Snacks – All our local tips

433 Next Bar got its name from the owners’ passion for football and particularly for Czech manager Zdenek Zeman. Mister Zeman became very famous in Italy for his struggle against doping and against the view of football like a business and not like a sport. He’s famous particularly in Rome because he was S.S. Lazio’s coach for three seasons, and A.S. Roma’s for two seasons after that during the second part of 90’s.

Zeman is also famous for his line-up because he’s a fundamentalist of “433″, which is a very aggressive and brave line-up in football, and it can be considered as a way of life.

Starting from the line-up,here you are the restaurant/bar that was inaugurated last spring, with Zeman present as well. The “433 Next Bar” is located in the heart of the famous “triangolo delle bevute” in Via del Governo Vecchio, which has always been a destination for Roman paused and walking, passing foreigners and those seeking the right places in the streets of city center.

Furnishing and design are modern, following the latest international trends. The menu is a mix of Italian cooking and Mediterranean creativity. They have excellent appetizers, and some gems for connoisseurs like the carpaccio of duck, ham of lamb or amatriciana made with fish. There is also a good wine list and really good desserts. Reservation is required.

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433 next bar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian) | Meal in bar € 10.00
Via Del Governo Vecchio 123 | City center | +390668308796
Mon – Wed 11:30 – 00:00, Thu – Sat 11:30 – 02:00, Sun 11:30 – 01:00

The bar has been open for a year or two and already it has a large crowd that goes there. One cold Sunday afternoon I was here with a friend and we decided to go into the bar before continuing our walk, which I have been several times before. Since I was craving for hot chocolate we ordered two.

The snack bar is pretty spacious and has several tables on the patio in front as well, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a real dense hot chocolate served with some cookies.

My friend had his hot chocolate with whipped cream but I skipped the whipped cream. It was still one of the best hot chocolates I have ever tasted. It’s one of those you can actually eat with a spoon.

Since it is close to my area I go there often during the winter for a hot chocolate but they also have great cappuccinos. It is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon outside the house.

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Abate Bar | Bars, Snacks | Hot Chocolate € 1.50
Via di Grottarossa 20 | Cassia & Montemario | +390633261552
07:00 – 21:00 daily

I ran into this tiny little cafe and library because one of my co-workers had told me that she had her first painting exposition there so I thought it was neat. But the first time I expected an art gallery, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a cool little cafe with an intimate upstairs with couches and a separate small room where they hang the paintings. The paintings the first time I went were really neat but when they exchanged them after a while, they were still cool and they really went well with the decor of the place.

I decided to have a hot chocolate and my friend had coffee and it was cool to just sit and talk and if you love to read, you also have a good variety of books to choose from.

Then I went again and again and sometimes I bring my laptop so I can work in a relaxing environment while sipping a cappuccino or hot chocolate or some fruit juice.

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Agave Bistrot | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Hot chocolate € 3.00
Via di San Martino ai Monti 7/A | City center | +39064882134
18:00 – 00:00 daily

One of my favorite spots for sipping a glass together with a friend, or a couple of them, thanks to the nice atmosphere in this place. Its coziness is perfect for laughing and gossiping with no guilt!

The two room consists mostly of tables for two, though larger parties do come here, and the ambiance is expressed by candle light and soft vintage jazz in the background. There is a good, and original, selection of appetizers, such as bruschette topped with lard and honey.

Al Vino, Al Vino reminds of a traditional “osteria”: nicely furnished in oak with wine bottles displayed on the rafters along the walls and high above the drinkers’ heads. Giacomo, owner and manager, is always there, entertaining clients with his friendly manners and making sure your stay – and your “wine experience” run smoothly!

Wine and spirits selections are among the best in town for quality and attention to variety, Giacomo himself being very attentive to local, regional and national labels.

The drinks may be accompanied by a tasty cheese platter and cold cuts from different regions but, should you feel like having something more “filling”, you can always check what’s on the menu. It’s not an extensive menu, but a ” plate of the day” and a few more options that will do.

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Al vino, al vino | Bars, Snacks | Glass of wine from € 4.00
Via dei Serpenti 19 | City center | +3906485803
19:00 – 02:00 daily

Recently I met a friend that I hadn’t seen for years, for a Saturday morning coffee at Antico Caffe’ Greco. This bar is located in the middle of Via Condotti and is one of the oldest coffee shops in town, founded in 1760.

The atmosphere in the coffee place is interesting as all the little details of the furniture are conserved extremely well. When you enter the place it is like you are transported back in the 18th century. You can imagine people like Goethe or Stendhal sipping a cup of coffee and discussing the philosophy of life.

