I'll be in Rome with my 18 year old twins from December 23-27. We are on a fairly tight budget. We've booked apartments for our other two destinations (Orvieto and Florence), where we can prepare our own food, but have a hotel booked for Rome. I've looked up restaurants that are open over Christmas but everything I'm reading or finding is 50 Euros per person and up. This is out of my budget. Suggestions for cheaper places to eat that are still open on the 24th and 25th please!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11834 posts
We had a couple of holiday meals at Il Giardino Romano in the ghetto. At the time, they had their usual menu and prices were normal. Most places in the ghetto are so, AFAIK, but reservations are essential. For Il Giardino Romano, click on the “Prenota Online” link for online reservations.
BTW, you will want reservations for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunch, very big dining out occasions for Romans.
Posted by
New England
1662 posts
Hi gh,
I sent you a message.
Posted by
1 posts
I am heading to ROME and the ALMAFI COAST next week and I am looking for the best places to dine on a budget and how to get around on a rental car.. Parking pricing etc. Are their any open Christmas markets to see ..
Thank you ALL
Laura
Posted by
Washington DC
28435 posts
Laura, you should start your own thread with an appropriate title. You'll get more targeted responses, and you'll receive an email as others post answers. As it stands, the original creator of this thread (ghwiens) is going to get pinged every time someone responds to you here.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16694 posts
I'll probably get a hail of rotten veg for this but seems I remember reading that quite a number of shops and restaurants in Termini station stay open on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve? Laurel, you might know best on this one? If so, and if the OP isn't needing a 'special' meal (plus has to fill up two teenagers), maybe that's not a completely lousy suggestion?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11834 posts
Termini has changed since we lived there. As we were leaving in 2016, the new mercato there opened. Who knows about Xmas Day? Maybe one of our Roman members will speak up. I would not count on a lot of bars, pizzerias, or street food vendors on the holiday.
Posted by
7 posts
Nearly everything is affordable. Not kidding. My girlfriend and I ate out a couple of times in Rome and didn't spend more than 20eu, with wine. Also...instead of eating at a restaurant, think about wandering around and going to the Mercatino Di Natale at Piazza Navona. There's a TON of food. Plus...you're in Rome. Have snacks. Stop in and have pizza here or there. Get pastries.
Italy is so much less formal than people are used to and it's easy to think that it's going to be the way that it is when you're at home. Do what the Italians are doing. Wake up, go to the bar that's closest to your hotel (not the one in the lobby). Get espresso and some kind of brioche. Walk around until you're hungry and then stop in at a cafe. Have a little chocolate. Have a little pizza. Have something their serving in the deli. Same with dinner. Don't freak out about sitting down and having a very uptight, napkins on the lap dinner.
If you insist on doing that (without knowing where your hotel is) there are more and less expensive places to go in Rome, just like any city. If you're in a neighborhood that doesn't have say, The Vatican in the middle of it, you'll find less expensive restaurants. Checking out different neighborhoods will also give you the opportunity to take the train, which you should do in every city. Wander around in Tretsavere Christmas Eve and Christmas. You'll find spots where regular folks are eating. Those are the places you want to spend your time and money in. The closest stop to Trestavere with an easy walk there is going to be Piramide, which is on the B Line. You'll head west, cross a cool bridge - the Ponte Palatino - (Rick talks about it in his Trestavere walking tour which you should DEFINITELY listen to while you wander around), and once you're in TV, you can just wander until you find a place.
It's the small places...little doors, steamy windows...those are what you're looking for. You and your twins will walk out for 50eu total. Also, you're going to find that Italy is WAY cheaper than you expected. Relax, have fun, don't be stingy with yourself.
I envy you. Have a wonderful time and buon Natale!
PS: Take coats. Rome may be warmer at Christmas than Milan or other more northern cities, but it's humid and that makes it feel way colder if you're not used to it.
Posted by
173 posts
Taverna del Semenario, half a block off to the left of the Pantheon as you’re facing it. The food was great and I had to ask about the bill because I was sure they had made a mistake. An appetizer, mushroom pasta for two, bread and a small pitcher of wine. €24.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you to all who have contributed so far--very helpful advice! What a great forum this is. My first time posting!