“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” If you keep this old saying as your motto during your stay in Rome, there’s no doubt you’ll have the best time! Rome is one of the cities in the world where you’ll have the best meals. There, we said it. And we’ve got proof! Though you’ll be sure to find some culinary treasures just wandering through Rome’s paved alleys and vibrant streets, we thought we’d give you some hints as to where to find the best pasta in Rome.
Without further ado, here is our mouth-watering selection of the best pasta restaurants in Rome!
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Led by Rome born-and-raised chef Flavio De Maio, Flavio al Velavevodetto is often cited as one of the best pasta restaurants in Rome. This place is the result of a passionate quest: Flavio De Maio worked for an IT company for 26 years before he decided to change career path and dedicate his life to cooking. Open since 2009, Flavio al Velavevodetto is a great spot to taste seasonal dishes cooked with quality ingredients, mostly grown in the restaurant’s private garden. Many of the recipes served there were actually inherited from Flavio’s Mother (Gisa) and Grand-Mother (Rocca), which gives the place a truly authentic feel.
We the Rigatoni Alla Carbonara or the Rigatoni Amatriciana.
The secret to L’Archangelo‘s delicious pasta relies on two simple words: fresh products. At the heart of central Rome, Chef Arcangelo Dandini serves typical Roman dishes unanimously enjoyed by locals and newcomers. Like many passionate Roman chefs, Arcangelo Dandini’s cuisine is an elegant combination of childhood memories and generosity. To keep sharing his passion for cooking with young people, he even opened a street-food corner named Supplizio, also in central Rome.
We the Taglioni pasta with butter, anchovies and sweet spices and the Onion ravioli and my “garum”, cooked with an ancient Roman fish sauce.
Roscioli
Welcome to Roscioli! In this iconic Roman restaurant & deli owned by the Gargioli family for four generations, you’ll find some of the best wine/pasta pairings in the city. Roscioli’s wine cellar houses an impressive selection of over 2,800 Italian and international wines. If you want to leave with some specialties, you should find just what you need among 150 varieties of cold cuts and no less than 300 types of cheese! If you have time, you can take some cooking classes to learn how to master fresh pasta and Roman classics such as Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara. Each cooking class includes a wine tasting session with explanations by a professional sommelier.
We the Raviolo di coda e pecorino and the Burro e Acciughe.
Armando al Pantheon
Open since 1961, this family business quickly became a Roman institution under the influence of the legendary Claudio. To this day, Armando al Pantheon is a place where various worlds collide, gathered by the same passion for Italian cuisine. From locals to international celebrities or well-informed tourists, there’s no telling who you’ll run into as you try Armando al Pantheon’s delicious dishes. Rumor has it that famous actor Willem Dafoe is a fan of Armando al Pantheon‘s Bruschetta con stracciatella, but you didn’t hear it from us, alright?
We the Tagliolini con fave, guanciale e pecorino, and the Spaghetti alla carbonara.
Cesare al Casaletto
Cesare, who took the head of this typical osteria back in the 1970s, might have retired, but you can still run into him at Cesare al Casaletto. It sums up pretty well the authentic spirit of this trattoria: it’s not the kind of place you can just forget. As for us, we came for the food and stayed for the wine selection, with a wide range of prices. Another thing we loved: hospitality.
We the Fettucine ai funghi porcini and the Spaghetti alle vongole.
Osteria Fernanda
Though we absolutely love traditional trattorias, Rome’s culinary scene also includes various restaurants with a more gastronomic take on Roman cuisine. Led by Chef Del Duca, Osteria Fernanda is a great symbol of this trend. To be honest, your food budget will be spent a bit faster there, but we can guarantee that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience that you won’t regret!
We the Spaghetti B.Cavalieri, melanzana bruciata, gambero rosso, coriandolo e pistacchio and the Rigatone pastificio dei campi.
Marigold
This restaurant/bakery is quite new on the Roman culinary scene, but many pasta lovers consider it as one of the most delicious. They particularly praise the freshness of the organic ingredients carefully selected by Libby and Domenico. Marigold takes cooking according to seasons very seriously: the menu changes daily so let yourself be surprised! We hear they serve a delicious brunch on Sundays, but you can’t book in advance, so be there or be square!
We the Pappardelle with Tuscan kale pesto and the Tortelli with squash and ricotta.
Da Enzo al 29
Though Enzo, who originally owned the place in the late 1980s is now unfortunately deceased, his portrait is still hanging on the wall of Da Enzo al 29. He gave the place its soul and still lives through the memories of its clients. Located at the heart of the lovely neighborhood of Trastevere, Da Enzo al 29 is the ideal place to understand the very essence of Roman cuisine: simple yet tasteful dishes made out of quality ingredients. The owners are proud to privilege products sourced nearby, from organic olive oil to labeled egg pasta, and it shows on the plates!
We the Rigatoni al sugo di coda and the Tonnarelli cacio e pepe.
Antico Arco
Led by Executive Chef Fundim Gjepali since 2008, Antico Arco is an expression of Roman tradition and creativity. Aware of the importance of culinary inclusion Antico Arco provides its clients with various vegetarian options. Don’t be fooled by the minimalist white decor: this place will excel at serving you Roman classics. To top things off, they have a great wine selection and the restaurant sits on top of Gianico hill, from where you’ll have a great view of Rome, away from the city’s buzzing sounds.
We the Spaghetti carbonara with black truffle and the Homemade ravioli with stravecchio parmesan cheese, egg yolk, and traditional balsamic vinegar.
Da Francesco
We the Maltagliati con dentice, pinoli, peperoni arrostiti e purea di finocchi, and the Tagliolini al tartufo bianco fresco.
While in Rome, don’t just do as the Romans do! Make sure you also enjoy your trip completely hands-free by booking luggage storage in Rome!