One of the great things about taking a family vacation to Rome is the food. Most kids love pasta, pizza, and gelato, and most restaurants are welcoming to children, so there is no need to stress about finding a restaurant with kid-friendly food.
Yet sometimes finding good, authentic Roman cuisine around the most popular tourist attractions can be a challenge.
Ask any tour guide in Italy where to find good food and they will tell you to walk three blocks and then pick any place that doesn’t have a menu in multiple languages out front. But sometimes, you want a bit more specificity.
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Rome
First, it helps to know what foods Rome is particularly known for, so you can be sure to try some of the local specialties. Like they say, “when in Rome…”
What to Eat in Rome
- Roman pizza — unlike Neapolitan pizza’s doughy, chewier crust, Roman crust is thin and crispy
- Fritti — especially in the Jewish Ghetto, you will find fried specialties like Roman fried artichoke, fried salt cod, fried zucchini flowers, and crochette (mashed potato croquettes)
- Carbonara — carbonara, usually served with spaghetti but also with rigatoni, is made with eggs, pecorino cheese and guanciale
- Guanciale — found in many pasta dishes, guanciale is pig cheek but don’t be scared, if you like pork belly, pancetta, and bacon, you’ll love guanciale, which is cut in small chunks and sautéed crispy
- Amatriciana — also served over spaghetti or tube pastas, amatriciana is made with tomato, pecorino, and guanciale
- Cacio e pepe — this “cheese and pepper” pasta sauce is made with pecorino and pepper
- Porchetta — this slow roasted pork is cooked over wood and seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and other herbs to the point that it is falling apart tender
- Tripe — the Testaccio neighborhood is famous for its offal-based dishes, but tripe might be a tough sell for kids
Eating in Rome with Kids
So where can you get some of these specialties? I’ve put together a list of some of my favorites from our most recent trip, and I also got some tips from Shannon Kenny, Editor-in-Chief of Italiakids.com and Director of the Arte al Sole children’s programs in Italy.
Let our round up of family-tested restaurants in some of Rome’s most popular neighborhoods be your guide.
Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia
Taverna dei Fori Imperiali — Located steps from the Colosseum and Roman Forum, this homey restaurant may offer an English menu, but when we dined there, we saw plenty of locals having their Sunday evening meal.
The carbonara was exceptional, as well as the artichoke sautéed in lemon and white wine.
Colosseum
Caffe Propoganda — Just a five –minute walk from the Colosseum, this upscale modern Roman restaurant looks a bit more like a French bistro inside, so may not be as good for younger kids but the food is excellent.
Their reimagined dishes like the deconstructed tiramisu and eggplant croquettes were outstanding, as were their classic Roman pasta dishes like cacio e pepe and amatriciana.
Campo dei Fiori
Ai Balestrari — A visit to the market in Campo dei Fiori is fun, but if you want to sit down, Shannon recommends Ai Balestrari, which offers outdoor tables that seat four to five, with paper tablecloths for coloring.
They offer typical Roman cuisine and pizza, and in the summer you will likely be entertained by street performers.
Jewish Ghetto
Hosteria da Giggetto — Not far from the Pantheon or Piazza Venezia, the Jewish Ghetto is a great neighborhood to explore. We enjoyed touring the museum and beautiful synagogue, but we also loved sampling the fritti in this neighborhood.
Try to go in the spring when the carciofi alla giudea is in season because this deep-fried artichoke and its crispy leaves are such a treat.
Piperno — We also enjoyed sitting in the quiet outdoor courtyard at Piperno and sampling their fried artichoke, crochette, and fried zucchini flowers.
Pantheon
Pizzeria ZaZa — We found finding non-touristy food around the Pantheon challenging, but Shannon recommends Pizzeria ZaZa in Piazza Sant’Eustachio (across from the famous coffee bar).
She says that here it is easy to find seating in the quiet piazza and enjoy the amazing seasonal toppings like ricotta and zucchini flower, wild mushroom and pecorino, and potato with rosemary.
Piazza Navona
Ristorante Tre Scalini — This may be a prime tourist restaurant in a prime tourist location, but you still need to go to get their famous tartufo.
Trastevere
If you are visiting the Vatican, you will have a hard time finding good food, but if you pop across the river to Trastevere you can eat to your heart’s content and enjoy exploring the neighborhood while you are at it.
I Suppli — One food I neglected to mention above is suppli, fried rice balls stuffed with cheeses or meats. Unlike Sicilian arancini, suppli rice is cooked with tomato sauce instead of broth. This walk –in joint is perfect for a snack when exploring Trastevere.
La Renella — Maybe it is the hazelnut shells they use in their giant ovens that makes their thin crust margherita pizza so crispy, I’m not sure, but whatever it is, it is delicious.
Da Enzo al 29 — This small, casual restaurant in the lively Trastevere neighborhood is famous for its classic Roman dishes like fried artichokes and tripe dishes, but you can also find all the local pastas like cacio e pepe, carbonara, and amatriciana.
Best Gelato in Rome
Fatamorgana — Fatamorgana makes artisanal gelato using all-natural ingredients, not like that fluffy, neon-colored stuff you see throughout the city. We had the most amazing gelato in their Trastevere location, and Shannon let me know that they also have an outpost by the Spanish Steps. Her kids love “The Prince’s Kiss,” Fatamorgana’s version of the delicious chocolate hazelnut bacio.
If you avoid tourist traps, you are bound to find something that will make you and the kids happy, but hopefully this guide will make your choices a little easier.
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Relevant Links:
Best family hotels and things to do in Rome with kids
