My best friend and I have decided to spend a week in Rome. We are going at the very beginning of October of this year. We will be staying very close to the Colosseum. We have an Airbnb so we will be cooking a good portion of our meals, potentially. But we would love to dine out once per day. What are some of your favorite restaurants that serve Gluten Free (shes celiac and I'm allergic) options? Any other travel tips would be welcome as well, as this will be our first time going to Rome! Thank you!
Posted by
Edmonton Canada
327 posts
This small restaurant near Campo de' Fiori is our favourite GF pizza in Rome (south of Piazza Navona). Hubby has celiac and no problems there at all. You could also purchase some nice fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. There was also some amazing cheese.
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1057 posts
Most places in Italy will accommodate GF so long as they know what your restrictions are. What worked well for a friend of mine was to have a typed laminated card listing in Italian exactly what she could not eat (gluten, eggs and soy, in her case). I don’t speak Italian so can’t help you with the wording....
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I don't know if you've seen any of the many other threads here about gluten free eating in Italy, but the good news is that Italy is just about the most gluten-aware place around.
Here's a New York Times article about the subject, with some info at the end about sources for still more information: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/travel/gluten-free-dining-in-italy.html
Posted by
Edmonton Canada
327 posts
As referenced by Patricia above, here's one of the sources for the translated cards:
Posted by
123 posts
Hi KLM,
I’m a celiac who just returned from a trip to Rome in February/March. A few quick recommendations:
- As previously posted, Voglia di Pizza is a great option. Voglia di Pizza as 2 separate kitchens, 1 for normal food and 1 for gluten free prep. Tell the server you need a gluten free menu when you arrive, and you’ll be all set.
- Mama Eat in Trastevere is another good option. Same setup as Voglia di Pizza with 2 separate kitchens. The staff at Mama Eat are incredibly helpful and kind toward celiacs as one of the owners is a celiac.
- Taverna Barberini is another good choice. Almost the entire menu can be made GF. Plus, you can get crepes for dessert that taste just like regular crepes!!
- Pandali is a GF bakery close to the Pantheon.
- Buy the celiac card from Legal Nomads. The translation on this card is better as it was developed in collaboration with Italians so it gets the nomenclature correct.
- Download the Find Me Gluten Free app. This app was an unexpected saving grace while traveling in Italy when my plans went sideways several times, and I needed to find safe eating choices.
As the others have said, Italy really is one of the best places to travel if you are a celiac. They are knowledgeable and very compassionate about the disease, and they work hard to ensure you have a safe and delicious meal.
I have more info such as other web articles listing celiac-friendly restaurants in Rome. PM me if you need more info.
Happy planning!