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Rome Information

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Some helpful information about Rome gathered from various sources
Arrival in Rome, Things to Do, Lodging, Dining, Gelato, Other Food Info

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

Arrival in Rome

You will probably be arriving at the Fiumicino International Airport to which all flights from the United States go. (Fiumicino is also known as the Leonardo DiVinci Airport). The airport is about 20 miles or so south of Rome.

First, there are airport shuttles. Here are a couple of links that might be useful:
AirportShuttle
Rome-Shuttle

Second, there is train service. The train you would want is the EXPRESS train to Stazione Centrale Roma Termini (Central Rome train station, called Termini for short). Be sure not to get on one of the non-express trains that stop at other places.
The express train is just under ten Euro per person. (As of August, 2002)
Once at Termini, you may need a taxi depending on where your hotel is. (There are always plenty of taxis there.) There would be a surcharge for luggage. When you take a taxi, make sure it is one of the official white or yellow taxi's with the "Taxi" sign on top, otherwise you are in for a major rip-off.

Third, if there are three or more, you might be better off arranging for a limo to take you from the airport to the hotel. Here is one that is reported to be very good and very reliable:
RomeLimousines

Fourth, you can take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. As of August of 2002, the cost will be about 50-60 Euro depending on luggage surcharges, time of day, traffic, hotel location, etc. This has probably gone up since then. Again, just like with taxi's at the Termini, do not take any taxi that is not official.

Things to do

When in Rome...10 Free Things to do in the Eternal City

Lodging

The Beverly Hills hotel is a very nice hotel. It is about 1 1/2 miles East of Via Veneto, a very nice street where the US Embassy is, and perhaps about two miles from the Spanish Steps.

Albergo del Senato: a luxury 3 star hotel located in the heart of the ancient city of Rome. This charming hotel in Rome's center is situated in Piazza della Rotonda, an excellent location directly in front of the Pantheon, Rome's most renowned ancient temple, originally built in dedication to the Roman Gods in 27 BC and later rebuilt during the reign of the famous Emperor Hadrian.

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Dining

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

Eating on a Budget in Rome from Parla Food blog

The Best Restaurants in Rome as Picked By Romans - 2008/2009 from LifeInItaly.com

Trattoria Al Simeto Some of the best pasta in ALL of Italy is at a little place called Trattoria Al Simeto, located at Via Simeto 34. It is likely that you will be the only tourists in the place. You can't get in until about 7:00 PM at the earliest. (Italians each much later than Americans do, usually). The house wine is cheap and exellent, so drink all you can with dinner. Great service, and friendly, and almost no English is spoken, but you will still do very well!
If you ask your hotel for a restaurant recommendation, they will probably send you to a place that is for tourists. Food is okay, but very touristy. Try the Al Simeto instead.

Volpetti, the Oasi della Birra and the Peroni cantina Arguably the best cheese shop in Rome and the Oasi della Birra are 50 yards apart in a part of Rome called Testaccio. Take the underground line B to 'Piramide' and head for the pyramid. Volpetti (Via Marmorata 47, Testaccio Rome, Italy), the cheese shop, is on via Marmorata just past the pyramid, and the Oasi (Piazza Testaccio, 38/41, Rome IT, 00153) is just round the corner.
There are no working breweries in Rome as far as we know but the old 'Peroni' beer factory is still at Porta Pia and part of a huge complex which is now a mix or shops, offices, markets etc. Do head to the Peroni cantina near the Savoy cinema (Via Bergamo, 17, Rome IT, 00198) where you can sample the Riserve beer and eat sausage and mash in a 1920's atmosphere.

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Gelato

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

Gelateria Della Palma, via della Maddalena 20, a block or so north of the Pantheon. Big brash place with over 100 flavors of ice cream. Fabulous!
10Best Review: Gelateria Della Palma's interior decor somewhat mimics a 1950s American Soda Shop, but the Italian flair is still abundant. Situated near the Pantheon, this café has the largest and most colourful (though that is not necessarily a good thing) selection of gelato in town. There are 20 different types of chocolate alone. With so many flavors you can't begin to try them all!