My chat with my friend was not as deep but it was a great place to catch up on a rainy Saturday morning, I had a cup of coffee and a croissant and she had a cappuccino and croissant, and when we were ready to leave we even saw a gladiator paying for coffee!

One thing to pay attention here is that the prices increase if you sit down at the table but the experience is worth it.

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Antico Caffe’ Greco | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Coffee at the table € 5.00
Via Condotti 86 | City center | +39066791700
09:00 – 19:00 daily

Bar Ambassador when looked at from the outside is just another corner bar. But it is always packed because of the office building next to it. One of the baristas is very creative with what he whips up.

And since I work in the office building next to it, I also take advantage of the fact that they deliver. My favorite breakfast item is the decadent NutellCoffee, which is Nutella at the bottom, coffee, and whipped cream on top sprinkled with powdered cocoa, and even though I am not a fan of whipped cream, once all is stirred I can barely taste the whipped cream and I just enjoy the drink.

The NutellCoffee is a drink to start the work week or to end it in the sweetest way.

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Bar Ambassador | Bars, Snacks | NutellCoffee € 1.00
Via Fabbroni 1 | Cassia & Montemario | +39063295884
06:00 – 22:00 daily

I have been coming here since I was 13 years old. I’ll never forget Marcello who used to make me the biggest and most delicious ice-cream cones, adding a cherry on top and an extra flavor, yet he never ever charged me more money for it. We used to laugh, he used to call me with my nickname, “Carota”, he was an extremely nice guy.

I still come here because they make one of the best ice-creams in Rome. The place has always been famous for the “double whipped cream”: first, twirled down the empty cone, then on top of the ice-cream scoops.

Pick the different types of chocolate ice-cream, the stracciatella, or any fruit flavor. They all taste natural because they are home-made and the ingredients are natural, far from chemical

It’s a family-run small place. Giovanni (”doppia panna”) gets its name from one of the eldest family members. It is absolutely far from being a touristic place. Actually, it’s a niche for few, mainly people living in the neighborhood, although it is quite famous within the circle of the northern part of Rome. It is a meeting point for teenagers, but also for business men who want to take an easy kind of break far from crowded cafés or restaurants. After all, Italian ice-cream is considered as nutritious as a full meal. Good, all year round.

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Bar Gelateria Duse | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Ice-cream cone € 1.50
Via Eleonora Duse 1/E | Parioli & Flaminio | +39068079300
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 00:00

You probably have already tried Italian dessert Tiramisù but if you feel like trying a very good one, try visiting Bar Pompi.

This is a pretty typical bar/coffee shop near Piazza Re di Roma which has specialized in tiramisù and successfully made this its differentiating factor. In fact, it self proclaims to be the “kingdom of tiramisù” and all Romans know it for this. To say the truth, its fame has grown so much over the years that it is somewhat of a cliché to end up there for dessert. Nonetheless, I think it is still worthwhile, especially compared to the disastrous versions of “industrial” tiramisù often served elsewhere for dessert.

I recommend going there in the afternoon for “merenda” (snack/tea-time) when the hordes of Roman night partiers are not yet crowding it, or double/triple parking scooters and cars in front of it. In the evening, (this bar is open until 01:30), you may have to battle with the locals and wait to be served.

Bar Pompi serves classical coffee-flavored tiramisù as well two newer versions: the strawberry one and the banana & chocolate one. All of them are scrumptious. You can get yourself an individual portion to eat then and there, or larger ‘vats’ in all sizes to take away.

Judging by the multitudes that crowd this place, Italians may seem rather unaware of the ‘ongoing cholesterol problem in the country’, to quote one of my favorite movies!

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Bar Pompi | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Tiramisù € 3.00
Via Albalonga 7b-9 -11 | Appio Tuscolano | +39067000418
Tue – Sun 07:00 – 01:30

Fabiola runs it. She is one of the most adorable people in this old Roman neighborhood.

Why not buy an Italian book to take back home as a cultural souvenir?

At the bar counter, the list of wines by the glass is not much of a great variety I must admit, but they are good at least. The food is homemade: cous cous, vegetable quiches and pies, tarts and little pizzas, sandwiches mostly vegetarian and many other snacks including cakes at times.

People who hang out here are mostly intellectual-radical type of individuals. The furniture is totally random, although I believe it has been chosen with a method that looks like not being one. It is vintage like the neighborhood. Post World War II kind of design, just like most of the buildings that have been either rebuilt or restored after the neighborhood was completely shelled by US aircrafts during the harshest conflict. Now, it is considered one of the trendy-bohemian areas in town.

