What to Eat in Rome (+ Best Places)

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We bet that one of the reasons for your visit to Rome is delicious food. It's known that anywhere in Italy, they rely on fresh, seasonal ingredients and stick to time-tested recipes. In Rome those recipes include cacio e pepe or carbonara pasta, fried artichokes, trippa alla Romana... While you can find these classics in countless trattorie in every corner of the city, some do them better than others. Read on for these must-visit restaurants in Rome.

Pizza al taglio (pizza by slice)

Pizza con patate

Roman-style pizza is baked in large rectangular trays and served by the slice. With a crispy exterior and a soft interior, it’s the ideal choice for a quick snack or a satisfying lunch.

The pizza boasts a variety of creative toppings, including fresh mozzarella, mortadella, smoked ham or prosciutto, zucchini flowers, potatoes, sausages, artichokes, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and many more possibilities.

Are you eager to try some of the best pizza al taglio? Join this morning food tour in Prati, near the Vatican, and discover where you can indulge in this delicious treat!

Where to try pizza al taglio? Head to Pizzarium Bonci to try one of the best pizza in Rome, topped with quality ingredients. Our favourite is the one with sliced of mortadella and sprinkle of chopped pistachios.

Read also: Naples Pizza Making Classes


Porchetta

A savory, roasted pork dish flavoured with herbs, typically served in a sandwich (with panini or focaccia). Look for vendors at markets for the best taste. For a truly delicious porchetta, visit Panificio Bonci near Vatican and order slices of pork sandwiched between two slices of pizza bianca.

Pizza bianca with mortadella

Pizza bianca with mortadella

Pizza bianca with mortadella is another great street food option in Rome. This is a type of flatbread (like focaccia) that makes super delicious sandwich, when split and filled with various ingredients. The Roman favourite is the one stuffed with aromatic mortadella. So delicious!

Supplí (fried rice balls)

Roman supplí

Supplí are oval shaped rice balls enriched with ragù containing a mozzarella heart, coated into breadcrumbs. They are deep-fried, resulting in a snack that's crunchy on the outside but gooey on the inside. 

Popular as a starter before pizza or as a satisfying street food snack, supplì are a staple of Roman cuisine. Suppli are served in any tavole calde and pizza places across Rome. Grab a quick bite at Supplí, a tiny food stall selling pizza and piping hot supplì. For more variety, Supplizio offers five different styles of supplì, from carbonara to ragu.

Roman pasta (carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, gricia)

This is the most beloved Roman pasta dish is made with guanciale (cured pork cheek), eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper. Look for places that prepare it the traditional way, like local trattorias.

Join this food tour of Testaccio, to taste carbonara at local trattoria, where locals usually eat.

Cacio e pepe is simple yet flavorful pasta dish made with Pecorino Romano cheese (salty aged sheep's milk cheese) and black pepper is a Roman classic. Visit traditional trattorias to experience the authentic taste.

Originating from nearby Amatrice, Amatriciana dish features pasta (often bucatini) with tomato sauce, guanciale, and Pecorino cheese. It's a hearty option that's a must-try.

Coda alla vaccinara – Roman oxtail stew

This superb oxtail stew, known as coda alla vaccinara, is an iconic dish of Rome. Oxtail, though very much in vogue today, once fell into Rome's Quinto Quarto – or 'fifth quarter' – of meat cuts and offal, considered at the time to be the lowliest around but thriftily utilised up in a number of stunning dishes.

Artichokes (Carciofi alla Romana and Carciofi alla Giudia)

Whether it's "Carciofi alla Romana" (Roman-style artichokes) or "Carciofi fritti" (fried artichokes), these dishes highlight the flavours of fresh, local produce.

Carciofi alla giudia, made of crispy double-deep-fried artichokes, comes from Jewish Ghetto of Rome. The classic Roman artichokes preparation, carciofi alla Romana, is slowly cooked with ample garlic and aromatic herbs (learn how to prepare them on this cooking class in Rome!).

Find out where to eat the best "carciofi alla giudia" by joining this night food tour of Jewish Ghetto (you'll be tasting a loads of yummy food on this tour).

Pinsa Romana (Roman version of pizza)

You probably didn't know that there is a dish similar to pizza in Rome, called pinsa. This oval-shaped snack is made with a mix of flours (wheat, spelt, oat...) and is also topped with variety of toppings. 

Where to eat pinsa Romana? One of the very best places in Rome is Pinsa Mpò, a small eatery near Vatican (Via dei Gracchi 7) offering a range of delicious pinsa plus other snacks. You'll pay €5 - 6 for one pinsa which is enough for a light meal.

Gnocchi alla Romana

Roman gnocchi (Gnocchi alla Romana, lit. Roman style gnocchi) are one of the easiest Rome specialties to replicate at home and of the few meet-free dishes from the capital.

Unlike ‘gnocchi’ as understood in other parts of Italy, Roman style gnocchi are made with semolina, a durum wheat flour, and they are made on the hob and then the oven, to then be served on a large tray, a little more like polenta than a pasta dish (they are very much not pasta!)

They have a delicate yet very pleasant taste that usually the whole family loves and they are made with only a few key ingredients: semolina, milk, butter, eggs, salt and parmesan.

Fiori di zucca ripieni

This is a delicious starter always present on Rome’s menus but only when in season, so from late spring all through the summer. Fiori di zucca are the zucchini flowers, and Romans love them. Fiori di zucca ripieni means that the zucchini flowers are stuffed with anchovies and mozzarella (or ricotta).

