With so many amazing sights to see in the center of the city such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and endless array of glorious fountains, it’s easy to forget that Rome is about 15 miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea. This proximity means that there are some spectacular seafood restaurants in Rome.
And while Rome isn’t really known for its great diversity of restaurants—is it going to be pizza or pasta tonight, honey?—the city boasts a bounty of great seafood restaurants. If you find yourself in the Eternal City, and need a break from the endless plates of pizzas, pastas, and risottos, you’re in luck because we’ve come up with a list of the best seafood restaurants in Rome.
What's Included
Pierluigi
Opened in 1938, Pierluigi claims to be the first fish restaurant in Rome—a questionable claim in this millennia-old city. Nonetheless, when someone utters “fish restaurant” and “Rome,” Pierluigi is going to be the first name out of a Roman’s mouth. The restaurant is located in the tangle of streets in the Centro Storico and offers all manner of crudos, carpaccios, tartares, and whole roasted fish.
Acquasanta
The Testaccio neighborhood is famous for its pig and beef meat thanks to its famous historic slaughterhouse and the types of meat that became popular from it—namely organ meats. But if you point yourself to Acquasanta in Testaccio, it will be refreshingly all seafood, all of the time.
The kitchen here prepares the food in a more modern style. Start with some fresh tuna crudo, enlivened by a few squirts of fresh lemon juice, before moving on to the loaded seafood soup and/or the herb-encrusted swordfish.
Il Bar Sotto il Mare
Located in Prati, just a cobblestone’s throw from the Vatican, Il Bar Sotto il Mare is an unfussy spot to enjoy the bounty of the sea and perhaps a few glasses of crisp white wine from Lazio. “The Bar Under the Sea” is a family-run local favorite. The diminutive restaurant’s menu changes often but expected whole roasted fish, raw oysters, and lobster pasta.
La Santeria di Mare
A menu of fresh seafood. Friendly staff. And natural wine. It’s the trifecta for a lovely dinner in Rome. Located in Pigneto, just a few blocks from the Metro station, La Santeria di Mare has an impressive selection of raw oysters to start the meal. Don’t overlook the sea urchin crudo, either. For pastas, you might be tempted by the seafood-laced Amatriciana, a classic Roman dish. And for the secondo, the roasted octopus is divine.
Profumo di Mirto
Set in Furio Camilo, a short subway ride from Termini, Profumo di Mirto is an unpretentious seafood-heavy spot that locals from all over gravitate to in order to tuck into bowls of seafood-laced pastas and whole grilled fish. There’s also a few nods to Sardinia, the place of the owner’s birth.
Osteria der Belli
This Trastevere restaurant is well-known among locals as the place to go to for succulent seafood dishes. The restaurant, located near Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, has a Sardinian accent thanks to the fact that the family who runs the place is originally from the island region. The owner’s sister owns a pasta shop across the street, so expect freshly made pasta to go with your seafood. The classic spaghetti alle vongole is wonderful at Osteria der Belli.
Traveler’s Tip: Looking for a a post-dinner sweet? Check out our guide on where to find the best Gelato shops in Rome.
Asunta Madre
Romantic, elegant, modern are words that might go through your head when sitting in the exposed-brick wall dining room of Asunta Madre. There’s a lot of crudi on the menu here, including tuna, shrimp, and oysters. But have no fear there’s plenty of cotti, or cooked food, on the menu too, like gnocchi with shrimp, tagliolini with scampi and mint, and whole lobsters.
Pascucci al Porticciolo
Located a few blocks from the sea in Fiumicino, 20 miles from Termini, and easily accessible by train or car, Pascucci al Porticciolo is definitely worth the journey. The Michelin-starred spot from Chef Pascucci is a wonderful place to enjoy the bounty of the sea. The chef has a talent for coaxing maximum flavors out of the fruits of the sea. The wine list emphasizes Lazio winemakers.
So, there you have it. Of course, visiting Rome means eating the city’s best pasta and pizza, but our list of Rome’s best seafood restaurants will let you dive deeper into the Italian talent for preparing the most delectable seafood plates. And if you really want to go further into Rome’s unique dishes, why not sign up for a small group food tour? From a Trastevere at Sunset: Rome Food & Wine Tour to a Testaccio Food and Market Tour, our local guides will give you special insight into Rome’s best-kept culinary secrets.
David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food & Wine, among other publications. He’s the author of three books, including “An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church’s Strangest Relic in Italy’s Oddest Town,” which was made into a documentary by the National Geographic Channel. You can find Farley’s online homes here and here.