When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, That's Amore! And when that same moon hits your eye like a large bowl of spaghetti all'amatriciana you are in Roma!

I have been living between Rome and Istanbul since March 2023. While I considered Istanbul to be my favorite city, that ranking started changing as I started spending more and more time in Rome. The beauty and essence of this city comes from its rich history, its culture, its relaxed attitude but most importantly, its food.  Rome is the largest city in Italy as well as its beloved capital, but you know what else it is? A city packed with la dolce far niente attitude. So in this Rome city guide you will find my favorite places to do nothing — and by nothing I mean eat, drink and relax. 

Before I get into the nitty gritty, there are two important points I would like to make. First of all, spaghetti all'amatriciana is a must-have in Rome. The sauce consists of tomatoes, guanciale, pecorino romano cheese, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil and dry white wine. It is a speciality in the city so you really cannot go wrong. Secondly, my favorite place in Rome is Ciampini. It is perfect for any time of day.Trust me when I say I would add it to each and every category in the list below, but for the sake of space, I will not.  I love sitting there any time of the day. But be careful! There are two locations; one is Ciampini Bistrot on a street, the other is Ciampini on the city square. I prefer to the one on the square but you can definitely grab a bite at the Bistrot if you get hungry — I personally like their daily pasta dishes.

But enough of that, let's continue with our list. 

Breakfast & Breakfast Bites

• La Buvette: I really like all their sandwiches. You cannot go wrong. 
• Ginger: This place is good for smoothies and bowls. Definitely not the most Italian-centered place you will find in Rome, but there are still Italian dish options.
• Roscioli Caffe Pasticceria: this place is great for your pastry, panini and coffee needs. 
• Marigold: If you are craving an American-ish breakfast, this place is the spot. Delicious and filling. 
• Regoli Pasticceria: their creamy and wonderful maritozzi con la panna is to die for. And that's all I will say about that. 

Lunch 

• Osteria da Fortunata: they don’t take reservations, it's always crowded and it is touristy but you know what, it is great. 
• Dal Bolognese: One of the chicest restaurants in Rome. I think it's delicious and it's a great place to stylish-people-watch. But remember you need a reservation! 
• Trattoria Da Enzo al 29: Similar to Osteria da Fortunata, it is always crowded and they do not take reservations, so you should go early. 
• La Rinascente Food Hall: you can usually grab a seat after a short wait. It is a great place to grab a bite at a pleasant rooftop after shopping at Rinascente. 
• Trattoria da Teo: This shabby and enjoyable spot on the Trastevere-side is a pleasant option. You need a reservation! 

Dinner 

• Osteria delle Coppelle: This local restaurant has a pleasant outdoor seating option. You need a reservation! 
• Hosteria Da Pietro: this is my absolute favorite restaurant in Rome. It has traditional dishes and decorations. I suggest you order all the “daily antipasti”; suppli, fior di zuccha, prosciutto, mozzarella di bufala… They are all amazing. Some other favorites are   amatriciana, cacio e pepe and carbonara. This is a personal preference but I think these types go very well with Mezze Maniche… I am not a huge fan of lemon-based desserts but Torta della Nonna is a popular tart. 
• Taverna Trilussa: This is my favorite dinner spot in Trastevere. It has a warm environment and feels like a home. The food is delicious. I will always prefer outdoor seating over inside here. Reservation required. 
•  Ristorante Dal Toscano: this restaurant is great for meat dishes. It is a family-restaurant, but if I am staying in Rome for a long time, I will pay them a visit. 
• Roscioli Salumeira: It's hard to get a reservation at this restaurant but its extremely delightful aura and relaxed atmosphere makes up for it all! It is also a perfect date spot. 

Gelato

• Ciampini: As I mentioned above, I love Ciampini. In the gelato department, I enjoy their hazelnut and dark chocolate flavors. And an espresso on the side. cı! 
• Venchi: This is a touristic spot but they have delicious ice cream. And the best part? They have it at the airport. 

Snacks and Coffee

• Sant’Eustachio Caffe:  You can ask for “un caffe” as you stand and people watch. It's an old coffee spot and it is quite delicious. 
• Bulgari Hotel: This hotel cafe is both centrally located and is a nice place for a coffee and a snack. 

Aperitivo & Drinks

• Sorpasso: You must sit indoors. It is a lovely date spot. When I went there for a date, we sat at the bar, ordered white wine and a cheese-charcuterie board. I felt like I was in a movie because it was so local. You have to go early so it's not crowded. But you won’t get the same effect in their outdoor seating area, so I suggest you do indoors or don't go… 
• Salotto 42: Very central and very well known. It has great snacks and is a spot to go either before or after dinner. 
• Adele Mixology Lounge at Hotel Splendide Royal: I think this is the best place to see Rome with a panoramic view. It's safer to make a reservation. It's not extremely chic, but still has a touch of it. 
• Cielo Terrace at Hotel de la Ville: This is my favorite rooftop in Rome. It is very friendly and warm with a lovely view. There are sometimes live music performances or DJs. I am not the biggest fan of cocktails, but from what I hear and understand, their cocktails are good. 
• Stravinskij Bar at Hotel de Russie: This is a very chic option and the hotel itself is beautiful. It has this amazing courtyard that makes you feel like you are in a movie. 
• Zuma Rooftop: When they open the rooftop for the summer, you get to listen to nice tunes while enjoying a nice atmosphere. It's cute and worth a visit. 

So basically, if you want to do Rome like I do Rome, grab your loved one, grab your purse and spend a whole day eating, drinking and city/people-watching. Nothing can beat the satisfaction of having a belly full of deliciousness; it makes you feel calmer and happier. But we don’t need to tell you that. Dean Martin can… because “when the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine, that's amore…” And to amore we drink. 

Salute! 

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