City Guide: ROME

some of my favorite coffee shops, restaurants + things to do in the eternal city

Rome has become a second home to me — I started learning Italian during the pandemic + have been at least once a year since 2021. My connection to this beautiful city is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I have learned so much about myself while being there, made deep connections + friendships, experienced heartbreak + redemption, and have eaten some of the best meals of my life. It brings me so much joy when friends or acquaintances ask me for recommendations. So, I wanted to share my favorite places to drink coffee + journal, people watch, experience awe-inspiring beauty, learn about history and eat local cuisine as well as a few cultural notes that will help make your experience in Rome even more enjoyable.

Coffee Shops + Bakeries:

• Forno Conti & Co.

• Materia Cafe

• Cafe Merenda

• Faro

• Barnum Roma

• Il Fornaio

• Forno Monteforte

• Forno Capo de Fiori

• Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria

• Le Levain Roma

Gelato:

• Otaleg - my favorite gelato spot in all of Rome

• Flor Gelato

• Gelateria del Teatro

• Gelateria Fassi

• Gelateria La Romana

Restaurants:

• Pizzeria da Baffetto - Delicious thin Roman style pizza. There can be a line, but it is definitely worth the wait.

• Osteria del Pegno Roma - loved the truffle pasta

• Circoletto / Fratelli Trecca

• Popi Popi

• Osteria da Fortunata - there can be a line, but it is definitely worth the wait.

• Pizzeria Ostiense

• La Punta Expendio de Agave - feels crazy to suggest a Mexican food place in Rome, but it truly is SO good if you want to change it up.

Aperitivo:

• La Botticella - a fun place to spend the evening if you are wanting to watch a sporting event or hang out to people watch.

• Enoteca il Piccolo dal 1980 - a spot that is normally filled with locals and great for people watching.

• Da Biagio Vini e Oli - a calm spot off the beaten path with a good wine selection.

• Latteria Trastevere

• Il Baretto

• Jerry Thomas Speak Easy

• Spritzeria Monti (roof top bar)

• Terrazza Borromini (roof top bar)

Scenic places to visit:

• Passeggiata del Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) - a great lookout spot to see the city skyline

• Piazza di Navona (my favorite piazza in the city)

• Villa Borghese + Piazza del Popolo

• Villa Pamphili - great for a run or picnic

• Giardino degli Aranci - a beautiful place to rest your feet + enjoy another lovely view of the city

• Parco Appia Antica

• Catch a Roma or Lazio soccer game at Stadio Olympico

Museums:

• Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum

• Capitoline Museums

• Baths of Caracalla

• Mercati di Traiano Museo dei Fori Imperiali

• Basilica of San Clemente

• MAXXI Modern Art Museum

Other Things to Note ——

Italians really are so warm and friendly. Just like in most other countries, if you try to speak the language or know a few key phrases, they are pretty receptive to giving directions or suggesting the best local restaurants. It is always my favorite thing to ask for recommendations from waiters or bar tenders.

• My best advice would be to wander. Pick one or two things you really want to do per day and then just explore different areas without a plan. Rome has SO much to offer if you open yourself up to being surprised by the city. There are a lot of tourists, so if you are wanting to enjoy your trip, I suggest visiting a couple of the “must see” spots but also give yourself free time in between to decompress and see the charm of the city along the small streets away from the crowds.

• I suggest looking what time a restaurant opens - most Italians eat late, so if a restaurant is open before 7pm, it is likely aimed towards tourists. A lot of the delicious spots the locals go to won’t be open before 7pm.

• Please don’t go to the gelato places with mounds of colorful gelato. Good gelato is either flat or in those silver containers with the lids. The mounds of ice cream are geared towards attracting tourists who don’t know better and are made with bad ingredients + added food coloring. But now you know better!

• When you order at a coffee shop/ bar, you can either drink at the bar for no cost, or you can sit at a table for a small charge (coperto). A “latte” doesn’t really exist - if you order this you will get a cup of warm milk in most local places. The newer coffee shops where a lot of ex-pats go will likely know what you are talking about, but most other bars don’t offer “latte’s” like they do in the States, the UK or Australia. If you order a “caffe” it will be a single espresso. If you are wanting a bigger coffee I would order an Americano, Cappuccino or a Latte Macchiato. A (Caffè) Macchiato is a traditional double shot with a splash of milk.

If you are planning a trip to Rome, or Italy in general, I am always here to chat and share recommendations. I also would love to know your favorite places you have been to - I really enjoy adding new places to try to my google maps!

Xx

Katie J.