Favorite Rome Restaurants

In Prati, a unique pizzeria we loved when we lived there, La Pratolina. Reservations advisable.

A “neighborhood joint” near Piazza Navona that we enjoyed many many nights over the years, Antica Taverna. Nothing fancy, just down to earth Italian food.

My favourite restaurant, in Rome, would be any restaurant that served a great bowl of Penne Carbonara (with a little extra Guanciale) and side dishes like fresh Artichokes and Puntarelle.

I like La Carbonara on Via Panisperna in Monti and, for a fancy dinner, the inner courtyard of Antica Pesa in Trastevere. I have walked in for lunch at the former and made reservations for dinner at the latter. La Carbonara is pretty close to Fatamorgana for gelato before/after your meal. Buon appetito!

We stayed in Prati our last 2 visits to Rome and love the area. Two suggestions below along with Gelateria dei Gracchi for gelato. A favourite of ours in Monti listed as well.

Prati: Il Sorpasso and Il Matriciano
Monti: Ristorante Broccoletti

Near the Spanish Steps check out a place at 105 Via della Croce. It's a pink building on a corner by the name of D'angelo (I think) with outdoor seating on two sides.

Near the Pantheon is a place named Miscellanea. It's on a side street off the street that runs along the right side of the Pantheon as one is facing it.

Nothing fancy, but both of them offer good food (and a lot of it) at reasonable prices. You should be able to check them out on Google and use the map feature to locate them before you leave home.

Near the Pantheon:
La Rosetta, specializing in seafood and Armando al Pantheon, a wonderful trattoria.

Last year, and the year before, we stayed in Testaccio, and found fantastic places. Don’t underestimate stalls in the Testaccio indoor market (Mercato di Testaccio) for lunch (eat at the tables in the center, or do takeaway) - but it closes at 3:00 PM.

Restaurants in Testaccio:
Lo Scopettaro - especially their Pasta Amatriciana, and Coda alla Vaccinara

Bucatino - fantastic Cacio e Pepe

Pizzeria da Remo for pizza, with more locals than tourists, and they’re always very busy. Go early.

Gelato - Giolitti on via Amerigo Vespucci, and
Panna & Company on via Marmorata

Felice a Testaccio is a famous restaurant, and we had several very good meals there. The last time, though, it was clear that they are now put off by tourists (non-Romans), want us all out of there quickly (well before 9:00), and prices have gone way up, and are higher than restaurants I listed above. The waiter the last time said I could pay with my credit card, but then added (presumptuously) that I could pay my tip in cash. I didn’t leave a tip, although at other places, they earned one.

I will second Armando al Pantheon but you must reserve. Near the Spanish steps is Ristorante NiNo. It is a Tuscan restaurant with some Roman specialties. Dark wood interior, white jacketed rather formal waiters. No shorts, T-shirts, flip flops allowed. We had an excellent lunch surrounded by Italian men in their 60’s or 70’s each of whom was accompanied by their very beautiful 25 year old daughter…..:)

We’ve been dinning at La Rustachella since 2002, always delicious. The best carbonara and the best amatriciana .It’s located on Via Angelo Emo which is a few blocks north of the Vatican Museum entrance. Also close to the north Vatican wall is the Old Bridge gellateria .

Personally I love all the places in Trastevere and from my experience I know that all the locals in Rome prefer going there, as it is not swarming with tourists and the food is way more local!

Based on advice in this Forum alone, I guarantee you Trastevere is swarming with travelers, Having lived in Rome for a few years and being rather “local,” most Romans go to places in their quartieri (neighborhood).

Yes, Trastevere is charming but very, very touristy. I was surprised at how busy the restaurants were in the evening when I walked through the area in February or March this year. I heard a lot of English. I don't remember such crowds when I stayed in the area back in May 2015, but Trastevere has been tipped in guidebooks for decades. It's not an undiscovered gem.