The Best Rome Food Tour for Authentic Food in Trastevere

I live in Rome, I’m a self-proclaimed international foodie, and I’ve taken food tours all over the world—so I can confidently say that this tour by Carpe Diem is easily one of the best Rome food tours.

When I had the opportunity to work with Carpe Diem Tours—a company I already know and trust from their iconic Spritz & Spaghetti cooking class—I jumped at the chance to try their 3-hour Trastevere Food Tour.

I grabbed one of my new friends here in Rome, and we showed up very hungry, and ready to see if this tour lived up to the hype.

We spent the evening feasting on iconic Roman foods like supplì (my personal favorite), local cheeses and cured meats, Roman-style pizza, and, of course, a classic Italian dessert to finish it all off.

Our guide Anna led us through Trastevere like our pizza guru—sharing stories, fun Italian facts, and local insights at every stop.

If you’re visiting Rome and don’t want to waste time figuring out where to eat—or worse, end up in a tourist trap (unfortunately, there are a lot of them)—I highly recommend letting Jesus take the wheel 😂 and booking with Carpe Diem.

🍕 Eat your way through Trastevere with a local guide—use code “MADISON20” for 20% off your booking! ↗

**I want to extend a huge thank you to Carpe Diem Tours for gifting me two complimentary spots on their Rome Food Tour for the purposes of this blog post review. While this post is sponsored by Carpe Diem, all opinions in this review are 100% honest and my own.

Is this Rome Food Tour Worth It?

Yes—I absolutely think this tour is worth your time and money on a trip to Rome.

At the time of writing this in April 2026, the tour costs around €80 pp, but with my 20% discount code “MADISON20,” you’re looking at about €64 pp. For everything that’s included, I genuinely think that’s a steal.

I’ve booked food tours all over the world for much higher prices that didn’t deliver nearly as much value. In fact, the food tour I just took in Edinburgh (while it was truly amazing), was priced at £92 pp—that’s roughly €105.

Even if you only have a few days in Rome, this is one of the easiest ways to get introduced to the city’s food scene. Italian culture revolves around food, and it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what’s actually worth trying and where to find it on your own.

Booking with a company like Carpe Diem takes all of that guesswork out of it. You get a curated experience, local insight, and the chance to try multiple iconic dishes in one night instead of committing to just one restaurant.

It’s also just a really fun, social way to spend an evening. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with friends, it’s an easy way to meet people, explore more of Trastevere, and walk away feeling like you learned something.

Who is the Tour For?

This tour is for almost everyone. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with a group of friends, it’s one of those tours that just works for all types of travelers.

That said, you’ll especially love this tour if:

• You’re a foodie who loves trying new dishes when you travel
• You’re a solo traveler looking to meet people in a fun, social setting
• It’s your first time in Rome and you want to learn about local food from someone who actually knows it
• You’re overwhelmed trying to figure out where to eat and want someone else to take the pressure off
• You want to try a bunch of different dishes in one night instead of committing to just one restaurant
• You love Trastevere and want to discover the spots you probably wouldn’t find on your own
• You enjoy experiences that combine food, culture, and a bit of walking around the city

I also think this is a great option for travelers of all ages. The vibe is super relaxed, and you don’t need to be a “serious foodie” to enjoy it—just show up hungry and open to trying new things.

There are only a couple of cases where this might not be the best fit:

• Anyone with significant mobility concerns, since there is a fair amount of walking over the 3-hour tour
• Vegans or those who are strictly gluten-free (vegetarians can be accommodated, though)

🍷 Skip the tourist traps and book the food tour—use code “MADISON20” for 20% off your Carpe Diem booking! ↗

My Experience Taking the Tour in Trastevere

Alright, now onto the fun part—what do you actually eat on this tour?

Is the food really that good, and are the stops worth it? Here’s exactly what my experience looked like from start to finish when I took this tour in March with a friend.

I was especially excited for this one because Trastevere was actually the first neighborhood I lived in when I studied abroad in Rome back in 2017. It’s really the place that made me fall in love with the city in the first place.

These days, I don’t get back there as often as I’d like since it’s not the most well-connected area, so getting to spend an entire evening exploring restaurants there again felt really special.

