Restaurants in Rome
Set out below are the restaurants in Rome I visited and their location. The trattorias and osterias are the most traditional, offering authentic Italian food at affordable prices. Try not to visit restaurants very close to the main attractions or in a square. Just wander through the cobbled streets and that is where you find the hidden gems!
Italian menus are usually split into:
- antipasti / appetisers
- primi piatti (first plate) which is generally pasta
- secondi piatti (second plates) which is generally meat and fish dishes
- dessert
As Rome is so full of tourists, restaurants understand that not everyone wants a relaxed four course meal and will be happy to serve you just a pasta dish without questioning.
Osteria Della Suburra (Monti neighbourhood)
This Osteria was recommended by our lovely hotel. Situated in the Monti neighbourhood, Osteria Della Suburra had an outside area for al fresco dining as well as a traditional, rustic interior.
We obviously had a couple of Aperol’s (€6 each) and tucked into an Antipasto with a selection of cured meats (€7) which was such a bargain. This was followed by the Bucatini all’ Amatriciana with pancetta, guanciale (pig’s cheek) pomodoro and pecorino (€10) and the Trenette Al Pesto with basil, garlic, pistachio and Parmesan (€10).
Both the pasta dishes were huge portions (probably double the size I have in the UK) and served al dente. The service was friendly and the food was delicious and affordable.
Circus 47 Rooftop (near the Colosseum)
47 Boutique Hotel is situated near the river around a 15 minute walk from the Colosseum. 47 Circus Roof Garden is the rooftop restaurant with lovely views over the Rome.
The restaurant focuses on locally sourced ingredients and using the best seasonal produce. All of our dishes were under the ‘From Italian Tradition’ section of the menu. We shared the Suppli al Telefono: rice croquettes with tomato sauce, meat and mozzarella cheese covered with deep fried crumbs. They were like small arancini balls and and were €14 for six.
The Carbonara (of course made with eggs, not cream) was amazing (€18). The guanciale used in the dish was so flavoursome and salty making this dish a real winner. We also tucked into the Polpettine di Vitello al Sugo (veal meatballs with tomato sauce). This was served with a creamy mashed potato and was a nice change from pasta.
Dining / drinking on the rooftop is weather dependent as they do not have a covered terrace so make sure you check for rain first!
La Fraschetta di Castel Sant’Angelo (unsurprisingly near the Castle)
La Fraschetta di Castel Sant’Angelo is a local trattoria with a few tables outside offering a simple and tasty menu. The specials of the day are written on a chalkboard and brought to your table to look at. The restaurant also has a small al carte menu on offer.
The antipasti dishes range from €7- €16 and include antipasto, prosciutto and mozzarella and caprese salad. We jumped straight in for the pasta with five choices on the menu (all priced at €10). The Cacio e Pepe (black pepper and pecorino) was amazing. For such a simple dish, the flavours are outstanding and the pasta was lovely and al dente.
We also tried the Lasagna with sausage and zucchini flowers (€13) which was sooo cheesy! Both portions were huge and more than enough for lunch. The restaurant had many locals dining which is always a good sign and although the service was pretty abrupt, we had a great meal.
Hostaria Constanza (Campo De’Fiori)
Hostaria Constanza was very busy on a Saturday evening and packed to the brim outside (again mainly with locals). We managed to grab one of the final tables inside which used to be part of an ancient theatre!
They serve classic Roman dishes priding themselves on their fresh produce (they have fresh fish the customers can see). The service was friendly from the beginning, even more so when he realised I was a Chelsea fan!
We started with one of the best mozzarella’s I have ever tasted (€7) which was definitely large enough to share. It was so creamy and fresh – just incredible. The first courses offered something different to many of the menus I had seen including cheese and spinach filled crepes, chick pea soup with tiger prawns and gnocchi with potatoes.
We decided to try the second courses for a change and opted for the Beef Fillet with green pepper sauce (€25). Served with mashed potato, the fillet was so tender and cooked to perfection. We also sampled the Veal Escalaopes in Lemon Sauce (€16). They were a little thin for me but nonetheless still tasty with the lemon.
Lastly, we devoured an incredible creme brulee (€6) to round off our meal. We were also given complimentary biscuits to finish! Hostaria Constanza is a lovely, homely restaurant.
Giulietta Vino e Cucina (Campo Di Fiori)
What a gorgeous bistro on the gorgeous cobbled streets of Via Giulia. Just look out for the fairy lights in the evening! We stopped by for wine and a Charcuterie and it was delicious. With bresola, salami, prosciutto and more, the meat was incredible. Popular with the locals, this is a lovely restaurant to visit near Campo Di Fiori.
Forno Pizzeria Da Milvio (Monti)
If you are looking for a relaxed bite to eat in Monti, I recommend this pizzeria which sells pizza by weight. It also has a great selection of sandwiches and piadina’s. You just choose how much you want and take it away in the box. We paid €5 for four small slices of nduja pizza and it was delicious!
Enoteca Ferrara (Trastervere)
Run by two sisters, this enoteca is deceptively large. The restaurant area spreads out to the back with a separate outdoor terrace area. We stopped by for aperitivo which was served at the bar and, of course, a little tipple. The selection including mozzarella, ricotta, bruschetta, salad and chicken wings.
Other Recommendations
We were also recommended the following restaurants in Rome that we did not have time to visit:
- Renato e Luisa – we did actually visit here on a Saturday evening but there was no room. It looked like a lovely trattoria so make sure you book.
- La Carbonara – Classic Roman Dishes with graffiti on the walls
- Osteria Barberini – all about the truffle! Book in advance
- Hotel Raphael Rooftop – great views of Rome
- Da Felice a Testaccio – traditional Roman cuisine
East London Girl: Restaurants in Rome
Click Here to read about our lovely hotel in Rome, Here for our segway tour and Here for bars in Rome