Rome is a city where you walk past an ancient temple on your way to dinner. This part of my Rome guide is about food and bars: trattorias, a pasta workshop by the Vatican, Roman street food, a deli and four bars. It starts from my list of saved places; Paciotti Salumeria, Freni e Frizioni, Drink Kong, Da Enzo al 29, Trapizzino, Supplizio and Il Goccetto I added from travel guides and blogs. The descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews. I'll add my own notes after the trip.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- Pasta worth queuing for: Borghiciana near the Vatican and Trattoria Della Stampa near the Trevi Fountain. Arrive at opening time or book.
- A queue that's worth it: Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere takes no bookings, so get there before it opens.
- Street food and wine: a trapizzino at Trapizzino on Piazza Trilussa; supplì at Supplizio and wine at Il Goccetto, both on Via dei Banchi Vecchi.
- Cheap and open till midnight: Bar allo Statuto in Esquilino, with pizza, beer and coffee from morning to night for 10–20 €.
- For a picnic: Paciotti Salumeria near the Vatican Museums, with prosciutto, cheese and wine from all over Italy, and tastings on offer.
- Cocktails: Drink Kong in Monti, one of Italy's best-known bars; Freni e Frizioni in Trastevere for aperitivo with a buffet.
- A cheaper aperitivo: Pigneto 32 on the pedestrian Via del Pigneto, spritz with snacks.
Where to eat
Trattoria Della Stampa
Trevi · Roman trattoria · 20–30 € (≈$23–34) · daily 12:00–22:30
Google Maps · website · Via dei Maroniti, 32
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 4,800+): a small trattoria a couple of minutes from the Trevi Fountain, with plenty of Italians among the guests. Reviewers praise the carbonara, cacio e pepe, lasagna and pasta with courgette flowers and anchovies; desserts are put together right in the dining room. A queue forms quickly, so book or come around 18:00. Downside: some found the dishes too salty and on the oily side.
Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale
Borgo Pio · fresh pasta · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · Mon–Tue 11:45–21:00, Wed–Fri till 21:30, Sat till 22:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Borgo Pio, 186
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 5,300+): a tiny pasta workshop a short walk from the Vatican that many call the best pasta of their lives. Reviewers praise the lasagna, ravioli, carbonara, aubergine parmigiana and tiramisu. There are very few tables, so come early; staff keep the queue updated on the wait. Downsides: some found the amatriciana sauce too sour, and the Roman artichoke didn't win everyone over.
La vita è’ n’osteria
Trastevere · osteria · 20–30 € (≈$23–34) · daily 12:00–0:00
Google Maps · Via della Lungaretta, 75
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 970+): an osteria on a pedestrian street in Trastevere where people drop in for a cocktail and stay for dinner. Reviewers praise the spaghetti alle vongole, seafood pasta, pasta with meatballs, bruschetta and tiramisu. The star of the reviews is the host, Gino, who chats with every table and gives tips for the rest of your Italy trip. Solo travellers feel especially welcome.
Da Enzo al 29
Trastevere · Roman trattoria · 20–30 € (≈$22–34) · Mon–Sat 12:00–15:00 and 18:30–22:30, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Via dei Vascellari, 29
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 10,000+): a tiny trattoria with pavement tables on a quiet Trastevere street that people come back to years later. Reviewers praise the burrata with cherry tomatoes, carbonara, cacio e pepe, oxtail, carciofi alla romana, fried courgette flowers and tiramisu. The big downside is the queue: waits of one to two hours, so the advice is to turn up before it opens. Service is efficient rather than warm, and some feel the hype is a little overdone.
Trapizzino
Trastevere · Roman street food · 10–20 € (≈$11–22) · daily from 12:00, Mon till 0:00, Tue–Thu and Sun till 1:00, Fri–Sat till 2:00
Google Maps · website · Piazza Trilussa, 46
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 10,000+): the home of the trapizzino, a triangle of pizza dough stuffed with Roman stews; it's now a small chain with several branches in Rome. Reviewers praise the chicken cacciatora, tongue, meatball and aubergine fillings, and call the bread thin and crisp. There's a handy terrace right on the piazza and the staff are friendly. Downside: in the evening there's a queue for the outdoor tables, so come early.
