The Best Restaurants in Rome (and a few to avoid)

Navigating the culinary landscape of Rome can be daunting, especially with the growing list of viral restaurants that attract hordes of tourists. With some places amassing tens of thousands of reviews, we've tried to help differentiate between those that live up to the hype and those that don’t. Here’s a breakdown of the must-visit spots and the ones you might want to skip.

Must Try in Trastevere

Mimi e Coco Trast: Everything here is absolutely incredible. The lasagna, in particular, was a standout. They have another location in Old Rome, but this one is worth the wait for a table.
Otello: Another spot that justifies the hype and positive reviews. Try going at lunch to avoid long waits. The spaghetti with meatballs is to die for.
Ristorante Il Ciak: If you're looking for a great steak, this is the place. You select your cut, and the chef grills and slices it right in front of you. Their pasta dishes are also excellent if you’re not a meat lover.
Suppli Roma: Expect a line, but it's worth it. Our food tour brought us here, and they clearly knew the best spot for Suppli. It was fantastic, and so is the pizza. For a more local suppli experience with no line, try Food Box in the Mercato di Testaccio.

Best Restaurants in Old Rome/Colosseo

Caffé Doria: A beautiful courtyard atmosphere with fantastic service, perfect for grabbing a bite away from the crowds. We recommend grabbing a reservation for lunch after touring the Colosseum for a much-needed break from the hordes of tourists.
Aroma: Ideal for a romantic date night. Make a reservation ahead of time and spend the evening at a table with an unbeatable view overlooking the Colosseum. Be warned: Expect a hefty bill, this was the priciest restaurant we went to in Rome with a set menu, but if you want a luxury date night it's perfect.
Dai Senatori: Some of the best pasta we’ve had in Rome, and it's still somewhat undiscovered, allowing you to escape the crowds and get in without a reservation hassle-free (honestly pretty unheard of in Rome)
Reserva Restaurante: Although we love Italian food, after weeks of it nonstop we were looking for something to mix it up. This Latin restaurant offers a great brunch, and their tacos are amazing!

Overrated (In Our Opinion)

Tonarello: Despite having over 70,000 reviews and social media fame, this was some of the worst food we had in Rome. The line is crazy long (I'm talking 1-2 hours plus), and while the pesto was okay, the lasagna and meatballs were subpar. We made a reel about our experience if you want to see more.
Dar Poeta: Known for its pizza, but we felt there are many other places in Rome that do it better.
We took a cooking class at PummaRe' (called Become a Masterchef in Rome: Pasta, Ravioli and Tiramisù Class on Viator) and although cooking classes in Italy are wildly popular for tourists, I don't think it was worth it. If you do choose a cooking class be sure that the place teaches you more than just how to make pasta noodles (we didn't even make the sauce) and that they have the facilities to cook the food separately otherwise you won't even eat what you made, just a bowl of pasta everyone in the class touched (I got the ick tbh). We've taken cooking classes in other places that were much better and more informative. If you really want to learn to cook pasta I would recommend an online class you can do at home - we love the recorded classes from Salty Seattle for a fun and creative pasta date night.
And honestly, unless you're short on time, we'd skip a food tour as well. The one we did was fun, but ultimately you try pasta, meatballs, suppli, pizza, and gelato... all of which are easy to try on your own (and you likely plan to try them all already). Unlike other cities where you try foods you may never have been exposed to, the menu in a Rome food tour is pretty basic. It would be perfect though if you want to taste everything Rome is known for but only have a couple of days.

Gelato Tips

When it comes to gelato, it’s hard to go wrong, but if you want authentic gelato, here are some tips:

Beware of bright colors. Bright colors are a sign of color additives or the use of “flavor gels” and commercial juice mixes instead of natural ingredients.
Take a close look at how the gelato is stored. If it's piled high to grab your attention, they've liked pumped air in to make it voluminous instead of flavorful. Look for simple metal tins, and bonus points if there are lids to ensure it's being kept at the proper temperature.
A few of our favorites were: Gelateria alla scala in Trastevere and Fiordiluna

Rome is a food lover's paradise, but with so many options, it's easy to end up at a tourist trap. With these recommendations, you can make the most of your culinary adventure in the Eternal City. We hope you enjoy every bite and have a fantastic time eating your way through Rome! Buon viaggio e buon appetito!

You can check out our FREE Rome restaurant guide on Thatch for an interactive map of these locations and a few more!