You’ll find just about every region in Italy represented in Rome. Traditional Roman cooking features specialties like saltimbocca, stracciatella (soup with eggs, parmesan cheese, and parsley), and fried artichokes (carciofi). Roman pasta dishes include alla carbonara (with eggs and bacon), all’amatriciana (with onions, bacon, tomatoes, and white wine), and gnocchi. On summer evenings tables are pulled onto the sidewalk, and dining al fresco can be one of the most pleasant experiences of a visit to Rome.
Our restaurant listings for Rome include Central Rome and Trastevere (across the Tiber River). You'll find listings for restaurants outside Rome are found under the Lazio & Abruzzo Restaurant Guide.
Central Rome
Baccano Via delle Muratte, 23, ang. Via delle Vergini, Fontana di Trevi, Roma 187
Da Danilo Via Petrarca, 13, 00185 Roma RM, Italy. Intimate & rustic, bare-brick trattoria for artfully prepared Roman cuisine, plus local wines.
Rimessa Roscioli Via del Conservatorio 58 – Rome. Wine tasting owned by American expat Lindsay Gabbard
Colline Emilane Via degli Avignonesi 22, Rome, 00187, Italy
Roscioli Via dei Giubbonari 21, Rome, 00186, Italy
Al 34, Via Mario dei Fiori, 34, (039 06) 6795091. A reasonably-priced restaurant in the Piazza di Spagna area.
Il Bagatto, Via Trionfale, 200, (039 06) 35400345. On Monte Mario, has a wonderful view of the city by night. Excellent food.
Dal Bolognese, Piazza del Popolo, 1/2, (039 06) 3611426. A wonderful restaurant serving Bolognese cuisine, and a great place for people-watchers.
La Buca di Ripetta, Via di Ripetta, 36, (039 06) 3219391. Located near the Piazza del Popolo, this is an inexpensive place to find very good Roman food.
Al Callarello, Via Rosa Salvator, 8, (039 06) 5747575. Offers outdoor seating. Restaurant and pizzeria.
La Campana, Vicolo della Campana, 18, (039 06) 6875273. Located near Ponte Cavour, this is the oldest restaurant in Rome. Food and service in this very popular neighborhood restaurant are very good. The menu changes almost daily.
La Cantinola, Via Calabria, 16/18, (039 06) 42820519. Located near the Piazza Fiume.
La Capricciosa, Largo dei Lombardi, 8, (039 06) 6878480. Run by Ricardo and his Mom, is an excellent pizzeria.
Il Cardinale, Via delle Carceri, 6, (039 06) 6869336. Just off of Via Giulia, is above the mid-price range of restaurants, but the food is wonderful and the presentation beautiful. The tiramisù is terrific, the atmosphere comfortable and romantic.
Ciao Bella, Via Vittorio Veneto, 12, (039 06) 4824155. Inexpensive. This recommendation came to us from Robert & Joan Bobrow of Elkins Park, PA, who said, “excellent salads, soups, and pizza.”
Il Convivio, Vicolo dei Soldati, 28, (039 06) 6869432. Runs off of the Ponte Umberto, near Monte Brianzo. This recommendation came to us from Gail & Jim Davitt, who said, “The menu degustazione [tasting] (a splurge, $100 per person) was wonderful.” Credit cards accepted.
Costanza, Piazza del Paradiso, 65, (039 06) 6861717. A traditional trattoria located in part of the Theater of Pompey, where Julius Caesar met his untimely demise. A meeting place for artists, actors, and politicians. This recommendation came to us from Dr. Janice Kozma of Lawrence, KS, who said, “…is excellent for fiori fritti (battered, fried zucchini flowers) as well as traditional Roman foods.”
Di Pietro alla Piramide, Piazza di Porta S. Paolo, 6/a/7/7/a/8/9, (039 06) 5780252. Offers outside seating and carryout.
Girarrosto Toscano, Via Campania, 29, (039 06) 4821899. This recommendation came to us from Dee Ann Hill.
Grappolo d’Oro, Piazza della Cancelleria, 80, (039 06) 6897080. Located off the Campo dei Fiori, this is a centrally located favorite offering traditional Roman cooking, mainly fish. An exceptionally good value.
La Locanda del Pellegrino, Via del Pellegrino, 107-108, (039 06) 6872776. Located near La Chiesa Nuova, one block south of the Corso, has superb food.
L'Orso 80, Via dell’Orso, 33, (039 06) 6864904. A pizzeria and restaurant much favored by Romans.
Osteria Piccola Roma, Via Uffici del Vicario, 36, (039 06) 6798606. An absolute must if you love a great antipasto buffet. The pastas are delicious, the staff friendly and fun-loving, and the price reasonable, under $40 for two with a pitcher of wine. Reservations required.
Otello alla Concordia, Via della Croce, 81, (039 06) 6791178. Located near Piazza di Spagna, between Via del Babuino and Via del Corso, has good food, excellent service, and relatively low prices for the location.
Piperno, Via Monte de’ Cenci, 9, (039 06) 68806629. On the edge of the Jewish Ghetto, is famous for its Roman-Jewish cooking, simple and well prepared. Some people say this is the best place to try the Roman specialty, carciofi alla giuda (fried, melt-in-your-mouth artichokes).
Santopadre, Via Collina, 18, (039 06) 4745405. Located near where Via Piave & XX Settembre meet. This recommendation came to us from The Thormans of Annapolis, MD, who said, “The food is delicious, the service outstanding, and the prices commensurately high, but fair.” Dinner only. Reservations required.
La Torricella, Via Evangelista Torricelli, 2, (039 06) 5746311. Open air seating is available for this nice fresh fish restaurant and pizzeria.
Trattoria Monti, Via di San Vito, 13/a, (039 06) 4466573. Located near Santa Maria Maggiore, offers traditional Roman fare in a cozy setting. Inexpensive.
Vecchia Roma, Via della Tribuna di Campitelli, 18, (039 06) 6860464. Off Piazza Venezia, this is another excellent Roman restaurant where you can’t go wrong. The setting is beautiful, and the food exceptional.
Rome, Trastevere (across the Tiber River)
This area on the Vatican side of the Tiber is one of the walks featured in Rome Walks. It is an ancient area of winding streets and charming small restaurants.
Alberto Ciarla, Piazza San Cosimato, 40, (039 06) 5818668. A very expensive, very fashionable restaurant.
Dal Enzo al 29 Via dei Vascellari, 29, 00153 Roma +39 06 581 2260 A classic Roman experience in the charming neighborhood in Trastevere.
Pizzeria IVO a Trastevere, Via S. Francesco a Ripa, 158, (039 06) 5817082. A great little place. Credit cards are accepted.
Roma Sparita, Piazza S. Cecilia, 24, (039 06) 5800757. A restaurant and pizzeria offering outdoor seating.
