Rome: The City from an Ancient Empire
Rome is the capital and a cosmopolitan city of Italy. Recognized for globally influenced art and architecture dating back a few centuries ago as well as ancient sites such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and the Roman Catholic Church, tourists all over the world travel the city frequently to experience all Rome has to offer. With 4.3 million residents in this grand city, Rome has a lot of fun things to do, a wide array of some of the best Italian restaurants you must visit and the best pizza there is.
Dating back to its plethora of Eastern influences and history embedded into the city since 28 centuries ago, you will notice the evolution of Roman food from light fishes, cold meats, bread, and pancakes, to modern-day form. Keep reading if you want to know what some of the best Italian restaurants are in Rome. You might be surprised at some of the new dishes you will learn about and experience in this abundant city.
There’s also a little surprise for you at the end of the article, but first here are 8 Best Italian Restaurants in Rome:
1. Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino
A small, hidden gem of Rome
Dinner time is one of the best occasions to plan a visit to this restaurant. Experience Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino’s finest Roman cuisine among one of Rome’s popular local dine-ins. From the Cacio e pepe, meaning cheese and pepper, to the Carbonara, with eggs, pork cheeks, and black pepper, this location is a definite must for your party, especially those who love their Italian cheeses. If you don’t plan to come early or have a large party, we recommend making a reservation in advance.
From the restaurant’s signature fresh grating of cheese onto pastas such as with anchovies, parsley, garlic and tomatoes, all pastas here are unbelievably good and very refreshing. But don’t let pre-entree meals fill you up at Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino.
Get a bite of Rome’s meat-based dishes if you’re feeling a bit carnivorous, however, Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino is also vegetarian-friendly as well. From liver and onions with white wine and sage, to prosciutto, ribs, and beef and baby lamb with tomatoes, feel what it’s like to enjoy a complete Roman meal even the locals can’t get enough of. The restaurant’s warm atmosphere is great for both big and small parties.
Food Tip: You may find while tasting such savory Roman dishes at Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino that the richness from the noodles, carefully chosen seasonings, and blend of meats complement each other well. Some dishes such as the Carbonara exemplify a rich texture, while the pepper and cheese really bring the whole dish together. Drinking wine is also a must when you come to Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino.
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday from 1:00 PM – 3:45 PM & 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Address: Vicolo Rosini 4, 00186 Rome, Italy (Formerly Trattoria Dal Cavalier Gino)
Phone Number: +39 06 687 3434
Price: $$ – $$$
2. Trattoria Luzzi
Best cost value, fantastic service
Looking for a convenient lunch stop on your way to discovering more notable sites in Rome? Then you have come to the right place. Among the tall city streets and markets of Rome, you will find a few eateries with outdoor seating in some of the best spots of the city. Don’t forget to put this stop on your list.
Trattoria Luzzi has a wide range of cuisines on its menu, from the Roman Style Tripe (Trippa Alla Romana), to Amatriciana, a tomato-based cured pork belly. Enjoy the variation in Italian cooking of tomatoes, from sour, tart, and sweet. The pork belly here has lots of flavor. The staff is genuinely friendly and the restaurant is in a great downtown location near the Colosseum. Don’t forget to use bread to soak up all of that tomato sauce!
There are lots of ways to satisfy your Italian food palette here without getting too full. Make a food stop at Trattoria Luzzi. Fuel up on your first day of touring, whether taking a relaxed walk in the city with your party or on the road to a destination.
Operating Hours: Sunday – Saturday from 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Address: Via di San Giovanni in Laterano 88, 00184 Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 709 6332
Price: $
Travel tip: Take the Metro, it will help get to the best eats in Rome more efficiently.
3. Antico Forno Roscioli
Fabulous pizza, one of Rome’s best bakeries
Pizza! Pizza! Among the alleys and a very famous food to eat in Rome. It’s great for a quick stop to get a small bite to eat. Make a note to check out this pizza parlor and bakery, Antico Forno Roscioli, for some of best pizza Rome has to offer. There are lots of variations in pizza here, from tomato and cheese to spinach and mushrooms.
Panned out across their long table is an assortment like a rainbow of baked pizzas. The bakery’s large variety of pizza will have you wanting to try all that Antico Forno Roscioli has to offer. This is a great place to bring a large group so you can share your pizzas together.
Operating Hours: Sunday – Saturday from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Via Dei Chiavari 34, 00186 Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 686 4045
Price: $
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4. Nonna Betta
Jewish Cuisine in Rome
Enjoy some of Rome’s best Jewish Food at the Nonna Betta Restaurant. While Jewish food in Rome is very common, it is definitely a cuisine you should not miss. Fried Jewish Artichoke is all the rage in Rome, from the simplicity and variations in texture from the outside in, as the meatiness in the leaves of the delicacy deepens from chewy to soft.
As an outside venue, Nonna Betta is in an eclectic neighborhood among the streets of Rome. While Nonna Betta’s artichokes are one of this restaurant’s highlights, do not miss out on other delicious dishes this place has to offer. Nomaventa special pasta is mostly tomato based, and while it has a creaminess to it, great noodles and bits of minced meat bring this dish’s flavors all together. Be sure to work on those pasta twirling skills before coming to this stop.
A seafood specialty of Nonna Betta includes a codfish dish with pistachios and pine nuts. The entree’s nutty flavor seeps into the cod, balancing its caramelization with its buttery sauce.
