Our top recommendations for the best pasta in Rome.
Rome is a haven for foodies and chefs longing to fully exhaust the wonders of their taste buds. It doesn’t always have to be an exotic dish. One simple plate of pasta can easily complete a trip.
If you happen to be in Rome right now or planning to visit the eternal city, there is a 100% chance that you will find the best pasta you have ever tasted in your life right on this side of Italy.
So, before you toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain or pose for the perfect selfie at the Colosseum, make note of these authentic Italian eateries. That way you’ll know exactly what to order and where to go to satisfy all your pasta cravings.
Il Peperoncino D’oro
What to Order:Tagliolino senatore cappelli crema di rape alici tostate peperoncino e burrata
Location:Via del Boschetto, 36/A
This simple restaurant in the center of Rome offers uncomplicated pasta dishes that hit you right to the core. In fact, Francesco Mazzei has named this place one of his favorites.
The London-based chef and pizza aficionado particularly likes the pasta dish from this restaurant with cream of turnips, roasted anchovies, chili pepper, and burrata. For Mazzei, it might be simple but it is packed with so much flavor.
This restaurant may look a little more modern than others that offer the same cuisine, but it sure does deliver traditional dishes that can make you appreciate Italian cuisine.
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Flavio al Velavevodetto
What to Order:Ravioli Velavevodetto
Location:Via di Monte Testaccio, 97
Flavio al Velavevodetto serves delicious food made with high-quality seasonal ingredients sourced from their own farmland.
Coincidentally, this restaurant is located inside Monte dei Cocci, an ancient Roman rubbish dump with an estimated 53 million terracotta amphorae, making it a one-of-a-kind place to enjoy your pasta.
Their amatriciana is to die for along with their cacio e pepe, carbonara, and gricia. But if you want a surprise, their ravioli made with spinach and buffalo-milk ricotta is one of the best dishes on the menu.
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Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina
What to Order:La Carbonara
Location: Via dei Giubbonari, 21/22
Of course, you’ll wait to pair some authentic Italian wine with your perfectly al dente pasta, and Roscioli Salumeria is just the place to do it.
It may look like a wine cellar, but Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina is best known for its sumptuous pasta dishes. We suggest you order the carbonara. It’s a deceptively simple plate of food, made spectacular by the use of top-quality ingredients – from the aromatic Sarawak peppercorns to eggs straight from hens.
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Felice a Testaccio
What to Order: Tonnarelli Cacio and Pepe
Location: Via Mastro Giorgio, 29
This place exudes a traditional Roman feel which translates well to their menu. Tourists looking to try something a little more exotic won’t be disappointed (they’re famous for their offal dishes) but to really experience the charm of old Rome, go for the pasta.
In Felice a Testaccio, their carbonara should be on your “must order” list but if you’ve had your fill of cream-based pasta, try the penne all’Arrabbiata.
Tonnarelli Cacio and Pepe, on the other hand, is one of Felice a Testaccio’s bestsellers. They make one of the finest – if not the finest – in the city.
What’s interesting about this place is that they offer different dishes every day. Your craving for traditional Roman dishes will surely be satisfied here.
The place has a bare-brick interior that almost looks like a diner because of its black and white floor tiles.
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La Tavernaccia da Bruno
What to Order: Pappardelle al ragù di cinghale
Location: Via Giovanni da Castel Bolognese, 63
La Tavernaccia da Bruno was built with love by Patrizia and her husband Giuseppe who wanted their patrons to feel the affection between them.
Dining here, you can’t help but appreciate why many Italians consider every meal sacred. Aside from believing in the philosophy of slow food, the staff embodies what home cooking should feel like—very welcoming and friendly. In addition to a warm, comfortable atmosphere, the restaurant offers simple dishes made with genuine Italian ingredients.
Don’t miss the pappardelle al ragu. They also offer Rome’s original pasta dish, gricia.
Perilli a Testaccio
What to Order: Bucatini alla Amatriciana
Location: Via Marmorata, 39
Crazy for amatriciana? Perilli a Testaccio serves this tomato-based pasta dish with a hint of sweetness and tanginess. Its main ingredients are guanciale, tomato, and pecorino.
Eating amatriciana is like taking a bite out of both ancient and recent history.The dish is thought to have originated in Amatrice over a thousand years ago but it surged to popularity following the 2017 earthquake that nearly destroyed the tiny town. The ‘Amatriciana per Amatrice’ movement encouraged customers to order it in restaurants across Italy as a sign of solidarity; restaurant owners would then donate €2 for each dish sold towards rescue efforts.
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Armando al Pantheon
What to Order: Spaghetti all carbonara con guanciale, pecorino romano, uova, e pepe
Location: Salita dei Crescenzi, 31
This legendary restaurant is just a stone’s throw away from the famous Pantheon in Rome, and while Pantheon is rich in history, Armando al Pantheon is rich with delicious pasta dishes.
Armando al Pantheon is a family-run restaurant with traditional interiors but with modern access. Their menu remains to be true to the classic Roman cuisine. It is a good way to end a day’s trip to the historical sites and treat yourself to a warm spaghetti alla carbonara.
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Alfredo Alla Scrofa
What to Order: Le Originale fettucini Alfredo
Location: Via della Scrofa, 104/a
This is the place to order fettucini. Celebrities past and present swear by its goodness. Alfredo di Lello created his signature sauce in the 1920s, and silent movie stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were amongst the first to rave about it.
Zia Rilla
What to Order: Ravioli di zucca con fonduta di Parmigiano
Location: Via Famagosta, 18
If you are a sucker for history and old town goodness, Zia Rilla should be on your list. The restaurant’s wooden sideboards and flower-adorned shelves are reminiscent of the English Countryside – so much so that you might forget that you’re still in Rome.
The kitchen dishes up fresh homemade pasta every day. Try their ravioli with pumpkin and apple mustard or the fettuccini with meat ragú. They even offer a pasta dish that needs to be boiled for three hours!
Insider’s Tip: If you’d like to get a little more hands-on with your pasta, sign up in advance for one of their pasta-making workshops.
You can find pasta anywhere in Italy, that is a given. But if you are looking for the best ones to try in this lifetime, Rome is home to a lot of restaurants that serve pasta dishes that will make you feel like you were blessed by his Papal holiness—no kidding.
Traditional and classic dishes, Roma will definitely make you fall in love with every bite. You do not need to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain just to satisfy your cravings. Visit any of these restaurants and you’ll find yourself floating in Italian pasta charm.
If only these plates of pasta were allowed in your carry-on luggage…
About the Author
Geraldine Mills is a self-confessed wanderlust from the land down under, Australia! She funds her adventures by working as a brand consultant and as a travel writer. She loves sharing the allure of backpacking and being one with nature.