Giolitti, via Uffici del Vicario, 40 Roma. Tearoom and gelateria. Has 70 wonderful flavors of gelato.
10Best Review: Gelateria Giolitti is one of Rome's most famous cafés for gelato. It originally opened in 1900 and since that time has been a gathering place for artists, families, workers, politicians (just down the street from Montecitorio, the Italian parliament) and tourists. This is a great place to get your hands on that famous Italian treat, and while you're at it why not try the Coppa Olimpica filled with zabaione (made with eggs and Marsala fortified wine), hazelnut and chocolate flavours! Bus: 116.

Gelateria Cremeria Monteforte, Via della Rotonda 22, Rome 00186. Telephone 06-6867720
10Best Review: Beside the Pantheon, this small, family-run gelateria has won awards for its homemade (artigianale) ice creams. The rich fig and pistachio flavors stand out, as does the chocolate sorbet. Don't let the crowds scare you away; this place is definitely worth the wait. Bus: 116.

Il Gelato di San Crispino, Via della Panetteria 42, Rome 00187. Telephone 06-6793924
10Best Review: Arguably Rome's best ice cream (and definitely among the top five), San Crispino's gelato has no preservatives. Paper cups rule here (cones contaminate the taste, according to the founders, the Alongi brothers). Their signature flavor is a basic Italian crema made with wild Sardinian honey. Other blends include cinnamon and ginger, and a range of pure fruit sorbets. Consume your treasured coppa in front of the nearby Trevi Fountain, crowds permitting. Metro: Barberini. Bus: 116.

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Other food information

These recommendations are from third parties. I do not have any information about these places. Take the recommendations but make allowance for the fact that tastes vary and you may find a different experience than what you read here.

