Top 10 Things to Eat in Rome

By Go City Expert

You certainly won’t go hungry on your visit to Rome. It’s a city that loves its food and boasts some of the best pizzerias and gelaterias in Italy. We get a bit excited when we think about local delicacies in Rome, so we decided to put our heads together and pick our top 10 things to eat in Rome. So treat it like a bitesize bucket list of food. From little tomato-y arancini rice balls, to spaghetti alle vongole; chilled sorbets and fried anything – here is our best of the best, in no particular order...

  1. Pizza
Now there’s no doubt that pizza is a bit of a non-mover on anyone’s top 10. A staple on any holiday to Rome, you can get pizza al taglio – which literally means slice – to takeaway with you, or sit down to an orbit of soft dough and all manner of toppings, from savoury to sweet. One of our favourites is a pizza bianca which is without tomato sauce and sometimes just sprinkled with salt.
  1. Arancini
These little rice balls actually originate from Sicily but are a popular snack and served in most pizzerias. They’re a perfect accompaniment to any quick meal and a much healthier ‘fast food’ option when you’re on the go. Oozing with mozzarella and bound together with a breadcrumb outside, they are little balls of tomato rice heaven!
  1. Fritti
The Roman’s love their fried food and will fry even vegetables! This may sound like any healthy-eater’s nightmare but it is delicious. Thanks to the Roman’s affinity with good food and quality olive oils they are never greasy so we recommend you opt for baccala (salt cod) or fiori di zucca (fried zucchini flowers) the next time you’re in a restaurant.
  1. Spaghetti alle vongole
Vongole are little clams and are served as a speciality spaghetti dish in Rome and further south in Campania. Served in the shell, the main flavours in the dish are oil, garlic, parsley and maybe a splash of white wine – or if you opt for the rosso version just add tomatoes and fresh basil. Delicious if you like both pasta and seafood!
  1. Gelato
Now this is an overarching theme in any food bloggers account of Rome. Blessed with some of the mouth-watering gelaterias in Rome, you won’t go short of a sweet creamy gelato, or refreshing sorbet. With flavours like hazelnut and espresso, to mango and kiwi, you can mix and match it all to your palette’s content!
  1. Roman Artichokes
Carciofi (artichokes) are a big deal in Rome. They are such a staple vegetable that they have even been given a protected status by the EU! They are often fried, fritti style, or mixed into dishes like pasta and pizza. You can also indulge in ‘Jewish style artichokes’ which are fried so lightly they melt in your mouth.
  1. Saltimbocca
One of the most popular dishes in Rome for both locals and tourists is saltimbocca, which literally means ‘jumping in the mouth’ – alluding to the pleasant sensations you’ll get whilst eating it! Typically it’s a meat dish, which can vary in chicken, which is its most common for, or, lamb. Garnished with prosciutto, mozzarella, sage and spinach, it’s a winning combination of flavours!
  1. Bucatini all'amatriciana
One of the most Roman of all pasta shapes is the bucatini shape, a thick spaghetti like pasta but with a hollow centre. It’s great for scooping up the delicious cheesy sauces that run through its middle – so not one for those counting calories! It’s often served all’amatriciana, tomatoes, pepperoncino and guanciale (pigs cheek). Delicious!
  1. Coda alla vaccinara
Oxtail soup is a hearty, meaty Roman delicacy that’s not to be missed. Local to the city, specifically from Arenula, the hub of Rome’s slaughterhouses, the butchers would sell their offal to local trattorias who would create dishes out of them – one of them being coda alla vaccinara – which is made by braising the tail of the cow and serving with stewed vegetables, celery, onion and seasonal herbs.
  1. Chicory
Winter chicory, puntarelle, is another popular vegetable in Rome and is often found served on its own with a sprinkling of olive oil, anchovy and salt, served either raw or cooked. It’s a refreshing, bitter crunchy vegetable and a great accompaniment to salads or meatier dishes. One to try at home! image credit: Naotake Murayama - Flickr
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Know Before You Go

