Rome dining (and gelato) west of Piazza Navona

Frigidarium is my absolute favorite gelateria!! Google it... 😋

Bookmarking for future reference.

My dining experience at Piazza Navona was getting a panino, a salad, and a dessert, water, lol - walking back from shopping and stopping at the Coop.

Sat on a cement bench near one of my favorite fountains, ate, people watched, and listened to the street musicians on the other side of the Piazza.

Look up La Romana via settembre.

Very nice gelateria, very clean - like pristine white, limited seating with white benches and tables. English speaking unless you want to practice your Italian. Decent pricing, decent servings. Will allow you to taste test if you want.

They also have a ready-made or custom-made dessert refrig with all kinds of yummy desserts - single serve up to a party.

When I visited, there were quite a few locals coming in and out - as the staff addressed them by name.

I always recommend this place in that area Alimentari del Coronari. It's kind of a wine bar/quick meal place that has good salads, panini, and antipasti. Frequented by locals not tourists despite the location, at least when I was there in late October 2016 (had a couple of good meals there). They will give you a a decent pour of wine and even let you taste a bit if you are unsure (at least they did for me). The decor is kind of upscale deli rather that hole-in-the-wall, but watching the servers they had work was a form of theater. I found myself thinking, "this is the place". It felt very authentic to me. One of the great things about Rome is that it's a big enough city that even though it's highly touristed, tourists do not overwhelm it. At least not when I have been there, but I have never been there in June-July-August-September.

It has been three years so take this as possibly old info although we lived there’s for almost 5 years. One of our favorites in that area was Antica Taverna on Via di Monte Giordano. On Via Di Banchi Novi is Alfredo e Ada, a unique experience but closed Sunday and Monday. The best gelato nearby is Gelateria del Teatro.

Another plug for Frigidarium. It keeps getting busier, but is still wonderful. A small restaurant we really like is Est Artigiani del Gusto. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is also a wine shop and has an excellent appertivo.

In May 2018, my wife and I had two very enjoyable meals at Trattoria Gino e Pietro, at Via del Governo Vecchio 106, which is a very short walk from the Piazza Navona. We were staying in an apartment a few doors down the street, and this seemed like a local place. It is relatively small, located on a fairly busy mainly-pedestrian street with interesting shops and architecture. The welcome and service were excellent, as were the food and the prices. An added bonus: the Frigidarium gelateria is only about a block away!

Bookmarking!

We had a wonderful meal at the wine bar Cul de Sac.

Cul de Sac is an interesting place. If you are an oenophile, ask to see “the book” as they have an amazing tome for a wine list. It is a wine bar that serves food, not a restaurant with a wine list. We found their strengths to be salads, salume, and cheese. These are outstanding. Their hot food, not-so-much; I suspect microwaved entrees. Also, it is crazily busy at night. Lunch is a more accessible time.

Osteria de Sostegno is not far from the Pantheon and can be easily missed because it's a little bit off the street (Via delle Collonelle).
We only heard people speaking Italian when we were there. The staff was great and the food is high quality and super affordable.
Also Casa Bleve (San Eustachio area) in between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Family run, authentic roman cuisine. Great staff.
For gelato, the Gelateria Del Teatro has quality artisanal gelato. (Also easy walk from Piazza Navona). San Crispino gelato is amazing but that's by the Trevi.

Locals go to Taverna Lucifero especially for truffles and fondue, good steaks, too.
https://www.facebook.com/tavernalucifero

They close for August, I believe, so depends on when you are going to be in the area.
Via del Pellegrino, 51, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Don't be put off by the look of the alley!

Our favorite: Alfredo e Ada, Via dei Banchi Nuovi, 14. It is about a 6 or 7 minute walk west of Piazza Navona. It is definitely unpretentious but loaded with ambiance; the food is limited to a daily menu recited by the server but it is wonderful. You should arrive 20 to 30 minutes ahead of the opening time and stand in line to insure seating.

In May 2018, my wife and I had two very enjoyable meals at Trattoria Gino e Pietro, at Via del Governo Vecchio 106, which is a very short walk from the Piazza Navona.

Yes! Another vote for Trattoria Gino e Pietro!

Apparently Taverna Lucifero has move d about a block away.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Via+dei+Cappellari,+28,+00186+Roma+RM,+Italy/Via+del+Pellegrino,+51,+00186+Roma+RM,+Italy/@41.8964346,12.4696794,18z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x132f6045be9d662d:0x15bf9188818ba942!2m2!1d12.47079!2d41.89618!1m5!1m1!1s0x132f604599d36b2d:0x2ce398ac1b39148e!2m2!1d12.471153!2d41.8965!3e2

When we were in Rome on a trip with friends, we had the opportunity to spend our final evening with a local resident who was the friend-of-a-friend of someone in our group. He lead us to all kinds of interesting places not well known to tourists. The restaurant he picked for our dinner was Trattoria Fiammetta. He knew we wanted to eat in the Piazza Navona area, but avoid those expensive and not-great restaurants that are right on the piazza. Trattoria Fiammetta was located on a small lane a block or two off the piazza. We had a great meal at reasonable prices, with friendly, attentive service. The restaurant size is intimate. Just about every table in the small outdoor area was pushed together to accommodate the 11 of us. Other diners appeared to us to be locals, not tourists. This was a couple years ago but is a dining memory that sticks out in my memory.

Try Old Bridge for outstanding gelato. The main store is across the street from where people line up to get into the Vatican Museum, but I understand they have opened other locations as well.

Fritzy -- as long as Francesco is still there at Taverna Lucifero you'll be in good, jolly hands.
Interesting to look at the places he himself gives good reviews to on FB there in the neighborhood ...

I second the recommendation for Alfredo e Ada. I had lunch there a few years ago on our arrival day. By shear luck, we were hungry earlier than usual after the long travel and showed up before they opened. There was a line waiting when we were walking out. However, the restaurant doesn’t feel busy once you’re inside. It’s a family place with a laid back, traditional and comfortable atmosphere. RS also recommends, so it may already be on your list. But thought I’d share. 👍🏼

We loved Armando al Pantheon. You need reservations for sure, it's super tiny but amazing food.

Thank you