Photo: Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons · CC0Where to Eat in Rome: 50 Restaurants Worth the Trip
Rome rewards eaters who plan ahead and walk a little further. This guide maps 50 essential restaurants — carbonara institutions, €5 pasta counters, Michelin rooftops, and market stalls — with what to order and how to get a table at each.
The must-go list
If you eat at nowhere else in Rome, eat here — ranked, best first.
Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
Half deli, half restaurant, and the hardest table to get in the centro storico. The carbonara lives up to the hype, and the oxtail-stuffed zucchini flowers are the order you didn't know you needed. Book ahead.
Tip: Reserve well in advance — walk-ins get only a few bar seats.
Trattoria Da Enzo al 29
The Trastevere trattoria everyone means when they say “Roman trattoria.” No-frills room, textbook carbonara and amatriciana, polpette like someone's nonna made them. No reservations — expect a line.
Tip: No reservations, so go early — dinner lines are the norm.
Pizzarium Bonci
Gabriele Bonci's pizza al taglio is worth the pilgrimage to the Vatican neighborhood. Tall, airy slices with creative seasonal toppings, priced by weight. Time it around the Museums.
Tip: Queues peak 12:30–2 PM — go right at opening or mid-afternoon.
Trapizzino Trastevere
Stefano Callegari's brilliant invention: triangular pizza-bianca pockets stuffed with Roman classics like polpetta al sugo. Five classic fillings plus three seasonal ones, suppli, and Lazio wines. Cheap, fast, perfect.
Tip: Trapizzini run €5 and suppli €2 — open daily from noon until late.
Armando al Pantheon
Family-run Roman trattoria beside the Pantheon since 1961. Classic pastas and quinto-quarto specialties in an intimate room. Reservations open a month out and go fast.
Tip: Reservations are online-only and open a month ahead — book early.
Piperno
Roman-Jewish institution in the Ghetto: carciofi alla giudia, fried zucchini flowers, classic Roman dishes in an elegant old-style room. Closed Monday and Sunday evening.
Tip: Order the carciofi alla giudia — the signature fried artichokes.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Worth crossing town forThe Testaccio classic under the Monte: carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe, and proper quinto-quarto offal dishes. Book ahead — locals fill it.
Tip: Don't miss the fettuccine with chicken giblets, the signature offal dish.
Pastificio Guerra
Historic pasta shop near the Spanish Steps: €5 takeaway pasta, two daily options from 1 PM. Four generations of the same family. Rome's best-value lunch — lines form before opening.
Tip: Two pastas daily for €5 from 1 PM — line up before opening.
Il Supplizio
Chef Arcangelo Dandini's gourmet fry shop: supplì in classic and creative flavors, plus crispy cod and fried custard. Tiny sit-in space, or take away for a Roman picnic.
Tip: Take it away for a Roman picnic — queues form but move fast.
La Tavernaccia da Bruno
Old-style taverna between Testaccio and Trastevere, doing Roman classics from a wood-fired oven since 1968. Gricia, lasagna, and suckling pig. Closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Tip: The wood-oven suckling pig is the house specialty.
Osteria da Fortunata
Centenary osteria where pasta is rolled by hand in the window. Cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and carbonara done the old Roman way. Two central locations: Campo de' Fiori and the Pantheon.
Tip: The pasta is rolled by hand in the window — it's the real thing.
Ristorante Aroma
Worth crossing town forMichelin-starred rooftop at Palazzo Manfredi with a straight-on Colosseum view. Modern Italian tasting menus above the ancient stones — the splurge dinner you'll talk about for years. Book well ahead.
Tip: One of Rome's most requested splurge dinners — book well ahead.
Frigidarium
Dense, serious gelato a short walk from Piazza Navona. The move is the chocolate-dipped cone — dark or white — over whatever inventive flavor caught your eye. Small shop, big summer lines.
Tip: Get the cone dipped in dark or white chocolate.
Antico Forno Roscioli
The Roscioli bakery is Rome's essential lunch on the go. Pizza rossa and pizza bianca by the slice, eaten standing at the counter or walking toward Campo de' Fiori. Takeaway only.
Tip: It's takeaway only — order by the slice and eat on the move.
Mordi e Vai
The Testaccio Market stall for Rome's favorite market lunch: panino con allesso, boiled beef with pickled vegetables in a warm roll. Market mornings only, closed Sundays.
Tip: Inside the Testaccio Market — go mornings, Monday to Saturday.
Browse every spot
Numbers match the map — tap a pin to jump to its card, or a number to find it on the map.
50 of 50 places
Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
Half deli, half restaurant, and the hardest table to get in the centro storico. The carbonara lives up to the hype, and the oxtail-stuffed zucchini flowers are the order you didn't know you needed. Book ahead.
