Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Italy

"Roscioli is an interesting concept, as it juxtaposes a typical delicatessen (salumeria in Italian) with a gourmet restaurant, focusing on carefully sought-out ingredients. Doubling as a wine bar, chef Monosilio is a regular: “That’s where you’ll find me if I’m in Rome!. ” Try the ravioli di coda e pecorino, a complex dish that features homemade ravioli stuffed with cow’s tail and pecorino cheese, served with a slightly spicy foie gras and fig sauce; or indulge in some meat or cheese boards, complete with some of the best charcuterie from all over Europe."

"Tucked away in Rome’s historic centre, Roscioli is a household name that’s owned by the city’s most famous baking family. With an extravagant menu of cheese, cured meats, and heavenly pasta dishes, Roscioli is famous for its creative use of ingredients. Oh, and its spectacular wine list is second-to-none if you want something to wash it all down with."

"Cheap restaurants near the Pantheon are tricky to come by, but amongst the usual tourist traps you’ll find one of the city’s most authentically Roman restaurants. The menu is full of Italian classics like grilled lamb chops, and pasta alla gricia (guanciale, pecorino cheese, and black pepper). The restaurant itself is relatively tiny, and the owners like to cram diners in, but mark our words, the food, the atmosphere and the price tag, are more than worth the squeeze."

"Come for the fagioli con le cotiche – a hearty Roman stew with pork and beans. Opened in 1961, this small, heart-on-sleeve, 14-table trattoria close to the Pantheon shows a studied commitment to old school, diet-be-damned Roman cooking. With a hardcore following of locals, the roster of pasta dishes includes the classic cacio e pepe, and there are quintessential meat dishes such as saltimbocca alla romana (prosciutto-wrapped, wine-marinated veal)."

"As you may already and guessed, the Armando al Pantheon is within shouting distance of Rome’s magnificent Pantheon. So, after a good gander at the stunning ancient structure when you’re feet are a little sore, and you’re looking for a feed, head here. Like all the best places, this trattoria is a family run establishment."

"Located at the end of the 8 tram that snakes its way through the Trastevere neighbourhood, Cesare al Casaletto’s location outside the city centre hasn’t dampened its popularity among tourists and locals alike. This casual trattoria is the go-to for Rome’s many food writers, bloggers and passionate eaters thanks to its familial atmosphere and wonderful dishes. Order the fried gnocchi served on a melted cacio e pepe sauce and don't shy away from the minty Roman tripe and oxtail, prepared to perfection."

"The decades-old Cesare al Casaletto got an injection of spirit and flavor when Leonardo Vignoli and Maria Pia Cicconi took over after years in the fine-dining world. Their influence is evident in the restaurant’s vast and impressive — but affordable — wine list. The menu, on the other hand, is pure Roman comfort food, free of any pretense."

"Pasta , Italian"

"Serious beer drinkers don’t have to look any further than this tiny pub on small street behind Piazza Trilussa in Trastevere. The craft beer scene has grown significantly in Rome in recent years but Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa (which translates to “but what did you come here to do?”) was one of the first and remains one of the very best. The laid-back bar staff and patrons are here to drink hard-to-find artisan brews from Italy and Europe and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere where most customers end up chatting outside with a pint in hand when the narrow bar gets too full."

"This tiny watering hole in a cobbled back street in Trastevere marked the beginning of a quiet revolution when it opened in 2001 as the first real craft beer bar in Rome. Even today,  it mostly attracts locals, and mostly hordes of 20-something Roman men who loiter in front of the doorway to smoke while catching a Serie A football match on the TV screens. There’s also the odd well-informed connoisseur of artisan ales, and I’m delighted to say, plenty more female craft beer aficionados drinking here in the last few years."

"With a catchy Roman name that translates to “ What did you come here for?. ”, this tiny pub is always brimming with excellent beer, and people. Located in the middle of the Trastevere neighborhood, Ma che siete venuti a fa offers 16 different beers on tap, and continuously changes its selection to welcome new flavours."

"The narrow backstreets of Rome are a dream to wander through: fat cobblestones, looming timber door arches and, once darkness falls, pools of golden lamplight guiding the way. With few people around and the walls of the alley towering either side of you, it’s easy to pretend that not much has changed in the past few hundred years. Then you stumble across a gem like My-Ale, and the yearning for years gone by transforms into appreciation of ales of today."

"This dining spot footsteps from Piazza Navona is a guarantee when it comes to seafood. The setting is simple and elegant, and has remained the same through the decades. Order the tuna tartare with avocado as a starter, followed by the juicy spigola in crosta di patate."

"Piazza Nicosia, 24 (Centro Storico) Mon – Sat 12.30pm – 3pm, 7.30pm – 12am €€€dueladroni.com. This dining spot footsteps from Piazza Navona is a guarantee when it comes to seafood. The setting is simple and elegant, and has remained the same through the decades."

"Via Marmorata, 41 (Testaccio) Daily 6am–9pmpasticceriabarberini. Insider tip: it is impossible to walk past this historic pasticceria without being enchanted by the artistic display of sweet sins behind its windows, serving locals and VIPs alike since 1925. Their dedicated team of bakers only use natural ingredients, steering clear of preservatives."

"Via dei Serpenti, 122 (Monti) Sunday – Thursday 8am – 9.45pm, Friday – Saturday 8am – 10.14pmfornoaiserpenti. Insider tip: beautiful interior design with a 1930s feel, this is a retro, multifunctional space with an onsite bakery is a good choice for any time of day. The name is undeniably cool, the ancient snake oven, and their pastries won’t disappoint."

"The Venanzo Crocetti Museum is an art museum in Rome that highlights the work of Italian artist and sculptor Venanzo Crocetti. The museum's collection contains more than one hundred different marbles, bronzes, paintings, documents, and paper work that spans a 68-year period from 1930 through 1998. The museum also houses temporary traveling exhibits."

"Via dei Pettinari 76 (Trastevere)Mon-Fri: 10.30am-6.30pm, Sat: 11.30am-7.30pmdorothycircusgallery.it. Named after the leading lady in The Wizard of Oz and the marvel that joins art, music, theatre and entertainment, Dorothy Circus Gallery was founded in 2007 by director Alexandra Mazzanti. Exploring the “boundaries between New York and Wonderland,” Dorothy Circus hosts shows that are intrinsic to the idea of art as an immersive experience."

"This quirky gallery always has something interesting on display. Exhibits change regularly, but the permanent collection includes works by street artist “ROA” and Margaret Keane, the artist who inspired the film “Big Eyes”. The red painted walls and well-curated bookshop collection only add to its charm."

"Via Francesco Negri 43 (Ostiense)Tues-Fri 3pm-7pmthegalleryapart.it. A secret gem tucked away in a graffiti clad apartment block, The Gallery Apart is hidden from the street and so you must ring the bell and step into the unknown. You are greeted by a welcoming space with sofas and a community spirit, spread over two floors and complete with an artist in residence room."