Where locals eat - Food map 🍝

We all agree Rome is an open air museum but also a food paradise! This guide includes 10 of my favourite places where to try Roman typical food plus some of my favourite treats because I have a sweet tooth. 🍨 They are all divided into categories. Each recommendation includes a detailed note plus some local tips or fun fact to enjoy your experience to the fullest! Explore new places walking and eat good pasta. Repeat. Tap save to add to your own map. I hope you like this FREE map. I would be so grateful if you share this guide with a friend. 🙏🏼 Feel free to contact me if you'd like my help to make a restaurant reservation. If you would like to receive more recs curated recomendationds are now available! More maps and guides soon! Irene

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Updated ago

PLACES FOR LUNCH 🍝

Those are a selection of my favourite places for a quick but tasty stop. Why quick? Because when I travel I love to focus on a meal for dinner, when it's finally time to relax. For lunch I prefer to stay light and enjoy the daylight to walk and explore the city. Even if it's a quick stop let's make it delicious!

Trattoria Valentino

@irenecarraro

If you are in Monti neighboorhood (hands down my favourite area) you have to stop for a lunch here if you are the type of traveler who likes to stop and enjoy your meal. This trattoria can be hard to find since it does not have a sign with its name on it but just an original "Birra Peroni" sign on the wall. Dishes are simple but they respect the Roman traditional cuisine. They have a standard menù plus some seasonal or daily dishes so make sure to check their blackboard! PRO: ✔️The service is rapid and menù is based on fresh products the market offer. CONS: ❌Hard to find since there is no sign outside

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Antico Forno Roscioli

@irenecarraro

This place is a real institution in Rome. You must try their suppli (a fried tomato rice ball filled with mozzarella cheese and meat and their sliced pizza. They have many varieties so choice is hard. My favourites are: pizza bianca, pizza e mortazza and pizza margherita. 🍕Pizza bianca is the plain pizza, nothing else. Perfect also for a snack. Every baby in Rome has this after school snack. 🍕 Pizza e mortazza is plain pizza filled with Mortadella (mortazza is the Roman way to say Mortadella) is also a very Roman quick lunch, 🍕 Pizza Margherita is the simplest pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil. You can't go wrong with it. If the weather allows it I love to have it on the tables outside or if I'm running errands go to, If you stop there in the morning there is the possibility to make fresh sandwiches. PRO: ✔️Vegetarian and vegan options Plenty of options. If you do not like pizza they have many other choices, also sweet. CONS: ❌There will be some queue ❌When it rains it is not possibile to sit outside and the space inside is small.

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SNACKS 🧋

Here you go where you can glab a snack or buy some food present for your friends!

Castroni

@irenecarraro

There are many of those around the city centre. I love to jump in to grab a snack on the go or to have the essentials to organize an appetizer in my apartment or in my hotel room. When I travel I love to go in local supermarket and buy something local to snack. Also this is a great spot if you'd like to bring a present to a friend. Food gift are one of my favourite! I think you can discover a lot of a culture from the food you find in the store or supermarket. It depends on the size of the shop but the smaller offers italian products, the bigger offer a wolrdwide selection.

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Mercato Centrale

@irenecarraro

When I do not know exactly what I want I stop here, walking around the shops to purchase somenthing to eat. The shops are so different but they all give you the possibility to purchase food to go or to sit there. You can also mix the food options purchasing a glass of wine or a beer somewhere and stop somewhere else to eat. The offer is varied. It's also a good place where to find a food prensent. If you would like to try something typical you can go at Il Trapizzino (shop 7) Trapizzino is a pocket of white pizza, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, filled with tasty things. PRO: ✔️Easy to reach beacuse it's next to Termini train station. ✔️They organize events CONS: ❌it's very big and can be chaotic

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SWEET TOOTH 🍦

This part is dedicated to the ones who like sweet, like me!

Giolitti

@irenecarraro

I love love love ice cream! This is so far my favourite place when I'm around. It's plenty of flavours both fruity and creams (if you are wonderning I am team creams. To me all desserts means dark chocolate, hazelnuts or pistacho). LOCAL TIP: usually in almost every ice cream shop cream is for free. I love to order crunchy cone with base cream + flavours + cream on top. In Rome it's never too cold so you can have it all year round. In case you don't like ice cream they have other things as cake, biscuits,

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Panella

@irenecarraro

It's a bit outside from the heart of the city but it's worth a visit! From the street you can feel the smell of fresh bread and custard. I love to stop by for a delicious breakfast or just to buy some bread for lunch. They have homemade products you can buy for friends or to bring home.

