Eat Like Hoagie Dom In Rome
Free yourself from the Viral Influencer Slop that infiltrates your feed, where unknowing Foodie Influencers lead you to places that serve you food in cooking pans and to eat Florentine sandwiches in Rome.
This is where I like to eat when I am in Rome. La Cucina Romana. Simple, seasonal food. Cooked well.
last updated: march 29 2026
*Restaurants - My Personal Favorites:
> Trecca: Owned and operated by the Trecastelli Brothers, with the house & wine managed by Diego Donati – this is my favorite restaurant in Rome. If you have time for only one meal, come to Trecca. Written on the board inside the trattoria is “qui si mangia solamente bene!” (here you only eat well!) And that is true - good food, cooked well. Comforting dishes with an outstanding wine program. Known for showcasing il quinto quarto (offal) dishes. Order everything on the menu, but I specifically love the puntarelle, any pajata dish or the ‘padellotto di regaje di pollo con patate’, amatriciana or carbonara or ‘fettuccine tirate a mano’ and absolutely get the cacciatora (rabbit, chicken or lamb) if it’s on the menu.
> Eufrosino Osteria - comfort cooking, great menu focusing on la cucina romana - everything is great. Warm friendly service like welcoming you into their home. Their traditional pollo alla cacciatora, amatriciana and REAL authentic tiramisu are some of my favorites in Rome.
> Osteria Bonelli - old school Osteria, I like to visit for Sunday lunch - a consistently fantastic top to bottom chalkboard menu that changes frequently (daily), known for La Gricia and a fantastic roasted pork shank
> Santo Palato - outstanding and worthy of all the media coverage, great wine program and one of the best Carbonara in Rome. Don’t skip out on the smaller dishes to start and the entree after the pasta. Reservations can book up in advance, but a lunch table tends to be easier to book.
> Osteria Chiari - new-ish Osteria that opened in 2025, Chiari specializes in ‘cucina di brace e forno a legna’ (grilled and wood-oven dishes). Great friendly service. My favorites have been the focaccia con puntarelle e alici, cannelloni perfectly charred & comforting, the beef or lamb, the cheesecake bruciata for dessert. And non dimenticare le patate al forno!
*Restaurants - Also Good:
> Trattoria Pennestri - classic roman trattoria offering the classic Roman pasta dishes with strong mains
> Piatto Romano - classic roman trattoria, I enjoy their carbonara and pajata pasta
> Menabò Vino e Cucina - a local trattoria with great food and great wine and great service order the whole menu but don’t miss the gnocchi di ricotta al ragù di pecora - a deliciously warming dish
> Mazzo - a local favorite that recently reopened after a brief hiatus. Innovative and delicious menu, strong dishes and don’t skip the trippa fritta
*Pizza Tonda Romana
> 180Grammi - new school with a meticulous focus on their dough, absolutely fantastic - one of the best and has recently opened a few take away locations and a location in Fiumicino Airport
> A Rota - owned and operated by the same team behind Eufrosino Osteria (literally located next door in the same building), A Rota blend of old school new school pizza shop that makes an addictingly good thin and crispy pizza. Don’t skip the supplì or the panzanella to start. A great traditional tiramisu as well.
> Pizzeria Ostiense - old school pizzeria that does the old school style very well. I go for the puntarelle, the fried baccala and the salsiccia pizza. Pair with a nice & cold birra alla spina. Enjoy the atmosphere.
> Il Maratoneta - the reopening of a former beloved pizza shop under the same name, great fried starters and pizza and birra and tiramisu.
> Pizzeria L’Elementare - quality pizza, quality ingredients, quality all around. I go for the Margherita con Bufala.
> Pizzeria Fleming - newish large space with a fantastic pizza marinara in salsa verde, very thin, very crunchy - addictingly good pizza marinara.
*Pizza Romana al Taglio / Panificio:
> Pantera Garbatella - owned by the Trecca Brothers, they make my favorite pizza rossa with the salsa verde, thin crispy crunchy & addictingly good. They also make a great patate e rosemarino, as well as any other cuts that they have on offer that day.
> RUVER Teglia Frazionata - new-ish small shop located near Circo Massimo - quickly becoming one of the top spots for al taglio. Favorites include his ragù slice among others.
> Panificio Bonci - I prefer Panificio Bonci over his Pizzarium, as it’s a smaller neighborhood type bakery with outstanding pizza al taglio, breads, hot dishes, and one of my favorite maritozzo
> Da Casa Manco - located in Mercato Testaccio, popular with visitors but for good reason, this high-hydration pizza al taglio is some of the best in the city with a strong selection of classics and other varieties
> Fratelli Trecca - owned by the Trecca Brothers, more centrally located next to the Circo Massimo - go for a variety of cuts but also get the pizza bianca con pastrami di lingua
> Pizzeria Sancho - my favorite chicken salad in the world (trust me), but also their pizza rossa is nice among other offerings
> Forno Campo de' Fiori - old school historical bakery get the classics pizza rossa, patate e rosmarino and the pizza bianca con mortadella, known in Rome as ‘mortazza’.
