22 Best Restaurants in Trastevere & Centro Storico Rome 2024

Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Madison Krigbaum

Trastevere never disappoints, especially when it comes to delicious, rich, authentic, and ridiculously tasty Italian food. Although there are amazing restaurants on every corner, sometimes the sheer amount of trattorias, ristorantes, and osterias can be overwhelming (especially for first-time Rome travelers). During my six months living and studying in Rome, I made it my mission to try the best restaurants in Trastevere, photograph them, and rank my favorites. 

I did it for you! I know – you’re welcome 😜. 

Get lost in the sensory overload that is Rome’s foodie scene. Enjoy every sip of Chianti, every savory bite of creamy carbonara, and every lick of gelato. Sure – Rome is the eternal city. There are museums, ruins, centuries-old artifacts, history, and priceless works of art, but let’s be honest about why we really booked that flight…the FOOD.

Stop spending too much at overpriced restaurants with views of the Trevi Fountain. Stop wandering into the first restaurant you see when your stomach starts growling. Instead, follow my guide because, like they always say, when in Rome, EAT as the Romans do. 

Keep reading for the best restaurants in Trastevere (or Trastevere ristoranti if you want to be authentic about it) and the nearby Centro Storico neighborhood in Rome!

The Top 5 Restaurants in Rome Ranked

* My favorite gelato in Rome is Frigidarium and the best panino in Rome is All’antico Vinaio (both are located outside of Trastevere).

Map of Trastevere Restaurants

Helpful Italian Vocab for Restaurants

First and foremost, it can be a bit challenging to order food in Italy if you don’t speak the language. If you want to get out of the tourist areas and experience authentic Italian food at its finest, you might not always find an English menu. Before hitting the best restaurants in Trastevere on your next trip to Rome, read through my helpful list of Italian restaurant vocab to make sure you’re excited about each and every dish that lands in front of you. 

• Antipasti: appetizers
• Primi: first courses (usually consisting of carb-filled dishes like pasta or pizza)
• Secondi: second courses (usually consisting of meat, fish, or poultry)
• Insalate: salads
• Dolci: desserts
• Bufala: buffalo mozzarella
• Melanzana: eggplant
• Tonno: tuna
• Rucola: arugula (even though typing “rucola” into a translator will come up with “rocket”)
• Pomodoro: tomato
• Vino: wine – either bianco (white) or rosso (red)
• Birra: beer
• Acqua: water – most places will ask if you want naturale (still) or frizzante (sparkling)
• Patate: potatoes
• Pollo: chicken
• Funghi: mushrooms

The 13 Best Restaurants in Trastevere Rome

If you’re on the lookout for the best Trastevere restaurants, I have good news for you – you’re in the right place. My top 10 restaurants in Trastevere Rome (well, actually top 13) are some of the tastiest, most authentic, and, as a bonus, most affordable places to eat in Rome! 

So don’t fill up on pane (bread), because you’re going to want to savor every bite at the best restaurants in Trastevere. 

1. Pizzeria Dar Poeta

Pizzeria Dar Poeta is a must-visit for any trip to Rome and is one of my personal favorite Trastevere restaurants. Their pizza is known all over the world and has earned shout-outs on tons of famous food blogs, including the well-known American blog, @new_fork_city. No visit to Rome is complete without a “personal” pizza from Dar Poeta.

Remember kids, any pizza is a personal pizza if you believe!

As a bonus, Dar Poeta is also one of the best cheap restaurants in Trastevere. On my last visit, I ordered a sausage and mushroom pizza and a glass of yummy vino bianco for only $16. 

2. Ristorante La Scala in Trastevere

Ristorante La Scala is definitely one of the best places to eat in Trastevere. Located in the heart of Rome’s trendiest neighborhood, this locally-loved haunt has plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, so it’s a great Rome Trastevere restaurant to frequent during any time of the year.

I actually wasn’t aware of La Scala until after my semester abroad, when I took a break from photographing the most Instagrammable spots in Florence to visit Rome on a weekend trip. A friend mentioned that it was one of her top recommended restaurants in Rome, so I knew I had to stop by for a visit. 

I’ve eaten at La Scala on numerous occasions, but their cacio e pepe pasta has always stood out to me as one of the best dishes on the menu. Last time, I ordered the version with cherry tomatoes and zucchini flowers which was *chef’s kiss* divine. La Scala also happens to be one of the best restaurants in Trastevere with outdoor seating.

