One does not come to Rome especially for the food - locals and expats like to say that the farther you get from Rome, the better the food. But this is not entirely fair - Rome is home to some world-class restaurants, including an increasing number that offer international cuisine. But the best option here is still the old Roman trattoria - just remember that most restaurants here still have narrow opening and closing times.
If you'd like a snack between mealtimes, or just a simple glass of wine and some prosciutto and mozzerella, skip the picture-menu tourist traps and head to one of Rome's many chic enoteche, or wine bars. A great selection of traditional and less-traditional fare is included on our interactive map.
A word to the wise: reservations are increasingly important in Rome. Always try to call a place before going – just to see if they are open (and ask if they take credit cards because some do not). Call at lunch or dinner time since at other times there is likely to be no answer.
Notes:
When a day is noted it is the weekly closing day for that particular place.
†means Open Sunday
**means fancy although men are rarely required to wear jackets here – ties are even rarer
≈ means outdoor seating
PIZZA is served in many of the places on the restaurant list and other food is served at many of the pizzerias.
