A pasta-fueled, point-by-point guide to a delicious trip through the historic Italian city
Rome is a beautiful chaos . It ’s loud , it ’s ancient , it ’s intensely caffeinated , and it dead delivers when it comes to food , if you have a go at it where to go . Because here ’s the truth : just because a trattoria has been around for three generations does n’t mean it ’s any good ; age and atmosphere are n’t substitutes for skill . Nostalgia wo n’t save you from gummy carbonara or microwaved meatball .
But if you do your homework ( or let someone else do it for you ) , Rome becomes one of the most rewarding solid food cities on the planet . This is a place where bitter greens are revered , offal is canon , and the best meals might come from a marketplace stall or a third - undulation , pizza - by - the - slice junction . Whether you ’re twirling spaghetti alla gricia before your 2nd chocolate or sip topically brew craft beer with a view of a tumble aqueduct , Rome rewards the curious and punishes the passive voice .
Who I am : I’mKatie Parla , a Rome - based food and beverage author , culinary guide , and cookbook writer who has spent the past two decennium eating her way through the Italian capital . I literally compose the book on Roman nutrient ( discharge October 2025 ) and ownParla Tours , a private , immersive food for thought term of enlistment company that dive deep into the city ’s eatable history . This itinerary is a mash - up of my greatest hitting … and where you ’ll find me when I ’m not write .
Giulia Gerosa
Before you go
Book ahead of time : Rome has arrived in the 21st century , and most popular venues offer online bookings . Armando al Pantheon , Salumeria Roscioli , and Santo Palato are the toughest tables , so exercise using the booking land site before your reservation window open . Armando , for example , opens their booking 30 day out , so you have to be ready to roll when they go live .
Where to Stay
Two Food-Filled Days in Rome
Day 1
Morning: Strong coffee and market moves
Midday: Fiber Fix and Two Scoops at Torcè
Afternoon: Deli dreams and dairy queens
Take This Home
Evening: Wine, dine, and buzz in
Day 2
Morning: Skip the Vatican but not its neighborhood
Mid-day: Throw yourself a Roman Pizza Party
Afternoon: A taste of Trastevere: lusty frescoes, lush gelato
Evening: San Giovanni After Dark
If you have three days
All the above, but add…
If you have four days, plus
All of the above, but add…
Roscioli Salumeria|Giulia Gerosa
Roscioli Salumeria|Giulia Gerosa
Emporio delle Spezie|Giulia Gerosa
Beppe e i Suoi Formaggi|Giulia Gerosa
Piatto Romano.|Giulia Gerosa
Mercato di Testaccio|Giulia Gerosa