• Filetti di Baccala, at Largo dei Librari, 00186 Roma, Italy, near the Campo de Fiori. Wonderful and cheap. Lots of locals.
• Fodor's Review: For years, Filetti di Baccalà has been serving just that -- battered, deep-fried fillets of salt cod -- and not much else. You'll find no-frills starters such as bruschette al pomodoro (garlic-rubbed toast topped with fresh tomatoes and olive oil), sautéed zucchini, and, in winter months, the cod is served alongside puntarelle, chicory stems topped with a delicious anchovy-garlic-lemon vinaigrette. The location, down the street from Campo de' Fiori in a little piazza in front of the beautiful Santa Barbara church, begs you to eat at one of the outdoor tables, weather permitting. Long operating hours allow those still on U.S. time to eat as early (how gauche!) as 6 PM.
• La Carbonara, Campo De Fiori 23, Exactly under Giordano Bruno's eyes! Telephone: 06.6864783 E-mail: info@la-carbonara.it Traditional Roman. Inexpensive.
• From the web site: Unlikely from what one could imagine, the restaurant's name does not derive from the famous Roman meal, even if penne alla Carbonara (pasta cooked alla Carbonara) is one of its most typical specialities. The restaurant's name is due to the fact that Mrs. Andreina Salomone's father, the restaurant's mainstay, at the beginning of last century had in the same neighbourhood a shop where he used to sell coal. One day he decided to open, close to its shop, an inn called Il Carbonaro (The Coal-seller). When Andreina began managing the inn and then, when she married, decided to move to Campo de' Fiori square, fairly changed the inn's name in La Carbonara, anyway, without changing traditions, family habits and meals, like carbonara and amatriciana, abbacchio scottadito, trippa, coda alla vaccinara, animelle, fritto misto, torta di ricotta and torta di mele.
• Ristorante Pierluigi a Roma, dal 1938, Piazza De Ricci, 144 00186 Roma (RM), Italy Telephone 06 686 8717, a few meters away from Piazza Farnese and Piazza Campo dei Fiori. Known for antipasto and fish. Moderate.
• From the web site: On Pierluigi's menu we find selected plates among the best that the Italian cuisine offers, for diversity and lightness, equally distributed between the earth and the sea. To begin with for example the suppressed octopus, the Roman way artichokes, or fresh bufala cheese from the Campania region. To follow, bombolotti with European lobster, tagliolini with zucchini flowers, roast brill with potatoes, and king prawns with wine.
• Grotte del Teatro Di Pompeo, via del Biscione, 73/74 Roma. Tel.Fax 06/68803686 Around the corner from Campo de Fiori, over the theater where Julius Ceasar met his destiny. A great place. Inexpensive.
• The web site is in Italian only.
  TravelMuse Review: Just a hop and a skip away from Camp de Fiori, this outstanding restaurant was built on the site of the ancient theatre of Pompey (where Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BCE). In fact it actually incorporates parts of the theatre's structure into its own! The staff will make you feel like family, and you might find yourself over-eating lest your surrogate Italian mother scold you. Broad menu with lots of variety but if you're a fish enthusiast this locale is especially for you! —Aubrie Talarico
• Ditirambo Cucina Italiana, Piazza della Cancelleria, 75 00186 Roma. Telephone 06.68.71.626. Very popular and friendly place close to Campo de Firori (about a block north). Delicious homemade pasta to include vegetarian dishes, and regional Italian specialties. High side of moderate.
• From the web site: To Campo de Fiori in the heart of Rome a delightful restaurant which offers a tasty Italian cuisine, with a good cellar. The restaurant Ditirambo born from experience completely different; Dado, Thu member of a Roman enoteca note the Cavour 313, Beatrice antiquarian and Luke, active in the field of marketing. The restaurant, cozy, was restored respecting its old structure with beamed ceiling and its old stone arch bearing a vista.Appena entered is a flag of peace (with autograph of the poet Patti Smith) and a simple, caldo.Nel but respect for tradition.
• Rist'Oria, via Beniamino Franklin 9 (approximately a block north and a couple blocks east of Ponte Testaccio) Nearby in Testaccio are many nightclubs. Closed Sundays. New place, very creative menu that is mostly organic products. Excellent. Moderate.
• Yahoo Travel Review: This restaurant is located in the busiest and best-loved district in Rome and is a traditional haunt of celebrities. The cooking is typically Italian with a dash of innovation. The Piedmontese 'agnolotti' with handmade pastry are excellent. Then there are typical Tuscan dishes which are also tempting. Wash it down with a bottle from the well-stocked Cantina Banfi and admire the attractive, rustic decor. Property Information by Wcities
