If you have read my 3 Day Rome Itinerary, congratulations that you didn’t get too exhausted during the reading and hold it to the end! Both my friend and I are passionated about the idea of eating like a local while traveling in a place. Authentic Roman food, best pizza, great gelato and more other signature Rome food are our day-to-day targets. If you are also a foodie like us, take the notes of our food stops in those 3 days in Rome.
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Leaving for Vatican City by metro in the morning, we prepared very well our belly in Roma Termini where I have tried pretty much different places to eat and have known my favorite breakfast spots.
i Magnifici by Carmelo Pannocchietti
Mercato Centrale is my NO.1 choice, because I just love the chic vibe there and I can find a few artisan food counters. For breakfast (or even fast grab-and-go), Carmelo Pannocchietti’s shop, i Magnifici, is perfect for sweet-teeth! They do amazing Sicilian special bites including the most famous Cannolo and Arancia, which ensure a “full” morning.
Address:
Mercato Centrale, Via Giovanni Giolitti, 36, 00185 Roma RM
Bottega Portici
For a more low-key Italian breakfast, I love Bottega Portici at Terrazza Termini inside the station. It is actually a fresh hand-made pasta restaurant, however, in the morning hours, they serve beautiful cornetto (croissant) with pistachio cream. Sometimes, I love to have a cup of cappuccino with soy milk.
Address:
Piazza dei Cinquecento, 1, 00185 Roma RM
After the whole day sightseeing, finally we ended up at Piazza Navona with cold hands and slightly wet hair from the earlier-day rain. Instead of coffee, we actually went for the hot chocolate.
Vivi Bistrot
Vivi Bistrot on Piazza Navona, is the perfect place. It is cozy and just located at the door of Museo di Roma Palazzo Braschi – an art bistro! Drinking a mini cup (tazzina in Italian) of espresso in the semi-outdoor corridor would be perfect for an early summer day, especially if you are lucky to get a seat right under the sculpture! However, for the winter rainy days, we hided inside where, if you are lucky again, a spot in front of their beautiful window for a beautiful view of Piazza Navona, could be epic! Hot chocolate and coffee are great there, but Vivi is also a place for healthy food and vegan dishes.
Address:
Piazza Navona, 2, 00186 Roma RM
Visiting Italy, you cannot miss some drinks with great small bites, or Italians call it “Aperitivo“. If you go to the right place, an Aperitivo can even be a casual dinner for long hours.
(Photo from i Pizzaicaroli Instagram)
I Pizzaicaroli
I Pizzaicaroli in the narrow street near Piazza Navona is a good option. I discovered them from the Instagram account “aperitiroma“! I was immediately captured by grotto-like setting outside I Pizzaicaroli when I passed them last time, and of course, you don’t want to miss their famous cold cuts platter on a big square tray!
Address:
Via della Fossa, 9, 00186 Roma RM
Day 2: When we were near Colosseum and wondered near Tiber River before heading to dinner
Before walking to Colosseum along Via Cavour, we explored a small street corner near Via Merulana. That corner hosts 2 of my favorite pasticceria in the area and all of them serve great artisan sweets, but also daily fresh made bread and pastries.
Panificio Panella
Panella is awarded if you pay attention to their “bread show”, and they also use an old-fashion coffee machine for all guests. The shop is with a cute outdoor space, where you can sit on the tables with a slightly higher price or pick up a self-service table with the normal on-the-bar price. However, I suggest to try a cup of cappuccino sitting down, because you will be served with their special zabaione-like cream and wrapped cream to replace normal coffee sugar. Of course, simply a cornetto or a mini pizza is so delicious too.
Address:
Via Merulana, 54, 00185 Roma RM
Enoteca D’Amore
D’Amore is both a pasticceria and an enoteca. You will know it once you go inside their shop. The wall is covered by the bottles, and the floors are occupied by the wooden or the carton boxes as well. Their cappuccino is cute and well-made and they have a selection of beautiful traditional Italian sweets every time. The locals love to take away a tray of desserts from them in the weekends.
Address:
Via dello Statuto, 37/A/B, 00185 Roma RM
After walking up and down between Palatine and Aventino, a comfort and big dinner was what we craved for on Day 2. Taking the metro for just one stop, we landed at Pyramide and our target is the famous local dine-out zone, Testaccio. Authentic Roman food, is the night’s topic!
Da Bucatino
It is one of the best and favorites in Testaccio according to Luigi and me. We visit it quite frequently, just for the simplest Roman pasta. Carbonara, Buccatino all’Amatriciano, Cacio e Pepe, sometimes, we also order Coda and other meat courses. We love their always-running-and-sweating old man, who is the waiter and maybe restaurant manager there, and who is also super energetic (actually he is not that old)!
Address:
Via Luca della Robbia, 84, 00153 Roma RM
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Velavevodetto is located in a slightly complicated location in Testaccio, where you really need to take a bit effort and motivation to go. However, trust me, it is worth this extra 10 minutes walk. They’ve got the very classic Roman dishes with Rigatoni al Sugo di Pajata, and their Carbonara is frequently recommended by my Romano friends. I’ve been so amused by their menu and even written about it, if you are interested, you can read more here.
