Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you’re having a great week so far. I also hope you enjoyed my last post about my favourite attractions in Rome. Today, I’m going to be taking you on a culinary journey around the Eternal City! Of all the cities in Italy, Rome is especially known for having good food, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. From cappuccinos and cornetti in the morning to pizza and wine in the evening – not to mention gelato and cannoli at virtually any time of day – we sure had fun eating our way around Rome. So without further ado, here’s a roundup of my favourite spots we ate at while there!
Elisa Gelateria – Don’t be fooled by the name: in addition to gelato, Elisa also sells coffee, sweet and savoury pastries, sandwiches and desserts. They have five locations throughout Rome. We stopped in for breakfast one morning at their Piazza di Spagna location, as we were immediately enticed by their cute décor. We ordered two cappuccinos and a pistachio cannoli, which was so good (don’t judge – you’re allowed to eat dessert for breakfast on vacation!) The interior is so charming with its blue and white striped walls, floral upholstered chairs, and leafy, fairy-lit statement wall.
Deroma – Located right near the Trevi Fountain, this restaurant is a popular lunch and dinner spot, but also operates as a café in the mornings. The interior is beautiful, dramatic and moody with jewel-toned furniture, artistic statement pendants, neon signs and bold patterned floor tiles. We came for breakfast one morning and enjoyed a couple of cappuccinos with a cornetto and a slice of lemon loaf, which was very good. One word of caution: this is a very tight space, so claustrophobes beware!
Antico Caffè del Brasile – This restaurant doubles as a bakery and espresso bar, and is located just a couple of blocks away from the Colosseum. We got breakfast here on the morning of our Colosseum visit: cappuccinos and cornetti (a Nutella-filled one for Tania, and a cream-filled one for me) which we enjoyed on their sidewalk patio. For those unfamiliar with cornetti (I’d never heard the term before our trip!) they’re essentially an Italian version of a croissant. However, unlike the French-style croissants you’re probably used to eating, they’re distinctly denser and sweeter. It was interesting to see how the popular cornetto flavours varied from city to city within Italy. In Venice, for example, pistachio cornetti reigned supreme. In Florence and Rome, however, chocolate and cream-filled varieties were most common. Personally, I enjoyed them all!
Volpe Pasini – This bistro-slash-snack bar is located in central Rome, close to the Pantheon – but they also have a second location near the Colosseum. They’re known for their appetizer and cocktail combos, which are pretty great if I do say so myself! The specials range from 5 to 9 Euros, and each includes a drink along with various different combinations of chips, bruschetta, cold cuts, cheese and fried appetizers. For your drink, you can choose from an Aperol Spritz, a beer, or a glass of red or white house wine (they also offer soft drinks and coffee). Tania and I each ordered a different special – one with just chips and bruschetta, and one that included some of the fried appetizers – to share, and we thought it was a great deal! If you’re not hungry enough for a full meal but are looking for a drink and a bite to tide you over until dinner, this is the place for you.
Ristorante Osteria Sonnino – This leafy, umbrella-shaded patio is located across the Tiber in Rome’s charming Trastevere neighbourhood (check out this post for more details on Trastevere!) They serve all your classic Italian fare – pizza, pasta and various meat dishes – but Tania and I were craving something fresh and healthy, and opted for salads. The salads here are far from rabbit food: the portions are generous and they don’t skimp on toppings! I got a Greek salad, and Tania ordered a classic Caesar. Admittedly, one thing about Italy that I just couldn’t get used to is how salad dressing simply isn’t a thing there. Caesar salad is an exception, of course, but for most standard garden salads, diners simply dress their own with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table. While my salad came with no dressing, Tania’s Caesar came with too much for her liking, so we did something a bit unrefined here. I poured my salad into Tania’s bowl, she mixed it all together, and then redistributed it among us. Now the salad-to-dressing ratio was perfect for us both (I just hope no one was watching us!!) Dressing aside, we really liked both the food and the atmosphere of this place – plus, they were kind enough to offer some free focaccia to enjoy with our meal!
