Rome
I spent 2 nights in Rome this March with Mr & Mrs Smith staying at the incredible Palazzo Dama and it wasn't nearly enough time. Here are my top restaurant picks that I uncovered while I was there.
La Buvette
La Buvette is located just two minutes from The Spanish steps so you can do some tourist sightseeing before heading there for lunch or dinner. It has a laid-back French bistro style with leather banquet seating and you can sit outside when the weather is good. I loved the fact that they offered a lasagna of the day which was broccoli, sausage and mozzarella. Great for lunchtime salads.
Via Vittoria, 44, 00187 Roma, Italy
+39 06 679 0383
Pierluigi
This is quite a good one to go to for lunch as it's situated in a pretty little square and catches the morning sunshine. The restaurant has been going since 1938 and specialises in Italian seafood dishes. I was recommended by the manager to go for this seafood pasta with crispy pancetta, rigatoni and tomato sauce. It was incredible and it's a nice touch to start the meal off with some deep fried courgette flowers stuffed with mozzarella.
Piazza de' Ricci, 144, 00186 Roma
+39 06 686 8717
Grom
If you can't face the queue at Giolitti then Grom is around the corner and is always pretty delicious. They pride themselves on making everything with fresh, natural ingredients and have farms all over Italy where all the fruit for the sorbets comes from.
Via della Maddalena, 30a, 00186 Roma
+39 06 6821 0447
Giolitti
Giolitti is the one place that you have to go for gelato. It has been going since 1900 and has an amazing selection of quality flavours. Don't not be put off by the queue as it moves pretty fast. These guys are clearly well seasoned in scooping.
Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40, 00186 Roma
+39 06 699 1243
Matricianella
This is a beautiful, old-world trattoria with small wooden tables and checked tablecloths. It is probably the best value place that I went to in Rome as the food was just as good as everywhere else but it was that little bit cheaper. I definitely recommend going for the amatriciana pasta which is tomato sauce, chilli and crispy pancetta and it comes with my favourite, bucatini pasta. We ordered more puntarelle, artichokes and the spinach alla Romana which came with raisins-SO GOOD! The atmosphere was cosy and the service was perfect. Make sure you start the evening off with a nice glass of prosecco. Che buono!
Via del Leone, 4, 00186 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 683 2100
Due Ladroni
I was recommended Due Ladroni by several people and it truly is a special place. It's old school Rome with wooden tables, lots of old-fashioned mirrors and smartly dressed waiters. This is fantastic for traditional Roman dishes of puntarelle salad with anchovies, Roman artichokes in olive oil and they did a wonderful broad bean, pea and artichoke soup. Service was excellent and it's reasonably priced. Bene!
Piazza Nicosia, 24, 00186 Roma, Italy
+39 06 686 1013