This fall, I packed my most comfortable flats and my buttery brown leather jacket, as I headed on a food adventure back to Rome to re-discover what this Cappuccino-sipping city has to offer for the globe-trotting gourmet. I gathered lots of delicious food and travel tips (for my blog and my book). So here’s my Travelista Guide and pics of pleasureful Rome!
(See Guide Below)
Good morning Roma! Starting the day with a Cappucino, pastry and freshly squeezed orange juice. Breakfast doesn’t extend much more than this, but that’s ok as you will need to keep your appetite for lunch.
Beauty along the River
Rome and fashion go hand in hand
The morning market at Campo di Fiori
So many beautiful artichokes!
The fresh produce of Rome. Love the Zucchini flowers
Barlotti Beans are everywhere….
As are tomatoes…..!
Pasta Heaven
Watch out for this little store on the Campo di Fiori, filled with Italian meats
Italians love their coffee
Vibrant Flowers at the Market
A short walk from the market will take you to the river. Cross the Ponte Sisto, and you will get to the Trastevere neighborhood. Walk around winding streets dotted with cute bakeries, pizzeria’s and delicious restaurants. Personally, my favorite area in Rome for the relaxed and rustic Italian way of life.
For the most amazing Pizza slice, Forno la Rellena, offers delicious combinations like Zucchini flower and goats cheese, and Eggplant, Mozzarella and Parmesan.
The character of Trastevere
Relax at Bar Callisto or sip fresh orange juice at Cafe Della Arancia on the Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere
Nothing but Fresh Orange Juice at Cafe della Arancia
Lunch or Dinner at Antica Trattoria da Carlone is a must. Quite simply some of the best Italian Cuisine.
Order the “Roman style Artichokes”, and one of the House Specialities. I got the most divine “Papparadelle fiori di zucca e scalogno”- Papparadelle pasta with courgette (zucchini) flowers and Scallions. Definitely an ‘Eat Pray Love” moment eating this!
Amazing Biscotti and Baked Goods around Trastevere. I particularly love Panetteria Romana Spaccio di Pasto for breads, biscotti, and sweet treats. They also do great antipasti.
The Trastevere Market
Creative and colorful boutiques around Trastevere
The residential Prati neighborhood to the north of the Vatican, is thriving with great little foodie spots.
Coffee aficionados come to Sciacia Cafe, for the most rich and luscious coffee brewed from house roasted beans. A Caffe ristretto will give you added espresso intensity!
Gelato doesn’t get much better than at Gelatteria dei Gracchi for their fruity and nutty combinations.
Try the Meringue and Pistachio, Persimmom or Roasted Chestnut flavors.
Romeo is a foodie’s paradise. Find everything Italian, from a bountiful bakery offering breads, biscotti and pizza; a gourmet deli counter selling fresh cheeses and cured meats, and of course pastas and wines galore. In the back of the modern, bright space is the excellent restaurant serving lunch and dinner. If you want quality epicurean delights to take back home with you, this is the place to get them.
The up and coming Monti neighborhood of Rome is adorable and exudes more of a creative, fun, young and forward thinking vibe.
Tea, fun drinks and baked goods are served in innovative and cute ways at 2 Periodic Cafe. A readers heaven dotted with newspapers vintage books and posters, with a clever take on how to use recycled newspapers! Even the menu is covered in old articles!
A few doors down is a store filled to the brim with chocolate. I’m not lying.
The piazza in Monti
But the real reason we are going to Monti is for Fatamorgana. Gelato doesn’t come more creative and delicious than this. It may not look much from the outside, but this is a hidden gem using flavors you’d never dare of turning into ice-cream. Try the Pear and Blue Cheese flavor, or perhaps the Chocolate and black tea..or if you’re really in the mood, yummy Eggnog!
Oh and just in case you haven’t had enough sugar yet, Ciuru Ciuru offers Sicilian treats….Mini little cannoli’s!
The Testaccio neighborhood may be a little more out of the way, but for an authentic Italian day at the market, browse the around the airy, solar-paneled Mercato di Testaccio, an indoor market offering everything from fresh calamari to leather italian boots. (at decent prices!)
For the most delicious Panini you will ever try, ‘Panini Romanesco’ housed inside the market is a must visit for snack or quick lunch. The fillings are incredible!