If you want to do as the Romans do, this is one of the real Roman places to pick.

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Bar-à-book | Bars, Shopping, Snacks | Drink including buffet food € 10.00
via dei Piceni 23 | S.Lorenzo & Pigneto | +390696043014
Tue – Sun 16:00 – 01:30 | Oct – May: Brunch on Sun 12:00 – 16:00

If your heading to/from the Pantheon, do not miss a stop in the amazing Piazza di Pietra, so close by.

Apart from the massive 11 columns from the Hadrian’s Temple that – as a caring parent – overlooks the square, there’s another reason to take a break: Boccone, one of the best take-a-way options in town.

Panini (rich sandwiches) from the menu (which features unusual combinations of both Italian and international flavors and tastes) or as you like, from the vast selection of deli ingredients on display, that range from buffalo mozzarella to fresh salmon and tuna, cherry tomatoes, cicory salad, grilled eggplant to sun-dried tomatoes and spicy cheese. Different types of bread, extra virgin olive oil and all the simpaty of the staff will make your sandwich a real treat!

My favourite: “Roma”, “Palermo” and “Scilla”….uhhmmm, yummy!

P.S. Boccone also has selected beers and cold drinks, salads, fresh fruit and soups (in the cold season)
P.S. 2 No tables, but you can sit on the bench outside the shop!

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Boccone | Bars, Snacks | Sandwich (small) from € 4.00
Piazza di Pietra | City center
10:00 – 19:30 daily

This is just another coffee bar at the next corner, but the modern design makes the experience of tasting their coffee worth it.

This coffee spot continues to re-invent itself and in fact the last few evenings that I went there I swapped my coffee for a glass of red wine! Now they are also a wine bar.

People that that live or work in the area, go and have their breakfast here with a cup of coffee and maybe a freshly baked croissant before heading off to work.

I like to go there at mid-morning and chat around with a friend sipping a cappuccino and indulge in a chocolate or cream filled croissant. And now they expanded with a small patio outdoors with tables with umbrellas to protect you from the hot sun, but it is so refreshing to have a mid-afternoon cold iced tea!

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Caffe’ 901 | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Peach Iced Tea € 1.20
901 Via Cassia | Cassia & Montemario | +390633260000
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00

When I crave for Aunt Jemima’s pancakes I come to this delicatessen top class supermarket. If you get home sick and you miss your favorite food, this store sells everything from all over the world.

I usually go to the US department where I find the best maple syrup, creamy and crunchy peanut butter, condensed Carnation milk, Betty Crocker chocolate fudge brownie and super moist golden vanilla mix, cookies, cashew nuts, Heinz Ketchup, corn tortillas and other special and exotic treats coming from all the continents, such as Indian rices, curry, spices, Himalayan, pink Australian or green Japanese salts, German sausages, Austrian goulash, you name it they have it.

The Italian section is rich of specialities from each region of the peninsula. From aromatized basil, rosemary, red hot pepper oils to different kinds of balsamic vinegar matured in wooden barrels, starting from €3 upto €250 depending on how many times it has been decanted. From wines to sauces, from jams to jar food, tuna, gherkins, dried tomatoes are my favorites.

There is also a biological section that I like and a candy department I’m in love with, where one can find the best chocolate on the market. I don’t drink coffee but I appreciate the aroma. On sale here only excellent Italian coffee in grains or ground.

The pasta wins over everything. You can find the best Italian brands form each region, just to mention a few: Tuscany’s Martelli, Veneto’s Cipriani, Marche’s Latini, Campania’s Gragnano, Puglia’s Benedetto Cavalieri.

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Castroni | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Balsamic vinegar € 3.00
via Cola di Rienzo 196 | Vatican & Prati | +39066874383
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 20:00

Italian gelato is good in many places all over Rome. But the quality of this ice-cream is outstanding. Naturally, it is homemade and there is a huge variety of tastes. My favorite flavors are dark chocolate and cream, but most of the times I go for the mousse. Chocolate and Zabaglione are standard tastes you will find all year round. Now and then, they also make marron glacé, tiramisù or coffee mousse.

This spot is located in one of the most beautiful areas downtown: the Pantheon. It is a small place where you can only get yourself a cone or a paper cup to go. No sitting neither indoors nor outdoors. There is only a wooden bench next to the entrance door that fits a couple of people. If you want to enjoy your ice-cream cone sitting instead of licking it as you walk, you can take a seat on the low wall surrounding the Pantheon that looks like a long stone bench and enjoy the ancient surroundings and the magical atmosphere of old Rome.