• Myosotis, Via della Vaccarella, 3/5 Roma, by the Pantheon. Telephone: 06-6865554. Lovely and welcoming. Food and wine to die for. Reasonable prices.
• Slow Travel Review: I had such a wonderful meal here two years ago, I can close my eyes and still remember the grilled veal sweetbreads, drizzled with olive oil and a few drops of balsamico. They have a great wine list and really nice service, and are in a lively piazza that is great for people-watching, if you choose to sit outside.
  (Stella)
• La Tartaruga (The Turtle) via del Monte della Farina, Rome, Italy Telephone: (06) 686-9473 Just off the 8 tram line in Largo Argentina (south of the Pantheon. Intersection of via di T. Argentina & Emanuele II). Great fish, pasta. Reasonable prices.
• IGoUGo Review: I had dinner two nights in a row at the same restaurant—I've never done that anywhere before. La Tartaruga, via Monte della Farina. That's a small street that starts next to the church of St Andrea della Valle, immediately south of Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle, near the Pantheon/Piazza Navona area. What a great little restaurant! It is family-run, and the same family owns a farm in Tuscany where they produce their own olive oil and wine vinegar. All the food was outstanding on both nights (the second night I went with some new acquaintances) and as simple as it sounds, the mandarine (tangerine) sorbet was to die for. Reasonable prices.
  by travelerstogodotcom from New York, New York
• Da Fortunato Al Pantheon, via del Pantheon 55, 00168 Roma. Telephone: 06 679 2788. Excellent. Try the pasta with shrimp or linguine al pescatore. Closed Sundays. Moderate.
• From the web site (which is mostly in Italian): In the beautiful heart of Rome, near The Pantheon, Da Fortunato restaurant assures a taste of the best italian traditional food, with the elegance and comfort of its wonderful location. Traditional italian food, the best choice of fish, meat and the most delicious pasta dishes you'll ever have. Home made pastry, wonderful wine cellar.
• Quinzi e Gabrieli, via delle Coppelle 6, Centro Storico, Rome . Telephone: 06 687 9389. Reservations essential. A couple of streets north of the Piazza della Rotunda where the Pantheon is. This is a Michelin-starred restaurant reputed to be the best seafood restaurant in Rome and possibly all of Italy. Spaghetti with lobster is exquisite, as is the sea bass, shrimp, etc. Very expensive, but exquisite quality and service.
• From the web site: Alberto and Enrico, that is Quinzi and Gabrieli, have been together all their lives, apart from their friendship born a long time ago. They come from the town of Amatrice and as youths came to the capital Rome where they worked hard, learning all the secrets of the profession. Their philosophy is, and has always been, the enhancement of the products of our territory and the excellent fish from our seas. Hence few ingredients, but of good quality, which exalt the fragrance of the seas. The cuisine philosophy is directed towards respecting and above all exalting the taste of exquisitely freshly caught fish. The typical ingredients of the Mediterranean cuisine are used which may range from olive oil made from 'Taggiasche' olives, to lemons from Amalfi, onions from Tropea and above all fish from our seas ranging from Sicilian tuna fish to Sardinian lobsters. The fish is cooked as little as possible and always to enhance its flavour without penalising its taste. All food is cooked in our own kitchens in front of our clients—straight from the fish tanks to the Chef's pots.
• Food & Wine Review: One of the most delicious aspects of Italian cooking is an expertly prepared Mediterranean seafood meal, and this is the best place in Rome to have one. You'll close your eyes and thank King Neptune over and over as each enormous, exquisite plate appears, such as the sauté di vongole antipasto, where each little bivalve marries perfectly with its garlicky broth, or the moscardini and baby tomato pasta, which includes as many miniature octopi as there are penne, and both are cooked to the same al dente perfection. Attentive and discreet service hits perfect levels of approachability and formality, and your fellow diners may well include Hollywood stars such as Cameron Diaz and Susan Sarandon, as well as high-profile politicians. And if that isn't enough, expect an especially sophisticated setting—Quinzi e Gabrieli enlisted the Academy of Fine Arts to help decorate. The three rooms have hand-painted murals, based on methods used in the 18th century; each room has a different subject: "Sunrise at Portofino," "Sunset at Capri," "Night-time at Elba."
