Rome is a paradise for foodies and taste explorers. The city, home to some really ancient restaurants and trattorie, is a unique place to enjoy the tastes of the country.
And even when the city, attracting the highest number of tourists in the country, can be full of tourist traps when it comes to restaurants, some places, a bit off the track, still serve traditional Roman cuisine at affordable prices.
As an extra tip, always look for places filled with locals; here you will find exactly what to eat in Rome without breaking the bank.
These are the best dishes to try in the capital of Italy, and in each case, we also tell you the best places to sample them.
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Bucatini all’Amatriciana
A key dish on the local menu, bucatini all’amatriciana is a pasta dish with a thick sauce that is best enjoyed when served with bucatini pasta style, similar to spaghettini but featuring a small hole where the sauce enters and remains to make the dish even more inviting.
Slightly spicy and featuring a savory tomato sauce and another staple ingredient in Roman cuisine, the guanciale (also used for the iconic pasta alla carbonara), bucatini all’Amatriciana is a delicious dish better enjoyed during the colder months of the year.
Don’t forget to cover it with a very generous amount of freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese and enjoy with a glass of red Italian Chianti.
How can you go wrong with pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and red wine?! You can’t :)
Where to have the best Amatriciana in Rome
Osteria Palmira is a traditional place in town for Amatriciana. This is a traditional family-run osteria that has been making this dish for decades.
The place is on Via Abate Ugone, and you can also check the Osteria Palmira website.
Cacio e Pepe
Considered the classic flavor of Rome, this is another incredibly simple and tasteful dish of the local cuisine.
The name comes from the word cacio, the Roman dialect term for cheese, which should rigorously be local Pecorino Romano (the traditional sheep’s milk cheese of the Lazio region), and pepe, freshly ground black pepper.
Yes, as simple as that!
Although most tourist restaurants in town would normally prepare the dish with spaghetti, according to tradition, the type of pasta that this recipe uses should be tonnarelli, a long and fresh pasta style slightly thicker than spaghetti, which was originally found both in the Lazio region and also in Abruzzo.
Best Cacio e Pepe in Rome
Undoubtedly, it is imperative to visit Felice a Testacio (in Via Mastro George) to taste a top dish of cacio e pepe.
Often selected among the best restaurants in town, their superlative experience includes the presence of the waiter by your table who mixes your pasta dish right in front of you, making it extremely creamy and utterly delicious as he incorporates the cheese and the pepper into your bowl. Check their website and book in advance!
Pasta alla Carbonara
Ambassador of local dishes, pasta alla carbonara is arguably the best dish you will find in Rome and, if cooked according to tradition, will leave an everlasting impression on your taste buds.
Although you might find endless variations of this traditional Roman dish, locals claim that authentic carbonara is made with just a couple of ingredients: authentic fried guanciale (a cured meat cut from the cheeks of the pork, the same used for Amatriciana), egg yolk (no whites and, please, no thick cream either!), and Pecorino Romano cheese, full stop!
Truth be told, other versions of carbonara are not as delicious either.
In the traditional version of the dish, the special character of the pasta is given by the creamy, buttery sauce that is cooked only by the heat of the pasta and never on the direct flame (otherwise you’d be having pasta and scrambled eggs).
Expert cooks often specify that even when it sounds like a very Spartan, simple dish, the sauce can be tricky to obtain if the temperature of the pasta is too high or when the eggs and pasta are mixed in a frying pan!
In Rome you will want to eat Spaghetti alla carbonara
Where to find the best carbonara in Rome
A name that says it all: locals confirm that La Carbonara, in Via Panisperna, is the best osteria in Rome for the most authentic carbonara as well as to try other spectacular dishes of Roman cuisine.
Suppli
Easy to taste while exploring the city, this is one of the top street foods to discover in Rome.
Part of the extensive collection of fried snacks belonging to the Roman tradition, the suppli is the quintessential snack in town.
A suppli is a deep-fried rice ball coated with eggs and breadcrumbs and filled with tomato ragu and mozzarella cheese. As any Roman would joke, it’s similar to a fried version of risotto… to eat on the go!
Suppli is simply a must-try food in Rome!
Best place for suppli in Rome
There is no other place like the bohemian atmosphere of the Trastevere district to try this delicious Roman snack.
Once you’ve visited the neighborhood, head to Supplì Roma, a place that since 1979 has been frying the best deep-fried snacks in town.
And if the fried food tradition of Rome tempts you, be certain that this street food restaurant has more than just one kind of suppli.
Here you can find options such as fried arancini (with just rice and cheese), fried calamari, codfish, and mozzarella sticks with anchovies.
This place is located in Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, and the website tells you more about their menu.
Artichokes
Artichokes, cooked the Roman way or served fried in Jewish style (locally known as carciofi alla giudea and commonly found in the ancient streets of the Roman Jewish ghetto) are a must-eat dish to taste when visiting Rome.
Even though we all know that artichokes are a highly seasonal vegetable and not easy to find all year round.
For instance, in Rome, the main season for artichokes starts in November, peaking at the end of winter.
