Where to eat in Rome near Piazza Navona: an insider guide to the best restaurants near Piazza Navona and what to order in each.
Piazza Navona is at the heart of the historic centre of Rome and one of the best areas to stay in Rome.
Therefore, there is a good chance you’ll find yourself here for a meal, may it be a filling lunch, a proper dinner, or a quick bite.
Good restaurants near Piazza Navona abound and, overall, the quality of them is very high, despite the high tourism affluence to this district, so you will really have no problem finding a meal here.
However, I do have some favorite addresses and today, I share them with you!
I am from Rome, and these are addresses that have consistently proven great over the course of the years and that I myself go to over and over again.
I hope you enjoy them!
Map
Camillo a Piazza Navona dal 1890
Camillo is right on Piazza Navona, so you may think it is a touristy and overpriced address, but do not discard it just yet as this restaurant is on a mission to prove great location and great food can indeed go hand in hand and indeed, it proves its point beautifully!
We first came here under the recommendation of our LivTour guide, a foodie himself, and we were not disappointed.
As well as an unbeatable location right on the piazza, the restaurant has lovely dishes that mix traditional roman staples such as carbonara with some Asian inspired dishes and crowd pleasers such as caesars’ salad.
Their calamari starter and carbonara make for a lovely lunch. Desserts are very rich so make sure you leave some space for them!
Prices are right too and a wonderful surprise in such an outstanding spot. Address: Piazza Navona Website: https://www.camillopiazzanavona.it
Grappolo d’Oro
Grappolo d’Oro is a great trattoria on Piazza della Cancelleria, across the road from Piazza Navona, which prides itself in proposing dishes that are locally sourced from small, local producers, and prepared the traditional way, in perfect slow food philosophy.
Due to this approach, their menu varies seasonally and follows the availability of fresh produce and we have always found it of exceptional quality.
The thing to order here especially is their ‘percorso romano’ a tasting menu so you can have a real overview of the variety or Roman food and how the different dishes work together, but they also have an a la carte menu.
Booking highly recommended and available from their website
Mimi e Coco
Mimi e Coco is a small establishment on busy Via del Governo Vecchio and despite the popular location (and the often long lines) is one of the best restaurants in this area if you want to taste real carbonara: I have tried manny and theirs truly is special!
I make a point of mentioning this dish in particular because I find it is the one for which this restuarant truly shines: the other items on the menu are good but less memorable in my opinion.
Mimi e Coco does’t accept reservations but we always have good luck going there right before opening or later in the evening, for last service. The place is tiny so it is best suited to a solo visitor, a couple or a small family but not groups.
Address: Via del Governo Vecchio 72 Website: https://www.mimiecoco.com
La Ciambella
La Ciambella is probably the best restaurant I have ever dined in.
Tucked away on Via dell’Arco della Ciambella, an unassuming cobbled street in between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, La Ciambella Bar a Vin with kitchen is among the most upscale restaurants in this list and prides itself in dishes that are not only delicious but also oh so beautiful, they are a feast for the eyes as well.
Despite the high caliber of the offering, the restaurant maintains a welcoming atmosphere and is neither intimidating nor stuffy in vibe. I love it especially for a date night but you can also easily bring here a colleauge or a foodie friend you want to impress.
The food is a modern and creative reinterpretation of Rome and Italian classic dishes and you can order a la carte or try their tasting menu which is the best way to see the variety and imaginative effort behind the menu.
In terms of wine, they have a good selection: ask them for recommendations on the best pairings, they are happy to help and their advice is competent and to the point.
Address: Via dell’arco della Ciambella 20 . Website: https://www.la-ciambella.it/en/
Emma Pizzeria
Emma Pizzeria is maybe THE most popular restaurant in Rome among readers of this blog and it is what I describe as a good tourist restaurant, meaning a place that strikes the right balance between quality of food and tourist -friendly atmosphere (menu in English, English speaking staff etc).
I like to come here when we have guests because it has a varied menu that means everyone around the table is likely to find something to their taste and the quality is consistent across all menu sections: during our last meal there we had, as mains, a large salad (me), carbonara (my husband), meatballs (friends) and pizza (the kids) and everyone was happy!
The place is popular so booking is recommended although if you go outside of peak lunch and dinner hours, you have a good chance of finding a table last minute.
Address: Via Monte della Farina 28 Website: https://emmapizzeria.com/en/
Armando al Pantheon
Armando al Pantheon is a Rome institution and one of the very best places to eat Amatriciana in Rome.
The restaurant is traditional in atmosphere and cosy, with a typical wood panelled dining room and space for 20 guests only.
As you can imagine, this means booking is mandatory: you can secure a table from their website but do so well in advance and only when you are reasonably sure you can go as they have specific rules to keep a table (they must as demand is through the roof)
Taverna Agape
Taverna Agape is a lovely, traditional restaurants in pretty Piazzetta San Simeone, a scenic piazza near Piazza Navona with plenty of charme and none of the crowds of the nearby streets.
This taverna has both indoor and outdoor tables and serves traditional roman staples (Cacio e pepe, gricia, oxtail etc) but also a good selection of seafood based dishes including their very popular spaghetti all vongole. Booking recommended. Website: https://www.tavernagape.it
Cul de Sac (enoteca, wine bar with kitchen)
Cul de Sac is a small enoteca (wine bar) that has been a Rome classic for decades and still remains a good address now that tourism has discovered it.
The main strength about this wine bar is, of course, the selection of wine labels it offers but the food is also lovely.
Their local cheese platter from Lazio is fantastic, so are their charcuteries boards and we also enjoy their hot dishes: their trippa (tripe), polpette al vino (wine meatballs) and lasagne are warming and delicious and a great complement to their wines.
Ask the staff for advice on what to drink: we go often and always fond their tips absolutely spot on.
Pandali (light lunch, gluten free)
Pandali is an informal lunch place near Piazza Navona and Pantheon that specialises in vegetarian, vegan, dairy free and gluten free dishes.
The eatery is cute and informal in atmosphere: you order form the counter and the sit and one of the several tables (indoors).
A great place for a quick lunch!
Address: via di Torre Argentina 3, Roma
Bonus! Alice Pizza
Alice Pizza is not a restaurant but a pizza place where you can buy pizza by the slice to take out or eat on the spot at one of their small tables but I wanted to add it to this list as it is really good and, for lunch, a fantastic option! If you are looking for more ideas for street food in Rome and quick bites in this area, have a look at those I list here.
Where to eat near Piazza Navona: pin this!
