12 Best Restaurants in Rome You Will Love!

Want to know where the best restaurants in Rome are?

One of the my favorite things about living in Rome is the food - big surprise!

And in a city like Rome, it can seem daunting to figure out where to go.

So I've put together this list of my favorite places to eat in Rome, so you can stop wondering and focus on your trip.

Best Restaurants in Rome - By Whose Standards?

If you ask 100 Romans for their favorite restaurants in Rome, they will tell you.

With great passion.

Most of those lists will not match each other.

Even among my friends, trying to decide where to eat can be a challenge.

Should we go somewhere inexpensive?

Maybe just for pizza?

Do we want Cucina Romana (Roman Cuisine) or maybe sushi?

And in which neighborhood?

Sometimes we love to try new places, but often wind up going to some of the same places over and over.

Best Restaurants in Rome - What Does That Even Mean?

This page is a roundup of where I love eating most in Rome.

My list consists of places I know I can count on and feel good recommending to you.

The quality of the food is consistently awesome, the service is always ok if not good*, and I know that the bill will always be fairly priced and fairly presented**.

My list does NOT include the hottest new trends, restaurants where I was invited (treated) just for some PR, or every place that's a favorite with other Rome food writers.

It's simply where Alessandro and I, and our friends, eat the most when we go out for lunch, aperitivo, or dinner in Rome.

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1. Trattoria Monti

This hip, vibrant restaurant with friendly owners and staff is a bit out of my way but I come when I can because it's so worth it.

Trattoria Monti offers delicious selections of Roman and Marchigiana* cuisine, and a vast wine list.

(*Marchigiana refers to Le Marche, the region the family is from.)

The brothers who own it, Enrico and Daniele Camerucci, also serve the tables and are happily available to help with your menu and/or wine selection.

There is a cozy atmosphere, minimalist yet warm, and it always feels to me like we diners are part of a special club that got lucky enough to be eating there.

Every guest seems to be a previous guest or a friend of the owners.

I've never had a bad dish here, and I've tried most of their menu (with a few exceptions where offal is on offer).

My favorite pastas here include tagliolini with pecorino di fossa cheese, raisins and fresh anchovies.

I know it may sound like an odd combination but it's fabulous.

One must is their tortello - a giant raviolo stuffed with herbed ricotta.

It comes with a very orange egg yolk, and if they are in season, an optional generous helping of shaved truffles on top.

A culinary extravaganza!

You'll find plenty of delicious options for meat or vegetarian secondi (second courses), including a selection of vegetable + cheese tortes, each one more delectable than the next.

But always ask what the daily specials are.

And save room for dessert!

Caveat: They do not open for dinner before 8pm, but they are open later than most Roman restaurants.

They are nearly always fully booked, so book at least one day in advance.

Details: 

• Address: Via di san, Vito 13/A
• Phone: +39 06 446 6573
• Opening hours: Monday CLOSED | Tuesday-Saturday: 1 PM - 2:45 PM, 8 PM - 10:45 PM | Sunday: 1 PM - 2:45 PM, CLOSED for dinner
• Reservations are essential
  
• May be closed during August - call to confirm

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2. Roberto e Loretta

Roberto e Loretta has everything you could want in a Rome restaurant: a warm cozy atmosphere, kind and caring owners who play host at every meal, spectacular dishes of authentic Roman cuisine, a varied wine list, and reasonable prices.

Roberta e Loretta is currently run by the brother-sister team of the same name, but the restaurant has been around for 3 generations, beginning in 1952.

This is one of the best restaurants in Rome for sampling some real Roman cuisine, such as carciofi alla romana, fiori di zucca, cacio e pepe, maialino al forno, and torta di alici e carciofi.

But it's also fabulous for some of their other Roman-cuisine-inspired dishes, like the baccalà (cod) and potato appetiser, their rabbit with truffle sauce and their vegetarian lasagne.

When it's on the menu, usually Tuesdays and Fridays, I often get fish-based dishes like tagliolini with spigola (sea bass), or their frittura di paranza (fried fish platter.)

There is an excellent wine list with plenty of choices, and a good variation of quality and prices.

Chances are you will see Roberto or Loretta, or perhaps Roberto's son Riccardo, either managing the room, or coming right up and serving you.

Details: 

• Address: Via Saturnia, 18
• Phone: +39 06 7720 1037
• Opening hours: Monday CLOSED | Tuesday-Sunday: 12:30-15:00, 19:40-23:00​
  
• May be closed during August - call to confirm
• There is a nice ivy-covered outdoor dining area which is on a quiet street, making this a pleasant option for outside dining in warm weather.

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3. Cesare al Pellegrino

Cesare al Pellegrino is a relative newcomer in Rome and on this page, but they are no strangers to the Rome restaurant scene.

Cesare al Casaletto is one of my favorite places to eat in Rome, and recently they took over a longtime favorite in Rome's center, Settimio al Pellegrino, when Settimio and his family decided it was time to retire.

Cesare al Pellegrino has a fresh and innovative take on the classic Roman menu.

They have all the classic Roman primi (pasta dishes) but usually have daily specials.

When they have the classic Roman soup, brodo con arzilla (skate and broccoli soup), I opt for that as it's not always easy to find.

I love their simple salad with some of the the freshest anchovies I've eaten in Rome.

Cesare al Pellegrino has a superb menu, even if it's not extensive.

I love this because I get the sense they will only make what they can and what's fresh that day.

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Details: 

• Address: 
• Phone: 
• Opening hours: Monday: 19:00-23:00 | Tuesday-Sunday: 12:30-15:30, 19:00-23:00
  
• May be closed during August - call to confirm
  

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Map of my top 12 Best Restaurants in Rome

Click here to visit my interactive Google map showing all the places listed on this page.

It will open in a new window.

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Best Restaurants in Rome - continued....

Check out my other pages on:

• My favorite pizza in Rome
• Best restaurants in Rome for Roman cuisine
• Best restaurants in Rome on a budget
• My favorite seafood restaurants in Rome
• Best restaurants in Rome for a romantic dinner
• Where to eat in Rome with a view
• My choice for enotecas (wine bars) in Rome
• The best gelato in Rome
  
• Where to eat near the Colosseum
• Where to eat near the Trevi Fountain
• Where to eat near the Pantheon
• Where to eat near Piazza Navona
• Where to eat near the Vatican / Prati
• Where to eat near the Spanish Steps
• Where to eat in Rome for Christmas
• Where to eat in Rome for New Year's Eve
• Where to eat in Rome in August

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