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Cremeria Monteforte | Snacks | Ice-cream cup € 2.00
via della Rotonda 22, | City center | +39066867720
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 21:00

“Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara”, just off via dei Giubbonari (south east corner of Campo de’ Fiori), settled in one of the smallest, yet more charming squares in town, has been there for ages.

My father used to stop there in his 20s for a quick, tasty bite, and it still represents one of the most typical activities of “native” Romans.

It’s an amazing place, that has recently undergone some sort of “redecoration” that, unfortunately, has taken away some character together with the dust…Anyway; it’s still worth a stop, no matter what.

You’ll be amazed by the people lining up to the back of the bare room to order a filet of baccalà (salty cod), fried golden and served “da portar via” (wrapped in paper to eat as you take a stroll). You may also decide to sit down: there are some table inside + extra seats outside on the square. If you feel like completing your gastronomic experience, ask for a serving of “puntarelle condite”: chicory salad dressed with a pesto of garlic, anchovies and vinegar. May sound creepy, but it’s surprisingly good!

P.S. the tiny little church of St. Barbara, next door, is a little gem. Step inside if it’s open (sometimes a Gospel Chorus rehearsas there).

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Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara | Snacks | Fried cod from € 5.00
Largo dei Librai 88 | City center
Mon – Sat usually from 18:30 (in summer later), sometimes also open at lunch
Closing day may vary (tuesday is often choosen, too)

To describe this spot I wanna start from its name, Doppio ZerOo, which must be written as I did because it’s a kind of flour used to make the bread. In fact this spot was born as a bakery and then year after year became a polyhedric place opened all the day, where you can have breakfast, lunch buffet, have a tea in the early afternoon, take aperitivo in late afternoon, have dinner or a drink during the night…

Despite the fact that you can go here whenever you want during the day, Doppio ZerOo is very famous for its “aperitivo”, one of the most fashionable in Rome. When you can have so much food that it becomes almost a dinner.

The cost of every drink is 9 euros, so pay attention to what you order, and then you can eat as much as you want from the amazing food that is on the bar: from “pasta fredda” till several kinds of pizza just oven-cooked….and if you see that there’s no more food on the bar don’t worry: in less than one minute an empty plate will be replaced with full plate.

Some tips before you go: first of all, even if the spot has a fashionable and cool furniture, it’s quite small and the biggest table is for 7 people, so it’s better if you aren’t a big group; and then, if you wanna have “aperitivo” during the weekend, I really suggest to go before 6.30 pm or you’ll spend your time outside waiting for a free table!

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Doppio ZerOo | Bars, Snacks | Drinks (aperativo) € 9.00
Via Ostiense 68 | Testaccio & Ostiense | +390657301961
Aperitivo 18:00 – 21:00 & Dinner 21:00 – 23:00 daily

A homy atmosphere. It’s not a crowded club, it’s not a busy cafè, it’s not a loud pub, it’s not a noisy bar. I would call it a “living room with kitchen and bookcases”. A sofa, three armchairs and a couple of chairs round three tables, lamps and books on sale make this small, comfy place.

Cozy for a good drink and a calm, warm chat. You can also sit at the counter on a stool for a more casual booze. Breakfast in the morning, snacks at lunchtime, munchies in the evening. The staff is extremely nice and friendly.

I came here with my Facebook friend Federico from Italy’s northwestern Genoa, a beautiful sea front city. We had a glass of Pinot grigio while we enjoyed talking about books, literature, and life in general. I noticed that, compared to other places, the wine glasses are bigger and very well filled up. Together with the drink they served us olives, nuts, chips, and small Italian crispy bagels.

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Emporio alla Pace | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Glass of wine € 4.00
via della Pace 28, | City center | +390668802938
06:00 – 02:00 daily

Officially called Il palazzo del freddo but most commonly know as Fassi’s is one of the oldest “gelateria” in the city. It has been at the current location for over 60 years. When you enter the facility you will notice a mix of modern fixtures and an “antique” atmosphere

The ice-cream is delicious and you have plenty of tastes to choose from. They also have a variety of sweets, like for example something called “san pietrini” a Roman specialty and a must for chocolate lovers!

They also have hot drinks in different flavors such as chocolate, white chocolate, vanilla, and zabaione. This is definitely a gelateria not to miss! This was one of my favorite hang-outs when I took some courses nearby, and it was often that it became a lunch spot.

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Fassi’s | Snacks | 3 flavors icecream € 1.50
Via Principe Eugenio 65 | City center | +39064464740
12:00 – 01:00 daily

This location is one of the most fascinating of city center. The ideal place for people who love fashion and cool places.

