Itineraries for Your Trip to Rome
3 Days in Rome for Foodies
From its fundamental “four pastas” (carbonara, amatriciana, gricia, and cacio e pepe) to its buzzy street food scene, Rome is a dream destination for any foodie.
In my decades here, I have been delighted by the rediscovery and revitalization of the city’s culinary culture. From tired and touristy trattorias, Rome’s dining options have flourished with a new wave of eateries that take classic dishes to new heights, update traditional specialties, and inject gourmet verve into street food staples. This has positioned the city as one of Italy’s best for my palate—though less-than-best for my waistband. Here’s how to nibble and sip your way through the Eternal City.
Dining in Rome is both an indoor and outdoor affair, so pack layers for sudden showers or dips in temperature.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a supplì—these deep-fried rice delights are easy to savor while sightseeing.
Kick off your visit in the Centro Storico, combining culture and cuisine in a single tour. Multitask by sampling a variety of gourmet specialties while marveling at must-sees like the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.
Once you’ve had your fill of sights, spend the evening eating your way through foodie enclave Trastevere. Alternatively, honor this pasta-centric city with a tasting of its iconic “four pastas.”
Most neighborhoods in Rome have at least one daily or weekly mercato where locals gather to pick up fresh, seasonal ingredients for their menu of the day. Take a market stroll to see how Romans shop and to pick up some gourmet souvenirs for yourself. Testaccio is packed with street food, while Trionfale exclusively features fresh produce and goods.
Now that you’ve discovered how Romans shop, see how they cook. Take a private or small-group cooking class to learn how to prepare Roman specialties from scratch, capping off your lesson with a celebratory dinner to sample the fruit of your labors.
After two days focused on food, turn your attention to drink. Just outside Rome, the Frascati wine country has been providing the city with crisp whites and bold reds since ancient times. Take a day trip to visit a winery for a tour and tasting and experience the rural side of Rome.
Rome has stepped up its cocktail game over the past few years, and today it’s home to a number of award-winning mixologists. Toast to your final evening with a cocktail tour in one of its many trendy districts (Monti and Trastevere are top hotspots).
- What are the top foods to try in Rome?
No foodie trip to Rome is complete without trying the city’s four fundamental pasta dishes that form the cornerstones of traditional Roman cuisine. You’ll find these classics on restaurant menus and can learn to make them yourself at a hands-on cooking class. Cocktail lovers can sip spritz, negroni, or other classic Italian drinks during the city’s beloved aperitivo hour.
- What are the best food markets in Rome?
Dozens of neighborhood markets are held across the city each day, but the two most famous are in Campo de’ Fiori and Testaccio. The former is one of the city’s oldest, and its convenient location in the Historic Center of Rome makes it an enduring favorite, despite being largely tourist-focused over the past few years. Testaccio Market, however, is located in a residential neighborhood away from the tourist crowds. This authentic market is a staple of Roman market tours.
- Where can I find the best street food in Rome?
The local street food scene in Rome features savory treats such as supplì (fried rice balls) and trapizzino (pizza pockets), as well as whipped cream-filled maritozzo buns and other sweets. Many pizza joints and other casual eateries turn out excellent supplì, but the best are made by dedicated dives like Supplizio in the historic center and Supplì Roma in Trastevere. Trapizzino was invented by the Trapizzino shop, which now has outlets across the city. The undisputed champion of maritozzi is the landmark Regoli pastry shop, located near the Termini train station.
- Which are the best foodie neighborhoods in Rome?
Trastevere is an excellent neighborhood to sample classic Roman pasta dishes at traditional trattoria eateries, as well as street foods and Roman-style pizza with its thin, crispy crust. The Jewish Ghetto features Roman Jewish cuisine, including fried artichokes and ricotta, and black cherry torte. Romans, however, tend to head farther from the center to Testaccio, home to a lively market, food shops and delis, and tourist-free restaurants serving hearty local fare.
- What are the best food tours in Rome?
Food tours in Rome tend to focus on two areas of the city: Trastevere (and the Jewish Ghetto, set just across the Tiber River) and Testaccio. Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto food tours generally include a stroll through the Campo de’ Fiori market and stops to sample street foods in both nearby neighborhoods, while Testaccio tours focus on the Testaccio Market and the gourmet food shops and delis nearby.