Stop 1: La Norcineria di Lacozzilli

Our first stop is a family-run shop that has been a staple of Trastevere since 1954—so over 70 years—called La Norcineria di Lacozzilli.

The name translates to Lacozzilli’s pork butcher shop, and it truly is family run with the business passing down through generations.

Our guide, Anna, explained that it’s not the type of shop where you just stop in to grocery shop or for a quick bite. You order and then you stick around—to chat, catch up, and spend time with your neighbors.

We tried a few different things here, and spoiler alert—everything was phenomenal.

🍨 Explore scenic Trastevere…while trying the most iconic Roman foods—use code “MADISON20” for 20% off your booking! ↗

Parmigiano Reggiano & Pecorino Romano

The first thing we tried at La Norcineria was a selection of Italian cheeses—and this was actually set up as a bit of a taste test.

Our guide had us try Parmigiano Reggiano alongside Pecorino Romano and asked us to compare the two and pick a favorite.

If you’ve been in Rome for even a couple of days, chances are you’ve already eaten a lot of Pecorino Romano without realizing it—it’s used in all four of the classic Roman pastas: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and gricia.

Spoiler alert: If you want your tour guide to like you, the correct answer is Pecorino Romano…no matter what you actually thought. 😂 Romans don’t mess around when it comes to cheese.

Porchetta on Pizza Bianca

Next up was porchetta on pizza bianca—a super classic Roman combo.

Porchetta is a traditional Italian pork dish that actually dates back over 2,000 years to ancient Roman and Etruscan times. Today, it’s one of the most popular street foods in Rome, usually served in a sandwich.

I still dream about the porchetta panino I tried from Prosciutteria Cantina Dei Papi during study abroad.

At La Norcineria, we had it served on pizza bianca, which is a crunchy Roman flatbread. It kind of looks like focaccia, but it’s much crispier—and unlike focaccia, it actually comes from this region.

This was easily one of my favorite bites of the entire tour. The meat was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and paired so well with the crunch of the bread.

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Ciù Ciù Marche San Carro Rosso

To go with the porchetta, we were served a glass of San Carro wine, which comes from the Marche region on the east coast of Italy.

It’s a bio vegan red made from a blend of Barbera, Merlot, and Sangiovese, with strong notes of red fruits and cherry—and a pretty high alcohol content at 15%. The idea is that it pairs well with the rich, intense flavors of the porchetta.

I’ll be completely honest with you…this wasn’t my favorite tasting of the tour.

And that’s coming from someone who loves red wine. I wasn’t a huge fan of how the increased alcohol content affected the taste.

That being said, it was still wine—so of course I drank it up. Mama didn’t raise no quitters. 😂

Stop 2: Supplì

For our second stop, we tried my personal favorite Roman street food—supplì.

We stopped at a famous little spot called Supplì Roma, just around the corner from La Norcineria, to try this iconic Roman classic.

If you’ve never had supplì before, get ready to meet your new favorite food.

It’s made with risotto rice cooked in a tomato and meat sauce, then formed into a ball with a piece of mozzarella in the center, and deep fried to perfection. Many places around Rome have adopted a meatless version to cater to vegetarian tourists, but the original recipe is markedly non-vegetarian.

And as usual…this one was phenomenal.

IMO, supplì is like pizza. Even if it’s bad…it’s still pretty good. But this one was perfect—piping hot, crispy on the outside, and gooey in the middle.

Honestly, it’s one of the most comforting street foods I’ve ever had on my travels, and you can only find it in Rome. Don’t expect to hit up Florence’s restaurant scene and find supplì on the menu. Nope—this one is only for the Eternal City.

🍘 Isn’t it time you tried supplì? Let Carpe Diem guide you through Trastevere—with code “MADISON20” for 20% off your booking! ↗

Stop 3: Alice Pizza

Our third stop was Alice Pizza, one of the largest pizza chains in Italy.

Alice actually started in Rome and has grown to over 200 locations across 14 regions—but it still holds onto that classic Roman street food style.

Here, we tried another iconic Roman staple: pizza al taglio, which literally means pizza by the slice.