It’s easy to walk straight past the Testaccio hole in the wall, that is Pizzeria 00100, named for the grade of semolina flour they use in their ‘Suppli’- Rome’s famous Street snacks. But if you are lucky enough to arrive at a quiet time in this tiny pizzeria, you can try their speciality ‘Trapizzini’- triangular pieces of think pizza bianca, filled with your choice of saucy meatballs, chicken or other savory stuffing- all for around 4 Euros.
Suppli- Rice balls filled with a variety of fillings
You don’t go to Rome without visiting the Centro Storico, home to the Spanish Steps, The Trevi Fountain and The Pantheon to name but a few of the greatest Roman landmarks in history. Amongst the tourist areas, there are still some fantastic foodie gems where the locals slide into tables next to their foreign friends.
Where do the fashionable lunch? At the glamorous Ginger, of course. A focus on healthy, nutritious salads, veggies and local produce is a pleasant change from some of the more classic Roman menu’s. Order a fresh fruit juice and the Vadina Salad made of mixed greens, baked pumpkin, crispy bacon, pomegranates and mixed organic seeds.
Or if you are looking for something a little more traditional, you can’t go wrong with simple but fast La Carbonara on the Campo di Fiori
Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Go to Campini for the coffee, cornetti and gelato.
Cute and tasty restaurants are around every narrow winding corner in the Centro Storico.
A beautiful eatery on Piazza Trilussa
The chic streets around the Spagna area
If you are looking to people watch at a cool yet relaxed indoor/outdoor bar, then look no further than Bar del Fico, hidden a few streets away from the Piazza Navona on Piazza der Fico. Here locals play chess outside on early evenings and brush elbows next to fashionable italians, tourists, and every walk of life.
Inside Bar del Fico
To Rome with Love!
The condensed Travelista guide on where to eat in Rome: (arranged by neighborhood)
Centro Storico:
- Ginger– healthy, fashionable Lunch
- Osteria Margutta- great for lunch or dinner. Traditional with a hint of creativity.
- Hotel Eden- for a great view of Rome with a Strawberry Champagne in hand
- Camponeschi- voted one of the best restaurants in Rome, extremely expensive.
- La Carbonara- for the absolute best Carbonara, of course!
- Caffe Antico Greco- historic and grand, stand at the bar for an amazing granita di caffe con panna
- La Buvette- for a quiet moment for tea after a long morning of shopping
- Ciampini– for an afternoon in the sun with a luscious cornetto, coffee…it also has a retro gelato bar
Trastevere :
- Forno la Rellena– for amazing pizza and biscotti
- Antica Trattoria da Carlone– Delicious traditional italian fare for lunch or dinner
- Panaterria Romana– For antipasti and sweet treats!
- Cafe della Arancia– Fresh orange juice is all you need (and all there is..)
- Augusto– Even locals line up for this one
- Checco er carettiere– pastries and gelato heaven
Monti:
- Fatamorgana– Gelato doesn’t get much better than this
- Full Monti– For breakfast, lunch, and dinner- a healthier alternative
- Ciuru Ciuru– Creamy Sicilian cannolino’s
- 2 Periodic– Tea, coffee, cocktails, cookies and cakes in a cool vintage setting
- Bottega del Cioccolato– Chocolates in all shapes, flavors and sizes.
- Urbana 47– for a little breakfast, lunch or aperetivo
- Tricolore Monti– gourmet take out/eat in joint with delicious sandwich fillings
- Ai Tre Scalini– Enjoy a variety of italian wines at this enoteca
Prati
- Romeo– for lunch, dinner, a casual glass of wine…and great cheese, italian meats and pizza counters
- Sciacia Cafe– Coffee doesn’t get much better than this in this old school setting
- Gelateria del Gracchi– the best fruit and nut flavors of melt in your mouth gelato
- Nudo e Crudo– upscale, modern steak and fish
- Viva Cafe– pretty desserts to be marveled
- Forno Colapicchioni- a magnificent bakery delivering biscotti, pizza, breads and cookies for over 70 years
- Settembrini Cafe– a cozy, local favorite with incredible Italian cuisine. Dinner.
Testaccio
- Mercato di Testaccio– snack your way through cheeses, meats, pizza and antipasti at this the indoor, airy open air market
- Panini Romana– Try these world famous deliciously filled Panini’s at a counter in the maket
- Pizza 00100– Filling and tasty Roman street snacks at this low key eatery
BUON APPETITO!