Bar allo Statuto
Esquilino · pizzeria & bar · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · daily 8:00–0:00
Google Maps · Via Leopardi, 62
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,700+): a corner bar with a big outdoor terrace: coffee in the morning, a quick lunch, then pizza and local beer at night. Many call the pizza the best of their whole trip and come back every day. Prices are low and the staff are fun. There can be a waiting list at dinner, so come early.
Paciotti Salumeria
Trionfale · delicatessen · Mon–Sat 8:00–20:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Via Marcantonio Bragadin, 51
According to Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 950+): a family-run salumeria open since 1970, now in its third generation, not far from the Vatican Museums. Prosciutto, guanciale, cheese, olive oil, vinegar and wine from all over Italy; the family happily explains the products and lets you taste. Food tours stop here, and many people put together a picnic and take it up to the park on the hill nearby. 34travel recommends it too (article).
Supplizio
Via dei Banchi Vecchi · supplì & street food · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · Mon–Sat 12:00–15:30 and 17:00–21:30, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Via dei Banchi Vecchi, 143
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 3,300+): a Roman street-food shop built around supplì, fried rice balls with tomato sauce and stringy mozzarella. Besides the classic, reviewers praise the carbonara and cacio e pepe versions: crisp outside, quick and cheap. It's cramped inside, but there's a square with benches out front. Downsides: some found the flavour a bit mild, and the mozzarella in carrozza isn't as good as the supplì.
Bars
Pigneto 32
Pigneto · pub & aperitivo · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · daily 18:00–2:00
Google Maps · Via del Pigneto, 32
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 190+): a cheap bar on pedestrian Via del Pigneto with a heated terrace and a big drinks list. Reviewers praise the limoncello and strawberry spritzes, the aperitivo spread, the Calabrian food and the tiramisu. There's sometimes a single waitress for all the tables, so it's easier to pay inside at the till.
Freni e Frizioni
Trastevere · cocktail bar · 10–20 € (≈$11–23) · daily 18:30–2:00
Google Maps · website · Via del Politeama, 4
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 4,300+): a bar in a former car workshop with a popular terrace, chandeliers and modern art. In the evening a drink gets you into the free aperitivo buffet (up to two plates each). Reviewers praise the negroni, the whisky sour, the deep spirits collection and the fun bar team. The menu is long, so ask for a recommendation.
Drink Kong
Monti · cocktail bar · 10–50 € (≈$11–57) · daily 18:30–2:00
Google Maps · website · Piazza di San Martino ai Monti, 8
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 2,300+): a bar from the World's 50 Best Bars list, with a Japanese-neon look and a menu organised by mood. Reviewers praise the creative cocktails, the logo-stamped ice and how the bartenders match a drink to your taste; crisps with ketchup come with your order. Downside: the bill runs high, and some felt the service doesn't quite match that price level.
Il Goccetto
Via dei Banchi Vecchi · wine bar · 20–30 € (≈$22–34) · Tue–Sat 12:00–0:00, closed Sun–Mon
Google Maps · Instagram · Via dei Banchi Vecchi, 14
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,000+): a wine bar with an old counter and bottles stacked to the ceiling, and a long list of wines from all over the world. With the wine come boards of cured meats and cheese, burrata, bread and vegetables in olive oil. The mood is busy but relaxed. Downside: one couple complained that the waiters were cold towards English-speaking tourists.
One last thing
Rome's popular trattorias fill up at dinner time: book Trattoria Della Stampa or arrive by 18:00, and get to Borghiciana when it opens at 11:45; at Da Enzo al 29 people queue before opening. Bars open around 18:00–18:30 (Il Goccetto already at noon), so an aperitivo at Pigneto 32 or Freni e Frizioni fits nicely before a late dinner.
More on Rome: coffee and gelato, what to see.