Rome has a few different types of pizza, but this is the one you’ll see everywhere as street food—and it’s actually my personal favorite. It’s made in large rectangular trays, and when you walk in, you’ll usually see a whole counter full of different topping options.

You can pick exactly what you want, they weigh it, heat it up, and then either box it for you or fold it in half so you can eat it like a sandwich on the go.

We tried a few different slices here along with some beer—because even Italians agree that beer is the superior alcohol pairing to a piping-hot pizza.

Pizza al Taglio

At Alice, we got to try three different types of pizza al taglio, which was a really good mix of classic Roman flavors.

First up was pizza con patate, a white pizza topped with cubed potatoes and herbs. Then we had a classic margherita with tomato sauce and mozzarella, and finally a pizza crostino with prosciutto cotto, which is basically ham and mozzarella.

All three were delicious, and I feel like we got a great range of some of the most common toppings you’ll find in Rome.

I don’t usually gravitate toward pizza con patate because it’s a little too carb-heavy for me. My personal favorite was definitely the margherita. I just prefer a red pizza over a white one. That tanginess of the tomato sauce is hard to beat.

🍕Try Roman pizza in its best form on the Rome Food Tour—code “MADISON20” for 20% off your booking! ↗

Peroni

Although Italy is obviously known for its wine, there are also quite a few locally made beers. My personal favorite is Peroni.

Peroni is actually made in Rome, so you’ll see it everywhere around the city. And it just hits different with pizza.

I love wine, and I definitely drink way more of it here than beer, but when I’m eating pizza, I just need a beer with it. It’s simply better.

Carpe Diem clearly understands that, since we were served a glass of Peroni with our pizza al taglio at Alice.

Stop 4: Ristorante Spirito di Vino

Trastevere is known for its charm, and it’s honestly hard to find a restaurant more quintessentially charming than Ristorante Spirito di Vino.

It’s exactly what you picture when you think of a cozy Italian dinner—a building covered in ivy, warm lighting, and rustic decor.

When we arrived, a long table was already set up for our group with wine poured and everything ready to go for stop #4 on the Roman food tour.

🍽️ Uncover the culinary gems of Trastevere with Carpe Diem—use code “MADISON20” for 20% off your booking! ↗

Antipasto, Vino, and Rigatoni all’Amatriciana

We started with a small antipasto—fresh mozzarella with caramelized cherry tomatoes, which was the chef’s unique take on a caprese.

I’ve had a lot of mozzarella in Italy, and this was easily some of the best I’ve ever had. It was incredibly delicate, creamy, and just melted in your mouth. Our guide explained that it comes from a small farm in Maremma exclusively for the restaurant—so you can’t go out and buy it on your own.

Next, we were served rigatoni all’amatriciana, one of the four iconic Roman pastas—conveniently in my favorite noodle shape.

Amatriciana is made with guanciale (pork cheek), pecorino romano, and tomato sauce, and it is always absolutely delicious. Rich, flavorful, filling, and exactly what you want from a classic Roman pasta.

Of course, this was all paired with a glass (or two) of Sangiovese, which was the perfect match for the meal.

Ancient Wine Cellar Tour

Before we left the restaurant, we were taken downstairs into an ancient wine cellar dating all the way back to 80BC—which makes it about 160 years older than the Colosseum.

Our guide pointed out the different brick styles along the walls, which show just how old the structure is and the different layers of ancient Rome piled on top of each other.

Apparently a marble statue was discovered here when the cellar was first uncovered—an ancient sculpture of an athlete called Apoxyomenos. They now have a cardboard cutout showing exactly where it was found before it was relocated to a museum in Croatia.

It’s a quick history stop, but such a cool addition to the experience.

…although I do wish we could have uncorked some of that vino. 😂

🍷 Unlock the secrets of Roman cuisine…plus a little bit of history on the Rome Food Tour—code “MADISON20” for 20% off! ↗

Stop 5: Fior di Luna

Last but not least—you can’t finish a Rome food tour without gelato. That might be illegal in Italy. 🤔

We stopped at Fior di Luna, which is widely considered one of the most authentic gelaterias in Trastevere. I had actually been here before, so I already knew how good it was—and I was very excited to go back.

