Rome might conjure up images like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, but its bustling food scene is just as iconic. TasteAtlas recently voted Rome the best food destination in the world, and anybody who’s spent time in the Italian capital will understand just why.
To get a real taste of Rome, we recently tried Carpe Diem Tours’ award-winning Rome Food Tour through the medieval neighborhood of Trastevere. Here's what we thought.
Over the course of this three-hour tour, we indulged in more than 10 mouthwatering tastings, each carefully chosen to showcase Rome’s rich culinary culture.
We started at a quaint delicatessen, owned by the same family for generations, where we enjoyed a platter of regional cheeses and cured meats, including Rome’s famous porchetta (roast pork). Paired with local honey and jams, this was a treat for the tastebuds, and was complemented further by some local red wine from Lazio.
Next, we visited a hole-in-the-wall street food vendor, which our guide revealed was a local institution. She was completely right. Locals were queuing around the block to place their order, but our guide was able to go right to the front to pick up our savoury supplì (golden deep-fried rice balls filled with stringy mozzarella and tomato sauce). The ultimate comfort food, and something that the other street food places we visited failed to replicate.
After a short stroll around the neighborhood and past the picturesque piazza of Santa Maria in Trastevere, we stopped off for some crispy Roman-style pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). Showcased on a countertop for passers-by to admire, this was the airiest, crunchiest pizza we’ve ever wrapped our teeth around, topped with fresh, juicy ingredients and seasoned to perfection. Nor was this pizza as filling as we had worried it would be, since the pizza from this place is left to leaven for at least 24 hours.
Our next stop was a fascinating ancient restaurant, founded on the site of a Jewish synagogue from around the time of Julius Caesar. Its basement, which we visited, was once a Roman residence, but has since been converted into an atmospheric wine cellar. The food at this place was nothing short of spectacular: our host (the son and co-owner) told us that his mother (the head chef) is part of Italy’s Slow Food movement, and takes pride in favouring local produce and sourcing ingredients that are sustainable and pesticide-free. He also told us that the dish we were trying derived from an ancient Roman recipe, and that something similar was enjoyed by the early Roman emperors.
Getting quite full, but still eager for more food, we took a short stroll down a medieval alleyway and across a cobbled piazza, narrowly avoiding a football some local kids were kicking around. Our guide sat us down at a typical Roman trattoria, where we tasted two main Roman pasta dishes: rigatoni alla carbonara (with egg, pork jowl, pecorino cheese and pepper) and rigatoni all’amatriciana (tomato sauce, pork jowl, pecorino cheese and pepper). Delicious, al dente, and simple enough to trick us into thinking we could hope to make this back home, this was the best pasta we tasted during our entire stay in Italy. But we still had space for something sweet.
Our final stop was at a cute gelateria on one of Trastevere’s most picturesque streets. This award-winning gelateria served us the creamiest, freshest gelato you'll ever taste, free from all artificial colours or additives. Our guide also let us in on some tips and tricks for spotting quality gelato, which we put into practice on the rest of our trip and managed to avoid falling into any tourist traps.
Carpe Diem has chosen the riverside district of Trastevere for their Rome Food Tour because this neighbourhood embodies the true essence of Roman life. Across the river from major tourist hubs, Trastevere is a medieval medley of winding cobblestone streets, ivy-draped buildings, and intimate piazzas where locals linger over leisurely meals.
Trastevere is still authentically ‘local’. Yet, its growing popularity has given way to a few tourist traps. Thankfully, our local foodie expert guide steered us clear of these, directing our attention instead to hidden gems cherished by Romans themselves and giving us pointers for the rest of our trip for how to spot the Italian restaurants, trattorie and osterie that the locals love.
One of the standout aspects of this tour was the intimate small-group setting. With just 10 food enthusiasts (couples, families, and friends )we shared engaging conversations and personalised attention from our knowledgeable guide. Each stop included fascinating insights into Roman food culture, history, and even etiquette, and by the end of the experience the group had bonded so much it didn’t feel like taking a tour but going out for food and drinks with friends.
What elevated our experience beyond mere tasting was the connection to the people behind the food. We met passionate delicatessen owners, street food vendors, pizzaioli and restaurateurs who enthusiastically shared their craft and traditions. Understanding their stories deepened our appreciation of each bite and reinforced why Italian cuisine is revered worldwide.
The tour highlights seasonal ingredients and menus, adapting throughout the year to reflect what's freshest and most authentically Roman. From hearty winter dishes to bright summer flavours, every season brings a fresh perspective, ensuring no two visits are identical.
This Rome Food Tour is also welcoming to vegetarians (with advance notice). It’s important to note that gluten-free and vegan options aren't currently available. However, the team at Carpe Diem Tours is hopeful about accommodating these dietary needs in the future.
Joining Carpe Diem Tours for their Rome Food Tour wasn’t just about enjoying excellent food. It was about experiencing Rome as Romans do. We came away satiated, educated, and genuinely inspired by Rome’s rich culinary heritage, and confident for our next trip to Italy that we can spot what’s quality and sniff out any tourist traps.
Whether you're planning your first trip to Rome or you're a seasoned visitor, booking this award-winning Rome Food Tour should unquestionably top your itinerary. After all, life—and your vacation—is far too short to settle for anything less than exceptional food.
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