3. Casetta di Trastevere

I first visited Casetta di Trastevere in October of 2023 during the month I spent learning Italian at Scuola Leonardo da Vinci in Rome (right after spending two months traveling around Lisbon). 

My new classmates-turned-friends and I beelined here after class one day after we heard they were offering a free Aperol Spitz to anyone who followed them on Instagram. Let’s just say – restaurant followed and spritz acquired 👏🏼.

Free spritz aside, Casetta di Trastevere is one of the best restaurants in Rome Trastevere – especially if you’re on a budget. They offer tons of Italian favorites like carbonara, pizza, gnocchi, stuffed zucchini flowers, and more for a much lower price than most of the best restaurants in Trastevere. As a bonus, they’re right around the corner from our favorite local bar – Bar San Calisto. 

4. Trattoria Da Teo – Best Dinner in Trastevere ⭐️ 

If you’re wondering where to eat in Trastevere Rome, look no further than Trattoria da Teo. 

A fantastic little restaurant located on the edge of the Trastevere neighborhood, Trattoria da Teo has a lively atmosphere and some of the best food in Trastevere, if not all of Rome. I have two tips for you if you plan to visit: the first is to make a reservation and the second is to order the carbonara because it will not disappoint. 

I don’t say this lightly, but I actually am awarding Trattoria da Teo the prestigious title of the best restaurant in Trastevere! Don’t forget to call ahead to make a reservation before you visit, it’s well-known as one of the places where the locals eat in Trastevere, so walk-ins are nearly impossible. 

5. Prosciutteria Cantina Dei Papi

My mouth is watering just looking at pictures of sandwiches from Proscuitteria Cantina dei Papi. Located only a short, five-minute walk away from John Cabot’s campus where I spent my semester abroad, this little panino shop makes one hell of a sandwich.

Thick, buttery bread is filled with porchetta, cheese, veggies, olive oil, fresh mozzarella, and more to create a melt-in-your-mouth work of art. If you plan to visit La Proscuitteria during your tour of the best restaurants in Trastevere, make sure to wear some loose-fitting pants…you might be hobbling out of there.

6. Tonnarello

Easily one of the best restaurants in Trastevere, we had dinner at Tonnarello for my friend’s 21st birthday in 2017 (which is not relevant at all in Europe, but we still felt the need to celebrate). The food was fantastic, as was the wine, and they did not seem fazed at all by our obnoxious, more than slightly tipsy group of 15 American students*.

When I studied abroad, Tonnarello was a chill and lovely restaurant that was locally loved, not too crazy, and regarded as having some of the best pasta in Trastevere Rome by a landslide. I have no reason to believe that the food is any less delicious than it was when I last visited in 2019. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, someone somewhere made some TikTok (I assume) and the restaurant’s popularity blew up overnight. I tried to visit again in 2023, and the line was wrapped from the Santa Maria Basilica all the way around the block.

Since the restaurant doesn’t take reservations, it might be one to skip if you only have a few days to spend in Rome. However, if you’re dead-set on trying it, I would recommend going for lunch and getting there right when they open. 

*If you haven’t spent much time in Europe, you might not know how much European waiters and waitresses absolutely loathe splitting checks. If you ask for separate checks, there’s a high probability your response will be an annoyed “yes” or a flat-out refusal. Before you leave home, make sure to download and set up two of the handiest apps for European travel – Venmo and Splitwise. With these two apps at your disposal, you’ll never have to worry about splitting a check via drunk math again. It’s best to set them up before you leave home, since they sometimes require a text code to enroll. 

7. Vecchia Trastevere

I stumbled upon Vecchia Trastevere after a quick internet search assured me that it was one of the tastiest and most affordable restaurants in Trastevere. The internet was not wrong – so I’m including it on this list.

Literally translating to “Old Trastevere,” it’s no surprise that this little restaurant serves plenty of delicious and authentic Roman cuisine. I went for my typical order – carbonara, which is probably obvious by the number of carbonara photos in this Italy blog post. However, Vecchia Trastevere serves its carbonara with a tasty twist – with pistachio and burrata. I didn’t know it was possible for carbonara to get even better, I’m happy to say I was wrong. 

