I'm looking for some good and fairly quick, preferably inexpensive, lunch suggestions near the Vatican and Colosseum. Simple sandwich or pizza places are fine but so are other foods. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
32 posts
We are going in November and have same time concerns
I have heard good things about pane & vino near colosseum. Our plan for vatican is Mercato and pick up some bread and cheese and fruit
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
472 posts
Near the Vatican is Restaurant Arlu, on Borgo Pio. We were taken there, so I don't know the prices, but lunch was seriously good.
Maybe they're online? Also search this forum; numerous threads on food near major sites.
Posted by
Reno, Nevada
1025 posts
Consider Bonci Pizzarium, Via della Meloria, 43, 00136 Roma RM, Italy +39 06 3974 5416
It's owned by Gabriele Bonci, who was featured on an Anthony Bourdain episode in Rome, and it looks phenomenal.
Posted by
8 posts
For the Vatican, I'm going to second Pizzarium. It's only a block from the Cipro subway station, so it's very convenient for a quick bite either before or after visiting the Vatican Museum. Unlike traditional pizzerias, the pizzas here are rectangular, and sold by the slice (by weight). You just tell them which type and how much, and they snip you off a slice accordingly. The crust is phenomenal, quite different from Neapolitan style pizza but just as light and airy, and there are many different topping combos to try. The suppli there (fried rice & cheese balls, similar to arancini) are fantastic as well.
Near the Colisseum, a place we had a very nice meal on our visit a couple years back was I Clementini. It's about 2-3 blocks east of the Colisseum - just beyond the gauntlet of tourist traps - and is a nice, quiet-ish respite from the sightseeing hordes, serving very good, traditional Roman fare. Also, around the corner from there is Li Rioni, which is a very well-regarded pizzeria that we didn't get to try but is on our list for next time.