Fluid was created with the aim to show how nature and technology can live together in the same environment; materials and furniture represent this conflict very well: a tree tries go out from the walls, and in the so called “Ice room”, you sit on ice cube sofas, surrounded by last generation plasma TV’s.

The bar opens from late afternoon and at this time you can have a complete “aperitivo” with a great choice of food (like cous-cous, “supplì”, “focaccia” etc…), excellent both for quantity and quality.

To accompany the food, you can choose between wines (which you can get in bottle or in glass) or from the list or cocktails made by the barman. A special mention must be made for “Spritz”, a typical drink from Venice which is very hard to find in Rome.

From around 22:00 the bar becomes a cultural melting pot and the resident DJ entertains people with nu-jazz and deep house music.

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Fluid | Bars, Snacks | Drinks € 8.00
Via del Governo Vecchio 46/47 | City center | +39066832361
From 18:00 daily

EnglishYellowPages staff regularly organizes seasonal events for its members and friends. A network of English-speaking professionals are invited to gather at a venue to spend and enjoy time together, talk about business, exchange views, eat and drink, like it occured on December 2 2008 at Galleria, a new hitech design restaurant located in the renowned Galleria Colonna, also known as Galleria Sordi.

In this refined yet informal atmosphere, I was struck by a room in particular with innovative “magic” glass doors: a private space where the most reserved guests can sit and decide whether they want to keep the doors open or shut. And if they want them shut, they can also opt to have the glasses go from transparent to opaque, isolating themselves completely from the rest of the diner.

Not only the design and architecture is avant-garde, but also the food. There are different selections chosen according to the different times of day and seasons. At lunchtime the menu offers light meals and more elaborate dishes at dinnertime. And sandwiches, salads and desserts for afternoon snacks.

You all know by now that I go for the vegetarian dishes, like zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta cheese with rice and light mint pesto sauce or the eggplant pie. The wines are carefully selected and they mainly come from northern Italy’s regions Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.

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Galleria | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian) | Lunch € 20.00
Galleria Alberto Sordi 53 | City center | +390685355431
12:00 – 23:00 daily

Right next to my house there is a cute little restaurant where I go on my lazy days since it is so close! And it is definitely a fusion of Bavarian and Italian culture. If you happen to stroll by on a Monday you will see it’s a pizzeria/pub. On other days you can try authentic Bavarian foods such as the Knoedel or pork cooked in Bavarian beer but do not shy away from their pizzas such as the Diavola or Margherita.

I like the atmosphere inside the place and the decoration with its wooden chairs with a hole carved in it and the tablecloths that give you a sense of being at home. It is also a good cozy place to watch sporting events while drinking one of their many choices of beer…Bavarian of course.

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Hofbrau Munchen Bermand | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants | Diavola Pizza € 7.00
Via di Grottarossa 123 | Cassia & Montemario | +390633253802
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 23:00

Beware of any competitor! On the same street you will find other 2 “fornos”: be careful, as they are good, but not AS good!

“Our” (me, my colleagues’ and my friends’) favorite one is the last one you will find coming from Piazza di Pietra towards the Pantheon, on the left hand side. It is a bakery, nothing else.

What is really special is the “pizza bianca”, roman style: thin, crunchy and soft at the same time, perfectly salted and always warm! You can have it plain, but I strongly recommend you to fill it with “mortadella”.

During the summer season, you may even decide to get a couple of figs fruit and ask the shop attendants (also owners, and bakers, and managers, and…) to fill it with figs and raw ham for you (used to be a very traditional recipee up to the ’80s). If you’ve never tried the figs/ham combination, that is the chance to do it. “Pizza rossa” (dressed with tomato sauce) is also veeery good: slightly thicker than the “white”one, it is prepared with extra-virgin olive oil. A cheap meal has never been that tasty!

The shop also sells refreshments and home made cookies.

Beware that it closed for lunch-time: make sure you’ll be there by 13:30 at the latest.

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Il Forno di Via dei Pastini | Snacks | Pizza mortadella € 2.50
Via dei Pastini | City center
Fri – Wed 08:30 – 13:30 & 15:30 – 18:00, Thu 08:30 – 13:30

Il Peperone is a nice little restaurant in Via Veneto, which is one of the most famous streets in Rome, but usually untouchable for the prices. When I first went to Il Peperone with a friend of mine who had come to visit me from the States, I was impressed with the prices because they were affordable compared to their competitors.