If you are a meat lover, be sure to consider the oxtail, submerged in a tomato broth. The meat falls apart easily with a fork and melts in your mouth.
Tip: Use the bus stops from iconic sites of Rome to get to dine-ins farther away.
Operating Hours: Sunday – Saturday from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Address: Via del Portico d’Ottavia 16, 00186 Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 6880 6263
Price: $$ – $$$
5. Fiaschetteria Marini Restaurant
Green neon lights and stone walls….
A quiet solace away from the masses of tourists, Fiaschetteria Marini Restaurant is just as real with its quality Roman cuisine as it is with its cozy environment and inexpensive menu items. Since 1913, Fiaschetteria Marini Restaurant has been a family-owned business. Experience enjoyable dishes from antipasti and Mezze Maniche alla Amatriciana with friendly service.
Mezze Maniche alla Amatriciana at Fiaschetteria Marini is a must for tomato lovers, with consistent cheese on top with cured pork, some tartness from tomatoes, and al dente pasta with a delightful chewy texture.
Their Gnocchi alla Fiaschetteria is a delectable potato pasta, coupled with salty cured pork cheek and topped with grated Parmesan cheese. This dish’s pasta are like little soft pillows, floating in a deliciously rich and flavorful sauce. Fiaschetteria Marini is a definite hidden gem of Rome, but warning, their menu is all in Italian. Download your Italian language app!
Operating Hours: Monday – Wednesday from 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM & Thursday – Saturday from 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Address: Via Raffaele Cadorna 9, 00187 Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 474 5534
Price: $
6. Ristorante Chiaroscuro
Fine dining and seafood
Enjoy yourself as you take a break to relish in a slow fine-dining experience. Savor your taste buds on beautifully crafted platings of delicious Italian dishes; from deliciously baked fish dishes to a beautiful array of seafood.
Ristorante Chiaroscuro is also a great food location to take your significant other or special occasion and spend some quality time together in Rome. This restaurant’s decorations, service, food presentation, is all a foodie could ask for. As this is a restaurant to try some of Rome’s finest fish dishes, this is a not-to-miss restaurant if you’re a seafood lover.
Operating Hours: Saturday – Sunday from 11:30 AM – 12:00 AM & Monday – Friday from 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Address: Via Rimini 15, 00182 Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 6482 1932
Price: $$ – $$$
7. La Pergola
A Taste of Luxurious Rome
Partake in a fine dining experience at one of Rome’s most gorgeous and breathtaking traditional Roman restaurants. From fantastic views at the top of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, take in breathtaking skylines among traditional Roman buildings, whether in the day or at night.
As a more expensive Roman restaurant featured on this list, La Pergola might be best suited for the special occasion between you and a loved one, or a big celebration with your party. Service is fantastic at La Pergola, with very attentive staff available for best explaining menu selections.
Food presentation to quality taste is a must to savor at this restaurant, so do not feel rushed when you come here. From steak to seafood, chocolate drawers and wine, food preparation at La Pergola is prepared to perfection.
There is a large selection of wine at La Pergola, with over 53,000 bottles of selection for adventurous drinkers. La Pergola has notable recognition with its three-Michelin stars, the only restaurant in Rome as of 2018 to have received such an honor. La Pergola has also received a prestigious international Star Diamond Award, deemed as 5-star restaurant qualification and its Board of Trustees. If these top class culinary accolades do not amaze you at what this restaurant can do to your taste buds for Roman cuisine, you will have to find out for yourself. Make the trip to experience a delicious and memorable meal.
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Address: Via Alberto Cadlolo 101 | Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, 00136 Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39-06-350 91
Price: $$$$
8. Il Laboratorio della Pizza
You are at home in Rome
Feeling warm and cozy on your treks in Rome? If not, be sure to dine at the incredibly hospitable Roman restaurant, Il Laboratorio della Pizza. With a relaxing environment and personal service, experience traditional Roman cuisine with a modern kick. From simple tan, white and brown walls to a variety of wooden tables and chairs, coming to Il Laboratorio della Pizza feels like you are visiting a friend or lounging at a cafe.
With inexpensive menu price points, the large variety of options of pizza, vegetarian-friendly dishes, and healthy-ingredient based dishes makes Il Laboratorio della Pizza one of the top Roman restaurants from its attention to detail in its culinary creations.
In fact, the founder of Il Laboratorio della Pizza, Daniel Pacelli, inspired the passion for cooking healthy and natural Roman cuisine. Since his influential efforts in growing Il Laboratorio della Pizza, generations of the Pacelli family continue its tradition in making Roman cuisine.
With a multigenerational family restaurant, founded upon the passion of cooking Roman food at its finest, the crowded tables show how Il Laboratorio della Pizza continues to produce high food quality. If you are looking for pizza where the locals go to, this is one restaurant that should be on your list to visit.
Operating Hours: Sunday from 12:00 AM – 12:30 AM & 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Tuesday – Wednesday from 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Thursday from 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Friday – Saturday from 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Address: Via Cassia 36 | Ponte Milvio, 00191 Rome, Italy
Phone Number:+39 06 8692 5300
Price: $
Bonus!
We hope that our list of “8 Best Italian Restaurants in Rome” will help you taste the best of Italian cuisine and make your trip truly delicious and memorable.
We also have a little something for you! If you’re interested in a cooking class, use our promo code ROMEEAT10 to get 10% off on www.cookly.me