8. Trattoria Sora Cencia

On a tipsy evening in Roma after my Italian class, my friends and I stumbled upon Trattoria Sora Cencia before heading to our favorite of the bars in Trastevere, Bar San Calisto. We knew nothing about it other than the menu was reasonably priced, so we sat down on their covered, outdoor patio for some yummy wine and good eats.

Trattoria Sora Cencia had friendly staff, a cozy atmosphere, and some seriously tasty carbona – which you know by now is a must for me. I would definitely recommend this neighborly trattoria as one of the best restaurants in Trastevere for your next Rome trip. 

9. Jaipur Ristorante Indiano

I didn’t discover Jaipur until I moved back to Italy for a job with Bus2alps in Florence. Although most people don’t go to Italy to eat Indian food…after a while, Italian food can get a little carb-heavy. One of my new coworkers in Florence swore that Jaipur was one of the best restaurants in Trastevere and, on a weekend trip back to Rome, I decided to try it out.

Along with some of the best Indian cuisine I’ve ever tasted, Jaipur is a cozy little restaurant on Viale di Trastevere (across the street from Via Roma Libera) with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Make sure to try the house specialty, white murgh. When you pair it with garlic naan, basmati rice, and a tasty brut prosecco – it really doesn’t get any better.

We ordered the white murgh (10/10 would recommend), the vegetarian appetizer tray, garlic naan, and chickpeas in tomato sauce. In hindsight, we probably only needed half of that because we left stuffed to the brim.

10. Ombre Rosse

Ombre Rosse has earned its spot on my list of the best restaurants in Trastevere due to its tasty food and fun atmosphere! This little Gastropub has half its seating indoors and half outdoors on the cobbled, charming Trastevere streets. 

They serve tons of typical Roman fare like bruschetta, pinsa Romana, and cacio e pepe. It’s a great spot to have a bottle of wine, munch on some caprese, and people-watch with a friend or two. 

11. Trapizzino Triluussa

Get ready for one of the best restaurants in Trastevere for lunch, and one of the trendiest spots to boot – Trapizzino Trilussa! 

Trapizzino pays homage to two of Rome’s best street foods: trapizzini and supplì. Trapizzini are basically large pizza pockets stuffed with various fillings like chicken, meatballs, and cream (for only €5 each). Supplì is probably my personal favorite thing to come out of Rome. If you’ve never tried them, they’re deep-fried balls made of rice soaked in marinara and wrapped around melty mozzarella. They’re pretty much life-changing. 

This little Italian street food joint has both a takeaway (or “porta via” in Italian) window and a sit-down restaurant inside. If you’ve filled up your Rome itinerary to the brim and are looking for a quick, cheap bite in Trastevere – Trapizzino is the restaurant for you. 

They also have a location in Mercato Centrale Firenze – one of the best spots to try Tuscan cuisine in Florence! 

12. Pizza Trilussa

Directly next door to the iconic Trapizzino Trilussa, you’ll find the iconic Pizza Trilussa. Spoiler alert: if you’re looking for drunk food in Rome – this is it, my friend. 

Pizza Trilussa serves traditional, affordable, and delicious Roman style pizza (a.k.a. pizza al taglio) and other Roman street food, like suppli.

The whole time I lived in Rome, I never strayed from my go-to drunk pizza place, Pizza Trilussa. I’m sure all of my study abroad friends are tearing up thinking about all the hilarious nights we spent there, drunk, covered in pizza grease, and trying out our broken Italian on the very patient staff. Pizza Trilussa is open every night until the pizza runs out, but since it’s some of the best pizza in Trastevere, it’s usually scooped up fast! 

If I haven’t sold you on it yet, most of my friends (including myself) didn’t leave Rome without investing in a Pizza Trilussa t-shirt. It was our study abroad gift to ourselves! One of many actually…

13. Enoteca Ferrara for Suppli

Let’s talk suppli. 

Rome has tons of delicious suppli. You’ll find them on the antipasti menu in just about every restaurant in Rome. To be fair, suppli is kind of like sex. Even when it’s bad it’s still pretty good. That being said – there are still restaurants in Trastevere that serve better suppli than others. 

Enoteca Ferrara is one of those places. 

We stumbled here late one night, in search of a bottle of wine and a snack. The bottle of wine = delicious. The snack? Suppli of course. 

Now I’ll be honest, Enoteca Ferrara is not cheap. In fact, it’s probably the most expensive spot on this list of the best restaurants in Trastevere. However, when it comes to their suppli at least, it’s worth the splurge. Fluffy rice is coated in perfectly spiced meaty marina sauce, filled with fresh and melty mozzarella, and deep-fried in crispy, salty bread crumbs. Absolute perfection. 