Filetto di baccalà

Fried salted cod is a popular Roman specialty with Jewish origins, often served as an antipasto or a street food snack. You’ll find many restaurants serving filetto di baccalà in Rome’s Jewish Quarter; most iconic of all is Dar Filettaro, a hole-in-the-wall joint dedicated entirely to this dish. For more Jewish delicacies, join this food walking tour.

Trapizzino

What’s not to love about a hollowed out slice of toasted pizza bread stuffed with a selection of saucy delicacies? Visit Il Trapizzino venues, in either Trastevere or Testaccio and try this amazing Roman food.

The standard menu consists of trapizzino with doppia panna (double cream), parmigiana, polpetta al sugo (meatballs), pollo alla cacciatora (hunter’s chicken), and lingua in salsa verde (tongue in green sauce), but they offer up plenty of seasonal specialities too. 

Maritozzo alla panna 

Romans love maritozzi, incredibly light, soft buns, cut in the middle and filled with loads of perfectly whipped cream. 

You will find maritozzi in cafés and bakeries, mainly in the morning. If you come after 11am you might miss them. These delicious buns are enjoyed for breakfast with coffee and the price is very reasonable, around €2.

Tonnarelli cacio e pepe

Abbacchio al Forno con Patate (Roast Lamb with Potatoes)

Cornetto

The cornetto is a Roman pastry that resembles a French croissant. Most Italians refer this pastry as the brioche. You'll find them in most pasticcerias and coffee bars, where Italians eat them for a breakfast, along an espresso. They come plain or filled with cream passticcera, jam, chocolate or pistachio cream (our favourite one). These fluffy pastries sell out quickly so arrive early to have them. Le Sorelle Giordano whips up dozens every morning.

Canolli

Cannoli are delightful pastries made of a crispy fried dough shell filled with rich and sweet ricotta cream. While they are a classic Sicilian dessert, you can find them in numerous cafés and pastry shops (pasticcerie) throughout Rome.

If you're in the mood for a delightful treat, visiting I dolci di Nona Vicenza (near Campo de' Fiori) for a cappuccino and a cannoli sounds like a fantastic choice! Their variety of cannoli fillings, from classic ricotta to chocolate, pistachio, lemon, or orange, ensures there's something to satisfy every palate. Enjoying these pastries in a cozy café setting is a wonderful way to experience authentic Italian flavours.

Tiramisù

Don't skip eating tiramisù, while in Rome. This traditional Italian dessert is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with light cream made of eggs, sugar and mascarpone cheese, and dusted with cocoa. While tiramisù is not originaly from Rome, but from northern Italy, you can still find some of the best ones in Rome (such as homemade tiramisù from Two Sizes, Via del Governo Vecchio 88).

Artisan Roman gelato

The Roman gelato is a true treat!

Who doesn't like Italian gelato? Creamy and delicious, this Italian treat is beloved worldwide. When in Rome, take advantage of true artisanal gelato that local gelaterie craft and enjoy a variety of flavours.

We adore Roman gelato from Hedera Gelateria (Borgo Pio 179) - we stumbled upon this cute place on the way to the Vatican. The flavors and quality of their gelato is superior and the service is friendly. The prices are fair too. We always come back here!

Another Roman gelateria we love is Verde Pistachio on Via Nazionale, a short stroll from Piazza della Repubblica and Termini. As their name suggests, they are masters of pistachio gelato as well as other flavors, such as salted caramel and coconut. We usually visit this gelateria when staying at Sophie Terrace Hotel.

Here are some of the best and most popular gelato flavours to try:

  1. Stracciatella - A creamy milk base with chocolate shavings for a delightful crunch.
  2. Pistacchio - Made with real pistachios, offering a nutty and slightly sweet flavour.
  3. Nocciola - Hazelnut gelato that's rich and subtly sweet, made from roasted hazelnuts.
  4. Tiramisu - Inspired by the classic dessert, this flavor combines coffee, mascarpone, and cocoa.
  5. Limone - A refreshing lemon flavor that's tart and uplifting, perfect for a hot day.
  6. Cioccolato - Rich chocolate gelato made with high-quality cocoa for intense flavour.
  7. Fragola - Strawberry gelato that captures the essence of fresh, ripe strawberries.
  8. Caffè - A robust coffee flavor that's perfect for coffee lovers.
  9. Fior di Latte - A simple yet delicious milk-based flavor, highlighting the purity of the ingredients.
  10. Bacio - A delightful blend of chocolate and hazelnut, inspired by the famous Italian chocolate.

Can vegetarians eat well in Rome?

If you're a vegetarian heading to Rome, you'll be happy to know that Roman restaurants offer plenty of delicious meatless options. For starters, you can enjoy tasty vegetable tarts and crispy fried treats like zucchini flowers filled with melted mozzarella and anchovies.

The pizza and pasta choices are endless! Try classic pasta dishes like tomato sauce pasta (pasta con sugo di pomodoro), the simple but flavourful spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chili pepper (spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino), or the hearty pasta with eggplant, tomato, and basil (pasta alla norma).

Looking for something different? Warm up with a bowl of minestrone, a comforting soup packed with pasta, beans, tomatoes, and fresh vegetables. Or indulge in Parmigiana di Melanzane - layers of fried eggplant baked with rich tomato sauce and topped with gooey parmigiano and mozzarella cheeses.


More to Discover in Italy

Naples Street Food Tours
Best Places to Stay in Rome
Cooking Classes in Rome