Retrobottega
Whenever a spot becomes the post-work gathering place for chefs and hospitality types, you know it deserves a visit. That’s certainly the case with this newcomer near Piazza Navona, a laboratory for a trio of young chefs—including Giuseppe Lo Iudice, who was formerly at Michelin-starred Il Pagliaccio—who enthusiastically recommends their favorites of the day while concocting mouthwatering dishes like red shrimp with burrata and cured lemon peel. The open kitchen, blackboards with the changing menu, and wood bar only add to the convivial atmosphere, a spot where you self serve wine and other drinks, and peer from high stools to keep abreast of the action in the kitchen.
More Restaurants in Rome
Antica Pesa
For proof there's something special about this Roman classic in Trastevere, look to the massive collection of celebrity photos that covers the walls.
Pierluigi
Roman restaurants rarely focus on fresh fish with any great success. Pierluigi is a notable exception.
Roscioli
A top specialty food-and-wine shop by day, this grotto-like space becomes one of the best spots for traditional Roman cuisine at night.
Emma
Emma specializes in Rome’s signature super-crispy, super-thin crust pizza, as well as such classic local dishes.
Mazzo
Mazzo is known for serving up satisfying, deeply authentic Roman fare that also manages to be creative.
La Pergola
Even if you haven’t come to Rome for ultra-fancy, haute gastronomie, you shouldn’t miss the city’s only Michelin three-star restaurant.
Felice A Testaccio
For a top example of the classic pasta sauces that make Rome so famous, head to Da Felice in the city’s former meat packing neighborhood.
Bonci Pizzarium
Tucked away off the northwest corner of the Vatican, this order-at-the-counter, pizza-by-the-slice joint has become a pie pilgrimage site.
Antico Arco
This more than 20-year-old institution manages to be both consistent and delicious, serving up creative and classic Roman cuisine.
