Rome is a feast for the senses, with traditional restaurants and modern bars. Book a Rome hotel and discover the city’s gastronomic delights with this tour of the top 10 food and drink things to do in Rome.The Campo dei Fiori market isn’t just photogenic – locals shop here for the variety and freshness of the produce on offer and the decorative way it’s displayed. Taste the syrupy sweetness of a ripe summer peach, or choose from pyramids of oranges in winter, and join in the bustle and chat of an authentic Roman market.
When in Rome, breakfast like the locals at Caffè Sant’Eustachio near Piazza Navona, celebrated for its coffee since 1938. Prop yourself up at the bar, order a sugar-frosted pastry and marvel at the creamy layer of crema that’s the mark of a superior brew.
Piazza Sant’Eustachio 82
Dipping a spoon into a cup of San Crispino’s fizzy lemon sorbet or creamy ginger and cinnamon gelato is a summertime top 10 food and drink thing to do in Rome. The popular gelateria is on a cobbled backstreet, just a couple of licks from the Trevi Fountain.
Via della Panetteria 42
Surrounded by the daily hubbub of Trastevere, and dating back to 1630, La Cisterna is one of the oldest restaurants in Rome. Visit the ancient well in the cellar before dining on Roman specialties like grilled fish, veal saltimbocca and spaghetti all’amatriciana.
Via della Cisterna 13
After you’ve climbed the Spanish Steps or shopped in Via Condotti’s boutiques, relax with a glass of wine at Enoteca Antica. There’s standing room only at the long wooden bar, and tiny tables at the rear of this atmospherically lit, wooden-beamed, bottle-lined wine bar.
Via della Croce 76
The modern flavours of Italy are served at this elegant restaurant, south of the station near a clutch of city-centre Rome hotels. From appetisers to refreshing between-course watermelon sorbet, Agata gives an imaginative twist to five-ways cod, risotto with saffron, pecorino flan and millefeuille pastries, while Romeo presides over the extensive wine cellar.
Via Carlo Alberto 45
Rome’s two mozzarella bars offer a refreshing alternative to brunch, a light lunch or grazing accompaniment to wine. Crisp, modern and minimalist with shiny metal and glass, Obikà serves the creamy white cheese in tasting plates, salads or accompanied by prosciutto or smoked salmon.
If you feel your energy flagging while exploring Rome’s historic city centre, recharge your batteries at Baffetto pizzeria. The wooden tables are always busy at this simple tile-lined restaurant, where thin-crust pizzas are served hot from the wood-fired oven.
Via del Governo Vecchio 114
Opera di Roma hosts its summer season of concerts at the atmospheric Baths of Caracalla. Pack a picnic and watch Tosca or A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the dramatically lit ruins of this luxury spa resort from ancient Rome.
Chandeliers, live jazz and house cocktails fuel the mix at Salotto 42, near the Pantheon. Settle into a comfortable armchair, choose a glossy art book from the book-lined walls and toast your Roman holiday with a sake-based cocktail.
Piazza di Pietra 42
