Image by Sabrina Favoriti

Cesaretto wine bar is one of my favorite places in Rome and I am there so much that they know my name, and in fact a lot of the people that frequent the wine bar are regulars and it is in a side street off Via Del Corso. The environment is friendly and laid back but the food is upscale deliciousness.

I like going there year round, it is small but during the warmer months you can sit outside and watch people. Sometimes celebrities (national or international) pass by, and during the cooler months they have an area inside that is very cozy and warm.

My favorites to get there are the Carbonara pasta or the ravioli with a Fragolino wine to go with it, but most days they have a special that is not on the menu and go ahead and ask for it and most likely you will eat something delicious.

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Il Cesaretto | Bars, Restaurants (Carbonara) | Main meal € 12.00
Via Bocca di Leone 44a | City center | +390669380557
12:00 – 23:00 daily

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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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rome

Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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

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Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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

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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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rome

Image by Sabrina Favoriti

Zen is a Japanese restaurant in the city center and if you are a sushi lover this is a great place to go and hang out.

I love this place; I come here about once a month, as I am a sushi fanatic and I love the fact that this restaurant has a revolving bar, the plates rotate in front of you at the bar and you choose the ones that you like. The prices are by plate color (white, red, blue etc) which you have in front of you so you know how much you spend.

The only downside of this place has is the wait, however there is a nice waiting area in front with couches and you can order a glass of wine (or sake) and chat with your friends that you do not even realize that half an hour has passed before you get seated.

Even though you can request a table, the fun is to seat at the bar and choose your little sushi as they pass by on the table…my favorites are the tuna and salmon!

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ZEN | Restaurants (Japanese) | Red plate € 5.50
Via degli Scipioni 243-243A | City center | +39063213420
Sun – Mon 13:00 – 15:00, Tue – Sat 13:00 – 15:00 & 20:00 – 23:45

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rome

Image by Sabrina Favoriti

This little bar is located in the city center, close to the Pantheon area. If you go early enough before midnight, you can enjoy live music while drinking either a beer, a martini special (my absolute favorite drink, it is a chocolaty sweet martini but the recipe seems to be a secret!) or any other tropical drinks from martinis, tequila sunrises or pina coladas.

Their drink menu is pretty extensive and their average drink goes for 5.00 Euro and they come with some food such as chips, saltines or popcorn.

After midnight be ready to start burning those calories with the 90′s disco style music, modern pop and rock and oldies!

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Habana Cafe | Bars, Music | Chocolate martini € 8.00
Via dei Pastini 120 | City center | +39066781983
Tue – Sun 21:30 – 03:00

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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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rome

Image by Sabrina Favoriti

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Furla | Shopping | Pink leather purse (m) € 122.50
Piazza di Spagna, 22 | City center | +390669200363
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rome

Image by Fabio Fontanella

I have been told about the Magic Door when I was a child and its mysterious inscriptions and its odd placement in Piazza Vittorio had always intrigued me while growing up. I had almost forgotten about its existence until recently when I went to watch a movie in the open-air cinema which each summer occupies the piazza.

There it was, with its two guardians, pasted to a wall among some ancient ruins and closed off by a gate. Somehow, it looked less grand and mysterious than when my mother would take me to see it. Nonetheless, it is quite a curious thing and people who are intrigued by mysteries and esotericism might like take a look at it while strolling in the piazza.

Who knows, perhaps you can decipher its formulas and become rich, immortal or omniscient! The formulas on the door, in fact, are said to contain the secret to the philosopher’s stone. Yes, the Stone!

If you have seen the first Harry Potter movie, the philosopher’s stone is that which is guarded by that charming, loving three-headed dog. If you haven’t watched the movie, it is a substance that is allegedly capable of turning cheap metals into gold as well being an elixir of life to beat disease and achieve immortality and omniscience. It might well be worth trying. Why not give it a shot?

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Porta Magica | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Piazza Vittorio | City center
Sunrise – sunset

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rome