Duration: 3 Hours (approx.)
Rome and its cuisine are intimately entwined. On this Rome food tour in the charming riverside quartiere of Parione you will learn the city’s culinary history and get to sample the delicacies. You get to literally eat your way through history!
On this Rome food tour you will discover that Italian cuisine is notoriously regional, and learn which of the delicious local specialties Rome is famous for.
You will also learn how fiercely attached Romans are to ingredients that are both farm-fresh and seasonal. As we stroll the cobbled alleyways of this atmospheric medieval district we will sample some of the best of Rome’s typical dishes in authentic and locally loved eateries. “When in Rome, eat as the Romans do”.
After a warm welcome, we begin our Rome food tour in the colorful open-air market of Campo de’ Fiori, a picturesque historic square where we will take a moment to explore the colourful displays of food and souvenirs, and find some of the key ingredients of some of Italy’s signature dishes.
A traditional Italian meal can have a surprisingly large number of courses, but always starts with antipasti, so with that in mind we begin by sampling a selection of locally produced cured meats and cheeses, accompanied by a glass of wine from Rome’s Lazio region, at one of the city’s oldest salumiere, giving you the opportunity to savour the unique flavours of prime cold cuts selected and prepared by an expert butcher who takes a passionate interest in his trade.
Our next stop is just a couple of winding backstreets away, at a bakery that has been owned and run by the same family for generations. Pizza is considered an essential part of life in Italy, and in Rome it is perfectly acceptable to eat a slice for breakfast – but not the type you might be expecting! Your will not only be able to try the locals’ favourite toppings, which vary according to the seasons and time of day, but you will also be able to watch the pizzaiolo hand-preparing and cooking the pizzas while you wait.
We will then take a short walk to make space for the next dish that we will be sampling: pasta! Italy must be the only country in the world where it isn’t considered a food crime to eat both pizza and pasta in the same day, so our next stop is a highly renowned pasta restaurant with an open kitchen that serves traditional Roman specialities with modern twist.
A craving for something sweet is only natural after all those lovely savory dishes, so we will head around the corner to a vintage gelateria where we can sample a variety of delicious artisan gelati prepared from fresh ingredients that morning. Gelato may look like ice cream, but the proportions of their ingredients and their churning processes are not the same – and you will definitely be able to taste the difference!
Your Rome food tour ends as all good meals should – with one of the best cups of coffee in Rome, sipped at your leisure at Rome’s oldest café.
Buon appetito!
When we recommend specific tours, we use our considerable expertise about visiting Rome to select nothing but the absolute best tours and providers for you.
We do not work with companies such as Viator, GetYourGuide, or TripAdvisor, as they all charge a huge commission to independent operators, severely denting livelihoods in a sector that has already suffered significantly during the pandemic.
Instead, we go direct: all of the tour operators that we promote in our Tours section are personally known to and endorsed by us, based on our years working in the Rome travel business. By booking tours with these providers, more of the fee goes to the people who deserve it, and much less to the middlemen.
The small print: Rome Vacation Tips endorses our tour providers, but any transaction carried out between you the client and a tour operator is a relationship between you and the specific operator. Any issues or queries about a specific tour should be addressed directly to the operator with whom you booked using the contact details they have provided.
Photo credit: AFP
Because of ticket supply problems following the end of Covid restrictions, it is strongly advised that you buy tickets and tours in advance to visit attractions in Rome.
Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
