Welcome to What to Eat, our newest blog series covering the authentic cuisines of our favorite cities around the world!
You’ve touched down in Italy and now it’s time to get snacking — our favorite pastime! In order to make sure you enjoy the most authentic dishes while visiting the Eternal City, we’ve crafted a list of Rome’s best specialties to eat morning, noon, or night.
Pro-tip: Avoid restaurants on the main drag with giant food photos, as they’re most likely overrun with tourists. Instead, pick a family-run trattoria on a quieter side street and let the ingredients speak for themselves.
Supplì
The Roman cousin to Sicily’s arancini, supplì are oblong, deep-fried rice balls stuffed with tomato sauce and a chunk of melty mozzarella. They’re great for a mid-day snack or lunch on-the-go while roaming around the city’s best sights — explore the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and more!
Pizza al taglio
Literally translated to “pizza by the cut,” pizza al taglio is one of Rome’s most recognizable street foods. Find a shop with big, rectangular trays of flatbread topped with traditional pairings like tomato and herbs or olive oil and sea salt. Watch as the workers cut your slice with scissors and don’t forget to grab some napkins on your way out.
Cacio e pepe
Think of cacio e pepe as the long-lost sibling to our beloved mac and cheese. A delicious and satisfying option for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, this pasta dish is a creamy, cheesy combination of just a few simple ingredients: Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and spaghetti.
Carciofi alla giudìa
Made popular by Rome’s Jewish population, this deep-fried artichoke dish is especially beloved in the spring months. Outside the Roman Ghetto (the city’s Jewish quarter), artichokes are often simmered for hours with fresh oil and herbs.
Maritozzo
While grabbing your morning espresso, you’ll probably spot some pretty tasty looking pastries. Ignore your gut to pick something familiar and go for the maritozzi instead. A fluffy, yeasted bun slathered and stuffed with barely-sweetened whipped cream, you can’t go wrong with this sweet treat.
Bucatini all’Amatriciana
Consider this Rome’s elevated version of traditional spaghetti with red sauce. Instead of spaghetti noodles, the Romans use bucatini, which is similar in shape but with a hole in the center. The sauce is a simple but delicious tomato base with crispy guanciale and freshly grated cheese…yes, please.
Gelato
Of course, we couldn’t leave gelato off the list! Churned at a much slower rate than traditional ice cream, gelato is a denser, richer frozen delicacy popular across the entire country of Italy. Keep in mind that no two gelaterias are alike, and look for natural colors and seasonal flavours when scouting out the best stuff in the city. Our final piece of advice: Try more than one flavour!
Looking to enjoy even more authentic Italian cuisine? Tantalize your taste buds on our 8-10 day Taste of Italy tour. Buon appetito!