There was a time when in Rome tea was only available in pharmacies. Two English ladies came to the city planning to open a tearoom and a space for reading. So they opened Babingtons, just a couple of meters to the side of the Spanish steps lower level, and right under the place that was John Keats’ home.

Just ahead of the entrance door you have the welcoming sight of the cookies, scones, cakes and pies that a few minutes from then you will be devouring in your table.

It is not a cheap place: You will be paying about 10E for a small tea pitcher, and another similar amount for the accompanying sweet treats. But on the other hand you will get to feel like an Englishman (or woman) having tea the proper way. The waitress wear this cute white-and-turquoise dresses and speak a correct English.

The selection of teas and infusions is varied. In the menu you can read the characteristics of every particular flavor and essence. If by the end you liked the tea so much that you would want to take it home with you well, you can. Just ask the waitress or at the register and they will give it to you a beautifully packed bag. Enjoy!

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Babingtons | Coffee & tea | Tea & cake € 20
Piazza di Spagna, 23 | City center
10:00 – 21:30 daily

We love everything about Italy. Well, except for Berlusconi. Its fashion, its food, the ancient buildings and the savoir-vivre… they all have a very high content of style and good taste. When it comes to paper and paper-related products it is no exception.

Fabriano, a cozy boutique located in Via del Babuino, between the Spanish steps and People’s Square, carries the most stylish and minimalist collection of everything that can be made out of paper: squared blocks of notes, coloring books, agendas, notepads, drawing pads, beautiful RSVP books and, of course, folders and business cards holders.

My personal favorite: whenever I get invited to a nice dinner, I bring along a bottle of good wine and this special adhesive sheet that allows the labels from wine and beer bottles to be removed and collected. It works great when the drink is exceptional. Or when the occasion is memorable.

Fabriano’s boutique is like a museum for paper. When I visited, they had this magnificent haute-couture nightdress made entirely with colored paper done by a Mexican illustrator who combined the beauty of fashion and the simplicity of paper.

They also have a store in Rome – Fiumicino airport. It comes very handy when you need a nice stylish souvenir from Italy to take to your relatives but want to avoid the poorly made key chains and magnets.

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Fabriano | Shopping | Small notebook € 10
Via del Babuino 173 | City center
10:00 – 21:00 daily

If you feel like blending with the locals come to this recently re-opened bar. It is located in a small square by the same name (literally, fig) and when the evening comes, it IS the place to be. Its crowd during weekdays is mostly young professionals in search of a drink before heading home (or elsewhere) for dinner.

Sparkling wine is very fashioned here. Its name is prosecco and it’s served in the same flute-shaped glasses as champagne (they’re actually very similar in taste but can’t be named that because of protected designation origin rights). My favorite drink is called Spritz and in this part of Italy has a particularly is bittersweet tasting. To accompany your drink you’ll find a table full of salty snacks that vary from evening to evening. Usually you’ll find pasta dishes, pizzeta (pizza-like bread) and crudités. After all, you don’t want to get fat.

If you’re lucky and the weather is right, a table in the external part of the bar will be available. Take a sit, enjoy the view of neatly dressed romans and decide where to go for dinner. The restaurant is just a few steps away, on Via della Pace. And it’s worth trying it. 

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Bar del Fico | Bars, Snacks | Drink with snack € 8
Piazza del Fico 26 | City center
07:30 – 02:30 daily

It’s amazing how every ice cream shop in Rome claims to have the best achievable gelato. Each one takes pride in their own traditional recipe or artisanal method of preparing their products. To the untrained palate that can’t tell the difference in the taste of say, bio eggs, the flavor is very good and as soon as they’re done devouring their 3 flavor cone they forget about the place where they got it.

That’s until they come across Grom, a small gelateria near the Pantheon.

They’re also part of the slow food movement. And if it is what it takes to make their gelati so delicious, so be it. I spent quite some time reading the posters describing the quality of ingredients (mountain water for the sorbettos, for example) and the preparation process (slow motion that injects air into whipped cream in a certain way that gives its special consistency) and this time I am convinced they have a great product.

Don’t let your gelato craving keep you from trying the delicious hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. Trust me, this has got to be something much more special than just cocoa. It tastes just great. The perfect warm drink for a winter afternoon.

