I almost forgot how much I love this city. I had been to Rome multiple times before, but I hadn't been in several years and was traveling with locals who offered a different perspective on the city. Though this was a work trip, I managed to fit in a bit of sightseeing and am impressive amount of eating. I went to some of the staples, like the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, which is a complete tourist trap. I think Romans' feelings on Trevi Fountain are similar to New Yorker's feelings on Times Square. If you've never been, it's beautiful and worth seeing. If you have, explore the more uncharted territory of Rome, which there is a lot of. I also happened to be there on a Sunday, which afforded me the opportunity to see the Pope do mass in Vatican Square. This is quite an experience regardless of any religious affiliation. In terms of the major cities in Italy, Rome is at the top of my list right now, and I can't wait to go back and continue exploring.
Eateries
This was my first meal in Rome. I dropped my bags and headed out for something delicious since I hadn't eaten since the Big Apple. Deemed "Roman Street Food," this is a small takeout spot composed of incredible Roman specialties, all of which are served in sandwich (on incredibly fresh bread). Simona, the owner, went through all of the options with me and could not have been nicer. Of course I wanted all of them but thought it best not to order multiple sandwiches for myself, so Simona offered to split two sandwiches with me. I asked her to pick whatever her favorites were and I sat outside with my sandwich and beer and could not have been happier.
This restaurant was recommended by my food husband, and it was a great one. I went here twice in the short time I was in Rome because the food was delicious, the service could not have been friendlier, and I sat comfortably at the bar by myself. I would strongly recommend making reservations, even if you plan to sit at the bar. They can be made easily through their website. They also offer food and wine classes, which I plan on partaking in next time I'm in Rome.
I loved this restaurant. I stumbled upon it through extensive research and ended up walking over from my hotel one night. It's in a beautiful area of Rome that I wish I had more time in. The owners could not have been nicer and welcomed the lone American diner with open arms. Even though they called me Nancy all night, I was in heaven with the food. The atmosphere is very rustic and low key. It's also in one of my favorite areas of Rome, Trastevere. I would recommend going early and having a drink in the area as they do not take reservations. I went as early as I could, and there were Romans lined up in the street to snag a table at this small charmer.
I had myself a pizza feast here. The beauty is that pizza here is cut to order, so you can try multiple varieties, which I did. The pies had the perfect amount of crunch in the crust and were topped with incredible ingredients. The one with nduja, ricotta and honey was my favorite, though everything I tried was absolutely delicious. It's not too far of a walk from Vatican City if you plan on going.
This is one of the oldest bakeries in Rome. The pizza bianca here, which does not mean a "white pie" in Italian as it does here, is absolutely delicious. The man who helped me also insisted I try some form of a cream puff. It's impolite to refuse a local, right? One of the better known markets in Rome is held in Campo de' Fiori with incredible Italian provisions along with some typical souvenirs. Grab a snack at the bakery when visiting the market.
Roscioli Patisseria
The bakery is owned by the same family as the restaurant and had been operating since 1832. I tried a few different things, including a focaccia topped with burrata and pesto. With that much history, it's impressive to maintain the level of quality that the family has all these years later.
There's no way I was only going to have gelato once while in Italy. This place was on a quiet street but not far from some of the main sites. The owner creates amazingly innovative and delicious flavors using the freshest ingredients possible. You won't go wrong here.
You had me at chocolate shell. I stumbled upon this place on my way back from Da Simo. I stuck to the classic flavors, which were delicious. Who wouldn't I eat dessert after lunch and dinner?
One of the Romans I was traveling with recommended we go here for an espresso and pastry before our conference. Their sfogliatelle are absolutely delicious, which makes sense considering the original location is in Naples. If you going to the Pantheon, stop in for a quick treat. It's right around the corner.
Local Blog
Parla Food This was a great resource while I was there. The app is very user-friendly and clearly breaks everything down into categories.