One of the most visited cities in the world, Pomegranate It may even have restaurants that function as tourist traps, but it is undeniable that there is very good food in the Eternal City. So, which the best restaurants in Rome ?
The answer may be this: the most classic ones. My tip for eating well in the Italian capital is to research the more traditional addresses , many of them with more than 100 years of history and with recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. After all, repetition is excellence in the kitchen.
And remember: when in Rome, we dance to the music of the Romans. In other words, we are in the land of cacio e pepe , delicious and powerful recipe with plenty of pecorino cheese and black pepper; of the carbonaras executed to perfection; and the irresistible Roman artichokes which arrive warm and melting in the mouth, soaked in extra virgin olive oil.
To help you with the task of eating well in the city, I have separated below 10 traditional restaurants in Rome which are among my favorites. Enjoy!
Check out the 10 traditional restaurants in Rome:
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Ristorante Nino dal 1934
O Nino It’s one of those addresses that I always return to in Rome, even visiting it more than once on the same trip. The restaurant has a traditional canteen feel and is located in the city center, a short distance from the Piazza di Spagna .
The cuisine harmonizes Tuscan specialties with Roman traditions. Don’t miss the Roman artichokes on the menu, which are slowly cooked with extra virgin olive oil and wine and stuffed with spices. They melt in your mouth! The burrata is also delicious and the cannelloni is super special, enriched with ragu and béchamel sauce, arriving at the table gratin and stuffed with beef.
Ristorante Nino dal 1934: Via Borgognona 11 – 00187 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm and from 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm; closed on Sundays and during the month of August / Reservations via site and by telephone: (+39) 06 6795676 or (+39) 06 6786752.
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Trattoria Al Moro
Almost next door to Trevi Fountain The Trattoria Al Moro It is also a very traditional house in the city that serves typical Roman food, with outdoor seating. The cool thing is that it’s not uncommon to see the owner strolling around the tables, paying attention to the service and food.
Speaking of which, the menu is full of delicious pastas, such as tagliatelle with white truffle cream, spaghetti alla moro (a version of carbonara) and bucatini all’Amatriciana. In addition to pasta, the restaurant has a beautiful wine list, including half-bottle options – here I even ordered a great Brunello from the collection of Angelo Gaja, one of the most acclaimed names in Italian wine.
Trattoria Al Moro: Vicolo delle Bollette, 13 – 00187 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm and from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm; closed on Sundays / Reservations via site.
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Trilussa Tavern
A Trilussa Tavern is a landmark in the bohemian neighborhood of Trastevere . The house dates back to 1910, meaning it has more than a century of tradition, and the idea continues to be to preserve the flavors and recipes of the past, but with one foot in the present.
The restaurant is famous for its cacio e pepe, which is quite traditional, but I also recommend the pasta à la gricia, a version of amatriciana with a white sauce, without tomato, which also contains pecorino and guanciale. Even Oprah and tennis player Novak Djokovic showed up here recently.
Trilussa Tavern: Via del Politeama 23 – 00153 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 7pm to 11pm; closed on Sundays and between August 11th and 25th (summer holidays).
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Antica Pesa
Also in the region of Trastevere O Antica Pesa has a tradition that dates back to 1922, where it remains a family business. The house serves typical Roman dishes, that is, think of different pastas in the most Italian ways possible and also a selection of antipasti and meats as main dishes.
Spaghetti, schiaffoni, tortelli and tagliolini are just some of the pasta that can come à la cacio e pepe, carbonara and amatriciana. It is worth mentioning that the house has an open garden area, ideal for warmer and more pleasant evenings.
Antica Pesa: Via Garibaldi, 18 – 00153 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 pm / Reservations via site.
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Armando al Pantheon
Glued to Pantheon one of the most visited tourist attractions in Rome, the restaurant has been run by the Gargioli family since 1961. It is popular with in-the-know tourists, but also welcomes local lovers.
Appetizing Roman classics find a home here, like carbonara and saltimbocca alla Romana. Also think about names like spaghetti alla gricia, penne all’arrabbiata, rigatoni all’amatriciana and rigatoni with veal tripe. The wine list is long and reservations are highly recommended.
Armando al Pantheon: Salita de’ Crescenzi, 31 – 00186 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, closed on Sundays and from August 11th to 31st / Reservations via site.
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Ristorante Dal Bolognese
O Dal Bolognese is in contention among Rome’s favorite and best-known restaurants, not only among tourists, but also among locals. Much is said about the house, but I will say that it continues to serve delicious food.
Fully Piazza del Popolo , the timeless cuisine has Bolognese pasta as its flagship. If you want to try another order, my tip is the veal cotoletta, which leaves nothing behind. For starters, try the freshly cut Spanish ham, which melts in your mouth, and the “wind pastry”, which comes with the traditional zucchini flower stuffed with cheese and buffalo.
Dal Bolognese: Piazza del Popolo, 1 – 00187 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: every day, from 12:45 pm to 3 pm and from 7:45 pm to 11 pm / Reservations by phone (+39) 06 3222799.
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Tullio Ristorante
With a classic profile, the Tullio is another address in the Eternal City that is worth putting on the list. This is because the house, located just a few steps from the Piazza Barberini and from Via Veneto , serves a delicious caprese and a taglioni with pecorino, guanciale and artichokes that is to die for. It’s also worth trying the artichokes alla Romana, always a good choice.
The family restaurant has roots in 1950 when it opened as a small store. Today it still serves seasonal specialties, such as fish and Florentine steak, and has a wine cellar with Italian and foreign labels.
Tullio Ristorante: Via San Nicola da Tolentino, 26 – 00187 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm and from 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm; closed on Sundays / Reservations via site.
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Happy Testaccio
Felice a Testaccio is widely known for its cacio e pepe, the house specialty. The original recipe calls for 200g of tonnarelli pasta made from fresh eggs and flour, 70g of pecorino, 30g of grated parmigiano reggiano, two tablespoons of olive oil and ground black pepper.
Of course, other Italian delicacies also come into play, such as spaghetti alla carbonara and bucatini all’Amatriciana. It is worth noting that, in addition to Rome, the house also expanded to Milan and Turin.
Happy Testaccio: Via Mastro Giorgio, 29 – 00153 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: every day, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm and from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm / Reservations via site.
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Trattoria Pizzeria Luzzi
An option close to Coliseum and the Trattoria Luzzi , opened in 1945 and still has a rustic atmosphere, with an indoor and outdoor room and tables with checkered tablecloths. Very traditional pasta comes out of the kitchen, and my tip is the pasta all’amatriciana.
Pizzas are also on the menu: the margherita costs around €6 (R$34.60) and the mushroom with prosciutto costs €8.50 (around R$50).
Trattoria Luzzi: Via di San Giovanni in Laterano 88 – 00184 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: every day, from 12pm to midnight.
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From Francesco
Da Francesco is a small osteria in the center, very close to the Piazza Navona . Opened in the 1950s, the restaurant honors the city – and the country – with its classic dishes, including fettuccine alla gricia with black truffle and saltimboca alla Romana (veal escalopes with ham and sage).
In addition to the pastas, it’s the pizzas that really make this place a good stop for lunch. The rounds come out of the wood-fired oven and arrive at the table crispy in various flavors, from margherita to capricciosa.
From Francesco: Piazza del Fico, 29 – 00186 Rome, Italy / Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm / Reservations via site.
Source: CNN Brasil

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