Vegetarians be warned: this suppli is not for you. 

I’ve never actually ordered anything from Enoteca Ferrara other than wine and suppli. But if the rest of their menu is as good as the suppli, then it has definitely earned its spot on the list of Trastevere best restaurants. 

The Best Restaurants in Centro Storico Rome

Although Trastevere is hands-down my favorite neighborhood, there is a lot more to Rome than just Trastevere. In October of 2023, I moved to Rome for a month to take an Italian language course in Centro Storico. Since my course finished at 6:45 each day and my apartment was far away in Esquillo, I got very familiar with the best restaurants in Centro Storico. 

This historic and beautiful neighborhood includes Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and more famous spots in Rome. It’s also only a short, 15-minute walk across the Ponte Sisto from Trastevere, so there’s no reason not to visit. If you’ve exhausted the best restaurants in Trastevere, keep reading for some of the best restaurants in Rome Italy! 

14. Papa’s Cafe

Looking for a cheap, but delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere? Stop by Papa’s Cafe across the Tiber from Castel Sant’Angelo for a heaping plate of creamy carbonara or cheesy gnocchi. 

This spot is cozy, low-key, and incredibly budget-friendly without compromising quality of any kind. Stop by for fresh salads, hearty pasta, delicious pinsa Romana (a healthier version of traditional pizza), and smooth Italian wines. Since the restaurant hours are 7:00AM – 12:30AM, they also serve some seriously delicious coffee.

15. All’antico Vinaio

I love visiting Italy in the fall. Especially hiking and boating destinations, like Lake Como, are perfect in October. One of my favorite things to do on a beautiful fall day in Italy is grab a panino, and wander around the historic neighborhoods. 

If you’re thinking “Yeah, that sounds like a solid plan,” then trust me when I say, the place to buy that panino is All’antico Vinaio Rome. 

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking, “Seriously? That place is so overrated. I might well go to Spontini in Milan.” (Which I also love tbh.) Trust me when I say that the only people who think All’antico Vinaio is overrated, are the ones that haven’t been there. 

Am I urging you to spend four hours in line for a sandwich? Absolutely not. But, if you go at the right time, you’ll wait less than 20 minutes and have the chance to enjoy one of the best panini in Trastevere. (Panino is singular, panini is plural in Italian.)

This beauty that I’m holding up below is the Tartufo 2 (Truffle 2) with truffle prosciutto, pecorino cream, and spicy eggplant. It was a work of art and I enjoyed every single bite – especially for the €10 price tag. 

16. E’ Passata La Moretta

Located across the Tiber from Trastevere in Campo de’ Fiori, E’ Passata La Moretta was a delicious recommendation from a Roman Airbnb host I stayed with circa 2019. 

The interior of the restaurant is very plain, but the staff was incredibly friendly and the food was to die for. They’ll add truffle to any pasta dish on the handwritten menu, all you have to do is ask. In fact, I’m officially awarding them the designation of best truffle menu in Rome! E’ Passata La Moretta also has an outdoor patio where the locals hang out to have a few glasses of wine and smoke some cigarettes on beautiful Italian nights. 

My iPhone 7 photography didn’t make the cut, but you can find plenty of E Passata La Moretta photos on the Google listing.

€€ | Italian Fare, Romana | Mid-Level Dining | Address: Vicolo della Moretta, 6

17. Ristorante La Campana

Ristorante La Campana, near Piazza Navona, claims to be Rome’s oldest restaurant. Records can place this traditional Roman dining establishment to its location on Viccola della Campana all the way back to 1518, which is no small feat. Legend has it that the famous Italian painter Caravaggio used to dine here in the 16th century!

Obviously, I had to try Rome’s oldest restaurant on my most recent trip to the eternal city. 

On my last night before flying back to North America, my friends and I made a reservation for seven at Ristorante La Campana – and we were not disappointed. It was exciting dining in history! The interior of the restaurant was very upscale, with a large salad bar, mood lighting, and professionally dressed waitstaff. Our appetizers, wine, and main courses were all delicious and very reasonably priced considering they had been paying rent on that space for 500 years. 

Don’t forget to channel your inner Amalfi Coast traveler and end the meal with a frosty limoncello! 

