Arguably Rome's best trattoria is in Monteverde. From the fried starters (meatballs, gnocchi) to traditional Roman pastas (carbonara, amatriciana) to classic cucina povera dishes such as oxtail, it's cucina Romana at its finest. The dining room is full every night of the week, so you should make a reservation. Cesare gets a lot of buzz. Believe the hype.
Via del Casaletto 45
Rome, 00151
+39-06-536-015
Fourth-generation baker Pierluigi Roscioli and top-notch ingredients from his family's equally well-known Salumeria Roscioli mean some of the best Roman-style thin crust pizza in town. It's pricier than the average pizzeria, but the taste more than matches the price, as does the excellent wine list.
Via del Monte della Farina 28
Rome, 00186
+39-06-6476-0475
Take a break from the crowds at Piazza Navona at this cozy friggitoria (fried snack shop). Taste test all the supplì (fried rice balls) and don't miss the spiked zabaione inspired by one of the chef's nonnas.
Via dei Banchi Vecchi 143
Rome, 00186
+39-689-160-053
The oldest trattoria in Trastevere (serving since 1482!) is a cozy, family-run restaurant that specializes in seafood. The vibe is rustic and charming: wood-beam ceilings, a few dining rooms, and walls decorated with napkins that patrons have sketched over the years.
Piazza della Gensola 15
Rome, 00153
+39-06-5833-2758
Small, trendy, and Michelin-starred, with modern, minimalist style and a surrounding balcony overhead. Italian-born and American-trained chef Cristina Bowerman is a rising star on the Italian food scene for her fresh take on classic dishes.
Vicolo del Cinque 58
Rome, 00153
+39-06-5833-5903
The Monti outpost of the great artisanal gelateria serves classic as well as inventive flavors like Kentucky, a rich chocolate with licorice and tobacco, and has a great outdoor seating area that doubles as its own homemade piazza.
Piazza Degli Zingari 5
Rome, 00184
+39-06-4890-6955
The small, family-run restaurant near the Colosseum may look unassuming, but it's a local favorite for classic Roman dishes like bruschetta Amatriciana, tonnarelli cacio e pepe, and saltinbocca alla Romana.
Via della Madonna dei Monti 9
Rome, 00184
+39-06-679-8643
Umbrian chef Lucio Sforza is on his third location of his beloved restaurant, from the original in Orvieto to a second in Montesacro and now here in Monti. Like so many local favorites, the décor is simple and there are lots of tables outside. The pared-down but sophisticated menu includes roasts, beans, and inventive interpretations of puddings.
Via del Boschetto 73
Rome, 00184
+39-06-4891-3832
It is a decidedly farm-to-table affair at the dinner table, where diners are offered the best of Lazio (the region of which Rome is the capital). Ingredients are carefully documented by province and served with care and Italian flair.
Via Urbana 47
Rome, 00184
+39-06-4788-4006
A somewhat big and very cool restaurant that spills out onto the pretty little piazza where locals gather to play chess in the afternoons. The look is industrial bistro chic: metal chairs with peeling paint, long communal tables, and a foosball table in the corner. The menu features lots of grilled specials and hearty pastas.
Via della Pace 34/36
Rome, 00186
+39-06-6899-1373
The debate over the best pizza in Rome won't be settled anytime soon. (Romans: They love to argue.) But Baffetto is easily one of the best and most classic, and its two central locations make it more accessible than many others.
Via del Governo Vecchio 114 (location on map)
Rome, 00186
+39-06-686-1617
Piazza del Teatro di Pompeo 18
Rome, 00186
+39-06-6821-0807
A cute, airy, organic café and restaurant in the center of the tiny Via Condotti neighborhood, where produce is displayed like sculpture. It feels like a pocket of super-healthy Los Angeles in Rome. The menu includes panini, pastas, and massive salads, as well as juices, milkshakes, and smoothies. Everything is delicious.
Via Borgognona 43/44
Rome, 00187
+39-06-6994-0836
Great trattoria that does all the Roman classics well. Abbacchio al forno (roast baby lamb) is the best, and they are also known for tonnarelli a cacio e pepe.
Via Mastro Giorgio 29
Rome, 00153
+39-06-574-6800
Classic Roman fare; a must if you've never been to Rome. They make arguably the best amatriciana sauce in the city. Go for the terrific old-style service and quinto quarto-style cooking (offal). Don't miss abbacchio alla cacciatora (baby lamb stew) and apple cake house-made by the chef/owner's sister.
Via Monte Testaccio 30
Rome, 00153
+39-06-574-3816
A great and inventive pizza concept that is definitely worth the trip. Round, foccaccia-style pizza is blind-baked without sauce or toppings (so the pizza is crispy all around), then topped with unusual ingredients like monkfish and urchin. Very fresh and very tasty.
Via Giuseppe Lunati 25
Rome, 00149
+39-06-559-3368
Every native Roman calls this place L'Obitorio (the morgue) for the large marble table where they make the pizza, which looks like a sarcophagus. (The burning inferno in the background only adds to the dramatic look.) Indeed, the thin-crust pizza is to die for.
Viale di Trastevere 53
Rome, 00153
+39-06-580-0919
Romans are crazy about pizza, and Pizzarium's Gabriele Bonci may as well be the godfather of the city's best pizza makers. He is known for using unusual flours (like kamut) and concocting inventive toppings (like his famous "LSD" pie with licorice, sausage, and dates). It's a trek, but it's on your way to the entrance of the Vatican.
Via della Meloria 43
Rome, 00136
+39-06-3974-5416
A very elegant old restaurant and staple of the Jewish quarter. You must order the artichokes alla romana and alla giudea. The spaghetti vongole is also terrific.
Via Monte de' Cenci 9
Rome, 00186
+39-06-686-1113
A classic, elegant Roman restaurant that serves great equally classic pastas and meat courses. It's a favorite of politicians who work around the corner (hence the bodyguards waiting outside) and local patricians.
Via del Pantheon 55
Rome, 00186
+39-06-679-2788
In the front, it's a market with the best food products from around Italy. In the back, it's an upscale wine bar/restaurant that serves great pasta and exceptional salumi. Make reservations; it's popular with locals and tourists.
Via dei Giubbonari 21-22
Rome, 00186
+39-06-687-5287
Nestled in an alley off a charming, quiet street right in the historic center. The shop specializes in imaginative flavors (raspberry-sage, honey-lemon-rosemary). Quite the palate cleanser.
Via di San Simone 70
Rome, 00186
+39-06-4547-4880
Fall in love with Al Moro for every facet of its menu: seasonal dishes like fried artichokes, puntarelle, and staples like spaghetti al Moro (a piccante reinterpretation of carbonara) and grilled meat and fish. The smallish dining rooms, all three, are like home, with chic flatware and walls covered with framed newspaper clippings and photos.
Vicolo delle Bollette 13
Rome , 00187
+39-06-678-3495