My friend wanted to have coffee in Via Veneto but I said “I have a better idea: lets have pizza!” and the food turned out to be great. The restaurant offers a variety of different dishes, mainly Roman typical foods but also a variety of general Italian ones. I like seating outside as you can sit and relax and people watch in the heart of Rome.

My friend and I had a great time and the service was great, we ordered some delicious Roman appetizers and a pizza each. The owner Antonietta is very friendly and laid-back, she even said OK to take a picture with me!

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Il Peperone restaurant | Snacks, Restaurants (Pizza) | Pizza Margheritia € 10,00
Via Veneto 97 | City center | +39064884593
Oct – Apr 12:00 – 16:00 & 18:00 – 00:00 daily | May – Sept 18:00 – 00:00 daily

The name of the place says it all: it is small, piccolo. But it is cute and cozy. Not by chance that an Italian saying goes like this: “Good wine is in the small barrel”. You can pick from a menu “by the glass” which changes regularly. The wines rotate weekly. The “by the bottle” menu is rich of good wines from all the 20 Italian regions.

My favorites are Falanghina and Greco di Tufo. It is in a good spot, by a road near piazza Navona, the hot spot usually beaten by Romans and non Romans. There is also a barman outdoors who prepares cocktails at a stall to take away, and in the winter during Christmas time, there’s a waitress dressed up as the famous old woman who brings toys to children on January 6th, day of the Epiphany. She is called the Befana and she will be serving you vin brulé.

It is a perfect place where to hang out, drink and have a bite: tarts, cheeses, artichokes, dried tomatoes and champignon mushrooms make my day, and my night. And when I need to be sweetened up I go for the homemade cakes.

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Il Piccolo | Bars, Snacks | Wine € 5.00
Via del Governo Vecchio 74-75 | City center | +390668801746
12:00 – 02:00 daily

If you would like to heed Fat Clemenza’s advice even while in Rome, you should definitely stop at Mizzica.

There, you will find a bit of Sicily in Rome and you will be able to try the whole gamut of snacks Sicily is known for:
1) Cannoli. Mizzica offers two varieties: the traditional one with white ricotta cheese filling and the green ones made with the addition of pistachio and almond flavor. A problem with cannoli is that the pastry shell may get soggy after a while upon contact with the ricotta filling. For an optimal experience, kindly ask the waiting staff to fill your cannoli on the spot.

2) Arancine. These ‘little oranges’ can be reductively described as deep-fried balls of rice with different fillings. A Roman supplì, which you may have tried as an antipasto to your pizza, pales in comparison to a Sicilian arancina. At Mizzica, try the traditional one ‘al ragù’ with peas, carrots and meat ragù, the ones with ham and mozzarella, and the ones with eggplant or spinach filling.

3) Gelati and granite. Even for what concerns ice cream and water-ice, the Sicilian versions are simply superior to their Roman counterparts. You may want to try the lemon, coffee, pistachio, or gelsi flavored granite. Additionally, Sicilians like to eat both with a brioche (a sweet bun) and that too is a sign of cultural superiority!

There are two locations. The other one is at: Via Lucrezio Caro, 14/22.

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Mizzica | Snacks | Cannolo € 2.00
Via Catanzaro 30/36 | S.Lorenzo & Pigneto | +390644236024
07:00 – 22:00 daily

Momart is the coolest place to have aperitivo around Piazza Bologna area and because it is close to university “La Sapienza” there is always full of people, particularly guys aged 18-25 years old.

The restaurant has 3 rooms inside and a covered garden which is heated during the winter, and because of there are often photographic exhibitions, the inside furniture is really nice and also the bathroom is very special!

The restaurant is open from early morning till 02:00 to cover every meal-time of the day (from September 2008), from breakfast till dinner. I think the best time to visit it is during “aperitivo time”, from 17:30 till 21:00.

Once inside you give your name to the girl at the entrance and she calls you and assigns a table. You choose your drink and go to fill your plate with as much food as you want: I really recommend pizza wooden oven cooked and “supplì” because they are cooked uninterruptedly, so they are always hot, but also pasta and little sandwiches are very good!

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Momart | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Lunch) | Lunch buffet € 10.00
Viale XXI Aprile 19 | S.Lorenzo & Pigneto | +390686391656
07:00 – 02:00 daily

This place is located in Ponte Milvio and it is a very popular gelateria, it has a vast outdoors for you to sit down and enjoy your gelato or pastries.

The place established itself in Rome since 1959, and to this day they still use fresh ingredients for both their gelatos and their pastries.

They have different flavors such as the “indispensabile” which is a mixture of raspberry and nutella and other interesting flavors.

This is a excellent place to hang-out during an afternoon and eat ice-cream, it is very family oriented.

