Rome - Dining

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Dining

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Overview

Dining The guide was updated: 2025-11-30

Rome’s dining scene covers a wide range, from American steakhouses and Vietnamese kitchens to Michelin-starred fine dining. But when in Rome, do as the Romans do and head for trattorias and unfussy restaurants, where the cooking sticks close to local habits and the atmosphere matters as much as the food.

The Italian word for dinner, 'cena', comes from the Latin convivium, which means 'live together'. Eating is a social get-together, which consists of at least three courses, often even at lunchtime. The Romans do not eat dinner until 9 in the evening.

Roman cooking is straightforward and specific, with dishes like carbonara made with egg, guanciale, pecorino Romano and black pepper, and amatriciana based on guanciale, pecorino and tomato.

Felice a Testaccio

Felice a Testaccio

Felice a Testaccio is an esteemed trattoria that has been serving original Roman cuisine since 1936. The unpretentious, exposed brick interior is filled with locals, a good sign of its reputation. All the pasta and meat dishes are worth trying, but most people come for the cacio e pepe. Finish with the tiramisu, topped with melted chocolate, for a sweet note to the meal.

La Pergola

La Pergola

On top of the Rome Cavalieri Hotel, La Pergola, an award-winning restaurant with three Michelin stars, offers not only exquisite, gourmet Italian fare but also a breathtaking panoramic view over the city of Rome, along with a wine cellar containing over 50,000 bottles of wine.

Ad Hoc

Ad Hoc

Ad Hoc occupies a 15th‑century building in central Rome (just a short walk from Piazza del Popolo), with a wine cellar that feels like a cosy hideaway rather than a formal dining hall. Dinner here tends toward thoughtful menus: old‑school Roman and Mediterranean dishes, or tasting menus built around land, sea or truffle. For a special meal or quiet evening after sightseeing, Ad Hoc hits the right note.

Tema

Tema

Ristorante Tema is located in the heart of Rione Monti, one of Rome’s oldest neighbourhoods, on a street once frequented by philosophers and artists. The menu features handmade pasta, grilled meats, fresh fish and seafood. Portions are generous, and the staff are happy to suggest wine to match.

Sakana Sushi

Sakana Sushi

If you ever get tired of Italian cuisine, Sakana Sushi is the place to go for a change of scenery. Plates of nigiri, rolls, dumplings and tempura circle the counter in a relaxed, East Asian–inspired setting. Watch the selection pass by and grab what looks good, or ask the staff for a recommendation.

Spirito di Vino

Spirito di Vino

In the heart of the Trastevere neighbourhood, Spirito di Vino serves the very true meaning of "slow food". In their cavernous wine cellar, they house over 800 bottles of wine, where you'll surely find the perfect combination for every dish and take the culinary experience to another level.

Osteria Barberini

Osteria Barberini

Osteria Barberini is a family-run restaurant on Piazza del Tritone serving Italian cuisine with a focus on truffles. Inside, wooden tables sit under a simple interior, while jazz and swing drift through the room. Chef Gabriel’s dishes with black and white truffles stand out, but the menu also includes classic Roman pasta, risotto, and seafood specialties, with diners often spilling into the piazza on busy evenings.

Pane e Salame

Pane e Salame

Located near the Trevi Fountain, Pane e Salame is a modern bistro serving boards of cold cuts, cheeses, and sandwiches, often paired with a glass of Italian wine. Lunch and early evening are busiest, so arriving early is a good idea.

Harry’s Bar

Harry’s Bar

Harry’s Bar is celebrated for its Bellini cocktails and has a reputation that harks back to the golden era of Via Vittorio Veneto. The plush, antique-filled interior sets the scene for Mediterranean-inspired dishes, with live piano most evenings and a sense of the Dolce Vita that still lingers.

Roma Sparita

Roma Sparita

Roma Sparita is a long-running address on Piazza Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, best known for classic Roman dishes served in a lively setting. The menu covers staples like bucatini all’amatriciana and trippa alla romana, but the local favourite is the cacio e pepe, finished tableside. In warmer months, tables spill out onto the piazza, making it an easy choice for a relaxed meal in the neighbourhood.

Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto

Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto

Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto is a Roman trattoria worth the short trip out of the centre, especially for anyone serious about classic cucina romana. The menu keeps things straightforward: fritti done properly, carbonara, gricia, and rigatoni with oxtail sauce that regulars swear by. Inside is plain and functional, while outside tables sit under a vine-covered patio that fills quickly at lunch. The wine list is deeper than expected, and the crowd is largely local, which says most of what needs saying.

