Some places (and food) you should not miss!
Food Scene
Rome has an incredibly old Jewish community, and it the old Jewish quarter you can taste some of the most well-known specialities. My favourite is "carciofi alla giudia" (Jewish-style artichokes, meaning whole, fried artichokes). "Da Giggetto" is probably the best place to taste them.
Recommended by previous guests! Informal restaurant in the heart of Trastevere.
56 locals recommend
La Fraschetta
134 Via di S. Francesco a Ripa Recommended by previous guests! Informal restaurant in the heart of Trastevere.
A perfect place to have an excellent Roman pizza (thin and without a big crust all around) and other typical simple dishes. Try olive all'ascolana (fried olives with a filling of finely minced meat), mozzarella in carrozza or fiori di zucca fritti (battered and fried zucchini flowers - tell them to have them "senza acciughe" if you don't want them to put an anchovy inside as part of the filling.
125 locals recommend
Ivo a Trastevere
158 Via di S. Francesco a Ripa A perfect place to have an excellent Roman pizza (thin and without a big crust all around) and other typical simple dishes. Try olive all'ascolana (fried olives with a filling of finely minced meat), mozzarella in carrozza or fiori di zucca fritti (battered and fried zucchini flowers - tell them to have them "senza acciughe" if you don't want them to put an anchovy inside as part of the filling.
A very traditional take-away bakery/patisserie. It is a very Roman thing to do to buy fresh pastries, especially at the weekend, if you are invited to some family get-together or just visiting some relative - especially if there are children around. Try it!
Pasticceria Cecere
47 Via Benedetto Musolino A very traditional take-away bakery/patisserie. It is a very Roman thing to do to buy fresh pastries, especially at the weekend, if you are invited to some family get-together or just visiting some relative - especially if there are children around. Try it!
Rome is not very big with sushi places, but this one is fine if you, like me, cannot live without sushi for more than a week.
10 locals recommend
Take Sushi
4 Viale di Trastevere Rome is not very big with sushi places, but this one is fine if you, like me, cannot live without sushi for more than a week.
You have to try the typical Roman "maritozzo con la panna", a freshly baked brioche with whipped cream inside!
43 locals recommend
Il Maritozzaro
50 Via Ettore RolliYou have to try the typical Roman "maritozzo con la panna", a freshly baked brioche with whipped cream inside!
This place is famous for its excellent selection of big, tasty salads, and represents a very healthy option if you want a light meal in the centre but are tired of eating pasta or pizza. Having said that, they also serve nice pasta dishes or meat!
10 locals recommend
L'Insalata Ricca - Largo dei Chiavari
85 Largo dei ChiavariThis place is famous for its excellent selection of big, tasty salads, and represents a very healthy option if you want a light meal in the centre but are tired of eating pasta or pizza. Having said that, they also serve nice pasta dishes or meat!
This is a quirky, little-known place where you can have tea, a slice of cake or a Nepali-style lunch. I just find it very relaxing and the ideal place for book-lovers.
6 locals recommend
Bibliothè
5 Via CelsaThis is a quirky, little-known place where you can have tea, a slice of cake or a Nepali-style lunch. I just find it very relaxing and the ideal place for book-lovers.
This is an amazing "pasticceria", a pastry shop/patisserie selling "paste", which is something completely different from "pasta", namely the small cakes you bring as a gift when you visit friends and relatives on a weekend. If you like sweets/desserts, you should definitely check it out!
50 locals recommend
Dolci Desideri
56/62 Via Anton Giulio BarriliThis is an amazing "pasticceria", a pastry shop/patisserie selling "paste", which is something completely different from "pasta", namely the small cakes you bring as a gift when you visit friends and relatives on a weekend. If you like sweets/desserts, you should definitely check it out!
This place in the heart of Trastevere is popular with tourists and Romans alike! Especially good for seafood. The service can leave something to be desired especially in peak season, but you should definitely give it a go :-)
35 locals recommend
Ristorante La Scala in Trastevere
58/61 Piazza della ScalaThis place in the heart of Trastevere is popular with tourists and Romans alike! Especially good for seafood. The service can leave something to be desired especially in peak season, but you should definitely give it a go :-)
I have no picture for this one - sorry! This belongs to the same small chain as the other listing, but is in Trastevere, is less busy and has got - in my opinion - even better salads than the other place! If you like seafood, try "insalata imperiale" - one of my all-time favourites.