Trattoria Da Enzo al 29
The Trastevere trattoria everyone means when they say “Roman trattoria.” No-frills room, textbook carbonara and amatriciana, polpette like someone's nonna made them. No reservations — expect a line.
Pizzarium Bonci
Gabriele Bonci's pizza al taglio is worth the pilgrimage to the Vatican neighborhood. Tall, airy slices with creative seasonal toppings, priced by weight. Time it around the Museums.
Trapizzino Trastevere
Stefano Callegari's brilliant invention: triangular pizza-bianca pockets stuffed with Roman classics like polpetta al sugo. Five classic fillings plus three seasonal ones, suppli, and Lazio wines. Cheap, fast, perfect.
Armando al Pantheon
Family-run Roman trattoria beside the Pantheon since 1961. Classic pastas and quinto-quarto specialties in an intimate room. Reservations open a month out and go fast.
Piperno
Roman-Jewish institution in the Ghetto: carciofi alla giudia, fried zucchini flowers, classic Roman dishes in an elegant old-style room. Closed Monday and Sunday evening.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Worth crossing town forThe Testaccio classic under the Monte: carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe, and proper quinto-quarto offal dishes. Book ahead — locals fill it.
Pastificio Guerra
Historic pasta shop near the Spanish Steps: €5 takeaway pasta, two daily options from 1 PM. Four generations of the same family. Rome's best-value lunch — lines form before opening.
Il Supplizio
Chef Arcangelo Dandini's gourmet fry shop: supplì in classic and creative flavors, plus crispy cod and fried custard. Tiny sit-in space, or take away for a Roman picnic.
La Tavernaccia da Bruno
Old-style taverna between Testaccio and Trastevere, doing Roman classics from a wood-fired oven since 1968. Gricia, lasagna, and suckling pig. Closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Osteria da Fortunata
Centenary osteria where pasta is rolled by hand in the window. Cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and carbonara done the old Roman way. Two central locations: Campo de' Fiori and the Pantheon.
Ristorante Aroma
Worth crossing town forMichelin-starred rooftop at Palazzo Manfredi with a straight-on Colosseum view. Modern Italian tasting menus above the ancient stones — the splurge dinner you'll talk about for years. Book well ahead.
Frigidarium
Dense, serious gelato a short walk from Piazza Navona. The move is the chocolate-dipped cone — dark or white — over whatever inventive flavor caught your eye. Small shop, big summer lines.
Antico Forno Roscioli
The Roscioli bakery is Rome's essential lunch on the go. Pizza rossa and pizza bianca by the slice, eaten standing at the counter or walking toward Campo de' Fiori. Takeaway only.
Mordi e Vai
The Testaccio Market stall for Rome's favorite market lunch: panino con allesso, boiled beef with pickled vegetables in a warm roll. Market mornings only, closed Sundays.
Antica Pesa
Elegant century-old Roman trattoria in a 17th-century Papal grain storehouse at the foot of the Janiculum. Carbonara, carciofi, frescoed walls. Dinner only, closed Sundays.
Contempo
The restaurant of the VOI Donna Camilla Savelli hotel on Via Garibaldi: Roman classics reimagined with elegance, terrace aperitivi above Trastevere. About €50 a head, closed Mondays.
Cul de Sac
Historic wine bar since 1977 with over 1,500 labels in daily rotation and hearty Roman plates alongside. The narrow room feels like a 1960s train carriage. A Piazza Navona institution.
Da Fabrizio al 56
Family-run Roman trattoria steps from the Botanical Garden. Classic pastas and Roman dishes in a tidy dining room, father-and-son hospitality, around €30 a head.
Dal Toscano
Traditional Tuscan cooking in Prati, five minutes from the Vatican. Fresh pasta, bresaola, vitello — and house wine at €6 for half a litre. Book ahead for an outdoor table.
Er Buchetto
Iconic hole-in-the-wall deli near the Colosseum. Legendary porchetta sandwiches in crusty bread — cheap, fast, perfect. Quick bites, wine and beer.
Evo Hosteria
Refined Roman and Mediterranean hosteria on Via Garibaldi with a terrace. Meat, seafood, and vegetarian options at around €25 a head — polished without the stiffness.
Fatamorgana Monti
Creative natural gelato in bohemian Monti — all-natural and gluten-free, from raw seasonal ingredients. Basil-walnut-honey and ricotta with figs. Open daily from 1:30 PM.
Freni e Frizioni
Trastevere cocktail institution with punk attitude — ranked among the world's 50 best bars. Creative cocktails and a big terrace that becomes the neighborhood's evening living room. Open 6:30 PM to 2 AM.
Glass Hostaria
Trastevere's Michelin-starred exception: chef Cristina Bowerman's light, contemporary Italian cooking in a minimalist room. One star, reconfirmed 2026. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Il Sorpasso
A Prati local favorite since 2010 with an ever-changing seasonal menu. House-made pastas like tagliatelle with white rabbit ragu, plus a deep Italian wine list. Strong aperitivo scene too.