  Insider Tip: A la carte prices are daunting here, but the lunchtime prix fixe menus are more reasonable and include a welcome Prosecco, a glass of wine, and for dessert: a glass of Vin Santo and a gluttonous procession of gelato, bonbons, biscotti, and fresh fruit.
• Trattoria Da Vito, on via delle Colonnelle, one block north of the Pantheon. The street is really a small ally that runs parallel to the Pantheon. Look for the green neon Trattoria sign. Small inside and a few tables outside. Grandma cooks in the kitchen. Outstanding home cooking of high quality. Fixed price menu available and are of terrific value. The saltambocca Romana (veal with prosciutto) is excellent.
• Tre Scalini (Three Steps), Centro Storico, 30 - 35, Piazza Navona, 00186 - Roma - Italia. Telephone +39 06 6879148. An incredible taste sensation.
• From the web site: The unique romantic atmosphere where tradition of Roman cuisine meets the fine taste of fresh fish with a selection of meats leaving an unforgettable memory of Rome.
• Big Apple, via Tor Millina 27, two block west of Piazza Navona. Best lasagna the poster had ever eaten. Lasagna was 8,000 lira, delectable plum cheesecake was 10,000 and coffee was 3,000. GOOD!
• La Campana, Vicolo della Campana 18, 00186 Roma. A quarter mile (400 meters) northeast of Piazza Navona, near the river. Tel: 06 686 7820. Traditional Roman cuisine. One of the oldest restaurants in the heart of Rome. Delicious food. Inexpensive to moderate.
• From the web site: The most ancient restaurant in the capital. A few steps from the splendid frame of Piazza Navona and from the Pantheon, La Campana is the ideal destination for the lovers of the good cooking and the walks to discovery of historical-artistic beauties offered by the capital.
• Trattoria Nonna Romana, in (or near?) Piazza Navonna. If you watch the Food Channel, this is one of Molto Mario's favorites in Rome.
• Hostoria Romana Near Piazza Barberini. Telephone: +39 06 483 511
• VirtualTourist Review: Completely unpretentious, and highly authentic, this simple yet exquisite trattoria is a Roman gem. It is located in a narrow side street a short walk from Piazza Barberini (at the bottom of Via Veneto) hidden from heavy traffic. Although some tourists seem to have known about, Italians also dine here, as it serves authentic and delicious traditional Roman cuisine at very reasonable prices. The antipasti are heavenly and the pasta perfectly prepared. I so want to return here again and again!
• Montevecchio, Piazza di Montevecchio 22a, Roma. Telephone: 06 6861319. Great atmosphere with traditional Roman dishes, as well as fresh seasonal dishes. Moderate.
• DiningCity.com Review: In downtown Rome, just a short walk away from Piazza Navona and via de' Coronari, strolling down the old cobblestone alleys between ancient wooden ceilinged and frescoed buildings and squinting your eyes against the setting sun, you will discover the Montevecchio restaurant, where you will be received with elegance and friendliness. Start your oenogastronomical journey in the terraced dining room of this simple but stylish restaurant, housed in a 15th century building and set on a picturesque square. The owner, Mrs Anna Maria Tozzi, will let you discover many delicacies, unique fragrances, prime meats, fish from the catch of the day, and home made sweets. The Neapolitan chef, with his Mediterranean creativity, will take you to the colourful world of sun baked Southern Italy.
• Al Gran Sasso, via di Ripetta 32 (two or three blocks south of Piazza Popolo). Tel: 06 321 48. Closed Saturdays. Typical Roman dishes, all great, and cooked by Momma in her blue apron and slippers. Leave room for the homemade apple pie. Inexpensive.
• Alfredo A Via Gabi, via Amiterno Gabi 38, a few blocks west of the Piazza dei Re di Roma. Tel: 77206792. Closed Tuesdays and all of August. Traditional Roman. Inexpensive
• Ristorante al Cardello, about 300 meters north of the Colosseum near the corner of Cavour and Cardello. Very small and family style. Great food. Wonderful. Reasonable prices.
• Otello, via della Croce 81. Closed Mondays. A little bit north then turn west from the Piazza di Spagna. Dine in an enclosed garden under the grape vines or inside. Locals love the place. Fried artichokes, delicious baked chicken, large menu. Moderate.
• Ristorante Birreria Viennese, via della Croce 20/21. It is across the street and up a little from the Otello. This place has excellent pasta, but also has a variety of dishes, to include some Austrian/German style foods. Inside seating only, to include a nice upstairs area (a couple tables outside are for drinks only).