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Mondi | Snacks | small cup € 1.80
Mondi | Parioli & Flaminio | +39063336466
Tue – Sun

Via Marcantonio Colonna seems to be a normal street of Rome located between Piazza del Popolo and the Vatican, but it should belong to Sicily: you smell and taste all Sicilian flavours if you eat at Mondo Arancina.

Mondo Arancina is composed by two take away shops

The first, called Gelarmony,is where you can eat ice-cream: it’s superfluous to say that it’s wonderful. If you want to taste something different take a hot brioche filled with ice-cream!

The second is Mondo Arancina. You can find pizza, but the real attraction is the so called “Arancini”.

Arancino is a typical Sicilian food: a ball made of rice and other food. It’s named after the fruit arancia (orange) it looks like. You can find 15 kinds of arancino here. You can also order them by phone and they will deliver it to your place!

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Mondo Arancina | Snacks, Restaurants (Take away) | Ice cream € 3.00
Via Marcantonio Colonna 38 | Vatican & Prati | +390697619213
10:00 – 00:00 daily

I know, I know. summer is here, you wanna look good in your bikini…eat healty, then! Enjoy Mozzarella!

Don’t be fooled by the “Japanese” name: the name means “here it is!” in the Neapolitan dialect – “it” being the mozzarella. It is Italy’s way on the Sushi Bar Concept, being, actually a research project based on Italian HQ products with top quality buffalo Mozzarella from the Campania region.

In this slick café, mozzarella in many forms – entwined, blobs, balls – is paired with an excellent – and extensive – choice of cold cuts, cured hams, salads, pasta dishes and other delicacies from all over the country. Very good Italian wines are on the list, too.

The first mozzarella bar in the city, and perhaps the world (other Obikà locations are Milan, Turin and London. NY coming soon), Obikà is a homage to this most versatile cheese. The setting is rather funky, too (

and that’s where the Japanese misunderstanding comes from…), with designer tables (rather cramped, to be honest), plenty of black & white and steel details.

It also enjoy a lovely terrace on the street, a good place for people watching, appreciated also by the rather hipster clientele. This may be the only down side: the vibe is a little posed and, sometimes, staff go with the flow and the service may be not enough attentive. But the mozzarella is so genuine, it beats it all!

Every day, from 19:30, there is aperitivo with mozzarella bites and small tasting. On Saturday and Sunday Italian brunch is served from 12:00 – 15:00

Buon Appetito!

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Obikà Mozzarella Bar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian) | Lunch from € 15.00
Piazza di Firenze 28 | City center | +39066832630
08:00 – 00:00 daily

When I arrived at Pe.pa.to for the first “aperitivo” with a group of friends, I immediately liked the atmosphere; the tables and small white and black sofas outside gave it a sophisticated look. Inside it looked more like an old wine cellar, but it gave the place character.

The aperitivo was during the week and it made a nice break. It was a good deal too: 7 Euros for a drink plus buffet. They have two different bars. In one of them you can order the wines and in the other end of the “cellar” looking place, you can order the mixed drinks.

The good thing about Rome is its weather, in October it can be still nice to sit outside and mingle with people as you are eating and drinking.

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Pe.pa.to wine bar | Bars, Snacks | Buffet & drink € 7.00
Via del politeama 8 | City center | +390658335254
19:00 – 02:00 daily

Starting from the name of the place, written without stress mark on the letter “e”, this bar wants to show to the people that it’s different from the other bars around Campo de’ Fiori.

Opened from early morning, Primo Cafe receives people at every time of the day and night for breakfast, lunch, “aperitivo” or drink.

The environment is very fashionable and full of minimalist details, like the sinuous bar or the lamp-bottle carrier made with optical fiber. Also the colors, the ultra-technological illumination, the mirrors and futuristic materials help to create a fashion atmosphere.

If you want to enjoy watching the people who walk to Campo de’ Fiori, you can have your drink or food in one of the outdoor tables (heated during the winter).

One of the best moments of the day to visit Primo Cafe is during “aperitivo time”, from around 18:00 to 20:00. On the inside table you can take your food and decide to accompany it with wine, cocktail or champagne while black or chill out music are played….

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Primo Cafe | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich € 7.00
Via de’ Baullari 147 | City center | +390664760179
08:00 – 02:00 daily

The Roscioli’s are a real institution in town. Since three generations they have been backing one of the best “pizza” in town. Roman pizza: plain, thin, and slightly salted, it is the real traditional snack for any Roman.