Ivo a Trastevere
Beloved no-frills Trastevere pizzeria — blistered Roman pizzas minutes from Santa Maria in Trastevere. No reservations except for groups of 10 or more.
La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali
Cozy family-run Monti spot behind the Imperial Forums: pasta alla gricia, saltimbocca alla romana, truffle cacio e pepe beneath walls of celebrity photos. Closed Tuesdays.
La Torricella
Old-school Testaccio institution where a white-jacketed waiter wheels the antipasti cart to your table. The day's fish becomes spaghetti alle vongole or whatever the market gave. Closed Mondays.
La Zanzara
Chic Prati bistro by day, inventive cocktail bar by night — famous for its aperitivo. Contemporary Italian kitchen a short walk from the Vatican, open daily from noon.
Li Rioni a Santiquattro
Neighborhood pizzeria near the Lateran doing classic thin Roman pizza and simple trattoria dishes. Cash-friendly prices and a locals' crowd — the smart lunch between sightseeing stops.
Osteria der Belli
Family-run Sardinian seafood osteria off Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere: spaghetti alla Vernaccia, seafood risotto, grilled seafood mix. Honest fish cooking.
Panella
Gorgeous historic bakery-café on Via Merulana: exquisite pastries, lunch, aperitivo — ten minutes from the Colosseum. Open daily from 7 AM.
Pasticceria Linari
Beloved family-run pasticceria since 1971 by the Testaccio market: cornetto and cappuccino breakfasts, handmade cakes, gelato — and a €5 all-inclusive aperitivo buffet in the evening.
Pizzeria Ai Marmi
“The Morgue” — marble tables, a 1950s time capsule, blistered thin-crust Roman pizza at local prices until 2 AM. Order the fried starters too. Closed Wednesdays.
Pizzeria Alle Carrette
Unassuming Monti pizzeria with a local crowd: wafer-thin Roman pizzas from the wood oven, wine and desserts at honest prices. Open lunch and dinner.
Pizzeria da Baffetto
No-frills pizzeria steps from Piazza Navona with famously thin, blistered Roman pizzas. Walk-ins only — expect a queue at dinner. Closed Tuesdays.
Ristorante Arlù
Family-run for over 50 years on Borgo Pio near St. Peter's — a cut above the tourist traps. The grilled octopus is the signature, the carbonara is honest, and a full meal with wine runs about €50.
Ristorante Cacio e Pepe
The Prati trattoria named for Rome's signature pasta, going since 1964. Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, carbonara, polpettone in a tiny, always-packed room.
Ristorante Carlo Menta
Cheap, cheerful pizzeria and Roman kitchen running 150+ years on Via della Lungaretta. Checkered tablecloths, honest prices, open daily noon to 11 PM.
Ristorante Il Matriciano
Prati institution for over a century, famed for its bucatini all'amatriciana. Old-fashioned Roman dining with a lovely protected terrace. Closed Wednesdays.
Ristorante Perilli
Testaccio institution since 1911: old-school Roman trattoria where formally attired waiters serve carbonara and cacio e pepe in traditional copper cuccume. Closed Mondays.
Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria
The Roscioli family's all-day café: legendary maritozzi at breakfast, proper coffee, afternoon aperitivo with baked treats. One of Rome's most beloved cafés — packed at peak hours.
Spirito DiVino
Slow Food restaurant in a medieval Trastevere house that was once a synagogue — Hebrew characters still carved in marble. Ancient-recipe dishes and a cellar of 800+ wines.
Tonnarello
Buzzing Trastevere trattoria famed for its carbonara — generous portions of classic Roman pastas. Go early or expect a line. Open daily 11 AM to 11 PM.
Trattoria Da Augusto
Legendary no-frills Trastevere trattoria since 1887: carbonara, amatriciana, rigatoni con la pajata on a lovely little square. Cash only, no reservations.
Trattoria Da Bucatino
No-nonsense Testaccio trattoria famed for bucatini all'amatriciana — they'll bib you up like a baby. Huge portions, big family-room feel, honest prices. Closed Mondays.
Trattoria da Lucia
Homey, cash-only Trastevere trattoria run by a former boxer. Artichokes, rabbit cacciatore, carafes of house wine at down-to-earth prices. Closed Mondays.
Trattoria Da Teo
Traditional trattoria with a terrace on Piazza dei Ponziani: generous carbonara, amatriciana, ossobuco, and tripe in the heart of Trastevere. Open lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday.
Zia Rosetta
Monti's tiny takeaway shrine to the rosetta roll: stuffed mini and classic sandwiches, sweet and savory, with gluten-free options. Delivery across Rome.