The ultimate Rome travel guide: Top Italian restaurants & attractions

The Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine. Photo by Justine Camacho on Unsplash

To write a travel guide about Rome without mentioning the Colosseum would be an unforgivable sin. It is the largest structure left to us by the Roman Empire and the symbol of the country since 80 AD. Even to this day, this marvelous architectural wonder is used as a model for modern sports arenas like football field designs. Vespasian built the Colosseum, which took a total construction time of 8 years to complete, with his son Titus enlarging and adding an additional fourth story. The amphitheater hosted nearly 50,000 spectators who would come to witness performances, festivals, gladiator matches, games, and circuses.

Besides the massive building stands the Arch of Constantine – a triumphal monument erected by the Senate to honor the victory of the Emperor over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. If you are visiting Rome in summer, we have an insider tip. Just book a special night tour of the Colosseum, as the stadium looks magical bathed in golden light, and the weather is much cooler, as well as the crowds are less annoying.

After building an appetite by walking inside the Colosseum, head over to Cuoco & Camicia for an amazing gastronomic experience. Set up by a passionate husband and wife duo, Riccardo and Elisa, it is a small and welcoming bistro-style restaurant where you can get a taste of real Italian cooking. The chef, along with a few of his core team members, starts early and moves between farms, fish markets, and suppliers to procure the best ingredients of the day. For this reason, patrons will always find lively and non-static food that varies based on the seasons and the morning shopping routine.

Diners can choose between an à la carte offering and three different tasting menus. Some of the unique and flavorful dishes you will savor here are shrimp ceviche, grilled chicken skewers with pineapple, ravioli filled with pesto tossed in spring vegetables, and Iberian pork with radicchio in harissa sauce. In desserts, enjoy the sweet touch of black forest chocolate cake with cherries and custard tart with meringue.

Chef’s menu – €64
Mare menu – €58
Contadino menu – €68

The Vatican. Photo by Rick Govic on Unsplash

Our next stop along the Roman tour takes us to the Vatican (another insanely popular yet unmissable destination) – the smallest sovereign state in the world with an area of only half a square kilometer enclosed by walls. Though petite in size, the space is still one of the most influential religious and cultural powerhouses. The grounds are dotted with palaces, gardens, museums, and churches.

The heart of the city is St. Peter's Square – a grand galleria that creates a magnificent approach to St. Peter's Basilica. It was designed by Bernini in the 17th century and is lined by semicircular colonnades which engulf the visitors in an embrace. You can also find Michelangelo’s heart-wrenching sculptured masterpiece, Pietà along with altars by Bernini inside the basilica. The Vatican Museum contains some of the greatest artworks in the world, but it is also the most crowded tourist spot in Rome. So we advise our readers to join an early morning group before opening hours, so they can admire the Sistine Chapel with ease.

While Italy is famous for its pizza all over the world, its freshest sandwiches should be highlighted as well. After exiting the Vatican, quickly try to grab a table at Bono Bottega Nostrana San Pietro located near the Spanish square. The lively trattoria specializes in chunky and crusty subs made using house-baked bread and high-quality cured meats and cheese. The decor is simple and accommodating, with dark wooden furniture, brick-lined walls, white tiled floors, and subtle diffused lighting – unassuming but homely.

Start your meal by ordering a glass of amber Aperol spritz and pairing it with a platter of aged meats and DOC cheeses from different regions of the country. Move on to their signature wholesome sandwiches filled with parma ham with sun-dried tomatoes in pesto, mortadella with Brie in mustard sauce, creamy mozzarella baguette with broccoli chutney, Milanese salami with artichokes, and spicy roast turkey with grilled peppers. Do not miss out on their drinks selections consisting of premium local wines and fantastic classic cocktails.

Average bill – €24

Castel Sant'Angelo. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/OsteriaLuciInCucina?locale=it_IT

Do not be fooled by the name, Castel Sant'Angelo was built as a mausoleum for King Hadrian and his family in 135 AD. Throughout its existence, the massive dome-shaped structure overlooking the Tiber River has served many purposes, including being a tomb, papal residence, fortress, and now a museum. It was in 271 AD, when Emperor Aurelian took advantage of the castle's position and incorporated a new system of walls making it a bastion. This helped protect the city from barbarian attacks, and by the Middle Ages, Sant'Angelo became a substantial stronghold.

Today, visitors can explore the museum by ascending to its five floors on a spiral ramp. At various levels, you get to browse ancient prison cells, a large collection of art, weapons, and archeological finds, and brilliantly decorated halls full of Renaissance frescoes.

Fun fact – there is a secret elevated corridor called Passetto di Borgo which was used by popes, in times of peril, to flee to safety and store their most precious riches in the castle’s treasury.