Most tourists want that ‘off the beaten track’ experience when visiting a new place; they might pour over articles, travel blogs or speak to people who have been to get a feel for what to expect before visiting. We’ve spoken to the locals to get some recommendations and top tips to share to make your trip to Rome seamless. 1. Ciao Most locals in Rome will understand basic English, however, it’s always courteous to learn a few useful Italian phrases before you go to make communicating a bit easier. Buy a pocket book of key phrases, such as how to say hello and goodbye, how to order in a restaurant and how to ask for directions, as a start. Even if you get something wrong, just by showing the effort will be more than most people! 2. Local dishes It’s common assumption that dishes in Italy consist only of pizza and pasta, and variations of – but don’t rule out other delicacies that dominate menus across Rome. The Italians are known for their fresh ingredients and locally sourced produce that make their food so healthy so you can forget lashings of butter and processed snacks. From imaginative aperitivi, to anything fritti, another one of the best things to try in Rome is arancini, tomato rice balls with mozzarella, or Bucatini, spaghetti with a hole through the middle. 3. Hidden Gems Veer off the tourist track and look down the cobbled side streets for hidden gems when looking for places to eat. Often you’ll find great family run tavernas that serve traditional Roman food at a snip of the price of a touristy restaurant on the main street. The menus will be understated but delicious all the same and you’ll always be served with a smile! It’s also where your key phrases will come in handy... 4. Queuing Many cultures are respectable queue-formers and will wait patiently and in an orderly fashion before getting into a busy attraction. Not the Italians. You can forget all rules when it comes to waiting in line – it’s each to their own in this dog-eat-dog queuing system. One of the great things about the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card is that you can dodge the queues at some of the busiest attractions, such as the Vatican Museums (which can save you up to 4 hours in the busy months) and the Coliseum, too. 5. Drinking Drinking in Italy is a civilised affair and you’ll often find most Italians drinking conservatively at both lunch and dinner. Producing some of the best wine in the world, Moscato, Chianti, Amarone and Prosecco all herald from this country so you’ll be sure to find some of the best wine bars suitably stocked around the city. Spend a day tasting the different varieties, from red, to white, sparking and maybe even some limoncello, too, a zesty liqueur usually taken after dinner as a palette cleanser. Cheers! 6. Walking Rome is a relatively small city and most of it can be explored on foot. Although the Metro system is easy to use and cheap, we would always recommend bringing good walking shoes and exploring on foot. This way you’ll see more of the city and get a real off-the-beaten-track experience. Don’t be afraid to get lost and interact with the locals to really see the Rome not in the guidebooks. And whatever you do – avoid the taxis, they can spot a tourist a mile off and you’ll leave with considerably lighter pockets! 7. Green spaces For a city so full of ancient ruins, you might be surprised to learn that there are a considerable number of green spaces in the city, too. The city boasts three huge parks – the favourite being Villa Borghese, not forgetting Villa Ada and Villa Doria Pamphili, as well as hidden gardens which offer secluded spots for picnicking, people watching or gazing over the cityscape. The Rose Garden up on the Aventine Hill is a particular favourite, as well as the Orange Garden which offers a stunning panorama over Rome, too. 8. Street Art The street art scene is Rome isn’t one of its main features but the trend is certainly growing as the hipster population are becoming bolder at self-expression. Typically in the student area of San Lorenzo you can find vibrant murals along via degli Ausoni and via dei Sabelli. Or head out to Ostiense, an up and coming area for street artists and home to the Outdoor Festival and 999 Contemporary who invite big shot street artists to the city to create works of art legally. 9. Street Eats We don’t mean stalls and markets, we meet eating on the street. It’s very common in Rome to find the locals dining out with a taglio of pizza bought from an understated pizzeria and a cold bottle of Peroni. With rows and rows of rectangular pizza, you can pick how much you want and they’ll slice it up for you. Whether you fancy trying something a bit different, be it a white pizza without the tomato, or a truffle and vegetable inspired combo, take your pick and set to the street with your very own picnic. 10. Cinema Culture If you’re a movie buff, not only will you be able to recreate famous movie scenes at iconic locations across the city from the Spanish Steps, to the Coliseum, but a few miles out of central Rome you’ll find a whole district dedicated to filmmaking, Cinecittà (which literally means cinema city). These film studios have filmed over 3000 films, including the classic La Dolce Vita, so we’d recommend joining in a tour of the sets and exhibitions to learn about Italian movie culture.
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The Weird & Wonderful Rome

