It may seem surprising, but there are really many places in Rome to eat hearty, tasty and at the same time save a couple of euros. The eternal city is generous with treats, and panini, pizza and pasta are available at very low prices.
In this review, we will find out how much it costs to eat in Rome, where to go for food for a budget tourist, and where Italians themselves prefer to have a snack.
Bread-in
The menu includes more than 10 branded juicy paninis on hot fresh bread (4.50-6 €). Interestingly, they are all named after famous films: “Psycho” by Alfred Hitchcock, “Star Wars” by George Lucas, “Avatar” by James Cameron. By purchasing a salad and panini, you can quickly satisfy your hunger, while spending only about 10 €.
Piazza di Tor Sanguigna, 9
Bread-in cafe menu
Sun-Thu 10: 00-23: 00, Fri-Sat 10: 00-02: 00
facebook.com/BreadInRoma
Pane e salame
Optionally, you can choose either a ready-made panini or collect it yourself from the ingredients to your liking. Cooking takes just a couple of minutes, all food can be taken with you to take away.
Via Santa Maria in Via, 19
Pane e Salame menu
Wed-Mon 12: 00-22: 00
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Baguetteria del Fico
Baguetteria del Fico is, first of all, fantastically tasty and large sandwiches:
- San Marzano with excellent Parma ham (6 €);
- Giovanna with pancetta, mozzarella and olives (7 €);
- Roastbeef with beef and soft cacocavallo cheese (8 €);
- Bonfatti with mortadella and mozzarella (6 €).
In total, in the cafe you can try more than 20 different sandwiches with original fillings, as well as enjoy cheeses, prosciutto, salami and other delicacies for which Italy is so famous.
Via della Fossa, 12
Baguetteria del Fico menu
Mon-Thu 11: 00-17: 00, Fri-Sun 11: 00-00: 00
baguetteriadelfico.net
Pastasciutta
In total, Pastasciutta serves 6 different types of Italian pasta, such as Pappardelle al Ragù with meat sauce or Spaghetti alla Carbonara with bacon, parmesan and pecorino romano. The portions are quite generous (each costs 6 €, which is quite inexpensive for the center of Rome), plus 1.5 times more pasta will be made for you for 1 € on top. The order is usually taken with them to take away, as it is cramped inside, and there is no shortage of those who want to eat tasty food.
Via delle Grazie, 5
Piazzale Flaminio, 10
Cafe Pastasciutta menu
Daily 10: 30-18: 30
Daily 11: 00-22: 00
pastasciuttaroma.it
ALLbiBOX
Only local and organic products are used for cooking – this is the main principle of ALLbiBOX owners, who strive to ensure that food is as natural and delicious as possible. Polpette are sold in boxes resembling popcorn glasses, 3/8/15 pieces each and cost about 4/9/13 €, respectively.
Via F. Grimaldi, 48/50
ALLbiBOX cafe menu
Daily 8: 00-00: 00
allbibox.com
La Tonneria
The interior is quite simple, there are no waiters, the bar is self-service. The audience here is also typical: mostly Italians themselves, who live and work nearby, come here to eat, which can also be regarded as a big plus for the institution.
Via della Scala, 67
Wine restaurant La Tonneria menu
Sun-Fri 11: 00-00: 00, Sat 11: 00-01: 00
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Taverna del seminario
Taverna del Seminario also offers a hearty set lunch for 15 € (an appetizer, two courses and a dessert) – it is quite possible to order it for two.
Via del Seminario, 105
Taverna del Seminario menu
Daily 12: 00-23: 15
tavernadelseminario.it
Trattoria dal Pollarolo 1936
This small family establishment opened its doors to visitors for the first time about a century ago and during this time has managed to gain a good reputation in the city. Simple hard workers and office workers, artists and actors come here to eat. And even tourists, once having been here, will certainly return again.
Main dishes: pizza, ravioli, risotto, half pette – cost about 10-12 €, beer – 4-5 €. Every day there is a special offer in the trattoria, for example, on Friday, pasta and cod, and on Saturday – trippa. All desserts are homemade: cherry pie, tiramisu and other goodies, like the rest of the food, are prepared in the trattoria themselves from fresh and natural products.
Via di Ripetta, 4
Trattoria dal Pollarolo 1936 Menu
Fri-Wed 12: 30-15: 00 and 19: 00-23: 00
dalpollarolo1936.it
Alle carrette
The cheapest pizza – the traditional “Margarita” – will cost 5.50 €, calzoni and crostini with hearty fillings – 7-8 €. A separate section of the menu is dedicated to the original Italian cheese in the shape of a pear – scamorze. It is prepared in 6 different ways, for example, baked with ham, salmon or bresaola (dry-cured beef).
95 Via della Madonna dei Monti
Alle Carrette Pizzeria Menu
Daily 11: 30-16: 00 and 19: 00-00: 00
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Da tonino
On the menu there are about 10 types of pasta at € 8: from the traditional Carbonara to the interesting version with chickpeas, which is prepared only on Fridays. The portions are very large, except for the specialty they serve steaks, salads, meatballs, roasts – all for 8-11 €. A real gem for the budget traveler!
95 Via della Madonna dei Monti
Restaurant Da Tonino Menu
Mon-Sat 12: 00-15: 00 and 19: 00-00: 00
facebook.com/pages/Da-Tonino
14 more places to eat on a budget in Rome
Mizio’s Street Food – a snack bar with hearty and inexpensive Italian sandwiches near the San Pietro in Vincoli Basilica;
Supplì is a good option for a cheap meal in Rome: the signature rice ball with meat filling and a slice of pizza will cost 3.20 €;
Il Panino Ingegnoso – a small cafe for a budget traveler next to the Tempio di Adriano temple, all paninis for 3.50-7 €;
D’Angelo – an ideal place for breakfast if you find yourself in the eastern part of Rome near Santa Maria della Vittoria (croissants, panini, focaccia, salads – 4-7 €), the choice of food is large;
Lost Food Factory – an establishment with inexpensive Italian fast food right next to Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena near the Pantheon;
La Piadineria – a network of establishments in Rome with hearty Italian flatbreads for 3 €;
Ciacco & Bacco – a nice cafe with excellent cold cuts, salads and desserts (on average 4-6 €), located in the San Lorenzo area;
La Salumeria – a must have for lovers of meat delicacies, a relatively inexpensive snack bar on the way to the Vatican (food prices, as on average in Rome, are 5-6 € for a panini, 10-35 € for a sliced board);
Que te pongo – a budget establishment in the tourist area, close to the Pantheon, with an emphasis on fish and seafood;
Il Pastaio di Roma – a diner in the center of Rome, where you can eat homemade pasta for 4 €;
Pastificio guerra – a place near the Spanish Steps, where you can refresh yourself with pasta (it is sold in take-away containers, large portion – 4 €, water is free);
Sfizi di Pizza – a place for pizza lovers right in the historic center of Rome, a little away from Via Nazionale (prices ranging from 4-5 €);
SoloPasta – another cafe in Rome for cheap pasta (5 € per serving);
Pizza Florida – a small inexpensive pizzeria in the center, 4 slices of pizza with water or lemonade cost 4-6 €.