Trattorias, pizzerias and gelaterias of Rome: 15 places from antipasti to gelato

Italian cuisine in Rome is built not on restaurants near the Colosseum, but on trattorias in residential neighborhoods. We picked fifteen spots: from a family trattoria near Castel Sant'Angelo to a gelateria on Via dei Coronari. We checked each place through official websites and menus.

The scenarios at these spots vary: a quick pizza al taglio snack, a long pasta dinner, fresh fish, Belgian beer, and dessert after a walk. Prices in central Rome change every season, so check the menu on the venue's website for current amounts. Below you'll find the cuisine type, neighborhood, and honest caveats for each address.

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How to pick a lunch spot in Rome

💡 In short:

• First pick a neighborhood: the center near Piazza Navona, the north near the Vatican, or Trastevere for the evening.
• Then the format: a quick bite on your feet, dinner at a trattoria, or dessert after a walk.
• Book a table at popular spots a day ahead; at pizza places with a display counter the line moves faster.
• Check prices and hours on the venues' official websites (Bonci, Gelateria del Teatro).

Our pick: fifteen spots that cover different scenarios.

1. La Fraschetta di Castel Sant'Angelo

A Roman cuisine trattoria five minutes on foot from Castel Sant'Angelo (see map). Tables are set outside, with a view of the fortress. In the evening you may not get a table without a reservation.

You'll find Roman classics: caprese, prosciutto with mozzarella, assorted bruschetta, five kinds of pasta from amatriciana to carbonara, saltimbocca, lamb abbacchio al forno, and beef. For dessert there's tiramisu, cheesecake, sorbet, and Nutella mousse.

• Location: between Castel Sant'Angelo and the Vatican (see map).
• Prices: mid-range for central Rome, the menu changes by season.
• Who it's for: for a first dinner in the city and for classic Roman cuisine.
• The catch: in the evening you may not get a table without a reservation.

2. Mariuccia

A pizzeria between the Mostra di Leonardo da Vinci and Piazza Navona. You can walk to the square in about five minutes (see map).

© Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bert Kaufmann from Roermond, Netherlands, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Toppings change by season: seafood, prosciutto, bresaola, mortadella, pistachios, cheeses, and vegetables. Besides pizza, it's worth ordering antipasti and carbonara here.

• Getting there: about five minutes on foot from Piazza Navona (see map).
• Prices: mid-range for the center, pizza and antipasti go on one bill.
• Who it's for: for lunch in the center after a walk near Piazza Navona.

3. Forno Monteforte

A coffee shop and bakery a stone's throw from Piazza Navona (see map). The display case is filled early in the morning, so the selection is widest at breakfast.

© Luigi Guerrieri4 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Luigi Guerrieri4, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

You'll find crispy croissants, creamy maritozzi buns, and fruit cakes. A separate display case is devoted to pastries, tartlets, and mini desserts. The fillings use seasonal fruit and berries, and on Sundays they bake special pastries for families.

• Getting there: about two minutes on foot from Piazza Navona (see map).
• Prices: coffee and desserts stay in the mid-range for the center.
• Who it's for: for breakfast and for coffee with pastries in the middle of the day.

4. La Fornace

A family restaurant about ten minutes by car from the Vatican (see map). If you have a car and don't want to hunt for a table in the center, this is a convenient option.

© Diego Baglieri · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Baglieri, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The menu is split into four sections: antipasti, pasta, meat, and pizza. They make about two dozen kinds of pizza here, so a group can easily put together a table of different dishes.

• Getting there: about ten minutes by car from the Vatican (see map).
• Prices: check the current menu on the venue's website.
• Who it's for: for a family dinner with a big group.
• The catch: getting there without a car is inconvenient.

5. La Siciliana

A Sicilian pastry shop not far from the Vatican. There's plenty to choose from here: cannoli come eight ways, from classic ricotta to chocolate.

