The Best Restaurants in Trastevere for Authentic Italian Food

Last Updated on May 7, 2023 by Madison Krigbaum

There are three areas where Italy never disappoints…art, views and food. Everyone knows that Italy is responsible for some of the best food in the world. And although it’s definitely not the place to go if you’re buying into the low-carb craze, Rome has more than its fair share of delicious Italian cuisine. Sometimes the sheer amount of restaurants on every block can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t speak any Italian. That’s why I’ve put together a short guide filled with the best restaurants in Trastevere (and a few others in other neighborhoods in Rome).

Like they always say…When in Rome, EAT as the Romans do.

For some non-food related activities in Rome, check out my post The Best Itinerary for 4 Days in Rome.

Some Helpful Italian Vocab

First and foremost, it can be very challenging to order food in Italy if you don’t speak the language. The first couple times I went out to eat in Rome, I used the point and pray method of ordering. If you’d like to avoid this terrible method, here are a few crucial words to know for restaurant hopping in Italy.

Antipasti: Appetizers

Primi: First course, usually carb-filled dishes such as pasta or pizza

Secondi: Second course, usually consists of meat, fish or poultry

Insalate: Salads

Dolci: Desserts

Bufala: Buffalo mozzarella

Melanzane: Eggplant

Tonno: Tuna

Rucola: If you type this into your translator, it will come up with the term “rocket lettuce.” Rucola just means arugula.

Pomodoro: Tomato

Vino: Wine, either Bianchi (white) or Rossi (red)

Birra: Beer

Acqua: Water, they’ll ask if you want Naturale (still) or Frizzante (sparkling)

Patate: Potatoes

Pollo: Chicken

Funghi: Mushrooms

Knowing some food vocab always comes in handy when traveling, especially if you plan on eating away from the tourist destinations where restaurants might not offer an English menu.*

*I would highly suggest staying away from the crowded touristy destinations when picking a restaurant. Trust me…Rome’s best restaurants do not have menus covered in pictures and in six different languages.

For some useful Italian phrases (that don’t have to do with ordering food), head to my post The Best Itinerary for 4 Days in Rome.

The Best Restaurants in Trastevere

Dar Poeta

Dar Poeta pizzeria 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 famous food blogs, including the 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!

Ristorante La Scala in Trastevere

La Scala in Trastevere is one of my favorite spots on this list of the best restaurants in Trastevere! I actually wasn’t aware of La Scala until after study abroad when I came back to Rome on a weekend trip from Florence. A very popular restaurant in the area for Roman cuisine, La Scala has lots of outdoor seating that’s perfect for people watching over wine and yummy Italian pasta!

Although I’ve eaten at La Scala on numerous occasions, their cacio e pepe pasta has always stood out to me as one of the best dishes on the menu. When you’ve finished gorging yourself with delicious homemade pasta, head down the street to Frigidarium for some chocolate-dipped gelato!

Trattoria Da Teo

A fantastic little restaurant located on the edge of the Trastevere neighborhood, Trattoria da Teo has a lively, Italian atmosphere and some of the best classic Roman food I’ve tasted in the city. 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, it will NOT disappoint!

Grazia e Graziella

Another one of our Trastevere favorites, Grazia e Graziella is located kitty corner to Tonnarello and Ombre Rosse. Clearly you don’t need to search far to find great food in this neighborhood! When we arrived for dinner, they greeted us at the door with a glass of free, spiced wine!

Updated in Nov. 2021: Sadly, I’ve learned that Grazia and Graziella is closed permanently, assumedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prosciutteria Cantina Dei Papi

My mouth is watering just looking at pictures of sandwiches from La Prosciutteria.  A 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 meat, cheese, veggies, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and more! Make sure to wear some loose fitting pants…you might be hobbling out of there.

Tonnarello

Easily one of the best restaurants in Trastevere, we made reservations at Tonnarello for my friend’s 21st birthday (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, slightly tipsy group of *15 American college students.

*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 Venmo on your phone. It’s much easier than PayPal for transferring small sums and you need to be able to receive text messages to set it up.

For a list of more useful apps to download while traveling in Europe, click here.

Jaipur

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 the best Indian cuisine I’ve ever tasted, Jaipur is a cozy little restaurant with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere! Make sure to try the house specialty, white murgh. When you pair it with cheese naan, it really doesn’t get any better. As a bonus, they give you a free glass of Prosecco as soon as you sit down!

We ordered the white murgh (10/10 would recommend), paneer fried in chickpea batter, Jaipur naan and chickpeas in tomato sauce. We probably only needed half of that because we left stuffed to the brim.

