Rome's Best Local and Traditional Restaurants

Tear-inducing carbonaraMuch is made of chef Sarah Cicolini's treatment of offal in particular at Santo Palato, but me, I return for the carbonara which is sensational and brings me close to tears such is its rich perfection. A brilliant neo-trattoria reinterpreting Roman food - an essential stop in Rome.

Modern and creative italian cuisine, excellent ingredients, valorization of the vegetables Super lovely place in the heart od Rome, tiny modern space with a cool atmosphere and soft lights, final compositions of the plates in front of the shared tables, excellent raw materials, delicious flavors, vegetables are valorized in a creative way

My recommendation to anyone looking for a fine dining restaurant in Rome.Contemporary fine dining, perhaps one of the cleanest in Italy. I like their plating and the way chef Antonio sees fine dining, it's classy. The dishes are full of taste.

An institution. Excellent purveyors of cured meats, cheeses and fine deli products. Also serves up killer pasta. Not to be confused with the bakery or caffe (both just a few doors down and also excellent!), Roscioli Salumeria is an icon in its own right. You’d be well to stick to the cured meats and cheeses here - some of the finest in the city - and the pastas are generally a delight. Don’t bother with secondi. Seating is also key to a great experience. Book the tables upstairs in the deli (some people hate the hecticness but I found it rather charming and fun) or on the bar. If you’re stuck downstairs it’s a bit of a dud vibe. The burrata is possibly the best I’ve ever had and the mortadella with Parmesan is an absolute must. Book well in advance.

A Roman institution in the heart of TravestreTraditional Roman dishes including the egg yolk carbonara & artichoke in salsa - very casual dining with no reservations. Da Enzo does not mess about, small menu & incredible dishes. Moving away from the tourist traps - authentic home cooking in a busy alleyway.

Modern Trattoria in RomeExcellent modern trattoria run by a super young team serving offal, pasta and other traditional Roman dishes. Great wine list too. Highly recommend the starter of rabbit offal and the Amatriciana pasta!

Timeless Authenticity and mass tourism don’t often go together but over several visits this summer I have fallen in love with this restaurant all over again. Cucina Romana at its very best not tricked or enhanced just executed with a deft assured touch. The pasta dishes scream Rome and the antipasti are other worldly. Saltimbocca of your dreams is a must as is a deep exploration of the wine list guided by the restaurants exceptional wine team. Quite a gushing review yet I feel could be more so we ate the menu over our visits and can genuinely endorse the entire document !! A must visit for me when in the eternal city. Forza Romana.

Fire and research Marzapane is the perfect place to satisfy your deeper culinary cravings! The dishes are created to enhance small farmers, authentic raw materials and the most important thing in a kitchen: Fire.You will have a true food experience, every course is a perfect mix and celebration of simplicity, technique and research.Front of house team is friendly and skilled, they will take care of you during your journey and don’t forget to ask about their wine list to try a nice pairing and enrich every dish, playing with saltiness, spiciness and acidity with the right bottle of wine!

The best Roman pizza in Rome, and probably in the world.A pizzeria famous for Roman pizza, a thin and crusty pizza. This one is the best in Rome and also the best in Italy, and propably the best Roman pizza in the world. Also based on the 50 Top Pizza 2022 list being the first Roman pizzeria on the list, while all the other ones are Napoletan pizzas. So no jokes about it.

This tiny and cozy place is located in the heart of Trastevere, natural wines and good food are the focus of this wine bar.There are many wine bars in Rome, but L'Antidoto plays another league.Flaviano the owner, was the first to start a series of pop up dinners, inviting chefs from all over the world. In my opinion, a real and unique experience, tasting natural wines and amazing food. A touch of European approach in one of the most beautiful districts of Rome.

Quick lunch or breakfast or even merenda!The bakery of Roscioli.Amazing selection of breads and pizze (thin pizza rossa is their iconic one).Quick lunch or breakfast or even merenda!

Awesome pastries A great place to relax your tired muscles in a hot Roman day or to have a great start of the day.Sandwiches, pastries and more delicacies to be paried with coffee or drinks.

A religious experienceLocated a short walk from the Vatican, Gabriele Bonci's Roman-style slice shop is where I found God in Rome. Incredible crispy based pizza al taglio topped with the freshest, highest quality products, some of which you may not have tried on pizza before (chicken comb?). Simply the best.

Breakfast + lunch + dinner + wine = remarkableAn alternative impressive breakfast, one of the most impressive coffee rituals, a casual but high quality lunch and dinner menu, vegetable focused with a few daily proposals, a remarkable wine selection.Nothing more to add I guess.

Evolving the Italian cuisine. Fresh ingredients from the market in Rome and in good company. Two tattooed brothers show that it is possible to evolve the Italian cuisine without making it stupid. Ingredients are fresh from the market in good company.

Trattoria with seasonal vegetable produce from the Testaccio Market.Piatto Romano translates to "a Roman dish". Piatto Romano is a fresh and authentic trattoria in the city center, in Testaccio, that's one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Rome and one of the most authentic. It's really close to one of the most important markets in Rome, the Testaccio Market. They have all these unique and very fresh vegetables that you can't find anywhere else in Rome and they also cook traditional food using them. The menu changes very often based on the season. A perfect place to go when in Rome.

Nice vibe, natural wines, small plates, perfect for aperitivoLittle spot just in front of Circo Massimo, with a beautiful international vibe. Wide selection of natural wines, with a nice outdoor space. Beautifully executed small plates, just perfect for aperitivo. If you are lucky enough, they sometimes have their smash burger on the menu, the best I have ever tried in Rome. Makes you feel like you are in NYC, while you are looking at the Circo Massimo.

A true Roman institutionPierluigi a true Roman institution was founded in 1938. It has always been and still is, one of the best know fish restaurants in the city. It can be a bit touristy especially during the summer (with high-profile clients ranging from Obamas to Zuckerbergs) and is both expensive & overpriced. But at the same time, it has its own charm that is hard to deny. It has one of the nicest terraces in Rome and even if the food is nothing spectacular, it is fresh, simple & well made. Especially during the winter, the inside rooms have a stylish 50s feel.

Wonderful pasta & wine in an old school environmentWhat a wonderful place this is – truly an essential Rome experience with the best pasta of my life. Old world feeling that anything modern cannot touch. Great service with knowledge and personality and a wonderful list of wines from across Italy that brilliantly compliments the food. The highlight of my recent trip to Europe.