Eating well in Rome doesn't require planning every meal weeks in advance. Some are worth making reservations, but just as many of my favorite food memories came from the moments in between—pizza al taglio while exploring, an unexpected neighborhood trattoria, or a spritz before dinner.

Rather than building your itinerary around every famous restaurant, I'd choose a few experiences you don't want to miss and leave room for spontaneous discoveries along the way. Rome rewards both.

Before You Choose a Restaurant

One of the first things you'll notice in Rome is that restaurants often describe themselves as trattorias, osterias, pizzerias, or enotecas. While there's plenty of overlap today, understanding the differences can help you decide what kind of meal you're looking for.

Trattoria

Traditionally family-run and known for hearty, regional cooking. If you're hoping to try classic Roman dishes like carbonara or cacio e pepe, a trattoria is often where I'd start.

Osteria

Originally simple wine taverns, many osterias now serve full menus in a more casual, neighborhood atmosphere. They can be a great choice if you're looking for an unhurried meal that feels a little less formal.

Pizzeria

In Rome, pizza comes in a few different forms. You'll find traditional sit-down pizzerias serving thin, crisp Roman-style pizza, as well as casual shops specializing in pizza al taglio, where slices are sold by weight and cut to order.

Enoteca

An enoteca is a wine bar, but many also serve excellent small plates or full meals. They're one of my favorite places to stop for aperitivo or a relaxed evening with a glass of Italian wine.

How I Choose Where to Eat

Some of my favorite meals in Rome came from places I hadn't planned to visit at all. When I'm deciding where to eat, I usually start with the menu rather than how busy a restaurant looks.

I tend to gravitate toward places with a focused selection of dishes, plenty of Roman classics, and prices that make sense for the neighborhood. Seasonal ingredients, handwritten daily specials, or a menu that changes with what's available are also things I look for—they often tell you more about the kitchen than a long list of online recommendations ever could.

And while Rome certainly has restaurants worth seeking out, don't assume the longest line means you've found the best meal. Some of the most memorable places are simply neighborhood restaurants quietly filling their tables with a mix of locals and visitors.

✦ Editor's Note
Take a minute to read the menu before sitting down. If a restaurant is serving the Roman dishes you're hoping to try and the menu feels thoughtful rather than endless, that's usually enough for me to take a chance on it.

Dinner Worth Planning Around

If there's one meal I'd encourage you to plan ahead for, it's dinner. Some of Rome's most sought-after restaurants require reservations, while others are worth building your evening around simply because getting a table takes a little strategy. Either way, slowing down over a traditional Roman meal became one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Da Enzo al 29
Best for: Classic Roman trattoria

One of the most beloved trattorias in Trastevere, Da Enzo is known for serving classic Roman dishes in an intimate neighborhood setting. The restaurant doesn't accept reservations and seats guests in order of arrival, so I'd plan to arrive early and be prepared to wait. If you're hoping to experience traditional Roman cooking, this is one of the restaurants I'd prioritize.

Ristorante Pancrazio
Best for: Historic atmosphere

A classic Roman restaurant near Campo de' Fiori, Pancrazio is built over the ruins of the ancient Theatre of Pompey. Traditional Roman cooking is part of the draw, but the setting is what makes this one particularly memorable—the historic underground rooms turn dinner into an experience that feels distinctly tied to the city.

✦ Editor's Note
I ate here during my first trip and would absolutely recommend it. If you'd like to dine in the historic underground rooms, be sure to reserve ahead and request that seating when you book—it isn't guaranteed by a standard reservation.

Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
Best for: An iconic Roman food experience

Part gourmet delicatessen, part wine destination, and part restaurant, Roscioli has become one of Rome's most recognizable dining experiences. The menu combines classic Roman dishes with an emphasis on exceptional ingredients, while the surrounding shelves of cheeses, cured meats, wines, and pantry goods give the space a character entirely its own. Reservations are available and I'd book ahead if this is one of the meals you don't want to miss.

Honorable Mentions

• Armando al Pantheon — Traditional Roman cuisine just steps from the Pantheon.

• Felice a Testaccio — Famous for its cacio e pepe.

• Osteria Fernanda — A more contemporary take on Roman dining.

Roman Street Food You Shouldn't Skip

Not every memorable meal in Rome happens at a restaurant. Some of the city's most iconic foods are meant to be enjoyed while wandering between neighborhoods.

Pizza al Taglio

Sold by weight and cut to order, pizza al taglio quickly became one of my favorite ways to grab lunch while exploring. Don't feel like you have to order a whole pizza—just point to the slices you'd like to try, and they'll cut exactly as much as you want.