Aside from the obvious ancient history that is part and parcel of visiting Rome, there’s a whole other side that many don’t get to experience. From the downright weird to the amazingly wonderful, Rome is blessed with its fair share of quirks. From skeletal décor, to keyhole views, here are some of our favourite weird and wonderful things. Skeletal Decorations Interestingly there is more than one place in Rome where you will see the religious remains on display. If you’re not freaked out by the prospect, visit the Crypt of Capuchin Friars, Santa Maria della Concezione, to be really spooked. With the bones of over 4000 friars decorating the walls and ceilings you can’t escape the message: death can come at any time. San Silvestro Church is another one to visit as it claims to own the head of St John the Baptist. But depending on where you’re from, a church in Germany, France and Syria also claim to be the owners of the same head... Another dubious skull can be found in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, which if you’re a born romantic, might strike a stronger cord, as this Roman church claims to own the head of St Valentine – the patron saint of lovers. Criminology Museum Another disturbing establishment – not for the fainthearted – is the Criminology Museum, near to Piazza Navona. After a visit you’ll certainly appreciate how far Italy has come from the days of executions and brutal methods of torture. On show are real objects of restraint and torture that were once used for incarceration during the late 19th century and into the 20th century. One of the most shocking artefacts on show is the infamous body-shaped Milazzo Cage which would be hung outside the castle or prison displaying the mutilated criminal. Fantastical architecture As well as the awe-inspiring historic architecture of the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon, for instance, you will also come across some fantastical architecture when you least expect it. One of our favourite places is the Quartiere Coppedé in the Northern part of the city. Home to a real blend of architectural styles, you’ll find Art Nouveau, Ancient Greek, Roman Baroque and even some Medieval all mixed in, designed by architect Coppedé between 1910s and 1927. Admire Florentine towers, Venetian palazzi, mosaics and frescoes... You won’t want to forget your camera, trust us! Aventine Keyhole A keyhole with a view, this really is a hidden gem and many miss it – literally. On the corner of via di S. Sabina and via di Porta Lavernale you’ll find a very nondescript looking door on the Aventine Hill, leading into the Priory of the Knights of Malta. But the trick is not to go in, but to look through the keyhole instead. Whether it was a stroke of brilliant design or pure fluke, you’ll be hard pushed to find another keyhole like it. Through the opening you’ll see your gaze lines up perfectly with the gardens inside the courtyard which frames the dome of the St Peter’s Basilica in the distance perfectly. Optical illusion Around the corner from the Pantheon make sure you visit the Jesuit church of Saint Ignazio, on Via del Caravita. Decorated by Andrea Pozzo between 1685 and 1694, the church was originally meant to have a dome but when the money ran out in 1642, Pozzo had to get creative. The painted dome on the ceiling is a real work of perspectives and many visitors don’t even realise that the shadowed dome is in fact a flat ceiling. You can also notice that the huge fresco on the barrel-vaulted ceiling also employs this trick of the eye and is a great example of the quadratura technique, juxtaposing geometrically accurate architecture and dreamlike cherubs and floating saints. All things Egyptian Pyramids might be a legacy from ancient Egypt but you’ll also find a rather famous one in the city of Rome. The Pyramid of Cestius was built in the wake of the conquest of Egypt in 30 BC when Rome was gripped by Egyptomania. The Pyramid is believed to have been built as a tomb for a wealthy Roman between 18 and 12 BC, however, it’s since been ransacked and any evidence or remains of who he was have disappeared. There was a second pyramid at one point, near Castel Sant’angelo, but it didn’t survive – instead its marble was used for the steps of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Another Egyptian landmark is the obelisk which you’ll find in Piazza del Popolo, which is actually one of thirteen dotted around the city. image credit: tamthientran.com
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The Best Rome Walks - Get Around the City