The “flavors of the month” are mouthwatering, give them a try. 

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Grom | Snacks | Small cup of ice cream € 3
Via della maddalena 30 | City center
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 22:30, Fri – Sun11:00 – 12:30

Furla is one of my favorite brand/designers and since we have some stores in Rome, I do go window shopping at times. My favorite store is the one located at Piazza di Spagna.

I go there and look at the purses, wallets and key chains, and then once I make my decision on what I would like, I save a bit of money and so I have an excuse to go back and buy the item. Mainly I love their bags and am so excited about their new collections for this summer… it is so bright!

When I went to visit some of my friends in the States I got them key chains from here since they make a great gift (and doubles as souvenir) – cute and elegant!

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Furla | Shopping | Pink leather purse (m) € 122.50
Piazza di Spagna, 22 | City center | +390669200363
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00

La Botteguccia di Gilla used to be called something else but now it’s new and improved with new management and owners. If you love quality jewelry like me this is the store to go to, all their items are 925 silver plus you get to see different gems from amber to pearl to coral in very interesting arrangements from simple to more creative.

You can either buy for yourself or as great classy gifts to bring back. The store is very tiny but it is definitely worth it, make sure to check out their own production section as you will find great innovative pieces.

The service is very friendly and you are always greeted with a smile and most of the sales girls are multi lingual. I have to admit that I actually come here more now with the new team than I did before and always leave with a bag in hand!

Via Sistina, were La Botteguccia di Gilla is located, is a street filled with shops and a theatre, so it is conveniently located in the heart of Rome and reachable either by METRO A-Barberini stop via the Spanish Steps. At the middle of the street you, at Via Sistina 22, can find a tiny jewelry store called Cotton Club. It’s right in front of the Sistina Theatre.

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La Botteguccia di Gilla | Shopping | Earings € 38.00
Via Sistina 22 | City center | +39064870698
Winter Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00 | Summer 10:00 – 20:00 daily

In one of the city center’s street there is a little restaurant called Porto di Ripetta. It is located in Via Ripetta which is a parallel street of Via del Corso. This street is not as busy as the more famous Via del Corso or even via del Babuino, and in fact it has fewer shops.

The restaurant has a real nice ambience to it and is particularly great for a dating evening, be it the first or fiftieth.

The restaurant is a little pricey but the food is delicious. One of my favorite dishes is an entrée: spaghetti with mussels and vegetables, definitely a must try. Or they have another great dish that is risotto with shrimp and apples (the apple gives it a a very interesting taste, perfect with the rice!) This plate is a little more expensive, about € 15.00, and since the portion is not too small I usually share the plate with someone.

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Porto di Ripetta | Restaurants (Italian) | Plate of spaghetti € 13.00
Via di Ripetta 250 | City center | +39063612376
Mon 20:00 – 23:00, Tue – Sat 12:00 – 23:00

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

La Sorgente is a nice Chinese restaurant in a side street of the city center, right where Piazza di Spagna is (Spanish Steps). My friend who works downtown and knows pretty much every nook and canny of the city center brought me to this restaurant which has great Chinese food and a happy wait staff, plus there is rarely a line to be seated.

I have been going there a few times when I am craving Chinese food and have sort of the usual every time: I start out with the steamed dumpling, the spring rolls and then get the duck entrée… I am craving right now, I am probably going to call some friends for dinner tomorrow!

I love the simple and elegant décor of the restaurant and how they made space in it like having tables on the hallway, or you can dine near the aquarium, and it is right around the corner from Piazza di Spagna where is perfect to take a walk after dinner.

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La Sorgente | Restaurants (Chinese) | Steamed Dumplings € 5.00
Via Dei Greci 5 | City center | +390645455011
11:00 – 23:30 daily

This is a historical market that has its origins in the early 1970′s. It is located near a wonderful Church: The Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. I like coming here because of the variety of things that you can find and great deals on clothes that are made with good quality material. If you are in the market for some leather jackets at a reasonable price here is the place to go and remember to negotiate a little for a better price!

Here you can buy fishing equipment, clothes from all seasons all for really low prices.

To reach the Mercatino you can take the Metro A and get off at S.Giovanni.

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Mercatino di Via Sannio | Shopping | Belt € 5.00
Via Sannio | City center
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 13:00, Sat 08:00 – 18:00