rome
Open daily from 07:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Menu: https://www.cresciroma.it/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/fronte.jpg
Google Rating: 4.4 (1166 reviews)
Pizzeria San Marco
Cresci (Roma)
Tip
Rooftop Restaurant
Near Piazza Navona, there’s a building facade completely covered in green plants! That’s the Hotel Raphael. Even if you’re not a hotel guest, you can use the elevator to reach the top floor, where you’ll find the rooftop terrace offering a breathtaking view of the city!
Of course, there’s food available too, and it tastes so delicious that you’d want to linger here daily! Vegetarians, in particular, will be satisfied!
Please note: A smart dress code is important here!
Bio Raphael Hotel
Largo Febo, 2 (Piazza Navona)
00186 Rome
Menu: https://www.biohotelraphael.com/the-terrace-raphael-hotel-in-rome.htm
Google Reviews (Hotel?): 4.3 (402 reviews)
Something tasty
on the go!
Every so often, you would rather not sit down at a restaurant for a leisurely meal. Sometimes, you just need something quick “on the go” between two sightseeing stops. To avoid falling into the clutches of Subway, McDonald’s, and the like, we’re here to give you some tips on how the Romans do “fast food”!
1. Pizza near the Vittoriano
You can find this type of pizza at many corners in Rome. At a counter, you can feast your eyes and fill your stomach! The selection of various toppings on rectangular sheet pizzas leaves nothing to be desired! Just choose the slices that appeal to you, and you’ll have some really delicious, authentic pizza to go!
Pizza Florida
Via Florida, 25, 00186 Rome
Open Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 10 pm
Google Rating: 4.8 (2,493 reviews) – I tested it in 2017 and ate it on a bench in front of the shop!
2. Pizza and Suppli near the Pantheon
I was here in 2022 – between my visit to the Galleria Doria Pamphilj and the Vittoriano. I wandered through the streets and found:
Pizza Zazà
Piazza di S. Eustachio, 49, 00186 Rome, Italy
Open daily, 10 am – 11 pm
Google Rating: 4.5 (562 reviews) – I tested it and ate it simply on a wall overlooking ancient ruins 😉 Of course, I ordered too much…
Pizza Florida
Pizza Zaza
3. Trapizzini in Trastevere
During a food tour, I came across this delicacy that you can enjoy either on the spot or while on the go: Trapizzinis!
You might be familiar with Tramezzini – sandwiched between slices of toast… The creators of Trapizzini found that a bit boring and invented a pizza dough pocket that they fill with all sorts of goodies! Whether it’s a ragout, buffalo mozzarella and anchovies, or meatballs with tomato sauce – anything is possible!
Trapizzino
Piazza Trilussa, 46, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Open Tuesday – Sunday, 12 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Google Rating: 4.6 (5,334 reviews)
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2023 – 2024
With the support of Susanne Vukan
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