Ah, Rome. One of the best ways to see this ancient city is by foot as there’s a surprise on every corner and given that many of its big tourist attractions are quite close together, a good itinerary will save you money flitting back and forth. We’ve put together two of our favorite Rome walks which will take you from the Spanish Steps to the Colosseum in no time and hit all the big attractions in between. Bring some good shoes, you’ll need them. Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain to The Pantheon Start things off like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday at the Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s biggest landmarks. Dating back to 1723, this grandiose staircase has attracted many and it’s worth nipping into the nearby streets to explore the boutiques and cafes for a souvenir or three. Once you’ve wrapped up at the Steps, it’s pretty much a straight line towards the Trevi Fountain. Walk past the Keats/Shelley house nearby the base of the steps and walk south along the Piazza di Spagna. It will eventually give way to the Via di Propaganda and you’ll spot the Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte Basilica church on your left, continue going straight on Via di Sant’Andrea beside it. When the road forks, go left onto Largo del Nazareno and then continue onto Via del Nazarano. After that, turn right Via della Panetteria, right onto Via della Stamperia and keep walking straight until you hit the Piazza di Trevi. It’s not going to come as a huge surprise that the Trevi Fountain will be waiting for you there and it’s pretty easy to spot, as there’s usually a big crowd congregated round the massive ivory structure. After you’ve taken your photograph and taken part in a very Roman tradition (tossing a coin into the fountain), head towards Vicolo del Forno. Continue onto Via delle Muratte and walk past the McDonald’s, onto Via di Pietra and finally left into a narrow street called Vicolo de Burro. Continue onto right onto PIazza S. Ignazio, then left at the end of the road and right onto Via del Seminario. Then just walk straight until you see the gigantic facade of the Pantheon rise up in the distance, it’ll be on your left. All in all, the total walk should take between twenty to thirty minutes — of course, if you’re stopping off at the sights then it’s going to take a little longer. Trastevere to the Capitoline Museum, Roman Forum and Colosseum A lazy morning in Trastevere is a gorgeous way to start the day, as it’s one of Rome’s coolest districts and it’s packed with no end of restaurants perfect for a spot of brunch and coffee. Once you’ve finished up and spent time getting to know the area, return to the Basilica of our Lady in Trastevere — located in one of Trastevere’s biggest squares. With your back to the church entrance, turn left and walk till you reach Piazza di Santa Maria. From there, turn right and go past Ristorante Sabatini, past Antica Osteria Rugantino until you hit a major dual carriageway called Piazza Sidney Nonnino. Cross the road, turn left and walk over the bridge (Ponte Garibaldi) which crosses the River Tiber. You’ll then hit Lungotevere de Cenci, which you should follow along the length of the river until you hit a turn off for Via del Foro Olitorio. At the end of the street, turn left onto Via di Teatro di Marcello, then right onto Piazza del Campidoglio. This is when a lot of stairs get involved, as you’ll then start your climb up to Capitoline Hill which you’ll easily spot by the gigantic white statues that line the walk to the entrance. Once you’ve finished with the fascinating ancient museum, stand on the hill and take in the ruins of the Roman Forum from a distance. You can choose to walk down and around to explore it properly, however this walking tour will take you up to the Colosseum first. Take the stairs to Via del Campidoglio (located at the edge of Piazza del Campidoglio) walk along it. It’ll eventually give way to another street called Via di St Pietro which you’ll want to continue along, then turn right onto Via dei Fori Imperiali. You’ll be able to see the Piazza del Colosseo and the imposing structure in the distance, so just continue towards it — you literally can't miss it!
Megan Hills

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