My curated, local selection of 5 of the best restaurants near the Colosseum for lunch or dinner, tried and tested over several years (by me, I am from Rome!)
One of the biggest worries, when it comes to picking a place to eat close to a major landmark such as the Colosseum is to get into a tourist trap, aka a restaurant with high prices and sub par quality, getting business from its location, rather than food quality.
The risk is indeed there. In Rome, like in most other places, the general rule is that restaurants immediately overlooking a landmark are easily among the most pricey and the least authentic, but this doesn’t mean that you cannot find nice food close to Rome’s main attractions.
It only means that you need a tried and tested list and this is where this post comes in! I am from and eat near the Colosseum regularly: this is my curated, first hand experience based list of the best restaurants close to the Colosseum.
Naumachia
Le Naumachie is a bit of an institution in this part of Rome and one of the best restaurants near the Colosseum, delivering consistently excellent food at lunch and dinner since well over two decades ago (this is where I first went to it, but it’s been here longer!)
The restaurant serves Roman and Italian food, it has a homely atmosphere and gets a mixed clientele: tourists find it, of course, thanks to its location close to the Colosseum, yet it is also a popular choice with office workers in the area and, in the evening, for families coming here from the neighbourhood yet also further afield (it is worth coming here from other parts of town!)
This is an excellent address for a god sit down meal for lunch or dinner. Reservations accepted.
Address: Via Celimontana, 7, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Cafe Cafe
Cafe Cafe is a mediterranean bistro near the Colosseum great for an informal light lunch or late breakfast.
The bistro offers a variety of dishes ranging from pancakes, to salads and even pasta dishes yet truly comes into its own for small bites such as cake, mezze platters and light lunch options.
Colorful and informal, this is a a great place for an all day breakfast type of snack, sit down coffee or if you have kids.
Address: Via dei Santi Quattro 44, 00186 Rome
Trattoria Pizzeria Luzzi
Luzzi is another institution of this area, a restaurant and pizzeria with consistent good food at good prices.
Luzzi is a typical roman restaurant, with a no fuss yet welcoming atmosphere and non fancy yet delicious food.
Here you have roman specialties like oxtail, pizza and some good vegetarian options too such as parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana), cannelloni, pizza, mushroom pasta and more.
A great, low prices, good quality restaurant close to the Colosseum.
Address: Via dei Santi Quattro 30, 00184 Rome
Taverna Romana
Taverna Romana is a lovely traditional restaurant close to the Colosseum in the Monti neighborhood that, despite the busy location, manages to deliver great local food in a pleasant atmosphere and keep prices reasonable!
The restaurant is casual and welcoming in style and offers a variety of dishes including good pasta choices and staples of Roman cuisine as well as crowd pleasers such as polpette (meatballs) and good veggie sides.
Address: Via della Madonna dei Monti, 79, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Pizzeria della Madonna ai Monti (quick bite)
If you are looking for a quick bite, rather than a full on sit down meal, I recommend you come to Via della Madonna ai Monti and get pizza and suppli.
Pizzeria della Madonna ai Monti is a typical pizza al taglio place (the Rome version of pizza by the slice) and it si delicious: you can get pizza to go or grab table outside to much while watching life pass by.
A delicious, inexpensive, very Roman way to have lunch near the Colosseum!
Address: Via della Madonna dei Monti, 110, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
