When in Rome… Come hungry, eat often! We never had a bad bite in Rome, as you might imagine. In fact, I only wish we’d had room to eat more during our week-long trip! I definitely look forward to more pasta, gelato, pizza, and tiramisu on our next trip to Rome, but in the meantime, I’ll reminisce with you! Here are the best places where we ate the best things in Rome.

Hosteria Grappolo D’Oro

When we asked the front desk attendant at our hotel where we should eat that first afternoon in Rome, she didn’t hesitate to recommend a place just steps away—perfect for weary travelers like ourselves. We were blown away by the incredible flavors and textures, so this was the perfect meal to start our time in the Eternal City. Everything from the eggplant appetizer to the semifreddo dessert tasted just right. The atmosphere and food were perfect.

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Diddi Bistro

This one saved the day! We got caught in the rain one afternoon, and we ducked in here for an early supper. The whole staff was so kind to us—our server even put us in a corner booth, brought over a blanket for our baby, and set up a little spot for her. Aside from the thoughtfulness, the food was also amazing. We started with the selection of local meats and cheeses, then moved on to gnocchi with pesto, and a funghi (mushroom) pizza. We left dry, full, and happy to have found such a delightful spot!

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Vale Gelato

We had walked past this sweet and gelato shop a couple of times in our first 24 hours in Rome, and I knew we had to stop in for dessert when we had the chance. Their display was gorgeous, and every item looked delicious. I got the Maritozzi (Roman Cream Bun) and a hot chocolate, while my husband chose the pistachio mille-feuille. And our daughter met her first two Italian boyfriends! The guys working behind the counter were completely taken with her sweet smile and blue eyes.

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Cucina del Teatro

Wow! This one stole the show. I happened to look down a little alleyway and saw this restaurant on the walk back to our hotel from Castelo Sant’Angelo. It looked so inviting with its greenery and white lights at the entrance, so we stepped in. The restaurant was just as charming inside as it was outside, and the food was divine. Trust me, you want to get the artichoke flan, and you want to finish with their tiramisu. 

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Giolitti

Speaking of dessert, you can’t miss Giolitti for gelato! It’s been family-owned since 1890, and is the oldest ice cream parlor in Rome. My Italian friend Lisa told us about it, and we couldn’t have been more delighted with our sweet treats. I got the salted caramel gelato with Nutella, and my husband got the white chocolate tartufo, which was two scoops of white chocolate gelato around a coffee liqueur center, coated in almond slices.

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Romoletto

We had the serendipitous pleasure of meeting up with Lisa and her family from home here during our trip. They had been here before, and they couldn’t speak of it highly enough. We sat outside, right next to the Limoncello Market, and had a great time. Because Lisa is half Italian and grew up in Italy, she was able to explain several aspects of the menu to us—we wished she could have eaten with us throughout our trip! She made sure we ordered the Suppli al Telefono (“telefono” because the cheese stretches like a telephone line) for an appetizer, my friend Sam and I both ordered the Fusillo alle Carletto (fusillo pasta with crispy pork cheek), and everyone else got an entire pizza to themselves!

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Er Baretto

This was the surprise and delight of our last day. We found this adorable little cafe not far from the Colosseum and St. Peter in Chains church. I had the best caffelatte and white chocolate cannoli, and my husband enjoyed a cappuccino. Both coffees came complete with a bit of art to boot!

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Pizza Romano

I didn’t even get the name of the little place where we picked up our Roman pizza, but it was near Piazza Navona. This specific type of pizza is a big, rectangular slab, and then it’s cut to order. The most authentic way to have it is “for takeaway,” and you’ll find little pizza shops like this one all over the city. I selected the eggplant pizza, and my husband chose the mushroom.

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