Best Cheap Eats to Try in Rome

The city of Rome is home to a lot of great and affordable places to eat, but sometimes it is not always easy to filter the authentic ones from the tourist traps. Well, good news for you. Whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall trattoria or a hundred-year-old gelateria, we have got the rundown on where to find the tastiest cheap eats in this city.

Bonci Pizzarium

If you see a steady stream of locals and tourists coming in and out of a pizza joint, you know the pizza served is going to be good. Owned by Gabriele Bonci, Rome’s acclaimed ‘Pizza King’, Pizzarium serves a constantly changing selection of rectangular pizza slices made using carefully sourced ingredients.

The pizza here is sold by weight, and the final cost depends on the size of your slice and its toppings. The staff will cut as much or as little as you request, so ask for smaller portions if you want to sample several varieties without spending too much.

You get a perfectly crisp and soft dough topped with artisanal ingredients ranging from fresh ricotta to tomatoes, salami, spinach, and buffalo mozzarella.

Take note that there is no set menu here and you get to choose from whatever the chef decides to make that day.

Expected price: Pizza is sold by weight rather than at a fixed price per slice. Some premium toppings can make it considerably more expensive than the original €5 estimate.

Pizzeria Da Remo

Located in the traditionally working-class neighbourhood of Testaccio, Remo’s pizza is pretty hard to top. This classic Roman pizzeria serves consistently excellent paper-thin pizza straight out of a wood-fired oven.

Go for the classic Margherita, made with mozzarella and tomato sauce, or the Margherita con bufala, which replaces the standard mozzarella with buffalo mozzarella.

Aside from pizza, Remo also offers delicious Italian treats such as supplì, fried rice croquettes that usually contain tomato-seasoned rice and mozzarella, and fagioli, a simple bean dish that may be served according to the day’s menu.

The place is busy most of the time, so expect a queue if you come later than 8.30pm. The pizzeria is especially popular during dinner service and does not offer the polished or leisurely atmosphere of a formal restaurant. Come for the lively local setting and thin Roman-style pizza.

Expected price: Check the latest menu before visiting. Da Remo remains relatively accessible for a sit-down pizza, but the former €8–€10 estimate should no longer be treated as current.

Felice a Testaccio

Image credit: Da Felice Facebook

If there is one dish that you must have in Rome, it is inarguably cacio e pepe. An iconic Roman dish, cacio e pepe is made up of pasta, Pecorino Romano, black pepper and starchy pasta water, which come together to form its creamy sauce.

For one of the best-known versions in the city, head over to Felice a Testaccio, a traditional Testaccio trattoria beloved by local foodies for its real Roman cooking.

Here, the tonnarelli are mixed with the cheese-and-pepper sauce tableside, ensuring that your pasta dish is properly coated before it is served.

Book ahead; this restaurant is very popular. Reservations are available through the restaurant’s official website, and booking in advance is strongly recommended.

Expected price: Current prices are significantly higher than the original €12 estimate. Treat Felice as a moderately priced traditional restaurant rather than one of Rome’s cheapest meals.

Giolitti

Situated a few steps away from the Pantheon is Giolitti, possibly the most famed gelateria in Rome.

The Giolitti business was founded as a dairy in 1890, while its historic Via degli Uffici del Vicario premises has welcomed customers since 1900. It serves a broad selection of artisanal gelato, pastries, cakes, desserts and savoury items.

Do not miss their stracciatella, a milk-based gelato scattered with fine pieces of chocolate, and cioccolato for a creamy, chocolate-filled delight.

For takeaway gelato, pay at the cashier before presenting your receipt at the gelato counter. Sitting at one of the tables involves table service and can cost more than ordering your gelato to go.

Expected price: Prices depend on the portion and whether you order takeaway or use table service. Check the current price list before ordering rather than relying on the former €2.50–€4.50 range.

AngryPig Birretta e Porchetta

Close to the Vatican Museums is AngryPig, a tiny shop serving up porchetta sandwiches along with a selection of wines and craft beers at comparatively accessible prices.

Porchetta, in Italian cooking, is a boneless pork roast that has been seasoned with garlic and herbs. It is typically sliced and served as a filling in sandwiches.

In AngryPig, you can choose from several different combinations, pairing the porchetta with sauces, vegetables and other toppings. The available combinations and numbering may change, so choose from the current menu displayed at the shop.

Every version is flavourful and succulent, making it a convenient stop for a quick meal near the Vatican Museums.

Expected price: Check the current menu, as prices vary according to the sandwich and selected fillings. The original fixed €6 estimate is outdated.

Forno Campo de’ Fiori

Image credit: Forno Campo de Fiori Facebook

This historic bakery on Campo de’ Fiori serves fresh-from-the-oven pizza by the slice.

Foodies swear by the pizza bianca, a simple Roman flatbread seasoned with olive oil and salt, pizza rossa, which is topped with tomato sauce, and Margherita, made with mozzarella and tomato.

In addition to its famous sliced pizzas and focaccia, Forno Campo de’ Fiori offers amazing bread and pastries too.

The pizza is cut according to the amount you request and charged by weight. There is no proper dining area, so expect to take your food away or eat it while standing nearby. The bakery currently operates from Monday to Saturday and is generally closed on Sundays.

Expected price: Pizza is sold by weight, so the total depends on the portion and topping. The former estimate of approximately €3 per slice is no longer sufficiently precise.

Da Enzo al 29

Image credit: Da Enzo al 29 Facebook

If you are looking for an authentic Roman trattoria that makes high-quality food at prices that are still reasonable compared with many formal restaurants in central Rome, then Da Enzo al 29 is the place to be.

Tucked away down the cobbled back streets of the Trastevere neighbourhood, Da Enzo al 29 is a tiny trattoria boasting a menu of Roman classics that are made with just a few ingredients of premium quality. The owners of the restaurant commit to local suppliers and favour products made by the locals.

For starters, get the carciofi alla giudia, which is generally seasonal, follow it up with their carbonara and the coda alla vaccinara, or oxtail stew, and finish it off with the tiramisu. It’ll definitely be a meal you won’t forget!

Da Enzo does not accept reservations. Queues regularly form before lunch and dinner service, so arrive before opening if you want to reduce your waiting time.

Expected price: Most pasta dishes now cost approximately €15–€17, while meat dishes and a full multi-course meal will cost more. The former claim that main dishes start at €9 is outdated.

Feeling hungry yet? Then what are you waiting for? Save these addresses, check their latest menus and head over to the Eternal City for pizza, pasta, porchetta and gelato. Mixing takeaway snacks with one or two sit-down meals is one of the easiest ways to experience Roman food without letting the cost of every meal add up. Buon appetito!