Rome, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Rome - Restaurants

Rome Dining - Local Cuisine & Customs

Rome is not only the capital of Italy but also of the region of Lazio, which is renowned for its food. Robust flavours and rich sauces abound in many typical dishes of the area, and pasta and gnocchi in all their many forms – especially fettucine - are served in restaurants across the city. Lazio is notable for dishes featuring milk-fed lamb (abbacchio), veal (vitello), parma ham (saltimbocca), thin-cut steak and offal, all of which are served with delicious herbs and seasonings. Best fish choices in Rome include sea bass (spigola), fried cod (baccalà), bream (orata) and turbot (rombo). Artichokes (carciofi) are scattered all over menus through the winter, before spring heralds the vignarola - a tasty blend of peas, fava beans, and artichokes served with cured pork cheek. Fried sweetbreads are also a Roman speciality. Rome is rich in markets and this is often reflected in the wonderful variety of superb vegetables served in the city's restaurants. Beans are used a good deal in the cuisine and appear in many dishes, hot and cold. On a cool winter's day the visitor seeking a warming lunch could do no better than to choose a flavoursome minestrone soup, which is another of the area's specialities. Standard ‘tourist menus’ generally offer good value, beginning with bread and olive oil with soup or pasta; a simple meat or fish dish with vegetables (contorni) for secondi; and cheese or fresh fruit to finish; accompanied by a carafe of locally produced frascati white or red wine from Tuscany. As a rule, main dishes do not come with vegetables, which are ordered separately.

Whether you are dining in a no-frills trattorie or a more formal ristorante, proprietors and chefs invariably take pride in sourcing the best seasonal produce. The growth of the Slow Food movement – a global drive amongst food and drink producers to preserve the country’s best culinary traditions - has been particularly well supported in Italy. Vegetarians can expect most first (primi) pasta courses to be meat-free; other choices include a seasonal vegetable 'fritto misto' ('mixed fried') or side dish combo, the verdure miste ('mixed green'). Kosher choices are limited because of the prevalence of meat and cheese, particularly pork.

As elsewhere in Italy, pizza remains a popular staple food for the restaurant and the street, and the Roman version is a hybrid between the thick crust, rustic Neopolitan variety and the thinner, more fancy Northern version. Away from the main tourist areas, most restaurants only serve pizza at dinner time.

The neighbourhoods of Trastavere, San Lorenzo and Testaccio are known for offering reasonably priced, authentic Roman cuisine; whilst restaurants around Campo de'Fiori and Piazza Navona are pleasurable places to dine, with musicians on hand to entertain. Virtually every bar and dining establishment in Rome will offer first-rate filter coffee; Italians regard frothy cappuccinos as a morning drink and rarely a post-prandial treat, when the pickme-up expresso or macchiato is preferred. Ice creams are sensational - creamy gelato and refreshing granita (sorbets) come in a host of enticing flavours, such as coffee, coconut, liquorice or sour cherry, that are lovingly prepared for an incomparable all-day dessert.

Selected Rome Resaurants

La Piazzetta De La Ville
InterContinental De La Ville Roma, Via Sistina 67 / 69, 00187 Rome
Tel: +39 06 67331 | Fax: +39 06 678 4213

Restaurant Doney
The Westin Excelsior Rome, Via Vittorio Veneto 125, 00187 Rome
Tel: +39 06 47081 | Fax: +39 06 482 6205

La Terrazza dell'Eden
Hotel Eden, Via Ludovisi 49, 00187 Rome
Tel: +39 06 478 121 | Fax: +39 06 482 1584

La Rosetta
Via della Rosetta 8, 00186 Rome
Tel: +39 06 686 1002 | Fax: +39 06 6821 5116

Antico Arco
Piazzale Aurelio 7, 00152 Rome
Tel: +39 06 581 5274 | Fax: +39 06 581 5274

Checchino dal 1887
Via di Monte Testaccio 30, 00153 Rome
Tel: +39 06 574 6318

Sapori del Lord Byron
Hotel Lord Byron, Via Giuseppe de Notaris 5, 00197 Rome
Tel: +39 06 322 0404 | Fax: +39 06 322 0405

Al Grappolo d'Oro
Via Palestro 4 / 10, 00185 Rome
Tel: +39 06 494 1441 | Fax: +39 06 445 2350

Ristorante dal Toscano
Via Germanico 58 / 60, 00192 Rome
Tel: +39 06 3972 5717

Myosotis
Vicolo della Vaccarella 3 / 5, 00186 Rome
Tel: +39 06 686 5554 | Fax: +39 06 686 5554

Dal Bolognese
Piazza del Popolo 1, 00187 Rome
Tel: +39 06 361 1473

Restaurants by Cuisine

Italian

Grano
Simple rustic charm in a pretty urban piazza
53 Piazza Rondanini, Pantheon, Rome 00186
Tel: +39 06 6819 2096

Antico Arco
Contemporary twists on classic Italian, using the best seasonal ingredients
7 Piazzale Aurelio, Gianicolo, Rome 00152
Tel: +39 06 581 5274

La Pergola
Extravagant tastes will enjoy splendid views of the city
7 Piazzale Aurelio, Gianicolo, Rome 00152
Tel: +39 06 581 5274

Il Convivio
Pretty murals cover the cove-like walls, while groomed waiters serve perfectly prepared fare
31 Vicolo dei Soldati, Piazza Navona
Tel: +39 06 686 9432

Rivadestra
Neo-Baroque decor, match perfectly with the simplest of menus cooked to perfection
7 Via della Penitenza, Trastevere, Rome, 00165
Tel: +39 06 6830 7053

Vic’s
Ideal spot for a satisfying lunch break
60 Vicolo della Torretta, Largo Fontenella Borghese, Rome, 00186
Tel: +39 06 687 1445

Gelato (Ice Cream)

Il Gelato de San Crispino
Carefully sourced ingredients make classic flavours develop new meaning
42 Via della Panetteria, Trevi, Rome 00187
Tel: +39 06 679 3924
3 Piazza della Maddalena, Pantheon, Rome 00040
Tel: +39 06 9760 1190

Giolitti
Serving up an extensive array of flavours, there’s something to suit all palettes
40 Via Uffici del Vicario, Pantheon, Rome 00186
Tel: + 39 06 699 1243

Pizza

Lo Zozzone
If you’re in a rush this is the best place to get a slice of authentic takeaway
32 Via del Teatro Pace, Piazza Navona, Rome, 00186
Tel: + 39 06 6880 8575

La Gatta Mangiona
Travel out to the best pizza joint in Rome, but book in advance
30 Via Federico Ozanam, Monteverde Nuovo, Rome, 00152
Tel: + 39 06 534 6702

Tipping

Tipping is customary in Italy and 10-15% of the bill is acceptable in restaurants (unless, as is increasingly the case, a 15% service charge has already been added to the bill). Hotels add a service charge of 15-18%, but it is customary to tip the service staff extra. Italians rarely tip taxi drivers, but a 5-10% tip is always appreciated.

Hotels in Rome, Italy