After 15 years of eating my way through Rome, I’ve had some truly exceptional meals – and plenty of forgettable ones. The best ones stick with me: perfect bowls of pasta, from cacio e pepe to carbonara, crispy pizzas with seasonal toppings, fragrant wines and delicious desserts. These, often special, family-run spots serving up proper Roman cuisine, are the meals worth remembering – and I’m sharing all my favourite spots with you here.
How to avoid tourist traps in Rome
If a restaurant has a prime view of the Pantheon or the Trevi Fountain, chances are you’re paying for the view, not the food. Instead, wander a few streets away where things are a little quieter or, better yet, head to neighborhoods like Testaccio, Cipro and Parioli, where locals actually eat. Reservations at popular restaurants are key, especially in high season (summer, annual holidays and the likes). And if you see a place that’s gone viral on TikTok with a line of 100+ people? Skip it. You don’t need to spend hours in line to have an amazing meal in Rome. To make it easy for you, I’ve rounded up the best places to eat in the city. Buon appetito!
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This guide was recently updated by Rome-based writer Livia Hengel. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.