This blog post was originally posted on September 27, 2019 and was updated on January 29, 2021. Fettuccine Alfredo—the real thing, anyway—is served at just two restaurants in Italy, but its popularity has exploded abroad. Everyone has heard of fettuccine Alfredo, sometimes called “Alfredo pasta” abroad. It’s so popular outside Italy that when I lived […]
Behind the Bite: Roman Pasta
This blog post was originally posted on March 18, 2019 and was updated on January 26, 2021. There’s something comforting about the dependable, the quotidian, the downright normal. Roman pasta is just that. Amatriciana, carbonara, gricia and cacio e pepe are the main pastas of Rome, and most restaurants have at least two of them on the […]
Our Favorite Rome Restaurants by Neighborhood: Where to Eat in Trastevere
This blog post was originally posted on February 6, 2019 and was updated on October 28, 2020. Trastevere is Rome’s most charming neighborhood, and that’s saying a lot. A bit overrun with tourists and students, yes—but no one who’s walked its winding streets can deny there’s something magical about it. The word Trastevere literally means […]
The 10 Best Pasta Dishes to Eat in Rome Before You Die
This blog post was originally posted on March 28, 2019 and was updated on September 29, 2020. Pasta is the gorgeous yellow ribbon that binds Italian cuisine together, and no trip to Rome would be complete without it. Every region of Italy has at least one traditional pasta dish to its name. And with a […]
5 Best Places for Aperitivo in Rome (And How to Enjoy It like a Roman)
This blog post was originally posted on April 2, 2019 and was updated on September 29, 2020. Like so many things in Rome, happy hour is a bit slower—and a touch more stylish—than what you might find in other countries. Another important distinction is it’s all about the food—but not in the way you might […]
7 Unknown Restaurants Where the Locals Eat in Rome
This blog post was originally posted on March 4, 2019 and was updated on September 23, 2020. As famous as its sights and museums are, Rome is a city of millions of ordinary people, most of whom have a favorite local restaurant “Eating like a local” is a phrase thrown around a lot in travel […]
You Heard Right—Rome Does Brunch and These Are the 6 Best Spots for It
This blog post was originally posted on February 17, 2019 and was updated on September 23, 2020. A lot of restaurants in Rome use the word “brunch.” It doesn’t always mean what you think it means. Instead of eggs Benedict and pancakes, you might find buffet tables filled with pasta salads and trays of cheeses […]
We’ve Got Your Mornings Covered with the 6 Best Breakfasts in Rome
This blog post was originally posted on April 2, 2019 and was updated on September 17, 2020. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Honestly, when you’re in Italy, every meal is pretty important. But to make sure your day gets off to the right start, we’re happy to […]
The Top 5 Spots for Cacio e Pepe in Rome You Need to Try ASAP
This blog post was originally posted on February 2, 2019 and was updated on September 8, 2020. Cacio e pepe is the classic flavor of Rome, and one of its best and most beloved dishes. Cacio is Roman dialect for “cheese”—in this case, assertive sheep’s-milk pecorino romano—and pepe is black pepper. Put it all together, […]
All About Natural Wine in Rome: What It Is & Where to Drink It
If you’ve never tried natural wine before, you couldn’t possibly know what all the fuss is about. While there isn’t an official definition of what natural wine is, what we can tell you is that it’s wine that’s been produced with almost no intervention in the vineyard and cellar. Translation? It means the grapes are […]
How to Budget for Food in Rome: Average Cost of Food Per Day
Any trip to the Eternal City will become a culinary one. Amidst thousand-year-old wonders and cobblestone streets, you’ll find terrific food joints in almost every Roman corner. But how much should you be factoring in for food during your Roman holiday? Rome offers a myriad of eating options, from budget street food fare and trattorias […]
The 9 Places Near the Pantheon That Will Take You from Breakfast Through Aperitivo
The Pantheon is at the (metaphorical) center of everything in Rome. Here’s how you can eat your way around it (and of course, end with a gelato in Piazza della Rotonda, perched on the Fontana del Pantheon.) Much like Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday,” you too can gallivant around the Pantheon drinking champagne and caffè […]
When to Eat in Rome: Breakfast, Lunch, Aperitivo & Dinner Times
Forget your eating schedule back home—it’s time to immerse yourself in Roman culture by embracing local eating times. All European countries have different eating schedules: northern countries tend to dine earlier while southerners grab their meals later. And time is so relative: 6 p.m. is “dinner time” in London yet “aperitivo time” in Rome, which […]
Where to Eat in Rome on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
We Italians say that “quel che si fa a capodanno si fa tutto l’anno”—what you do on New Year’s, you do all year. So don’t go crazy searching for the perfect place to celebrate the New Year and instead reserve your table at one of these great restaurants. From foodie havens to party-like atmospheres, we’ve […]
Where to Eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Rome
We Romans take Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch very seriously. Official preparations for Christmas begin on December 8, the day of the Immacolata. This is when we put up our Christmas trees (the Vatican included!), and families inevitably start planning Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch. If you’re traveling to the Eternal […]
An Insider’s Picks for Where to Eat Near the Trevi Fountain
Finding a restaurant near iconic landmarks like the Trevi Fountain is risky business—the possibility of ending up in tourist traps is very real. And this isn’t just true in Rome; it’s an international fact. So imagine if you get hungry and need to figure out where to eat near the Trevi Fountain. What a nightmare, […]
7 Great Places to Eat Near Termini Station
Termini is more than a train station. It’s a gateway to one of Rome’s most diverse areas—and therefore, some of its best eating. Termini is Rome’s main railway station, and invariably will be where your train arrives if you’re coming from Florence, Venice or any other major city. Inside of it, there are the usual […]
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Picks for a Perfect Sunday in Rome
There’s a saying here in Rome that Sunday is about three things: church, soccer and food. We’ve got you covered when it comes to the third thing. Any trip to Rome should include a Sunday. Like all Italians, Romans use Sunday to relax, eat big meals, get coffee and go for walks. The advantage of […]
Guide to Buying Wine in Rome: Where to Shop & Sip
Italian grocery stores have a decent selection of wines. But to dive into the real world of vino, get yourself to the famous enotecas—a mix between wine stores and bars where Italian and international wines are the protagonists. It’s not just about wine here. At an enoteca, you’ll be able to sit down, enjoy a […]
7 Trattorias in Rome for the Italian Meal of Your Dreams
When we Romans want to indulge in authentic local cuisine, there’s no place like a trattoria: a rustic, family-run restaurant with generous portions. Cucina romana is known for its simple ingredients, and for the most heavenly antipasti, classic primi and hearty secondi, these no-frills, family-run spots are your best bet. So you don’t waste valuable […]