Rome's Best Travel Routes

Rome’s central areas are full of charm but can also be full of overpriced restaurants and shops targeting tourists. Dining near major attractions like the Colosseum or Piazza Navona can easily lead to inflated prices and lower-quality food. Some restaurants only for tourists, serving frozen food at inflated prices. A general rule of thumb is to avoid places with plastic food displays in the windows, as these are often geared toward tourists.

To experience authentic Roman cuisine at a fair price, seek out local recommendations or venture slightly off the beaten path into quieter neighborhoods like Testaccio or San Lorenzo. These areas are full of trattorias where locals dine, offering much better quality and value. Authentic trattorias are small, family-run, and full of charm. Here’s how to spot them.

• Menus in Italian only: If the menu is translated into five languages and advertises “spaghetti bolognese” or “fettuccine Alfredo,” it’s not authentic.
• No “greeters” outside: Real trattorias don’t need staff pulling customers in from the street.
• “Traditional” food advertised in English: Real Roman shops don’t need signs in English.
• Daily specials on a chalkboard: Romans eat seasonally; if a place lists artichokes in spring or pumpkin in autumn, that’s a good sign.
• Simple interiors, loud atmosphere: Don’t expect elegance—expect paper tablecloths, football on the TV, and families talking loudly. That’s the charm.
• Romans eating there: If it’s packed with locals at lunch, it’s authentic.

📝Local Tip: If you’d rather save money on food, consider packing a lunch or grabbing a sandwich at a local bakery, supermarket or alimentari (small grocery store). 

⚠️ Watch out: Places near monuments (Trevi Fountain, Colosseum) are often overpriced and lower quality. Walk just two streets away, and you’ll find better food at half the price.