The Best Restaurants in Rome
From the ultimate in alfresco dining to the best traditional trattorias, we reveal our selection of some of the best restaurants in Rome right now.
1. Best Overall Experience
Ristorante Roscioli (€€) Part-delicatessen, part-bakery and part-casual restaurant, the Roscioli team have created a sumptuous casual Italian dining experience by sourcing the finest artisanal produce and fresh ingredients from all over Italy. Interiors are modern and the atmosphere is buzzing with a part-foodie, part-trendy crowd. Legendary Italian food critic Stefano Bonilli and his wife (the founders of Italy’s most respected restaurant guide) can be found dining here practically every day, which is a clear sign of how good the food is. Let the Roscioli team take you on a tour of Italy’s finest cured meats, perfectly aged parmigiano and balsamic vinegars, freshly baked focaccia, divine pasta specials (which change regularly) - its all incredible. More Information
2. Traditional Roman Trattorias
Trattoria Monti (€€) As one of the most popular local trattorias in Rome, Monti is a vibrant, buzzing place that is constantly packed with locals due to the charms of the good-looking brothers who run the place, the stomach-satisfyingly good cuisine of their Italian mum in the kitchen, and its crowd of regulars crammed into the place each day. The pasta is the standout with traditional Roman specialties such as tortello al rosso d’uovo, and rich and flavoursome homemade tagliatelli with duck sauce. The extensive Italian wine list is also very reasonably priced. Bookings essential at least a few days in advance. Via di San Vito, 13 00185 Rome +39 (0) 6446 6573
Checchino dal 1887 (€€) Located near Rome’s ancient slaughterhouses in the Testacio district, expect top quality nose-to-tail cooking at this age old Roman trattoria run by the Mariani family. Having served local slaughterhouse workers for decades, Checchino’s menu features simple yet refined Roman working-class classics such as hearty homemade pasta al ragu, milk-fed calf intestines and tripe, and roasted milk-fed lamb with potatoes. Don’t miss the great value fixed-price dinner menu for only €40. More information
Sora Margherita Trattoria (€) As one of the smallest and most hidden trattorias in Rome, Sora Margherita is a casual local gem tucked away in Rome’s Jewish Getto district. Offering a daily menu of simple yet exquisite homemade Roman cuisine with a Jewish touch, indulge in delicacies such as her signature fettuccine a cacio e pepe (with fresh cheese & pepper), carciofi alla giudia (fried baby artichokes), la parmigiana of the season and superb baccalà (salted cod). Sora Margherita is an extremely popular place with local foodies, so advance bookings essential to secure a highly coveted table. Open for lunch from Tuesday to Saturday, and dinner over the weekend so advance bookings essential. Piazza Cinque Scole 30, Rome +39 (0) 6 6874216
3. Modern Trattoria
Antico Arco (€€) As one of Rome’s more creative modern trattorias, Antico Arco is consistently packed with a collection of Rome’s local foodies, fashionable types and a scattering of well-informed tourists who’ve uncovered a Roman gem. Chef Patrizia Mattei’ offers an innovative and refined menu of contemporary Italian flavours, including her signature spaghetti all’amatriciana, a heart-stopping risotto al Castelmagno con riduzione di Nebbiolo (risotto with white wine and cheese). and perfectly-pitched meat, fish and game dishes. Advance bookings essential. More Information
4. Alfresco Lunch
Baby (€€€) Now that summer has arrived, enjoy one of the most beautiful alfresco settings at Baby restaurant, the glamourous dining offering at the Hotel Aldrovandi Palace hotel. In contrast to the classically-furnished hotel, Baby is a modern sanctuary with sleek, minimalist all-white interiors and stylish designer furnishings. As the second restaurant from acclaimed Amalfi Coast chefs, Alfonso Iaccarino and his son Ernesto, they bring sophisticated Neopolitan flavours to Rome using premium olive oil and vegetables sourced directly from their own family farm. Settle in and enjoy a beautiful long lunch of ravioli filled with sheep’s cheese, basil and cherry tomatoes in Baby’s picturesque outdoor garden overlooking the hotel’s pool. More Information