© Cm9462 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Cm9462, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Besides cannoli, the display case has strudel, tiramisu, croissants, and rum baba. Desserts are also sold whole, so putting together a sweet gift to take home is easy here. For a hearty snack there's pizza and lunch options.

• Getting there: on foot from the Vatican, check the map for the exact route.
• Prices: mid-range for pastry shops near the Vatican.
• Who it's for: for dessert lovers and for cannoli without a long search.

6. Baguetteria del Fico

A spot near Piazza Navona with bruschetta and panini. Nineteen kinds of panini and fourteen bruschetta give you a choice between meat and fish flavors.

© Luigi Guerrieri4 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Luigi Guerrieri4, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The combinations here are unexpected: panini with porchetta, scamorza, and pepperoni, a version with salmon, nut cream, and goat cheese, bruschetta with jamón and fig jam. They offer a Spritz cocktail with your order.

• Getting there: right by Piazza Navona, on foot from the city center.
• Prices: mid-range for the center, portions are large.
• Who it's for: for a quick lunch without utensils.

7. Bonci

Gabriele Bonci's pizzeria sells pizza by weight and mostly for takeaway (according to bonci.it). They make Roman pizza al taglio here: rectangular slices in a display case, not round pizza from the oven.

The format is simple. You point at the display case, and the server cuts a piece and calculates the price by weight. Start with the Margherita or try a slice with scrambled egg. There are a couple of tables inside, but most guests take their order to go.

• Prices: you pay by weight, the total depends on the size of the slice.
• Who it's for: for a snack on the go and for getting to know Roman pizza al taglio.
• The catch: at lunchtime a line forms at the display case, and there are few tables inside.

8. Fantasie Napoletane

A Neapolitan pizzeria where pizza is assembled from halves and quarters. That way you can try several flavors in one order.

The dough here is Neapolitan, soft, not thin Roman style. Besides pizza, the menu includes appetizers and stuffed omelets, and the staff will suggest combinations.

• Prices: mid-range for Rome pizzerias.
• Who it's for: for those who want to compare several toppings at once.

9. Anvedi

There are four Anvedi locations in Rome, so finding a free table is easier than at a single trattoria.

You can easily put together a dinner of bruschetta, olive ascolane, pasta, and pizza. There's also a separate American cuisine section: bacon cheeseburger, chicken burger, pork ribs, and barbecue burger.

• Prices: mid-range for Roman restaurants.
• Who it's for: for a family celebration, a date, and an evening with friends.

10. Osteria Maré

A seafood restaurant serving Sicilian cuisine. You pick your fish at the counter and hand it over to the kitchen (as of osteriamare.it).

They cook from the day's catch: sardines, tuna, octopus, sea bass, mussels, shrimp, and scallops. The Sicilian seasonings are instantly recognizable: oregano, mint, and rosemary. Pasta and burger portions here are generous, and you're unlikely to find an octopus burger with marinated chicory anywhere else.

• Prices: a dinner bill with fish stays in the average Roman range.
• Who it's for: for a seafood dinner and for fans of Sicilian cuisine.

11. Delirium Café Roma

A beer bar where the evening revolves around Belgian brews (as of deliriumcaferoma.com). The menu features dozens of taps and hundreds of bottled options.

They bring you more than just beer: the menu includes panini, waffles, burgers, tortillas, hot dogs, and salads. On match days the room fills with soccer fans, and that's part of the place's atmosphere.

• Prices: the price depends on the beer, and the menu has a wide range.
• Who it's for: for beer lovers and for sports nights.
• The catch: on match days it gets loud and crowded inside.

12. Ristorante Armando

The restaurant has been operating since 1950 and is still run by the founder's family (as of ristorantearmando.it). Two menus coexist under one roof: the restaurant's and the pizzeria's.

The restaurant menu has appetizers, pasta and risotto, meat and seafood, desserts and gelato. The pizzeria offers about three dozen options, including vegetarian and vegan ones. There's also a local custom: they don't do separate checks here and split the total among everyone (as of the menu).

