Every Italian knows not all tiramisùs are created equal. When thinking of Italian desserts, the first thing that comes to mind is tiramisù. Spongy lady finger biscuits are dipped in coffee, covered in layers of creamy mascarpone and sprinkled with dark chocolate powder—it’s definitely the “pick-me-up” dessert we crave in Italy. And lucky for […]
The 5 Best REAL Carbonaras in Rome That Italians Love
As we say here in Rome: it’s never too cold to eat gelato, and never too hot to eat carbonara. Compared to Rome’s other pasta classics, pasta alla carbonara is the new dish on the block. No trace of it can be found before the 1950s, but in these few years it has become, perhaps, […]
A Love Letter to Rome: Testaccio Market
This post is part of our Love Letter series: first-person accounts of what we love about Rome. I have lived in Rome for nearly nine years, but I still feel like a kid in a candy store when I step into Testaccio Market. The market is honestly one of the reasons I moved to this […]
Stop Searching: These Are the 5 Best Places for Dinner in Rome
In Rome, we take our food very seriously. There’s only one way we like our pasta—al dente—and don’t waste our time with overcooked fish or meat. Rome is packed with restaurants around every corner. But the more restaurants we try, the more we fall in love with our all-time favorites. If you want to get […]
How to Order Coffee in Italy: The Complete Guide
Coffee is of crucial importance in all of Italy (coming in just behind the Colosseo in thematic importance). Coffee in Italy goes way beyond just a caffeine fix. It’s a ritual with cultural significance, social relevance and a profound impact in people’s lives. There’s no doubt: some of the world’s best coffee can be found […]
The 10 Best Restaurants in Rome That No Trip Would Be Complete Without
Choosing a restaurant in the Eternal City can be overwhelming. The sheer number makes it difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff, but those who can, will discover the kinds of restaurants that make you want to uproot your whole life and move to Rome. We’ve put together a list of our favorites in […]
The Ultimate Guide to Eating Gluten Free in Rome
With pizza, pasta and bread around every corner, you might think that eating gluten free in Rome is impossible—but you’d be wrong! Although traditional Italian cuisine is largely wheat-based, there are many naturally gluten-free ways to eat in Italy. For example, secondo dishes (main courses) usually consist of meat or fish cooked simply. But what […]
Our Top 7 Tips on How to Eat like a Local in Rome
If you’re visiting the Eternal City anytime soon, there’s just one rule of thumb you have to live by: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. And that goes for dining out too! Don’t stick with the normal tourist fare—immerse yourself in all aspects of Rome’s culinary culture instead! From what to order (and […]
The 5 Food Markets in Rome No Trip Would be Complete Without
Sure… the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Pantheon should definitely be on your to-do list during your Roman holiday. But let’s get real for a second: no trip to Rome is complete without diving into its culinary culture. And essential to that culinary culture are Rome’s food markets. So buckle up and get ready to […]
Behind the Bite: Roman Offal
This post is part of our Behind the Bite series: deep dives into the dishes that we can’t stop thinking about. Inside the anatomy chart that is a typical Roman menu. Roman food has a few essential characteristics. It’s simple. The main seasonings are black pepper, pecorino and mint. And every part of the animal can […]
A Seasonal Guide to Eating in Rome
Eating seasonal in Rome isn’t just about which vegetables are at the market (although there are plenty of those). It’s about festivals, holidays, and even days of the week. One of the great things about eating in Rome is, ironically, the limitations of the season. Certain dishes—cacio e pepe, braised oxtail—are evergreen, but many things you only […]
A Love Letter to Cucina Romana
I have a standard quip with those who come to visit me in Rome: When you’re hungry, there’s nothing quite like Roman food to satisfy that hunger. When you’re full, there’s nothing you’d less like to eat than Roman food. Cucina Romana isn’t for everyone. It’s full of bold, unusual flavors like sheep’s-milk pecorino and bitter […]
Our Favorite Rome Restaurants by Neighborhood: San Lorenzo
Where there are students, there are sure to be bars and restaurants. Welcome to San Lorenzo. Right now, if you asked any Roman about San Lorenzo, they’d probably say “la movida.” A word borrowed from Spanish, it means the young-person culture of bars, aperitivo and late-nights. San Lorenzo, located just behind Termini, is adjacent to […]
The Complete Guide to Craft Beer in Rome
The last ten years has seen a boom in the production and popularity of craft beer in Rome. A cold draft beer might not be the first thing you thing of when in Rome given that one thing Italy is world famous for is wine. Whether you are in search of a strong and hoppy […]
The 7 Best Wine Bars in Rome That You’ll Never Want to Leave
The best Roman nights are the simple ones: A few friends, something to eat, and a deep glass of vino at a wine bar First, we’ve got to clear up what “wine bar” actually means. In Rome, a “bar” is what in America or France we might call a “cafè,” with coffee, alcohol and basic […]
7 Essential Things to Do in Rome (and 3 Not to Do)
Rome has over 900 hundred churches, fifty monumental fountains, seven famous hills, and countless works of art. We haven’t even gotten to all the different kinds of pasta and wine and pizza and gelato to try yet. There is a famous saying about Rome that goes Rome, one lifetime is not enough (Roma, non basta […]
The 6 Best Bars in Rome for Any Night of the Week
First things first: the word bar means something slightly different in Italy. You are going to see signs all over town that say Bar. You absolutely can get a glass of wine or a spritz in a bar, but they serve a slightly different function. The Italian bar is more cafe than tavern and they […]
The 7 Traditional Foods You Have to Try in Rome
From pasta to pudding, you’re spoiled for choice in the Eternal City. Here’s our guide to traditional food in Rome. Italian food is very regional and every city has dishes which are peculiar to it. Knowing which dishes to look out for when visiting a city is, therefore, of the utmost importance since they will […]
Our Favorite Rome Restaurants by Neighborhood: Testaccio
If we had to pick one central neighborhood that just oozed Rome—for food, people and ambiance—it might be Testaccio. Located on the banks of the Tiber, Testaccio is one of Rome’s most popular neighborhoods right now, for its many restaurants, markets, and tranquil daytime atmosphere coupled with a whole section of nightclubs. It wasn’t always […]
The 9 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Rome
Like any strong-willed city with a rich history, Rome is complicated, and can feel overwhelming. But also like any city worth its salt, Rome is eternally worth it (you just have to get to know her a bit). Whenever we’re going to a new place, it’s always marvelous if we happen to know someone who […]