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These 7 Restaurants Make the Best Carbonara in Rome

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11 months ago

Do you know where the happiest place in Rome is? Spoiler, it is a ristorante, actually, any ristorante in this list (while eating Carbonara). If you are around Rome, and you’ve never tried the carbonara before, it will soon become your favorite dish. What’s better than trying it in the city that created it? Yes, carbonara is from Rome!

If you like pasta and bacon, you’ll love yourself some Spaghetti alla carbonara, a personal favorite. You can’t leave Rome without trying one (or maybe a few more than one). The way it is prepared may vary from restaurant to restaurant and chef to chef, but the deliciousness will always remain the same. Nothing can go wrong with a carbonara – but you want to try the best of this Italian staple.

By now, you know that restaurants near tourist spots, even if they look nice, tend not be the best. Most of them actually have very bad reviews on Google (only a few are the exception, unfortunately). We’ll save you some time and give you a list of the best restaurants in Rome where you can try the most delicious carbonara – only with the best reviews, of course.

1. Osteria da Fortunata – Aesthetic carbonara!

Osteria da Fortunata is most likely one of the most popular restaurants in the city that foodies can’t resist. Their specialty is Roman food, and it is simply the best, that’s why it is on this list.

The freshness is the secret that everybody knows; you will see someone making the delicious homemade pasta at the moment at the entrance of the restaurant. The only real secret is the restaurant’s traditional recipes: they’ve been passed down from mother to daughter and are closely guarded.

Their carbonara is one of their most requested dishes by its patrons, along with cacio e pepe and the traditional ravioli. Their peculiar and fresh thick pasta (that you might have never seen before) along with the homemade sauces combine to bring you the best of the best. Even if you are traveling solo in Rome, you’ll want to get a table for 1 and try them all if you can!

2. Trattoria Da Enzo al 29 – Charming atmosphere and delicious dishes

You’ll need to put in some work to find this old trattoria, a firm favorite. It’s in a hidden but popular street in Trastevere. You want to make sure your Rome itinerary allocates sufficient time to exploring this charming area in the heart of Rome, not only for some of Rome’s best restaurants, but also if you are looking for the best nightlife in town. Keep in mind, Trattoria Da Enzo al 29 only opens until 11 pm.

Expect long lines of pasta lovers to fill up the streets just to try Da Enzo al 29’s carbonara. It is 100% worth the wait, as many (foodies and experts) argue that it is the best in all of Rome. You can be one of the thousands of people that leave happier after tasting their pasta.

3. Tonnarello – A classic restaurant

Tonnarello is, based on Google Maps, one of the most visited restaurant in Rome (it has almost, 30,000 reviews) and has one of the best ratings given by foodies. It is almost mandatory for this restaurant to be in every list of top restaurants, there is. We can all agree that all their dishes are simply the best and Tonnarello is easily one of the best restaurants in Trastevere.

Expect a very long line to try them, so go one or two hours before your lunch or dinner time and on a relaxing day with not much to do. Even so, get in line! You will enjoy a movie like scene: eating the best carbonara, while listening to beautiful Italian music by a (most likely handsome) guitar player. Their irresistible-looking carbonara, served in a pan, is so instagrammable!

You’ll never see such a perfect combination of delicious and aesthetically pleasing food in a vibrant atmosphere. A foodie favorite, the warmth and kindness of its staff only complements this unforgettable experience.

4. Mariuccia – Happiness is a carbonara in Rome

If you are looking for an inexpensive but tasty carbonara, Trattoria Mariuccia is the perfect place. Many visit it for the pizza, lasagna, and, of course, the carbonara. It is located very close to Campo de’ Fiori, a famous square and market where you can buy all the ingredients to make your own carbonara at home if you’re so inspired.

Try to arrive with an empty stomach, because even the bread is so delicious that you’ll want to try everything in the menu. The chefs’ passion for cooking is reflected in their delicious dishes, which have been appreciated for years. Mariuccia’s goal has always been to transmit happiness through their dishes. And we want to let them know that they’ve done it.

Local tip: After your meal, try the Limoncello. This classic Italian liqueur is a sweet and citrusy lemon-based digestif.

5. Pastasciutta – Carbonara for take-out

This popular fast-food style restaurant is set at a walking distance from the Vatican City. The perfect spot to eat after seeing the Pope (don’t worry, we’ve outlined how you can arrange that!).

The restaurant is very small with a few tables because it is more popular for takeout. You can choose between continuing with your walking tour or sightseeing tour bus around Rome while eating the best carbonara, or enjoy it, relaxed, inside at the table.

In this restaurant, you can expect very fresh pasta because the team makes it every morning with the highest quality ingredients. The dish of your choosing, which will be prepared in front of you (basically a show itself), will be ready in less than five minutes. Very convenient for tourists with little time.

Their carbonara is absolutely delicious, but you should also try the dish of the day! It’s the chef’s experiment, and it’s wonderful to be a part of it.

6. Aroma – Carbonara in front of the Colosseum

Aroma has the dreamiest location in all of Rome. It just happens to be on the top floor of a hotel in front of one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World: the Colosseum. There is no better view than that!

This restaurant is popular for proposals and other special occasions, but you can go there any day just to try the carbonara. Don’t forget to ask for the best glass of white wine to go along with your meal. We recommend you bring your camera and make your reservation in advance because this one is quite the experience.

Aroma has earned itself one Michelin star, but even if pricey, it will give you an unforgettable experience. The price is worth the incredible views and tasty food. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your friends at home jealous.

7. Da Gino al Parlamento – Pasta after shopping

Da Gino al Parlamento is a small and old trattoria that is an exception to the rule that says that the restaurants near tourist spots are bad. This one is in front of parliament and near Via del Corso, probably the busiest area after the Colosseum.

You have to stop at Da Gino after a long day walking around the historic buildings and shopping at the thousands of shops in Via del Corso. Not only is the food superb, but the atmosphere is cozy, the staff are friendly, and the best thing is that the menu is very varied (because not everyone likes the same thing). You have to try more than just the carbonara – so many of their dishes are just delightful.

If there is space in your belly for one more thing, let it be their spectacular tiramisu, a firm favorite of local and discerning visitors alike, with a shot of the best ristretto coffee. Da Gino al Parlamento has probably the best coffee in town!


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