Let’s be honest, finding good restaurants around famous landmarks in the most touristy areas is not as straightforward as you think. Often, in fact, in the city center and around the historic sights, you are going to see “tourist meal” offers and deals outside many eateries.
While sometimes you can find some “lunch deals” of sorts in office areas, so especially meant for the citizens working in the neighborhood, when you see promotions like starter+first course+side dish+water+coffee near the Pantheon, for as enticing as it looks, you shouldn’t take the bait.
If you are traveling to Rome soon, you might want to save this newsletter of mine because I’m going to give you the names of some pretty fantastic restaurants around the most famous and crowded landmarks.
Rome restaurants near the Colosseum
Arguably, the area around the Colosseum is one of the hardest when it comes to finding good food. Here are some restaurants we have tried and liked:
- Aromaticus Monti. I love Aromaticus because they are experts in healthy recipes, so here you are going to find mostly vegan dishes with a large use of fermented foods and drinks.
- Contrario Bistrot. Sleek and modern restaurant serving original recipes with a contemporary twist. It’s not the cheapest eatery but totally acceptable given the area and the good quality of their fare.
- Lelé Natural Food. This is an organic deli where you will find some ready-made dishes, so you can quickly order what you fancy and have your meal without waiting. Their ingredients come from organic farming and the fares are simple and healthy. It’s also very affordable.
Click here to read our full guide to the best restaurants near the Colosseum
Rome restaurants near Fontana di Trevi
In the area of the Trevi Fountain, the risk of falling for a tourist menu is always around the corner. These are some of my suggestions for more traditional and local restaurants where I like to go myself:
- Piccolo Buco. Great traditional dishes and fantastic pizza Naples style. Very small and they don’t take reservations so you go with your luck. Address: Via del Lavatore 91.
- Baccano. Large restaurant open from lunch through midnight. Fine dining and reasonable prices. Address: Via delle Muratte 23.
- Colline Emiliane. Gourmet restaurant near Piazza Barberini serving dishes typical of the Emilia-Romagna region such as lasagna and tortellini. Address: Via degli Avignonesi 22.
Check out our full guide to the best restaurants near the Trevi Fountain
Rome restaurants near Piazza Navona and Pantheon
The area around the Pantheon and Piazza Navona is one of the toughest to find authentic dishes prepared according to tradition. Here are some of my favorite restaurants in this tourist-packed area of Rome:
- Coromandel. This is one of our all-time favorites and is located right behind Piazza Navona. We love their scrumptious and diverse breakfast and their brunch. Everything is made with high-quality ingredients and the inside décor will make you feel in last-century Paris. Address: Via di Monte Giordano 60/61.
- Vega food. This is on the same alley as Coromandel and is a fully plant-based Indian restaurant. It’s really a simple and no-frills eatery but the food is great and very healthy. One of the few places where I can have whole-grain rice. Address: Via di Monte Giordano 1.
- Punto Italiano – Gunther Gelato Italiano. Stop here for one of the best all-natural gelato in Rome. Original flavors are prepared with natural ingredients without using half-processed or chemical ingredients. Address: Piazza di Sant’Eustachio 47.
- Armando al Pantheon. Known for serving one of the best cacio e pepe in Rome, Da Armando is one of the historic restaurants in Rome. Its position facing the Pantheon makes it always packed with locals and tourists but its quality and traditional style were never sacrificed. Address: Via Salita de’ Crescenzi 31.
Check out our full guide to the best restaurants near Piazza Navona
Rome restaurants near the Spanish Steps
Around Piazza di Spagna is also pretty difficult to find authentic restaurants. These are some of my favorites:
- Ginger. Ginger is a bistro behind the Pantheon and serves healthy dishes like well-balanced bowls with veggies and fish, raw fish platters, and freshly-squeezed juices. Address: Via Borgognona 43/46.
- Il Margutta. Artsy restaurant serving gourmet vegan and vegetarian dishes. Address: Via Margutta 118.
- Caffè Greco. This is a famous historic restaurant, perfect if you are after Instagrammable pictures from Rome, enjoying typical coffee and pastries, albeit expecting a pretty high bill. Address: Via dei Condotti 86.
- Babington’s Tea Rooms. English tea house for a perfect afternoon tea with cookies, brownies, and all the English-style pastries at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Address: Piazza di Spagna 23.
Rome restaurants near Campo de’ Fiori
Even with my experience of living in Rome and exploring the local restaurant scene to find the best eateries, I fell into a tourist trap myself once around Campo de’ Fiori. And I didn’t like it. So I carried on with my research and found some good restaurants in the area.
- Supplizio. Delicious street food style eatery where you can either grab and eat on the go or sit inside if you find space in the small indoor area. Address: Via dei Banchi Vecchi 143.
- Per Me – Giulio Terrinoni. Gourmet high-end restaurant serving creative Italian seafood dishes. Address: Vicolo del Malpasso 9.
- Sciam. Easy Syrian-Lebanese restaurant serving typical Middle-Eastern fare. Address: Via del Pellegrino 55.
- Emma Pizzeria con Cucina. Grab a table here if you are looking for decent Roman-style crunchy pizza or other dishes of the Italian tradition for affordable prices. Address: Via del Monte della Farina 28.
Rome restaurants near the Vatican
Around the Vatican, too, you are going to struggle to find dishes with real Italian taste and style. This is why I usually suggest straying a bit farther and heading to the nearby Prati or Trionfale areas for way better culinary experiences.
Here are some of my suggestions:
- Pizzarium. Arguably the best pizza by the slice in Rome, at Bonci’s Pizzarium you are likely to stand in line to earn your bite. But it’s worth it. Great pizza with a huge range of toppings that continuously change because of the large crowds. Address: Via della Meloria 43.
- Velavevodetto Ai Quiriti. Historic name from the Testaccio area that opened a second restaurant in Prati. Go here for traditional Roman food. Address: Piazza dei Quiriti 4.
- Hedera. One of my favorite gelato in all of Rome, at Hedera they offer a small choice of flavors but truly delicious. Address: Borgo Pio 179.
Check out my full guide to where to eat near the Vatican
Rome restaurants near Trastevere
Trastevere is also famous for being home to some pretty touristy restaurants. As a local myself, I don’t suggest going there. Since I would opt for other eateries myself, these are some of the places I recommend:
- EGGS. Every dish contains eggs in one way or another. If you are a fan of carbonara, try it here because it’s delicious and you can also find it in alternative versions. Address: Via Natale del Grande 52.
- Aromaticus. Green restaurant serving healthy dishes, mainly plant-based and with fermented foods. Address: Via Natale del Grande 6/7.
- Seu Illuminati. One of the best pizza in Rome , Naples-style with tall edges and gourmet toppings. Open only for dinner. Address: Via Angelo Bargoni 10.
Read our full guide to the best restaurants in Trastevere
Let me know in the comment section below if you try any of these and if you liked them!
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