Pummarola Drink Ristorante – Rome has so many restaurants with charming sidewalk patios, and I highly recommend visiting at least one while you’re there. There’s something so lovely about enjoying a meal on one of the city’s quaint cobblestone streets, and partaking in some people-watching while you eat. Integrating restaurant patios into city streets is something that Rome’s done very well. I couldn’t help but compare it to Toronto’s well-meaning but logistically troubled CaféTO program, with sidewalk patios that so often feel awkward and out of place – like you’re dining in the middle of traffic! The sidewalk dining experience in Rome is completely different, and one that’s well worth experiencing. The day we visited Pummarola was a rainy one (as was par for the course on this trip) so Tania and I took refuge under one of their patio umbrellas and enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and a margherita pizza. The servers were so friendly and welcoming, and I loved the classic décor (what can I say – I’m a sucker for a red-and-white checkered tablecloth!)
Il Barroccio – Another fabulous restaurant with a patio is Il Barroccio. Tania and I had an excellent meal here; definitely our favourite in Rome! We got a white thin-crust pizza topped with spinach, which we enjoyed with some (what else) white wine. (I think we drank more white wine and Aperol Spritzes on this trip than I have in my entire life!) The pizza was everything Italian food should be: simple but delicious, with fresh, high-quality ingredients. And before we even ordered, we were treated to some complimentary glasses of prosecco to enjoy. I’ll drink to that!
Gelateria Mamò – This cute gelato shop is where you’ll find some of Rome’s most Instagrammable ice cream! Mamò has several locations throughout the city, but we went to the location that’s right by the Pantheon. They have tons of indulgent flavours to choose from, from salted caramel to tiramisu to dulce de leche. Mamò also offers a variety of fancy chocolate-dipped cones, which come rolled in your choice of anything from peanuts to pistachios to coconut to rainbow sprinkles. I got a double-scoop cone (one pistachio, one berry cheesecake) and Tania got a single scoop of walnut. Both came topped with whipped cream, a wafer and pistachio drizzle. Before your gelato melts, be sure to snap a photo by Mamò’s photo-worthy swing wall, or better yet, in front of the Pantheon itself! (If only Emperor Hadrian knew that one day his iconic project would serve as a backdrop for ice cream selfies…)
The Gelatist – This gelateria also has multiple locations throughout Rome, and we went to their Colonna outpost. The space is bright and airy, with a cute neon sign and pink faux flowers that – again – make a great backdrop for gelato photos. (In this day and age, does anyone eat their ice cream without taking a photo first?? Asking for a friend.) Flavours range from the fresh and fruity (melon, strawberry, mango) to the rich and decadent (dark chocolate, cheesecake, stracciatella). I got a cone with scoops of pistachio and hazelnut (my go-to flavours!) and Tania got a cup of cookies and cream. The gelato was delicious, particularly the hazelnut! It tasted like Ferrero Rocher in ice cream format. The Gelatist also sells cannoli and individual slices of cheesecake, along with cups of fruit salad if you’re looking for a healthier option. Personally, I’d always go for gelato over fruit salad in Italy – but who asked me!?
White Bar & Restaurant – Tania stopped in here one night just to grab a panini, but I thought it was worth mentioning because this is where I had my favourite cannoli of our entire trip! The presentation was top-notch: the cannoli was topped with chopped pistachios on one side, a maraschino cherry and candied orange slice on the other, and it came served with whipped cream, strawberry gelato and a pizzelle cookie. So decadent! This cannoli was big enough for both of us to share, but I definitely also could have finished the entire thing myself if I had to… it was just that good!
Well, there you have it, folks: my favourite food spots in Rome! I know I’ve mentioned this before, but the downside of writing these food-centric posts is that they always leave me hungry! Does anyone happen to know a particularly good Italian bakery in the GTA? Because now I’m craving cannoli, and I’ve yet to find any here that are as good as the ones I had in Italy. If you have any local gems to recommend, please drop me a line!
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