Where We Eat In Rome: The Best Local Spots In Monti And Beyond

Rome needs no introduction and second to the grand architecture that defines each side of the River Tiber (Fiume Tevere), diving into the food culture is a perfect means of experiencing The Eternal City (La Città Eterna for those brushing up on their Italian). Monti is one of the neighbourhoods that we have fallen in love with over the years. What is Rome’s first and largest district, (known as a Rione of which there are 14 in total), is steeped in history, and what was once one of the quieter areas of the city in the 18th century is now charmingly up-and-coming. Yet despite its wonderfully close proximity to the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, Monti maintains its humble authenticity and is still home to many locals, as well as their favourite, more hidden, dining spots…

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You will always eat well in Rome, and Monti especially is one of those places where locals still go to eat in the evening, it's not just a place for tourists.

Boasting an effervescent atmosphere that everyone must experience in person, this part of Europe is a must in all seasons. Whether you go in fall or spring, there will be a menu to whisk your senses away. With the recent remodel of our first Rome Pied À Terre home, Antonio de Tommaso, August Real Estate Acquisition manager for Italy and the UK, and more of the August team have become more than familiar with Monti and other glorious neighbourhoods in the city. Follow in their culinary footsteps with their recommendations and best addresses for aperitivo, gnocchi al ragu. Plus, a specific type of pizza that might even give Rome an edge over Napoli… 

The Best Local Restaurants In Monti And Beyond

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What makes Rome so special?

The magic atmosphere of Rome is something you have to try. Everything is there. You have beautiful churches everywhere, cobbled streets and a mix of architectural styles. You’ll see a building from the mediaeval age next to the one from the 18th or 19th century, and all is very well maintained. What stands out the most is how you have a specific atmosphere at every hour of the day. Early morning, when everything starts to open, it feels active. Come afternoon and evening, the atmosphere is completely different; you have people strolling around together and enjoying their aperitivo. Everyone starts drinking and eating everything they can, it’s all delicious. In the evening it's super beautiful, especially when everything is closed. The city centre has a gentle yellow glow of lights and as you walk around, all of the noise of the day completely disappears. You can truly see how Rome is. It's really unique.

What are your favourite local restaurants in Monti?

In Monti, you’re always discovering, but if you want a proper Roman experience, where all the locals go, you want to go to the Mercato Rionale. I love it. It’s a covered market that is less than a minute from our property. It's quite small, but you have everything you need; you can shop, buy bread, go to the butchers and there is a fishmonger too. You have a pasta maker, where you can go to eat the fresh pasta of the day. We ordered gnocchi with a ragu, a wild boar ragu. It was really, really tasty.

It’s very typical Italian, there were some very small tables for two inside. You can sit and eat there, basically directly there and it's a very nice experience. And something a little different from a classic panini or pizza for lunch, it’s a nice place to try. When I discovered this place, the first thing I thought was, okay, this is great. Homeowners will be really close to the market and they can go there and have a proper Roman experience, Lots of locals go there, it's not just something for tourists. People who still live in Monti, they go there to buy vegetables, fruit, meat and everything that they need.

‍You can find up-to-date opening times on the website.

What do you always order to eat in Rome?

It really depends. In Rome you can find everything. But, what I really like in Rome is the classic Pinsa Romana as it’s very difficult to find a really good one, so when I go to Rome, I have to eat Pinsa Romana. It's really different compared to the Neapolitan pizza which is much thicker. It is its own type of pizza Romana, with a different dough recipe. It’s oval, hand-stretched and thinner than compared with the classic round and thin pizzas.

For classic very thin pizzas, there are a couple of very famous places to try like Baffetto in the city center. There you can find a really really good one or Monte Carlo. Of course, there are probably several places where you can have a very good Pinse or classic pizza Romana - that is the beauty of Italy in particular, we are really good at making local and traditional food. 

You will always eat well and Monti especially, is one of those places where locals still go to eat in the evening, it's not just a place for tourists. The best way to understand where you have found a good restaurant is simply if there are a lot of Italians there, we love to go for dinner. In Rome in particular, you’ll find these really small shops that have been there for years around every corner, and you can buy all these different types of pizza by the slice, Pizza al taglio. 

My favourite spots for a slice around Rome are Il Gian Fornaio which has shops in different locations including Piazza di Spagna, close to Monti, and Prati, a great neighbourhood on the west side of the river. Then there is Antico Forno Roscioli which is 10 minutes from the Pantheon on Via dei Chiavari. Round the corner, less than 5 minutes walk, is Antico Forno del Ghetto Urbani on Piazza Costaguti. 

What pasta would you order in Rome?

Pasta is normal for Italians to cook at home so when I’m in Rome, I’ll always order a proper Roman recipe. There's a good place in Trastevere, the name is Hosteria Da Corrado. We went there and it was really, really good, especially for pasta. it’s a typical Osteria where you go to eat the traditional Roman recipes like pasta Amatriciana, Carbonara, and pasta alla Gricia, the classics. Then there are different types of meat, like saltimbocca and basically everything from the region. 

Where else to go and what to order, to eat (and drink) like a local

With the August design team going to and from our Monti location, we have gathered more favourite spots to whet the appetite.

Taverna Romana

Where to find: Via della Madonna dei Monti, 79, 00184 Roma 

What to order: We ate everything typically Roman: carbonara, cacio e pepe, even polpette carbonara. They also have specials everyday.

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I  Vaccinari | Trattoria Pizzeria Romana al Rione Monti‍

Where to find: Via della Madonna dei Monti, 55, 00184 Roma

‍What to order: We tried ‘Coda alla vaccinara’ which is ox tail stew, and found it delicious. 

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La Casetta a Monti

‍Where to find: Via della Madonna dei Monti, 62, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

What to order? Cocktails, you’ll find the best negronis in town.

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L'Archetto di Cavour

Where to find: Via Cavour, 197, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

‍What do order: Whatever you feel, the antipasti is a popular choice. 

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Benso‍

Where to find: Via Cavour, 215, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

‍What do order: Everything is incredible here but the pizza in particular is phenomenal.

Eager to explore more about European co-homeownership in Rome and beyond? Start a conversation with our expert Advisory Team and take one step closer to your August journey today.