Situated just a stone's throw away from Castel Sant'Angelo, Osteria Luci in Cucina is adored by locals for its picturesque view of the River Tiber. It is a great place to sample traditional Roman home-cooked cuisine with a diverse selection of meat-based dishes. The ingredients are all procured and hand-picked from regional organic suppliers like the famous Feroci butcher shop. The restaurant has been acknowledged and promoted by Roberto Ferola – former athletic trainer of players Zeman and Lazio, and Carlo Losardo – the owner of O'Pazzariello.

Sit back and indulge in generously portioned delicacies, including classic rigatoni carbonara, fried cod meatballs with Cantabrian anchovies, fettuccine with oxtail in white ragù, grilled tomahawks with rocket leaves salad, sliced beef filet with charred green peppers, and smoked beef carpaccio with baked potatoes. Skipping their dessert items will be an audacious crime against culinary arts. So go ahead and order cannolo scomposto (a shattered wafer dipped in creamy sweet ricotta) and the most tender tiramisù. They also feature an al fresco terrace seating, an ideal spot to sip on an Aperol spritz while enjoying the sunset views.

Average bill – €43

omus Aurea: Nero's Golden House. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/parcocolosseo

Nero was the most hated ruler in the history of the Roman Empire. After a six-day fire that destroyed almost three-fourths of the city, he decided to take advantage of this cleared land and wanted to build a lavish palace of unheard proportions called Domus Aurea, or the Golden House. Its rooms were lined with rare marbles, elaborate gems, precious stones, and gold.

The construction was never completed, and his successors decided to erase all memories of the gloomy reign by burying the mansion while rebuilding Rome over it. Today, modern archeologists managed to dig up the remains of this splendid castle, and the excavations reveal what an elegant place it would have been. You can tour the site and explore the halls and corridors which still display excellent frescoes, a high atrium, and intricate decorations. With the help of videos and virtual reality, they recreate the lobby and rooms of the palace to give you a sense of what the completed structure would have looked like in Nero’s time.

The next recommended hidden gem similar to Domus Aurea in the way it draws inspiration from the past is I Clementini, a quaint family-run bistro that has become a neighborhood establishment. Usually, near a tourist spot, you would find expensive places that do not provide very fresh and good food. But I Clementini offers a menu of top-quality modern local cuisine made using age-old recipes.

Diners can relish exquisite creations, such as crispy fried calamari with shrimp in garlic aioli dip, white fish carpaccio in coconut milk with lemon drizzle, seafood spaghetti with clams in garlic sauce, veal filet doused in sage butter, and tuna steak with beans. Satisfy your sweet cravings with dessert items like mango magnum with salted toffee, hot chocolate pudding with orange marmalade, or dark chocolate mousse with wild berry coulis. Elevate the overall dining experience by pairing it with biodynamic wines: Chianti Classico DOCG from Tuscany and Chardonnay Venezia Giulia IGT Jermann.

Average bill – €39

Trastevere. Photo by Arthur Yeti on Unsplash

If you want to experience the sense of real life in Rome, we suggest visiting Trastevere. Located across the Tiber River on the southeast of Vatican City, it is a charming and picturesque neighborhood consisting of cobbled stone streets, medieval lanes, and narrow alleyways. Every visitor who does come here appreciates the area and notes that after spending a day weaving through crowds and tourist traps in the center, they are relieved to explore a quiet and beautiful district.

Browse intricate stonework on old buildings and occasional inscriptions reminding of the landmark’s Jewish ghetto past. This place is often compared to Paris’s Left Bank and New York’s Greenwich Village as it is lined with enticing restaurants, fashionable sidewalk cafés, and lively bars. Trastevere is also home to Piazza Santa Maria – the site of one of the oldest churches in the city and a majestic 15th-century fountain. The interiors of the cathedral are decorated with patterned marble floors and amazing medieval mosaics.

Though many local eateries are serving amazing delicacies in Trastevere, nothing compares to the serene and welcoming atmosphere of the Unik restaurant. Situated in a vibrant alleyway, the trattoria has a refined vintage setting and an intimate ambiance. The interiors are complete with stone walls, contemporary honeycomb-shaped ceiling lights, soft leather-furnished chairs, polished wood-paneled flooring, and a marble-columned standing vino fridge.

The kitchen team presents a varied menu of Capitoline culinary cuisine made using organic produce from the nearby region. Visitors can indulge in gastronomic delights: beef tartare in green peppercorn crumble, pan-roasted octopus in a goji berry sauce, potato gnocchi with pea mousse, spaghetti with bacon bits in tomato sauce, veal stuffed ham with caramelized leek, and grilled pork filet with snow peas. Wet your beak with their exotic cocktail selections like Lillet Royal in mint flavor, Japanese iced tea consisting of Midori, and espresso martini shaken with Kahlua.

Average bill – €46

Rome has stood the test of time to dazzle 21st-century travelers with Baroque squares, antique ruins, and more art than a person can cover in one lifetime. If the above attractions do not satisfy the travel bug in you, then please refer to our other piece for a more off-beat itinerary of the capital city. Also, do not forget to check out these amazing top gastronomic places which can be best described as Michelangelo’s artworks of the culinary world.