18. Panepiú Bistrot

Before I discovered the magic of All’antico Vinaio, Panepiú Bistrot was my favorite grab-and-go panino shop in Rome. Even with the added competition, I still find it very delicious.

Panepiú is located in Piazza dei Calcarari, a quick 10-minute walk from Piazza Venezia and just across the street from where Julius Caesar was stabbed. These panini are quick, cheap, and delicious, so it’s a great option for the Roman tourist on the go.

€ | Panini, Fast Food | Casual-Dining | Address: Via Florida, 21

The Best Gelato in Trastevere and Centro Storico

No foodie tour of Trastevere is complete without hitting the best gelaterias in Trastevere and Centro Storico. These two neighborhoods are known for their charming streets lined with colorful buildings, ancient ruins, and of course, amazing restaurants and gelaterias.

Whether you prefer cones heaped in Nutella gelato, light and fruity flavors like lemon, or traditional options like pistachio and stracciatella, these are the best places to get gelato in Trastevere and beyond.

19. La Gelateria Frigidarium

Frigidarium won our very prestigious award of #1 Gelato in Rome. During study abroad, we spent five months eating gelato every week (let’s be honest, every day) and we were unable to find any shop selling tastier gelato than Frigidarium. They’ll even dip your cone in melted milk or white chocolate on your way out the door.

Trust me – you’ll regret leaving Rome without trying a scoop (or six) of Frigidarium’s delicious flavors!

20. Fior di Luna

Fior di Luna (or Fiordiluna? Honestly, I can’t tell) has my vote for the best gelato in Trastevere. This tiny shop on Via della Lungaretta sells tons of delicious flavors like chocolate, strawberry, tiramisù, and, my personal favorite, arachidi (peanut). 

For 25 years, Fior di Luna has been preparing their gelato with only two ingredients. They are the first artisanal gelato shop in Italy and the quality shows through their simple ingredients and traditional formulas. Make sure a visit to Fior di Luna makes it on your foodie tour of Rome! 

21. Gelateria Del Viale

Gelateria del Viale in Trastevere is definitely on top of their gelato game. With a dozen or so tasty Italian flavors to choose from, this little gelateria definitely earns its place on the list of best restaurants in Trastevere. Make sure to try a scoop on your next trip to Rome – trust me, you won’t regret it. 

€ | Gelateria | Casual-Dining | Address: Piazza Giuseppe Gioachino Belli, 9F

22. Gelateria Della Palma

While you’re hitting all the gelaterias in Rome, might as well stop by Gelateria Della Palma near the Pantheon. The sheer amount of flavors will overwhelm you (over 150 to be exact), but, once you choose from the rows and rows of delicious options, it’s all worth it. This cute gelateria is also a candy shop, a bar, and a bakery! 

Most of the time, I would steer clear of a gelateria serving this many flavors because, typically, it means they were not made on-site. The gelato from Gelateria Della Palma is 100% homemade and they offer soy, milk-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free options for travelers with complicated diets. As a bonus, it’s right around the corner from All’antico Vinaio, so stop by for a sweet treat after enjoying the best panino of your life.

The Best Rome Food Tours

If you have a real passion for Roman food, then maybe you need to look beyond the best restaurants in Trastevere. Some of my favorite activities on my travels around the world have been food-related. I love booking cooking classes and learning the ins and outs of the culinary scene in cities around the world (like the amazing private cooking class I took in Hanoi). 

Food tours are another great way to immerse yourself in the culture of a new city. I just went on a Tapas Tour in Seville and loved every second of it! If you’re a foodie at heart like me, you may enjoy booking one of the top-rated tours below for your Roman vacation.

Final Thoughts ON THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN TRASTEVERE

Trastevere and Centro Storico are both fantastic neighborhoods in Rome for experiencing authentic Italian cuisine, with plenty of options for all budgets and tastes. From traditional trattorias to modern wine bars, plenty of the best places to eat in Rome are located in these two historic neighborhoods.

Not to mention, Trastevere and Centro Storico are home to some of the best sights in Rome! You might be enjoying your gelato, turn the corner, and be surprised with a stunning view of the Pantheon. In Rome, the possibilities are endless.

Buon appetito!

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If you enjoyed my list of the best restaurants in Trastevere, make sure to check out my related guides linked below. As always, thanks for reading, and don’t forget to follow my adventures on Instagram @madisonsfootsteps.

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