• Prices: mid-range for a Roman trattoria with history.
• Who it's for: for a family dinner and for an evening with a large group.
• The catch: if you need a separate check, they won't do one here.

13. Da Vittorio a Trastevere

A traditional restaurant in Trastevere where locals also go.

Dishes arrive in pans, so you get to try a little of everything without extra plates. Every month the chefs add four new dishes to the main menu, so the lineup keeps moving.

• Prices: mid-range for Trastevere.
• Who it's for: for dinner in Trastevere and for home-style Roman cooking.

14. Chiu Sapore

A trattoria and Neapolitan pizzeria in one place.

You'll find both classics and Black Angus beef burgers made with local ingredients: mozzarella, pecorino, and ripe tomatoes. The menu has five burger options, from a bacon cheeseburger to the signature Chiu Sapore. A separate line is called "Best offer": they put one dish there that best captures the place's style.

• Prices: mid-range for Roman trattorias.
• Who it's for: for those who want both pizza and a burger on one menu.

15. Gelateria del Teatro

A gelateria on Via dei Coronari where a line forms from the street (as of gelateriadelteatro.it). The recipes here are developed by hand, so the flavors change with the seasons.

© Weldon Kennedy from London, UK · CC BYPhoto: Weldon Kennedy from London, UK, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

There are more than two hundred flavors, split into five groups: fruit, herbal and spiced, traditional, chocolate, and ricotta. For guests with intolerances, there are flavors without eggs, lactose, and gluten. If you want to bring back a souvenir, go for the chocolate, baked goods, or handmade truffles.

• How to get there: Via dei Coronari between Piazza Navona and the Tiber.
• Prices: mid-range for Rome's artisanal gelaterias.
• The catch: in the heat, the line moves slowly.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does dinner cost in central Rome?

The bill depends on the neighborhood and what you order. Near Castel Sant'Angelo and Piazza Navona, you're partly paying for the location, while the same set of dishes with pasta in a residential area costs less. Seafood and bottled beer push the check up the most. Check current prices on the restaurant's website menu.

Do you need to book a table in advance?

In the evening in the center, it's better to book a day ahead: at La Fraschetta di Castel Sant'Angelo, you may not get a table without one. At counter-service pizzerias like Bonci, no reservation is needed, but there is a line. At places outside the center, like La Fornace, seating is usually easier.

Where can you eat quickly in Rome?

Pizza al taglio at Bonci and panini at Baguetteria del Fico work as quick bites: your order is ready almost immediately, and a table isn't required. Forno Monteforte is good for breakfast, and Gelateria del Teatro for dessert after a walk. For a full-service lunch, choose Mariuccia or Anvedi.

Where can you try seafood in Rome?

Fish from the daily catch with Sicilian seasonings is prepared at Osteria Maré. See the section about this restaurant above for menu details.

What should you choose at a gelateria if you don't eat lactose or gluten?

Gelateria del Teatro has flavors without eggs, lactose, and gluten. See the section about this gelateria above for details on the flavor groups.

Where can you eat in Rome with kids?

Ristorante Armando and Da Vittorio a Trastevere work well for a family dinner: the menu is straightforward, with pasta and pizza. Anvedi's locations are designed for large groups, so they're also convenient with kids. At Bonci, grab pizza slices to go and skip waiting for a table.

In short: what's worth booking

If you have one evening in Rome, start at La Fraschetta di Castel Sant'Angelo and finish with gelato at Gelateria del Teatro. If you're traveling with family, choose Ristorante Armando or Da Vittorio a Trastevere.

If you're driving, the road leads to La Fornace beyond the Vatican. If you want seafood, it's Osteria Maré. If you want to spend the evening with beer and football, choose Delirium Café Roma.

Book tables at popular spots a day ahead, and check prices and opening hours on the restaurants' official websites. To cover the rest of your trip planning, check out food tours in Rome on GetYourGuide and hotels in central Rome on Trip.com.