The “Forno” has been there for ages. Lately, it has been “expanded” to include a deli shop and a wine risto-bar. Anything is absolutely excellent: from wines to cheese, from cold cuts to the creative finger food made out those ingredients.

Fresh bread, tasteful specialties and delicious wines are served every day in accordance with the best Roman traditions.

Service is usually quick (so it can represent a good option for a fast lunch) but may be, sometimes, too quick. Don’t take it personally, Romans may be like that, just let them know.

Should you wish to have dinner there, you’d better make a reservation a little in advance, as the place is pretty small and very popular. And if you are considering bringing home a few presents, this is the perfect place to buy some bottles or a selection of local cheeses.

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Roscioli | Bars, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Lunch) | Wine & Snack € 18.00
Via dei Giubbonari | City center | +390668307895
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 20:15 – 00:00

“Enjoy your drink, enjoy your life” is the motto which inspired the birth of Stairs, whom name is the english translation of the address where it is, Via della Scala.

The place is divided in two floors. The ground floor is the real heart of the place, where you can get cocktails from a list of 91, and long drinks, special coffees, wine and shots. On the lower floor there is a romantic and intimate atmosphere because of the leather couches, the diffuse lights and the ethnic environment. If you’re with a group of people, it’s very funny to order a jag with one liter of your favorite cocktail (to share, of course!).

The coolest thing of Stairs is that every week, from Thursday to Sunday, there’s “aperitivo” dedicated to a particular nation that changes every week: Italy, Spain, Maghreb and Japan are the most chosen countries.

It’s interesting to tell a bit more about the Japanese aperitivo: first of all, because of Stairs introduced it in Rome. Also, because usually during “aperitivo” you pay for drink and eat as you want, while this one is vice versa: you pay for sushi and drink white wine as you want!

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Stairs | Bars, Snacks | Cocktail at bar € 5.00
Via della Scala 43 | Trastevere | +390697277421
19:00 – 02:00 daily

Tina Pica was a very famous Italian actress who also acted with famous Neapolitan international star Totò. That is where the club takes its name. I like going to club-theaters where I can relax sipping a soft drink and having some munchies while watching someone on stage entertaining me. Tinapika is the ideal place to come and see the newest cabaret shows in town, also for non-Italian speakers. I met some foreigners at this club and they were laughing, too.

I cracked myself up when I came here to see “Bambine Cattive” (Bad Girls), a group of Italian comedian actresses who perform here every Sunday night. They are absolutely marvelous, funny, sharp lines, high class sense of humor, the lack of dirty language makes it unique. Each character has its own personality and style. The audience went nuts, they laughed non-stop, it was a blast. I was impressed by all of them: Giulia Ricciardi came up with the idea of forming the cast:Annalisa Aglioti, Barbara Foria, Teresa Lallo, Nadia Perciabosco, Laura De Marchi, Giuditta Cambieri. A very warm farewell to Celeste Brancato, extraordinary, intense actress who has recently passed away and was part of the crew.

On schedule at Tinapika, coming soon is also Gianluca Giugliarelli, extremely versatile and hilarious, even if you just look at his gestures and the way he moves his legs, the way he talks, the sounds he makes with his voice. He imitates Italian celebrity popstar Ornella Vanoni very well and one of his new sketches is about the son of a big shot who spends €20K to go out with his friends to a nightclub and asks daddy to buy him a new car because the air freshener in his SUV flew out of the window while he was racing on the highway.

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Tinapika | Bars, Snacks, Theaters | Beer in a bottle € 7.00
via Fonteiana 57 | Trastevere | +39065885754
Fri – Sun 22:30 – 01:00

One of Rome’s best kept secrets. A mix of period and recycled objects that inject vitality and energy to a 24hrs (almost) place: juicy breakfast, yummy lunch, gourmet dinner (reasonably priced!) and wine/drinks/deli all day around.

Located in one of the hippest area in town, the fashionable Rione Monti (together with the Pigneto area, the neighbourhoods that most recall an idea of a “Village”), it’s simply perfect for a quick break or for a longer chat with friends or a beloved one. Surrounded by art galleries, vintage shops and artists atelier, it also good for a stop during an intensive shopping session.

Service is discrete and relaxed, yet attentive and professional and food is absolutely respectful of the local tradition. Owners and chef try to keep it as organic as possible; all products are supplied from local farmers, and so is the wine list, that features lables selected among the many quality ones offered by the greater Rome area.

Lovely: all the furniture is on sale! Should you like the chair you’re sitting on, or that vintage side table…

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Urbana47 | Bars, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Organic) | Meal from € 25.00
Via Urbana, 47 | City center | +390647884006
11:00 – 02:00 daily