While Rome has a fair number of tourist traps, eating in Rome can be a great pleasure if you know what food to eat and where to eat it. Click on the links to find out more about each topic.
Traditional Roman Food
There are several dishes that originate in Rome or are specialties of the city. Here's a look at traditional Roman foods to try on your visit. Knowing what local foods to order in restaurants can help you have a better dining experience.
Restaurant Recommendations
Here you'll find my restaurant recommendations and suggestions from a couple other people about where to dine in the etranal city.
Top Food Markets
Food markets are a good place to get an introduction to the local cuisine and what's in season. There are often labels on the food so if you see something you like, write down the name and look for it on the menu.
Culinary Tours
Context Travel Walking Tours offers several half-day tours that explore the cuisine of Rome. Tours include food markets, Eat Like the Romans, lunch or dinner with a docent, and more. I've taken several tours with Context Travel and highly recommend them.
Cooking Classes
Several cooking classes can be book through Select Italy including pasta, pizza, gelato, and traditional Roman cuisine. Classes are usually 3 to 4 hours and include a meal with the food prepared in class.
Book: Flavors of Rome - How, What and Where to Eat in the Eternal City
If you're going to Rome for a short time, this is a good companion book. It's small and lightweight yet has most of the essential information you want to eat well including what and how to eat and several restaurants suggestions for each of the central neighborhoods as well as food shops and cafes.
Book: Food Wine Rome
If you have more than a few days to spend in the eternal city or are really into food, this comprehensive book is an excellent resource. It's a little heavy to carry around easily but has lots of good information about what and where to eat and introductions to each neighborhood.
Mobile App: Eat Rome
If you have an iPad, iPhone, or similar device this is a very handy guide. Written by Elizabeth Minchilli, a resident of Rome, it's full of good insider tips and recommendations about where to eat and drink.
Book: Cafe Life Rome
If you're interested in small, family-run cafes and bars, this is a very nice book. Nice black and white photos illustrate the cafes and there are interesting stories about both the cafes and the neighborhoods. It's a good coffee table or gift book as well as a companion for snacking and drinking in Rome.
Recipes from Rome and Lazio
If you're looking for recipes for something you had in Rome, check this directory on our Italian Food site.
Food Blog: Parla Food, Rome
Katie Parla, who has lived in Rome for nine years, writes a blog about food. Her Rome section has many useful entries about eating in Rome. She has also published an app called Rome for Foodies and .
Eating in Italy
This is a more general guide about eating in Italy, what to expect at Italian restaurants, and Italian food.
