Italian food might be the most vegetarian-friendly European cuisine there is, so a post on my food (and coffee!) adventures in Rome couldn't fit into just one post. Here's part 2 of my food series on Rome (part 1 is here), and where to get the best vegetarian-friendly food and coffee!
Disclaimer: I only had a handful of meals in Rome, but I'm always so excited when I'm about to visit someplace new, I end up over-researching restaurants and cafés. I ended up with a list of of almost 30 spots to eat and drink at. Naturally, I couldn't get to every place, so I'll split this post into two parts: the restaurants/cafés I made it to, and those highly-reviewed ones on my list I didn't have time for or because they weren't close to where I was staying.
Ready??
COFFEE: Café Greco, Spanish Steps
This is the oldest café in Rome, and luckily enough for me, it was in the same building as my hotel! It's very very fancy, and if you sit down with a cup of coffee, it'll cost you almost three times as much as if you just stood at the bar and sipped on your drink (this is true for all cafés in Rome).
They have great paninis, served on the most delicious bread I tried in Rome - pizza bianca. You should be able to order it anywhere, it's a pretty readily available type of bread - it's HEAVEN! So soft and buttery, you can eat it by itself.
COFFEE: Tazza d'Oro, Pantheon
The most famous place to buy coffee beans or powder, and any coffee-related goodies; so if you're looking for souvenirs or gifts for your friends back home, this is a must!
PIZZA: La Boccaccia, Trastevere
BEST pizza I've ever had! A small hole-in-the-wall , with only a few chairs to sit and eat, this could be a great takeout spot as well. There are 10-15 pizza varieties, all baked on warm focaccia bread that comes out fresh from the oven every few minutes! Best part - it's pizza al taglio (Roman speciality) meaning pizza by the weight. You choose how big or small of a slice you want, so you can try lots of flavors!
We tried five: margarita, potato pizza, onion and fennel, pumpkin and cheese, and lettuce and olive. Surprisingly the weird sounding ones (onion and fennel, pumpkin and cheese, and potato) were actually DELICIOUS! So don't hesitate - try all the flavors! Potato pizza is a Roman specialty, you can't leave without trying it.
PIZZA: Pizzeria da Baffetto, Piazza Navona
Another hole-in-the-wall that was recommended to me by a few friends who had visited Rome. This is a true local spot - you won't see a single tourist around, and you won't hear any English. The service is not that great, but the pizzas are just delicious! They don't cut the pies into slices because you're expected to eat the entire thing by yourself - don't worry, you will! They're wafer thin!
GELATO: Grom, all over the city
If you've visited New York, you might think this is a chain from the US. I did too, until I found out Grom is actually an Italian brand that's made its way to New York! Delicious, fresh gelato in lots of flavors and for lots of dietary restrictions (eggless, nut-free, lactose-free etc).
GELATO: Don Nino, all over the city
is artisanal gelato at its finest! I had some almond pistachio gelato (pistachio is the most popular flavor in Italy so don't leave without trying it)
Here's a list of highly-reviewed restaurants that were on my list, but I just didn't get time to get to!
-Amando al Pantheon - excellent Roman cuisine, right by the Pantheon
-Pinsera - quick take out spot, serves a new variation of 15 types of pizza everyday
-Roscioli - supposedly the best burrata in town
Cafés
-Sant'Eustachio il Caffe - order the Gran caffé at one of the most famous cafés in Rome
-Canova Tadolini - order the espresso marocchino at this art lovers café, with 150-year-old sculptures
-Cafffé Camerino (yes, with 3 f's!) & Bar del Cappuccino - Bar del Cappuccino is famous for its cosy interiors, and funky café art, while Camerino serves excellent home-roasted beans and light lunches. They're right beside eachother!
Artisanal Gelato
- Fior di Luna
- Fatamorgana
What are some of your favorite restaurants and coffee bars in Rome?