Ombre Rosse

Ombre Rosse has tasty food and a fun atmosphere. It’s located across the street from Grazia e Grazielle and half of their seating is outside on the cobbled streets of Trastevere. They serve tons of typical Roman fare like bruschetta and cacio e pepe. It’s a great place to have a bottle of wine and some caprese and people watch with a friend or two!

Pizza Trilussa

The whole time we lived in Rome, we never strayed from our go-to drunk pizza place, Pizza Trilussa. I’m sure all my study abroad friends are tearing up thinking about all the hilarious nights we spent there, covered in pizza grease and trying out our broken Italian on the very patient staff. They’re open every night until the pizza runs out and sometimes it’s scooped up fast!  If you aren’t a believer yet, most of my friends (including myself) didn’t leave Rome without buying a Pizza Trilussa T-shirt.

Pizza Trilussa, located in Piazza Trilussa, serves traditional Roman style pizza and other street food like suppli (a fried rice ball stuffed with mozzarella and marinara) and fried bread.

Other Restaurants to Try in Rome

Rome is a huge city and some of my favorite Rome food is not located in Trastevere. Don’t miss out on all the delicious eats around the rest of Rome! Below are some of my favorites.

Mangia Napoli

During study abroad, I spent a weekend traveling around Naples with one of my roommates. As I’m sure you’ve heard, Naples is the birthplace of pizza, which makes it pretty much equivalent to heaven.

Although you may think pizza is the same all around Italy, Neapolitan pizza is much, much better! Mangia Napoli has three locations in Rome, all of which serve delicious and authentic Neapolitan pizza. When it comes to pizza, Mangia Napoli is one of the best places to find it in Rome.

E’ Passata La Moretta

Located across the Tiber in Campo di Fiori, E’ Passata La Moretta was a recommendation from our Airbnb host. The interior of the restaurant is very plain, but the staff is friendly and the food is to-die-for. They’ll add truffle to any pasta dish on the handwritten menu, all you have to do is ask. The restaurant also has an outdoor patio where many locals hang out to have a few glasses of wine at night!

Panepiú

My favorite grab-and-go panini shop in Rome. Panepiú is located in Piazza dei Calcarari, a quick five min walk from Piazza Venezia and across the street from where Julius Caesar was stabbed! Quick, cheap and delicious, it’s a great option for the Roman tourist on-the-go.

Open Baladin

Being raised in Wisconsin, one of the first things I did in Rome was sample the local beer. I know what you’re thinking, why would anyone be drinking beer in the wine capital of the world? Don’t worry, I drank PLENTY of wine, but sometimes a girl just needs a frosty IPA alongside her carbonara. If you need a break from pasta and pizza, Open Baladin has a huge selection of the best local brews in Rome and a tasty array of bar food!

Kuriya Sushi

Sometimes a girl just needs to stuff herself full of all-you-can-eat sushi. If that’s how you’re feeling, Kuriya is the place for you. €16 per person gives you unlimited access to an enormous menu full of amazing sushi, dumplings and more!

Like a lot of restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat sushi, Kuriya will charge you for any leftovers on your plate. That’s just more incentive to eat sushi to your heart’s content…and maybe bring a secret Tupperware or two. (Shhh, you didn’t hear it from me).

The Best Restaurants in Trastevere – Gelato Edition

Frigidarium

If you’re seeking out the best restaurants in Trastevere…don’t forget to also seek out the best gelato in Trastevere!

Frigidarium won our, very prestigious, award of #1 Gelato in Rome. We spent four months eating gelato every week (let’s be honest, every day) and we were unable to find anywhere with better gelato than Frigidarium. They’ll even dip your cone in chocolate or vanilla shell!  You’ll regret leaving Rome without trying a scoop (or six) of their delicious flavors.

Gelateria Del Viale

A close second to Frigidarium, Gelateria del Viale is on top of their gelato game. With a dozen or so tasty Italian flavors to choose from, it definitely earns its place on the list of best restaurants in Trastevere. Make sure to try a scoop from both if you’re ever in Rome. In the same night? No judgement here.

Della Palma

While you’re hitting all the gelaterias in Rome, might as well stop by Della Palma. The sheer amount of flavors will overwhelm you, but, once you choose from the rows and rows of delicious options, it’s all worth it. This cute gelateria doubles as a candy shop!

Since my university was located in Trastevere, most of the restaurants and bars I am familiar with are in that area. However, Rome is a huge city and there are many neighborhoods, streets and restaurants left to explore. Hopefully my guide will you help you find the best restaurants in Rome and experience many life-changing Italian meals!

If you enjoyed my list of the best restaurants in Trastevere, make sure to check out my related guides…

As always, thanks for reading and don’t forget to follow my adventures on Instagram @madisonsfootsteps!

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