Rome Food
Italy is renowned for its pasta, pizza and other delicacies and it is little wonder that Rome lives up to that reputation with a whole host of restaurants and cafes offering exquisite meals.
To get to know the lifestyle of a typical local, a good way to start is to visit one of the city's many cafes, where ordering a coffee is almost obligatory, ordering a tea or almost anything else is likely to bring a frown to the waiter's brow. Despite its long heritage, Rome has not eased off in its atmosphere and the people of the city still rush about, with many of the streets alive with the buzzing of Vespas.
But taking time out over a coffee, travellers can soon get an idea of the various people of Rome. From those who enjoy a promenade – simply walking around the town in their Sunday best for the sake of looking good – to the hard-at-work business people, this city is home to many different types of people.
Navona Square, which contains the famous Neptune fountain, also plays host to a large number of typical Italian restaurants. Most have outdoor seating, so guests can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of this busy square as the night settles on the city.
As evening draws in, so more street performers arrive and set up in the square, providing entertainment not only for those enjoying an evening stroll, but also for diners at the restaurants. However, with Navona Square being so close to many of the major tourist attractions of Rome, the restaurants which are dotted around its edges tend to be on the more expensive side.
Perhaps a better alternative can be to meander through the small streets of the city, where numerous trattoria offer travellers the opportunity to indulge in some traditional Italian eating.
Pizza, pasta and all other kinds of Italian dishes can generally be found in abundance in such places, usually at a relatively good price and almost always in large helpings. Italian food has a strong reputation which is upheld by these less polished establishments – they may not be on the tourist trail but in many cases this can give them more charm.
Rome is also blessed with a large variety of ice cream parlours, which seem to be on almost every street corner, particularly near the major tourist attractions. During the summer months, these can prove a godsend as a cold, often homemade, ice-cream can be just the treat to help you cool off in the sun.
When it comes to dessert, the city also offers some mouth-watering concoctions which often involve various dairy products, from cream and ice cream to even ricotta cheese.
While Rome has plenty of bars for travellers to enjoy, the pace of life here is such that it is more usual for diners to remain in their restaurant long into the evening, enjoying a glass of wine with their meal and after it has finished. There is also the traditional grappa, which many an Italian enjoys after their meal.
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Eating and Drinking
