You’ll find just about every region in Italy represented in Rome. Traditional Roman cooking features specialties like saltimboca, 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

Agata e Romeo, Via Carlo Alberto, 45, (039 06) 4466115. An intimate, somewhat pricy restaurant near the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, operated by a husband and wife team—he is the host and sommelier, she is the chef. The menu, refined treatments of regional classics, changes with the season. Reservations required.

Al 34, Via Mario dei Fiori, 34, (039 06) 6795091. A reasonably-priced restaurant in the Piazza di Spagna area.

Al 104, Via Urbana, 104, (039 06) 4742772. A tiny restaurant operated by a husband and wife team from Sardinia, serving exclusively crustaceans and mollusks in imaginative preparations, including many Sardinian specialties. The exceptional tasting menu (often only served to an entire table) is available for the individual diner. (Moderately expensive) Dinner only, but lunch can be reserved for parties of six or more if you call the day before. Reservations required. 

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. This 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.”

Da Mario, Via della Vite, 55/56, (039 06) 6783818. A famous and friendly restaurant near the Trevi Fountain. Traditional decor. Tuscan and Roman specialties.

Di Pietro alla Piramide, Piazza di Porta S. Paolo, 6/a/7/7/a/8/9, (039 06) 5780252. Offers outside seating and carryout.

Il Dito e La Luna, Via dei Sabelli, 47/49/51, (039 06) 4940726. A bistro-style restaurant in the San Lorenzo district near the University of Rome, serving a mix of traditional Sicilian and contemporary cuisine. Though service is said to be slow, the gourmet food, great atmosphere and reasonable prices make it well worth a visit. Dinner only. No credit cards. Reservations recommended.

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.

'Gusto, Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 9, (039 06) 3226273. Open every day.

La Rosetta, Via della Rosetta, 8, (039 06) 6861002. Located near the Pantheon, this is one of Rome’s best restaurants that serves fish only, and well worth a stop just to admire the heap of seafood beautifully arranged on a marble slab in the hallway.

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).

Primi della Classe, Via del Governo Vecchio, 86, (039 06) 6872529. Located near the Piazza Navona. This recommendation came to us from David and Janis Gonzalez of Santa Fe, NM, who said, “a fantastic pasta restaurant.”

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.

Trattoria San Teodoro, Via dei Fienili, 49-50-51, (039 06) 6780933| (039 06) 6790849. Located near the Roman Forum), offers wonderful outdoor patio seating and creative, fresh seafood dishes.

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.

Al Fontanone, Piazza Trilussa, 46, (039 06) 5817312. A friendly, comfortable and congenial family restaurant with an antipasto table and wood-oven for preparation of pizza, baby lamb chops and pork chops. The house specialty is “Fettuccine alla Fontanone”.

Dal Enzo al 29 Via dei Vascellari, 29, 00153 Roma +39 06 581 2260 A classic Roman experience in the charming neighborhood in Trastevere.

Paris, Piazza San Calisto, 7, (039 06) 5815378. Outdoor seating available for traditional Roman cuisine.

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.

Tana de Noiantri, Via della Paglia, 1/2/3, (039 06) 5806404. Located near the Piazza Santa Maria, has excellent food.