*Guest post by Rob Toledo
Rome is an amazing city, but it is also a tourist trap, especially in the central zones. What to do then? As a rule of thumb, talk to locals. Just as it is probably true in your home town, you clearly know the difference between the local favorites and tourist traps. I know in my home city of Seattle, there are countless restaurants on both sides of that spectrum.
I have put together this little guide that provides suggestions for some much-loved restaurants in Rome, which I learned in my time there, that are all frequented by locals. Some of them are in the center of the city; others are not too far away from it and all of them are worth checking out for some fresh local flavor.
Have you ever tried Sicilian arancine? It’s a deep fried rice ball as big as an orange, seasoned with Ragù sauce, green peas and mozzarella, or with saffron, mozzarella and ham. In this shop you will find these two traditional varieties, plus 18 more! You can also taste other Sicilian treats like cannoli, panelle, cassate.
Via Marcantonio Colonna, 38 (nearest Metro station – Lepanto).Open from 8am to 12pm, 7 days/week.
Courtesy of Daniele Muscetta
This is a bakery where you can buy hot-from-the-oven pizza, biscuits, bread, and cakes. After visiting the nearby Campo de’ Fiori, try some warm pizza bianca – a typical Roman snack of “white pizza” seasoned with salt and olive oil only.
Via dei Chiavari 34. Open from 7 am to 7,30 pm. Closed on Sunday (and Saturday evenings in July and August).
This small, old shop near Campo de’ Fiori sells just a few Roman specialties. Go there for a crunchy fried cod fillet (in Italian filetto di baccalà fritto), and eat it when it’s still hot, while walking on the street.
Piazza Santa Barbara – Largo dei Librari 88. Open from 6pm to 11pm. Closed on Sunday.
Courtesy of su-lin
Romans like to visit bakeries when they’re hungry. This is a very old one, famous for both its pizza bianca and its pizza rossa – “red pizza”, with tomato on top. Of course, they also produce pizza with different toppings, bread, and cakes. Take a slice (just point to the pizza you want and show how much you want of it) and go sit under the statue of Giordano Bruno, the great philosopher.
Piazza Campo de’ Fiori 22 – Opening times: 7,30 am-2,30 pm / 4,45pm-8pm. and Vicolo del Gallo 14. Opening time: 10,30 am – 4-45 pm. Closed on Saturday evening (July and August).
If you want a taste of Roman University atmosphere, this is the place you are looking for. This Pizzeria is an economical, simple and stress-free place to get fried zucchini flowers and cod or pizza and beer with your friends. Roman pizza is thin and crunchy, as opposed to Neapolitan pizza which is much fluffier. As the name suggests, the service is very quick!
Via degli Equi 13 (near Termini Station). Open from 7 pm to 12pm. Closed on Saturday.
Courtesy of blizzard
Everybody knows that “Italians drink wine”. Well, not always! This place is for beer lovers, as its owners want to surprise you with a wide selection of rare and home-brewed beers that can be chosen from the list written on a blackboard. You cannot order anything else, save for water and whiskey. They also offer hot and cold dishes.
Via Portuense 82 (near Portaportese Market). Open 7days/week – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 7pm-2am. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7pm-4am.
Do you want to try macrobiotic food? Visit this small, hidden restaurant on the fourth floor of a building near the Spanish Steps. You will find creative vegetarian and vegan recipes, and also fish sometimes, in a very quiet and friendly environment. Reservations are requested for the evening.
Via della Vite 14, open from Monday to Saturday, 12:30-2:30 and 7pm-11pm.
You shouldn’t leave Rome without having eaten some pizza al taglio – pizza sold by the weight. This shop is a bit tucked away, but it is worth a try! You should try some pizza bianca with Nutella at least once in your life.
via Federico Nansen 6 (not very far from Piramide metro station) Open from Monday to Saturday, 8am-11pm.
It might be worth it to spend a few weeks prior perusing through some language learning programs, or bring along a travel dictionary of some sort to ensure you can communicate effectively as locals will always appreciate at least the effort to attempt to speak in their native language.
Good luck, and remember first and foremost, travel is a learning experience, and spending time indulging in local flavors is one of many ways to soak up the culture.
Do you have any restaurant recommendations in Rome?
*Rob Toledo is an addicted traveler who hopes to one day get his feet on every continent. He currently works for Distilled.net and can be reached on Twitter @stentontoledo