Supplì

These crispy fried rice balls are one of Rome's classic street foods and make the perfect afternoon snack. They're easy to find at neighborhood pizzerias and takeaway shops throughout the city.

Trapizzino

Part pizza, part sandwich, Trapizzino combines traditional Roman recipes with a uniquely Roman street-food concept.

Must-Try Dishes

If it's your first trip to Rome, these are the dishes I'd make a point to order at least once.

• Cacio e Pepe

• Carbonara

• Amatriciana

• Gricia

• Saltimbocca alla Romana

• Carciofi alla Romana (when in season)

These dishes appear on menus throughout Rome, but I found they were often at their best in neighborhood trattorias where the focus stayed on simple recipes and quality ingredients.

Spend an Evening Eating Through Trastevere

If I were choosing just one food experience for a first trip to Rome, I'd spend an evening eating through Trastevere.

Between the neighborhood's trattorias, wine bars, and lively piazzas, it captures everything I love about eating in Rome. It's the kind of place where I'd encourage you to arrive before dinner, wander for a while, stop for aperitivo, and let the evening unfold naturally.

✦ Editor's Note
One of my favorite evenings in Rome was a Twilight Trastevere Food Tour. It was a great introduction to both the neighborhood and classic Roman dishes, and I discovered places and stories I probably would have missed on my own. If you're visiting Rome for the first time, I'd happily recommend making it part of your itinerary.

Coffee & Aperitivo

Some of my favorite moments in Rome happened between meals.

Espresso

Step into a neighborhood café, order an espresso at the bar, and you'll get a small glimpse into one of Italy's everyday rituals. Coffee in Rome is often quick and simple—a few minutes at the counter before continuing with the day—and it's an easy tradition to embrace while you're there.

Aperitivo

If there's one Italian tradition I'd encourage every visitor to embrace, it's aperitivo.

Rather than heading straight to dinner, find a wine bar or rooftop terrace, order a spritz or your favorite cocktail, and give yourself time to enjoy the transition into evening. It's less about what's in the glass and more about slowing down before dinner—something that quickly became one of my favorite parts of traveling in Italy.

✦ Editor's Note
If I could bring one travel ritual home from Italy, it would be aperitivo. Some of my favorite evenings in Rome started with a spritz on a rooftop and ended hours later after dinner and a walk through the city.

→ Looking for the best rooftop aperitivo spots? Explore my guide to Rome's Rooftop Bars Worth Planning Around.

Two Sweet Stops to Save

No trip to Rome is complete without making room for something sweet. These are two classic stops I'd save while planning a first visit.

Two Sizes
Best for: Tiramisu

A tiny shop specializing in tiramisu, with several flavors and two portion sizes to choose from. It's an easy stop while exploring the historic center and one I'd happily make again.

Giolitti
Best for: Gelato

One of Rome's historic gelaterias, Giolitti has been serving gelato near the Pantheon for generations. The selection is extensive, making it an easy place to try a few flavors while exploring the historic center.

Food Experiences Worth Prioritizing

If I were planning my first trip to Rome again, these are the food experiences I'd intentionally build into my itinerary.

• Reserve one memorable trattoria dinner.

• Spend an evening wandering Trastevere.

• Plan one rooftop aperitivo.

• Try pizza al taglio at least once.

• Order at least one of Rome's four classic pastas.

• Take a food tour.

Continue Exploring Rome

Planning your trip? These guides may also help:

• A First-Timer's Guide to Rome

• Rome's Rooftop Bars Worth Planning Around

• One Afternoon Outside Rome

From The Edit

One of the things I loved most about eating in Rome was how naturally it became part of exploring the city. Some days lunch was a slice of pizza enjoyed on a quiet piazza, while other evenings stretched from aperitivo into long dinners that ended with a walk through Trastevere.

If there's one piece of advice I'd give, it's this: don't judge your trip by how many famous restaurants you managed to book. Some of my favorite food memories came from following the smell of fresh pizza, saying yes to a neighborhood trattoria, or discovering a place I hadn't planned to visit at all.

A taste of Rome's classic pastas during an evening food tour through Trastevere.

Dinner at Da Enzo al 29, a beloved Trastevere trattoria known for classic Roman cooking.

Inside Ristorante Pancrazio, where part of the restaurant sits within the ancient ruins of the Theatre of Pompey.

One of several tastings on the Twilight Trastevere Food Tour with Eating Europe.

Aperitivo in Rome—the perfect excuse to slow down with a spritz before dinner.