Osteria Fernanda

Osteria Fernanda

Osteria Fernanda sits just beyond the busier streets of Trastevere, in a small, pared-back room where the focus stays firmly on the food. The kitchen works with Roman flavours but treats them lightly, rethinking classics without losing their shape or sense of place.

L'orso 80

L'orso 80

L’Orso 80 is a long-running trattoria just behind Piazza Navona, known for its generous spread of antipasti and carafes of house wine. The open buffet by the entrance sets the tone, with vegetables, salads and simple bites to start, followed by familiar Roman comfort food like fresh pasta and pizza. The room feels worn in rather than styled, with old photos and artwork on the walls, and the crowd often skews local despite the central location.

Supplì

Supplì

Supplì is a take-out eatery acclaimed for its namesake supplì: deep-fried rice balls stuffed with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and your pick of favourite ingredients. Besides the crispy supplì, other ready-to-go specialities are calamari fritti (fried squid), mozzarella in carrozza (fried mozzarella), parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana), and of course, pizza by the slice and pasta.

Ginger

Ginger

Ginger is a modern Italian–Mediterranean bistro near the Pantheon with a focus on lighter, health-minded cooking. The menu runs from breakfast through dinner, covering salads, bowls, pizzas, smoothies and cocktails, with a strong emphasis on organic ingredients and seasonal produce. It’s popular from early morning onward, especially with travellers looking for a fresher counterpoint to heavy Roman classics.

Va.Do

Va.Do

Following the vibe of its neighbourhood, Va.Do al Pigneto comes off as a hip, creative eatery featuring Italian cuisine, influenced by Thai, Indian, and Japanese flavours. As an after-dinner walk, you can marvel at Pigneto’s murals or end the night in one of the lively district’s bars.

Roscioli

Roscioli

Roscioli is a Roman institution that blurs the line between shop and restaurant, with three closely set spaces devoted to bakery, deli, and dining. The restaurant is where everything comes together: Roman classics tweaked just enough to stand out, exceptional pasta, and plates built around the same cured meats and cheeses on display next door. The wine list is serious and deep, with more than 2800 labels available. Getting a table takes effort, but once seated, it’s easy to see why people bother.

Reserva Restaurante y Cocteles

Reserva Restaurante y Cocteles

Opened in 2019, Reserva is one of Rome’s latest gems and serves Latin cuisine with a hint of Caribbean vibe. The menu moves between ceviche, tacos and tartares, more playful dishes like shrimp with passion fruit or crispy tapioca, and bigger plates such as picanha, all shaped by Brazilian-born chef Paulo Aires. Cocktails matter here as much as the food, mixed at the long bar upfront and often built around cachaça, mezcal and tropical fruit. Warm colours, marble details and plenty of plants give the room its character, making it a good place for a slower dinner that drifts into drinks.

Hostaria Da Cesare

Hostaria Da Cesare

Hostaria Da Cesare is a Roman classic eatery with wood‑panelled interiors and a lively, old‑school atmosphere. The menu is broad: fresh seafood, pasta alle vongole, Chianina beef, grilled lamb and wood‑oven pizza share space with seasonal specials like truffles and wild mushrooms.

BaGhetto Ristorante Kosher

BaGhetto Ristorante Kosher

BaGhetto offers the best of Roman-Jewish cuisine, with the capital’s best "carciofi alla giudìa" (Jewish-style deep-fried artichokes). But they also offer authentic cuisine that brings you back to ancient Rome with dishes like carbonara and amatriciana, and much more. And if you're a pizza lover, visit BaGhetto Milky on Via del Portico d'Ottavia, 2/A.

Rinaldi Al Quirinale

Rinaldi Al Quirinale

Rinaldi al Quirinale sits just steps from the Quirinale Palace and feels like stepping into an old Roman home. Painted ceilings, wine-lined shelves and six separate dining rooms give the place a timeless charm. Seafood dominates the menu: raw fish, grilled fish, and risotto, all prepared with care. In summer, the terrace fills with light, offering a calm pause after a day of sightseeing.

Camponeschi

Camponeschi

Piazza Farnese, one of Rome's most sophisticated and splendid squares, provides the setting for the restaurant Camponeschi. The secret of the restaurant's success lies in its cuisine, which is varied, creative, imaginative, and suited to all tastes: fish, meat, game, as well as national and international specialities in season.

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