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DINNER 🍕

Roma Sparita

@irenecarraro

In the beautiful area of Trastevere there is this chic restaurant. It's curated in the details but you can still breathe a familiar atmosphere. My favourite dish here is cacio e pepe which is served in a Pecorino cheese bowl. So scenic and tasty! PRO: ✔️it's located in Piazza Santa Cecilia so it's worth a visit to the Basilica di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere before dinner. Inside the Basilica there is a cloister with a fountain in the centre. They also organize concerts (here:www.cantantibusorganis.it) Check their website for more information and opening hours. Don't miss it! CONS: ❌must be booked in advance and it's hard to make a phone reservation (they rarely have time to pick up)

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Maccheroni

@irenecarraro

Maccheroni it's an Italian word that indicates a short type of pasta. (yes, in Italy we have lots of pasta format and no, they are not all the same. Each pasta format is more suitable for a dish or specific sauce). Some of our pasta names are so fun! We have farfalle (butterflies), conchiglie (shells), ruote (wheels) and many more. We have something like 300 pasta format. Every region has his own. Based on the Roman traditional dishes you will mostly find: rigatoni, maccheroni, bucatini, lasagna, ravioli and spaghetti. This restaurant offers Roman traditional dishes. I like it because the menù is simple, food is good and they have nice attentions for kids if you're a family. PROS: ✔️quick service ✔️ during the warm weather (from April to October) they have tables outside. It's not a very busy area. In the morning in this square there is a local market with fruits, vegetables and local products (honey, cheese and olive oil) CONS: ❌Phone does not have signal inside

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DRINKS 🍸

Italians do love to stop at 6 pm for an "aperitivo". We love to drink something before going dinner.In Italy with a drink they usually always serve you something (chips, taralli, olives, bruschetta or all of them)

Giulio Passami L'olio

@irenecarraro

I love to sit outside and go there for appetizer, They have a good selection of wines, both red and white and they are good to find the type of bottle you're looking for. In case you stopped a little too long they serve good dishes too! (Roman traditional cuisine) Approver their Amatriciana! PRO: ✔️ It's facing in a quiet square away from the busy streets.

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Salotto42

@irenecarraro

I love this place for the vibe and amazing view of piazza di Pietra illuminated at night. It creates the perfect atmosphere for a memorable night! FUN FACT: In this square on the night of Saint Lucia, December 12th, there is a concert at 7pm with the Santa Lucia chorus. This holiday is very loved from Swedish too that celebrates there with their typical drinks and biscuits (glogg and pepparkakor). Rome has a strong personality but mixes a lot of cultures! PRO ✔️ Instagram friendly ✔️Even if you don't drink it's worth take a look at the square at night CONS ❌ Prices are higher than the others bar in the area

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Irene Carraro

Available for hire

Ciao, my name is Irene, nice to meet you! I have been working in mid range and luxury hotels since 2012. First in Venice then in Rome I started as receptionist and then I became a concierge and guest experience maker. Rome can be overwelming. The city is big with lots to do. Let me help you organise your time in the Eternal City. Let's talk travel! In my services you can find: 🗺️MAPS There are different maps divided by level of familiarity with the city 📌First timers. Get your new shoes ready to walk! 👟 📌 Seasoned travelers seeking fresh perspectives during a second trip to Rome 📌List of my favourite places to drink, eat or just take a break for a perfect gastronomic journey 🍝 📌. Curious shops for souvenir or buy something that will take you back to your Roman Holiday 🛍️ 📝CURATED RECOMMENDATIONS You have already planned what to do in Rome but you want to take your trip to the next level adding to your bucket list places I will recommend you based on your interests and personality. More information on the service. 🧳CUSTOM ITINERARY I love helping travelers discover hidden gems and build connections through authentic experience. Ready to embark on a journey like no other? Get in touch with me to begin curating your extraordinary Roman escape today one gelato at time. Ciao ciao, Irene

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