L'Insalata Ricca - Trastevere
12 Via Giulio Cesare SantiniI have no picture for this one - sorry! This belongs to the same small chain as the other listing, but is in Trastevere, is less busy and has got - in my opinion - even better salads than the other place! If you like seafood, try "insalata imperiale" - one of my all-time favourites.
Rome is full of gelaterie (not "gelaterias" :-)), and some are huge. This one is tiny, but believe me, many Romans love it! This is where I buy my ice-cream when I am close to the Pantheon. Try "Zabaione con panna" (some compare it to eggnog, but I think you should at least taste it!!)
Fiocco di neve
51 Via del PantheonRome is full of gelaterie (not "gelaterias" :-)), and some are huge. This one is tiny, but believe me, many Romans love it! This is where I buy my ice-cream when I am close to the Pantheon. Try "Zabaione con panna" (some compare it to eggnog, but I think you should at least taste it!!)
One thing you cannot miss while in Rome is the "granita di caffè con panna" (crushed ice with coffee and whipped cream") they make in this place close by the Pantheon. It is always super-busy, not a place to sit down - just buy your granitas and taste them on the go, or sit down on the steps around the fountain in front of the Pantheon itself. It is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Yummie!
6 locals recommend
La Casa del Caffè Tazza d'Oro
84 Via degli OrfaniOne thing you cannot miss while in Rome is the "granita di caffè con panna" (crushed ice with coffee and whipped cream") they make in this place close by the Pantheon. It is always super-busy, not a place to sit down - just buy your granitas and taste them on the go, or sit down on the steps around the fountain in front of the Pantheon itself. It is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Yummie!
Makes some very good bread, pizzas and other savoury snacks you can buy on the go. Very traditional and very well-known in central Rome.
165 locals recommend
Antico Forno Roscioli
34 Via dei Chiavari Makes some very good bread, pizzas and other savoury snacks you can buy on the go. Very traditional and very well-known in central Rome.
While in Rome, you MUST try the traditional Jewish dish called "artichokes Jewish-style" (carciofi alla giudia). The best place to do so, in the heart of Rome's ancient Jewish quarter, is "Da Giggetto al Portico d'Ottavia".
67 locals recommend
GIGGETTO2
21/a Via Sant'Angelo in PescheriaWhile in Rome, you MUST try the traditional Jewish dish called "artichokes Jewish-style" (carciofi alla giudia). The best place to do so, in the heart of Rome's ancient Jewish quarter, is "Da Giggetto al Portico d'Ottavia".
Drinks & Nightlife
If you want to experience an "aperitivo", this is the place! You just pay for a drink, and you can eat whatever you like from the buffet. Very popular hangout for Romans and foreigners alike.
252 locals recommend
Freni e Frizoni
4 Via del Politeama If you want to experience an "aperitivo", this is the place! You just pay for a drink, and you can eat whatever you like from the buffet. Very popular hangout for Romans and foreigners alike.
Birreria Trilussa
19 Via Benedetta Traditional, well-known place for having beer and other drinks.
Sightseeing
Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere
Piazza di Santa Maria in TrastevereTiber Island
Turtle Fountain
Piazza MatteiMy favourite fountain in Rome! Don't miss it!
Venture to the beautiful and peaceful Aventino hill, and ask people for the "key hole"… it is a well-hidden secret, but truly unmissable!
14 locals recommend
Knights of Malta Keyhole
Venture to the beautiful and peaceful Aventino hill, and ask people for the "key hole"… it is a well-hidden secret, but truly unmissable!
Parks & Nature
Villa Doria Pamphili
Villa Sciarra
11 V.le delle Mura GianicolensiGetting Around
Staz.ne Trastevere station
Shopping
In this centrally-located, large bookstore you can also find books in English, lots of books about Rome and its history, guidebooks etc.
On the upper floor there is a small café.
25 locals recommend
laFeltrinelli Books and Music
5/A Largo di Torre ArgentinaIn this centrally-located, large bookstore you can also find books in English, lots of books about Rome and its history, guidebooks etc.
On the upper floor there is a small café.
City advice
Don't miss
Porta Portese market
ONLY ON SUNDAYS: Hey, this one is super-close to my place. It is the largest second-hand market in Rome, but it also has lots of new items. Be careful with your purse! Keep the money INSIDE your trouser pockets or in a safe place close to your body rather than in your backpack. Definitely worth having a look, some might want to spend several hours checking everything out!