Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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…they are delicious and summer nights are perfect to sit outside.

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

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Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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 November 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 € 9.50
Via del politeama 8 | City center | +390658335254
19:00 – 02:00 daily

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Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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, and with a plain croissant next to it, it makes the work day so much more bearable!

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 € 2.75
Via Fabbroni 1 | Cassia & Montemario | +39063295884
06:00 – 22:00 daily

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Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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: let’s 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 sitting 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 taking 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

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Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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 € 2.00
Via Principe Eugenio 65 | City center | +39064464740
12:00 – 01:00 daily

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Image by Annalaura D'Errico

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

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Image by Eleonora Baldwin

This place never fails.

Even if I’m not taking a walk in Monti, or sightseeing in and around the Forum with relatives or friends visiting from out of town, I always find an excuse to walk into this welcoming enoteca.

Behind the glass door entrance is the sales counter, where I can either purchase two bottles to go, or ask for a table. The back is in three levels, the ground floor seats patrons on benches and long tables and in booths, the suspended overhead loft holds shelves upon shelves of bottles; and underground, beneath a hidden trapdoor, lies the actual wine cellar.

Needless to say, the selection of vino here is boundless, with over 1000 labels. But the accompanying fares are just as inviting. I always have the juniper berry-smoked herring on granny smith apple slices and Tropea onion chutney; or splurge on the salumi and cheese samplers, and I always have a warm soup during winter. The specials change daily, according to fresh seasonal ingredient availability.

This is one of the few places I feel comfortable dining in alone. It’s usually not easy for me to sit at a restaurant table by myself, yet – be it the audacious Barolo in my bloodstream, the charming waiting staff, or the homey aromas wafting from the kitchen – here I feel perfectly welcome and safe at a table for one.

Next time you’re swinging by the Colosseum, or as part of your aperitivo crawl, be sure to stop in this trustworthy neighborhood institution.

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Cavour 313 | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Local) | Daily Special € 10.00
Via Cavour 313 | City center | +39066785496
Store from 10:00 | Restaurant 12:30 – 15:00 & 19:30 – 00:30 daily

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Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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 “indispensable” 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
Via Flaminia 468 | Parioli & Flaminio | +39063336466
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 21:30

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Image by Eleonora Baldwin

Nestled in a patch of leafy perennials and umbrella pines, the Tree Bar is my latest fixation. Not far from the Stadio Flaminio, in the gardens that flank Viale Tiziano and Via Flaminia, the eco-friendly structure of the Tree Bar includes a spacious indoor and a breezy dehors, where in the warmer months, patrons can lounge under the leafy canopy provided by the trees from breakfast, throughout the wee hours of the night.

I’ve stopped by here on occasion for classic Italian breakfast, knocking back large cappuccinos and fragrant, flaky croissants. I’ve brought friends here for informal lunches, business meetings over platefuls of local Mediterranean cuisine; and relaxed during the Tree Bar’s hip aperitivo happy hour, which is enriched by a fabulous finger food buffet, dj set and other jazz, funk, and rare-grooves live music events.

I’ve yet to hang out here for dinner, but I’ve perused the hand-written menu on the tall chalkboard: I’m ready to taste the Tree Bar’s regional specialties, vast assortment of salumi and rare cheeses and hand made desserts, plus the very handsome wine list.

Will you come with me?

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Tree Bar | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian)
Via Flaminia 226 | Parioli & Flaminio | +390632652754
Mon 18:30 – 01:00, Tue – Sun 12:00 – 15:00 & 19:00 – 01:00

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Image by Eleonora Baldwin

Pumpkin, cavolo nero, beans, cicoria, apples, persimmons, bread, eggs… with shopping list safely tucked in my pocket, and wheely shopping cart in tow, I’m off to my mercato rionale, the neighborhood market.

Forays always begin with friendly smiles widening on my purveyors’ familiar faces, unhurried conversation, warm greetings and small talk. The transactions come later. Through this rapport based on everyday contact, locals are raised trusting their suppliers.

My first stop is always Giuliana, the signora that sells me the best mesculun salad ever, crisp fennel bulbs, zucchini topped with sunny blossoms and other seasonal produce grown in her country orto, a property located 30 km south of the city. She always throws in an onion, celery rib and carrot in my bag, for soffritto-it’s a given; and two generous bunches of basil and parsley. For free.

Next, I stop by Massimo, my poultry butcher. He sells me free range chickens, brown eggs, and other non red meats. He’s known me since I was 5, when I’d come here with my mother.

By now, my shopping carrellino is almost full, so I make my way to Anna, for fruit. Her kiosk is always decorated and stocked with exceptionally fresh seasonal goodies, the sweetest and juiciest fruits around. Here, I always end up buying more than I had planned.

Before I leave, I can either pick up fresh flowers at Franco’s stall, or, if I get the munchies, grab a slice of heaven sold by weight at the pizza al taglio booth.

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Mercato Rionale Parioli | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Viale Parioli at Viale della Moschea | Parioli & Flaminio | +39068088882
Mon – Sat 07:00 – 14:00

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