• Luna Piena, via Della Robbia 15. About three-fourths mile north east of Hotel Beverly Hills, off of via Salaria. Tel: 06 575 0279. Closed Wednesdays. A delightful place, with a varied Roman menu. Inexpensive.
• Piccolo Aranico, Vicolo Scanderbeg 112, a block east of the Trevi Fountain, on a very small street. It is charming, down a very narrow alley. You really have to look for the street, as it is little more than a footpath just big enough for a small car to traverse. Closed Mondays. Charming trattoria with "Rome" written all over it. Try the pasta with eggplant, but all is good. Inexpensive.
• Trattoria della Stampa, via dei Maroniti 32, a block off via del Tritone, and a couple blocks northeast of the Trevi Fountain, on a small street. (This small street intersects via Della Panetteria and runs parallel to Tritone). Tel: 06 678 9919. Closed weekends. Unassuming spot, with savory Roman dishes from Italian grandmothers. Great pastas. Locals galore. Open for LUNCH only. Inexpensive.
• Ristorante Crisciotti al Boschetta, via del Boschetta 30, off via Nazionale, near the train station. Eat in the garden. Local fish, fettuccini with artichokes, not too touristy.
• Ristorante Target, on Via Tornino not far from the Termini. Great pizza and pasta dishes.
• Trattoria L. Leioni d'Abruzzo, via Vicenza 44, four blocks north east of the Termini. Great dinners and reasonable.
• Agata e Romeo, via Carlo Alberto 45. Behind Santa Maria Maggiore, and between Termini and the Coliseum. Tel: 06 446 6115 or 06 446 5842. Closed Sundays. Reservations essential. Open for lunch from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, and dinner from 8:00 PM. Very elegant and impeccable restaurant, family run. Specialty in traditional Roman and southern Italian cuisine. Only the best ingredients are used. For desert, try the millefoglie oozing with almonds and cream. Expensive.
• Da Otello, in the Trastevere section of Rome. Exquisite pasta. Tel: 58 96 848
• Vecchia Roma in the Trastevere section. Very beautiful setting and affordable. Inside is breathtaking, and also a beautiful patio. Signature dish is fish with a red tomato sauce that is unbelievable.
• Il Duca, Via di Cinque 52-56, around the corner from Piazza Santo Egido and behind Piazza Santa Maria in the Trastevere area. Excellent lasagna and spaghetti.
• Galeassi, Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere 3. Tel: 06 580 3775. Delicious. Known for seafood. Tiramisu is exceptional for dessert. Moderate
• Checco er Carrettiere, via Benedetta 10. A couple blocks southwest from Ponte Sisto. Tel: 5817018. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Traditional, with dining in a garden. Moderate to expensive.
• Ristorante Asinocotto, via dei Vascellari 48. A block or so southwest of Ponte Palatino. Reservations needed: (39-06) 589 8985. A small cozy place with dishes such as handmade eggplant ravioli and veal sirloin au gratin. Creative dishes. Excellet. Closed Mondays. A place where locals go. Reasonable prices.
• Il Calibri pizzaria, via Farmagosta at via Leone IV, near the Vatican. Gorgonzola ravioli, fried squash blossoms.
• Hostaria dei Bastioni, via Leone IV 29. Great mussels and pasta.
• Prestige Café, via Lucrezio Caro 16. On the Vatican side of the river (several blocks from the Vatican), but just a couple blocks from the river, & a few blocks from Ponte Margherita. Waiters nice and food great. VERY reasonable.
• Pizzeria Grotto Azurro, on via Ciccerone across from Hotel Isa and Hotel Cicerone (on the Vatican side of the river, and north of Ponte Umberto, not far from Piazza Cavour). Small family run. Tour groups are put in the back grotto, and locals in the front. Extensive and seasonal menu. Excellent! Moderate.
• Colline Emiliane, via degli Avignonesi (near Piazza Barberini at the south end of via Veneto). Excellent food at reasonable (but NOT cheap) prices. A place where locals go but few tourists have found it. A place for food lovers.
• Ristorante Picolo Mondo, via Aurora 39, just off the Via Veneto up near the U.S. Embassy. Start out with mozzarella balls in cream sauce.
• Paris, Piazza San Callisto 7/a. A block west of via Veneto, also in easy walking distance from the Spanish Steps. Tel: 5815378. Moderate to Expensive
• Est!Est!Est! (Antica Pizzeria Fratelli Ricci), via Genova 32. Tel: 06 488 1107. Intersects with via Nationale several blocks south of Vie Veneto, and west of Termini Station. One of Rome's finest and oldest pizzerias. Very popular with locals. Good pasta, and great calzoni. Inexpensive.

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