> Lina Pizza In Teglia - new-ish spot featuring great cuts of pizza worthy of a visit
> Eroi Della Pizza - small-ish neighborhood spot down the street from Bonci with great cuts of pizza
> Zampa Forno Etico - strong pastry and pizza & bread bakery
> Bonci Pizzarium - you have to go if you have never been to experience Bonci, recently remodeled and offering seating inside, one of my favorites for pizza bianca con mortadella or The Marinella (mortadella stuffed inside of pizza rossa)
*Specialty Coffee & Pastry:
> Love Specialty Croissants - my favorite specialty coffee and pastry shop in Rome. Located outside Mercato Trionfale, near the Vatican - a must visit for me. They feature the local Aliena Coffee Roasters among other roasters from around the World. Top Pastry in Rome. Go early to avoid the queue.
> Forno Conti - another favorite of mine for pastry and caffè - a must stop when in Rome, look for the caramello pastry, but everything is well made
> Faro Caffè Specialty - one of the original shops (if not the first!) to focus on Specialty Coffee in Rome, featuring their house Roastery Aliena Coffee Roasters. And they do everything well: espresso, cappuccino, croissant, maritozzo. A must stop when in Rome if you enjoy Specialty coffee and great pastry.
> Slow (new from Love) - more centrally located from the Love, similar menu of pastries and specialty coffee
> Café Merenda - specialty caffè and delicious pastry (like the cinnamon roll) with warm service
> Barnum Cafe - centrally located with a focus on specialty caffè & pastry and ‘brunch’
> Luna Caffè Specialty (new from Faro) - more centrally located from the Faro, similar menu of pastries and specialty coffee in a nice space
> Caffè Mostro - specialty caffè stand during the day, and a nice drinks spot at night when they often feature a DJ
> Tulipane - chill bakery spot with good vibes good coffee and delicious baked goods
> Marzapane - cool space with great caffè
> Casa Matti Caffè Specialty - great caffè and service
> Grani Farine e Caffè - great caffè in the Monteverde neighborhood
*Food Markets:
> Mercato Trionfale - my favorite market in Rome, it feels good to be here. The best time to visit is early on a Saturday morning. Look to buy Porchetta di Ariccia, variety of salumi including all regions of prosciutto crudo, culatello di zibello, freshly baked pane or ask for a panino from mostly any shop, fresh produce, and do not leave without buying some FRESH Mozzarella di Bufala Campana - bring it home for later or eat it like an apple and let the milk of the bufala run down your chin.
> Mercato Testaccio: smaller than Trionfale but fantastic market which contains some great food. Specifically, I like:
>> Mordi e Vai - the true roman sandwich - none of that stuff from Florence! Entire menu is worthy of trying, but the ‘allesso di scottona’ with cicoria and pecorino is perhaps their best
>> Da Casa Manco - popular with visitors but for good reason, this high-hydration pizza al taglio is some of the best in the city with a strong selection of classics and other varieties
>> Food Box: Roman Street Food - traditional Roman fried foods like supplì and the carciofi alla Giudia (fried artichokes)
>> Altro Pasta e Vino - quick service pasta spot that is good for an affordable price
*Old School Bar / Caffè / Maritozzo:
> Bar San Calisto - loved by locals and visitors alike, this all day Trastevere Bar is always busy and offers quality beverages (caffè, spritz, peroni) at old school prices. Enjoy the atmosphere, sit outside. A must visit when in Rome.
> Pasticceria Regoli - historical pastry shop with one of (if not the) best maritozzo. Bring cash or coins to make your experience more authentic. A must visit when in Rome.
> Sciascia Caffè 1919 - historical bar that offers old school vibes with great espresso drinks and in the winter try the cioccolata calda con panna (hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream)
> Il Maritozzaro - old school bar that’s open late with a classic maritozzo
> La Fiorentina - old school bar across from Mercato Trionfale that’s great for a quick stop caffè and maybe something sweet like a bignè (if the season)
> Casa Manfredi - delicious pastry and caffè worthy of a stop near the Circo Massimo
> Caffè Panela - for caffè con zabaione
*Good Drinks:
> Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà - if you are from Philly, this is the ‘Monk’s Cafe of Rome’ - one of the best beer bars in the World located in Trastevere. A must visit in Rome if you enjoy good beer.
> Bar Bozza - great natural wine spot with quality small plates
> L'Oasi della Birra - aperitivo hour for spritz or beer located on Piazza Testaccio, often with patrons spilling into the street and piazza
> Vinificio - natural wine spot with good food
> Clover Pub - on the way to an AS Roma match? This place is a popular pub is on the walk to the Stadio Olimpico. Grab a few Peroni on tap with some fellow Romanisti.
*Gelato:
> Gelateria La Romana - one of my two favorite Gelato shops, the Ostiense location for the best experience and menu
> Neve di Latte - the other of my two favorite gelato shops, the Prati location for the best experience and menu
> Fiordiluna - quality gelato in Trastevere
*Other Sweets:
> Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti - historical oven and a variety of old school Italian cookies, grab a bag of biscotti a take a walk through Trastevere
> Pasticceria Boccione - popular bakery with visitors and locals in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto, you are coming for one thing and one thing only: crostata di ricotta e visciole and it is delicious. Currently off the menu, but it’s supposed to be coming back mid-April 2026.
*Gym:
> Trastevere Fitness ssd - need to keep up your training regimen while in Rome? I like this non-chain local gym as they have most of the equipment you need plus a sauna and they offer a daily pass
Hope you enjoy.
segui sempre il tuo naso (always follow your nose)
-Dom