However, the high demand for this dish, both from locals and visitors, has given the plate an incredibly popular status; thus, it is now possible to find artichokes in Rome all year round.
In Rome you should for sure try the artichoke – YES!
Where to find Artichokes in Rome
Fried artichokes are on the menu at almost every restaurant in the capital; however, to try the delicious Jewish version of this fried flower, it is always better to head to Rome’s ex-ghetto.
Nonna Betta, located on Via del Portico d’Ottavia, is certainly the most famous place to try this delicacy.
Maritozzi
Forget about breakfast with croissants (locally known as cornetto in any Italian bar). When in Rome, the authentic breakfast comes with a maritozzo!
Huge amounts of delicate, fresh cream fill this symbolic Roman staple that deeply contrasts with more spicy and savory dishes filled with Pecorino cheese and strongly-flavored guanciale.
The maritozzo is another story!
This sweet delicacy has an equally sweet background as, according to tradition, it used to be a gift that a fiancé would offer his better half during Lent, the first Friday of March.
The name of the sweet is closely related to the Italian word “marito” which stands for “husband”.
Of course, the Lent period has quickly become the official time to eat the best maritozzo in Rome, with most bakeries offering extra delicious varieties of this soft pastry filled with tons of cream but also including chocolate, raisins, and candied fruit.
The most delicious way to start your day in Rome is with coffee and maritozzo!
Where to go for the best maritozzi in Rome
Head to Il Maritozzaro in Via Ettori Rolli, and rest assured that you will find the freshest, most delicious maritozzi in town!
You can also check out the Il Maritozzaro website to learn even more about this traditional sweet from Rome.
Pizza bianca e mortadella
Another staple of the local street food, pizza Bianca (or focaccia bread) e mortadella, often with pistachios, is a perfect sandwich-styled snack (which can be big enough to replace a regular dish of pasta) and a classic treat in Rome.
Usually filled with a lot of mortadella and some mozzarella cheese, dozens of different places in town serve unique varieties of this dish with other fillings, including fresh tomato and pesto sauce, ham, salami, champignons, and other fresh ingredients.
Where to get the best focaccia and mortadella in Rome
Although the city is full of snack bars and restaurants serving this snack, the Antica Salumeria al Pantheon in Piazza della Rotonda is nothing but a must in Rome to test the flavor of this staple. More info on Antica Salumeria website.
Best food tours and cooking experiences in Rome
There is nothing like enjoying a visit to a public market with a local or entering a traditional kitchen and learning to prepare a dish to know everything about the local cuisine whenever you travel.
In fact, no matter your destination, this is probably the best souvenir you can take home with you—the delicious memories and the secret knowledge of a staple dish of any local cuisine.
When in Italy, this is not just a great idea, but it is also a must!
Feel free to check out, in the section below, the best food-related tours and activities that Rome has to offer:
Rome Street Food Tour with Local Guide
Enjoy a fun tour at a reasonable price to taste Rome’s street food scene. During the experience, you will sample a variety of street foods, such as zucchini flowers, suppli, pastries, and pizza, while taking in the impressive scenery of historic Rome.
This tour is perfect for first-time visitors to the capital, and it is best to book it for the first days of your visit in case some place is so good that you might want to come back.
Book the Rome Street Food Tour with Local Guide
Rome Food Walking Tour: Trastevere, Campo de’ Fiori, Jewish Ghetto
The perfect experience is to navigate the most traditional corners of the city as you taste the local products with an expert guide.
During the day, you will sample traditional Italian favorites like gelato and pasta, as well as local specialties like fried artichokes.
A typical tasting menu includes pizza bianca with mortadella or pizza rossa, suppli, fried artichoke or zucchini flower, Roman salami, mozzarella Pecorino Romano, Cacio e Pepe, and Amatriciana, as well as homemade gelato.
Book the Rome Food Walking Tour Trastevere, Campo de’Fiori, Jewish Ghetto
Roman Food Tour in Trastevere
A fantastic way to explore one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the capital, the romantic and alternative Trastevere with its winding cobblestoned alleys and gorgeous piazzas, but also home to unique gastronomic spots.
During this food and walking tour, you will learn everything about the district’s food and wine and visit favorite venues for multiple tastings, including cheese, ham, pizza, pasta, and aged balsamic vinegar.
You will also taste Roman beers and delicious traditional gelato in a popular gelato shop in the area.
Book your Roman Food Tour in Trastevere now
Pasta & Tiramisu Lovers Workshop
Travel back home, treasuring with you the knowledge of antique Italian recipes and all the secrets to surprise your friends and family in the kitchen!
During this incredible class, participants learn to make two classic Italian dishes: pasta and tiramisu. This small group activity offers a hands-on workshop with plenty of time to ask questions and learn every secret and technique.
Once the class is over, you can sit down with your classmates and enjoy the meal you’ve made with a glass of wine. The activity also includes recipes for you to take with you and recreate once you return home!
Book the Pasta & Tiramisu Lovers Workshop
Enjoy eating your way through Rome!
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About the Author
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about Europe for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and plans customized trips to the Greek islands. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.