Address:
Trattoria Perilli
Perilli is old and therefore, well known by different generations (I mean locals). When we had our dinner there, we were probably the only one tourist table if the other expat table wouldn’t be counted. They also have the very classic Roman dishes like Rigatoni al Sugo di Pajata, however, I recommend to try the mains like Coratella, which is a very traditional Roman dish with mixed organ parts of a baby lamb. Also, you cannot miss their Tiramisu and Zabbaione mousse!
Address:
Via Marmorata, 39, 00153 Roma RM
Day 3: When we went through Cavour and had a zig-zag walk along Via Corso
Coming back to the Rome city center, you would never be left starving among hundreds of restaurants, however, picking up a good one is not that easy!
La Boccaccia
We went for a lazy brunch on Day 3 morning, while passing through Cavour to Piazza Venezia. La Boccaccia, is a must-visit stop on the way! It is just a small pizza stop, with limited seats. Most of people choose take-away or to eat fast while standing. It is quick, yummy, with plenty of pizza choices and cheap! Perfect, right?! Also, they continue making different pizza throughout the whole day, so whenever you go, you might be attracted by a new one, also, you can always ask for a smaller piece and try as many different pizza as you can! Don’t be too greedy like me. Oops, also, they have pizza with nutella! I know, it’s a bit weird, but who doesn’t like nutella, and with pizza?!
Address:
Via Leonina, 73, 00184 Roma RM
If you follow my 3 Day Rome Itinerary and walk all the way from Cavour to Via Corso, and visit both Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, or even go further until Piazza di Spagna, I have a list of great gelato stops, Roman dessert, classic cafe for you, before you reach the time for dinner!
Gelateria dell’Angeletti
If you are around Cavour, I recommend a gelato at Gelateria dell’Angeletti. It’s an artisan gelato shop with some rare flavor, especially if you are a big fan of Nutella! They’ve got vegan Nutella, exactly like the one from the jar! This is also a place for people asking for diary-free, vegan, or gluten-free options. You can read more here from my previous writing.
Address:
Via dell’Angeletto, 15, 00184 Roma RM
Giolitti
If you are near Pantheon, you will be among Venchi and many other gelateria, however, the very classic Giolitti seems to win everyone’s heart! That’s always the reason! Their gelato is huge like a mountain; they’ve got their home-made wrapped cream on top, even I’m not a cream person, I cannot opt out; they’ve got more than 20 flavors and also seasonal ones! One of my mood post talked about Giolitti and its seasonal flavor few weeks ago, check it out here.
Address:
Pompi
If you are near Piazza di Spagna, why not have a break with something sweet? Italians, normally don’t have tiramisu as their afternoon tea break (only small biscuits or sweet bites) however, Pompi is an exception. Their tiramisu is with rich texture – very much Italian, but also with a few creative flavors like, pistachio, strawberry and more to explore!
Address:
Via della Croce, 82, 00187 Roma RM
Cafe Greco
A classic Italian cafe located in a classic street with a bunch of classic “super” shops – Cafe Greco, right under Piazza di Spagna and it is the neighbor of the top luxury brands in the world, but it is still cute and friendly enough for a normal person like us to enjoy some late afternoon moments. On the bar, we shared a classic Italian sweet bites with a wonderful cup of Macchiato, and I love their mini cannoli a lot, whatever classic flavor or the twisted one with pistachio. If you want to visit like us but not spending a lot, stay at the bar and avoid sitting down on the table inside.
Address:
Via dei Condotti, 86, 00187 Roma RM
Finally we could have a dinner in Rome city center, and I have to “confess” that it is not easy to find a good authentic restaurant in the center, and I believe it would be equally challenging to do the same if you are in any big modern city in the world. But, we still can discover and share a few.
Gino Sorbillo
Gino Sorbillo is for pizza lover, especially you are a fan of Neapolitan pizza. Also, it is a young, energetic, fashionable pizza house, where you will find them also in US. Their special way to impress you is, to make pizza slightly bigger so that the edge will stay outside the plate! The pizza menu is very simple – mostly red sauce base (with tomato), and even if you choose a white pizza, it will be with a yellow cherry tomato – lovely! Surprisingly, I finished the whole pizza without a break, but not really feeling overwhelming in my stomach. I guess, that’s because their dough or maybe their way of making the pizza base super thin and light. Maybe you can have a try, and let me know?
Address:
Matriccianella
Matriccianella is another frequently visited place in Rome city center by us. Beautiful cute line-up outdoor tables, and the environment always warm and chic. Inside is even warmer, but the most fancy part is their private cellar, which hosts thousands (maybe) of wines! You can definitely ask to visit. It is a traditional Roman cuisine restaurant, so order whatever you want, as long as Romano! Carbonara, Bucatini all’Amatricciana, Coda, Trippa, etc etc. For the dessert, if you are going in Autumn/Winter season, try the seasonal chestnut mousse, you will fall in love with it!
Address:
Via del Leone, 4, 00186 Roma RM
I hope you would like my recommendations for good food and nice experience while you are traveling in Rome. By the way, if you are coming to Rome for the first time, and you don’t have that much time to explore this eternal city, check out my 3 Day Rome Itinerary, so you might get some ideas to optimize the routes and day-to-day plan. Ciao, see you in the next post!
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