We got to choose two flavors, and I went with a mix of chocolate hazelnut and peanut. As usual, both were incredible. Creamy, refreshing, and the flavors were natural—but also decadent and rich.

I always go for a cone. I don’t know why, but it just tastes better.

It was the perfect sweet ending to an incredible afternoon spent exploring Trastevere with Carpe Diem.

How it Works

If you’re planning on adding this Rome food tour to your itinerary, here are a few things you should know before booking.

🍝 Let Carpe Diem be your pasta guru on this Rome Food Tour—code “MADISON20” for 20% off! ↗

Where to Meet

The tour meets in the heart of Trastevere at 📍Piazza Mastai, which is super easy to get to.

It’s right on Viale di Trastevere, so if you’re using public transportation, you can easily hop on a bus or tram. Otherwise, you can Uber or walk depending on where you’re staying.

Timing

There are multiple time slots available depending on your schedule, including 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, and 7:00 PM.

My friend and I booked the 5:00 PM tour, which worked out nicely since then we didn’t need to worry about dinner plans.

Just make sure to arrive about 5–10 minutes early so you don’t miss anything at the beginning!

How to Book (with my Discount!)

The best way to book is directly through the Carpe Diem Tours website.

I’d recommend booking at least a few days in advance (or even a week during high season), since this is a popular tour and spots can fill up quickly.

📆 Lock in your dates for the Rome Food Tour before it sells out—with code “MADISON20” for 20% off! ↗

Pros and Cons

To help you decide if this Rome food tour is right for you, here is my personal list of pros and cons. Cross my heart—you know I always give you my honest opinion!

Pros

• Extremely well organized—everything felt seamless from start to finish. As soon as we arrived at each stop, the food was ready and waiting for us, so there was no awkward downtime or waiting around.
• Amazing tour guide—Anna was phenomenal. You could tell she’s genuinely passionate about Roman cuisine and loved sharing her knowledge about the food and the city.
• Great food selection—I think they did a really good job choosing dishes that are both authentic and approachable, so it works well even if you’re traveling with picky eaters.
• Perfect timing—the tour didn’t feel too long or too short. It was just the right amount of time to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed or overly full.
• Very reasonably priced—for a food tour in Trastevere, especially when you factor in my discount code.
• Easy way to meet people—if you’re traveling solo, this is a great way to make friends. Our group was super chatty, and it made the whole experience even more fun.
• Covers multiple restaurants in one night—instead of committing to just one place, you get to try a variety of spots and dishes, which gives you a much better feel for Roman cuisine.
• Takes all the planning off your plate—no researching, no second-guessing restaurants, no worrying about tourist traps. You just show up and enjoy.

🍅 Explore Trastevere’s best eats with a local guide—use code “MADISON20” for 20% off! ↗

Cons

I’m always honest in my reviews, but there honestly wasn’t much I would change about this tour.

I’ve done a few experiences with Carpe Diem now—including their iconic Spritz & Spaghetti class back in December—and they’ve always been super reliable and fun.

If I had to point out a couple small things:

• You might not leave completely stuffed—compared to some other food tours I’ve done, I wasn’t quite as full by the end. Everything we tried was amazing, but adding just a couple extra bites would make it even better.
• Not suitable for all dietary restrictions—this tour wouldn’t be a great fit if you’re vegan or gluten-free. That said, they can accommodate vegetarians.

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The Verdict: Would I Recommend this Tour?

Yes—I would absolutely recommend this Rome food tour to any foodie visiting the city.

Whether it’s your first time in Rome or your 50th, whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, this is one of the best ways to get a real introduction to Roman cuisine in a short amount of time.

We tried a variety of iconic dishes, learned more about the local food culture, explored corners of Trastevere I had never seen before, and even managed to make a few new friends.

And honestly, even if you’re just in it for the supplì and some perfectly crispy pizza, it’s still 100% worth your time and money in the Eternal City.

If you want an easy, fun, and genuinely delicious way to experience Rome’s food scene without overthinking it, this is the tour I’d recommend booking.

🫒 It’s time to lock in your spot on the best Rome Food Tour—use code “MADISON20” for 20% off! ↗

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