Learn where to eat near the Vatican with this selection of the best restaurants, eateries and gelato shops near the Vatican, chosen by a local (no tourist traps!)
A visit to the Vatican, no matter how you do it, is likely to leave you hungry and with a strong desire to sit down for a satisfying comforting meal away from the crowds fast.
Having a list of delicious restaurants you can trust is going to make your quest for food easier and your meal experience better and I want to make sure you have one. So, here it is!
My selection of great places to eat near the Vatican, all tried and tested and chosen by me!
I am from Rome and, as you can imagine, I have no tolerance for sub par, touristy places that charge the earth, have mediocre food and are so overrun to offer good service.
In Rome, there are fewer tourist traps than you may think.
However, especially for an area as busy as the Vatican, I felt it was worth it putting in a lot of research, so I could recommend truly selected places that I believe will genuinely give you a good experience.
This is my selection of the best restaurants neat the Vatican for lunch and dinner, my top gelato place near the Vatican and an American breakfast place, for when you want to something a little different.
I hope you enjoy it!
Tip for families with kids: all these places are family friendly. However, Bonci and Pastificio Borghiciana have limited space and are therefore better without strollers.
Please note: this list is based on my personal experience. I receive no compensation of any sort for including establishment in this list and have no business connections with any of these places.
Osteria delle Commari
Osteria delle Commari is a lovely, delicious, welcoming restaurants near the Vatican serving traditional Rome food in a familiar and casual yet refined atmopshere – think dark wood tables, stem glasses, paper place mats, wine bottles lining the walls.
The menu offers Rome staples such as suppli (fried rice balls: starter), cacio e pepe and saltimbocca alla romana (meat), and varies over the course of the month to follow the seasonality of then ingredients.
Good value for money too, a rarity in this area! An excellent address.
Address: Via Santamaura 23, 00192 Rome
Good to know: the restaurant usually offer Christmas menu options (Christmas Eve and Christmas lunch). Book direct >> https://www.osteriadellecommari.it
La Soffitta Renovatio (also gluten and lactose free)
I first discovered La Soffitta Renovatio as recommended to be as one of the best gluten free restaurants in Rome and since then it has become a favorite as the quality of their food is indeed excellent all around.
The restaurant offers a full menu with options for starters, pasta, meat and fish options, it has good soups, pizza and is very attentive to the needs of gluten free and lactose free guests: the restaurant is certified by AIC (Italian Association for Coeliacs).
A special mention goes to their gluten free dished but also their fried starters typical of the Rome tradition (Suppli! Zucchini Flowers! Baccala’!), which are becoming increasingly hard to find, despite being a Rome staple.
Address: Piazza Risorgimento 56A, 00193 Rome Reservation by phone or email: https://lasoffittarenovatio.com/contatti/
Barghigiana Pastificio Artigianale
Pastificio Barghigiana is a small, delicious lunch place close to the Vatican, on charming Borgo (street).
Pastificio means ‘pasta making place’ or ‘Pasta factory’ and the offering stays close to what the name of the establishment promises: Pastificio Borghiciana has delicious pasta dishes!
The menu includes Rome staples such as carbonara and amatriciana, simple dishes like pasta with tomato and basil sauce, and some visitors’ favourites like lasagne.
As well as pasta, they have a selection of starters and sides such as carciofi alla romana, grilled vegetables and avocado and smoked salmon.
The place is tiny, with only a handful of tables, and casual in atmosphere: great for an informal lunch. No large groups due to space constraints.
Address: Borgo Pio 186, 00193 Rome Only a few minutes walk from the Vatican, on one of Rome’s prettiest streets, Borgo
Il Sorpasso
Il Sorpasso is a delicious, casua lunch and aperitivo place a short walk from the Vatican, in the elegant and local Prati neighborhood.
Il Sorpasso is a little different from other restaurants in this list as rather than Rome staples, it offers a menu closer to the Tuscan and wider Italian tradition: think delicious cured meat and cheese platters, pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans, very typically Italian), parmigiana, orecchiette, gnocchi etc.
The restaurants has indoor and outdoor tables: the atmosphere is casual outdoors while inside it strikes a good balance between casual and upscale which means you find here a mix of families and locals on business lunches.
The absolute top pick here are the platters and desserts, although all dishes we had have been consistently great over the years.
Address: Via Properzio 31/33, 00193 Rome
Bonci Pizzarium (pizza al taglio)
Bonci’s Pizzarium is regularly voted as one of the best places for pizza in Rome and is indeed excellent. So if you are wondering where to eat near the Vatican and pizza is what you fancy, this is a great address to have!
Pizzarium is not a restaurant as such but a pizza al taglio place, so a place where you buy pizza by weight that you can take out or eat at one of the small tables.
The format it very typically roman and it is perfect for a casual lunch: pizza comes with many possible toppings so it is great if you are with friends or kids as everyone is bound to find something they like.
Bonci is very well known and you’ll see many visitors here queuing, which gives the place a more touristy aspect than it deserved.
The busiest time here is usually between 12.30 and 2.30pm when you may not find a table and may have to queue.
The cost is higher than other pizza places, partially as the toppings make the pizza heavier (and it sold by weight), partially due to the international fame of the place, but the quality is high.
Address: Via della Memoria 43, 00136 Rome
Ai Balestrari in Prati
Ai Balestrari are a typical Rome restaurant and pizzeria with a tongue-in-cheek, traditional Rome decor and atmosphere, with old movie posters, photos on the walls and a laid back, down to earth atmosphere (traditional Rome is very casual!).
It is very much a restaurant like the ones I remember when I was little and the quality of their food it true to tradition: their cacio e pepe, carbonara, saltimbocca are excellent and the pizza is thin crust, just like true Roman pizza should be.
Booking recommended.
Address: Piazza Dell’Unita, 27 Via Dei Gracchi, 00191 Rome Booking possible (choose the location in Prati, they have more than one restaurant in Rome): https://www.aibalestrari.com
Where to eat American Breakfast near the Vatican
If you fancy what we call an American Breakfast (Aka: cooked breakfast with pancakes, American coffee etc), then you’ll be happy to know there is a great place for it near the Vatican: Homebaked!
Homebaked was originally recommended to me by an American friend who is so in love with their coffee to cross the city for it and is now a family favorite for us too: my kids especially adore it!
in Homebaked you find all you expect from a place with this type of offering: fluffy pancakes, waffles, bagels, salads, wraps and of course coffee.
The breakfast-all-day formula makes it particularly appealing when you want comfort food after a long day at the museums!
Address: Via di Porta Cavalleggeri 25, 00165 Rome
You can find here >>> best places for American Breakfast in Rome
Best Gelato near the Vatican
I couldn’t possibly have a post called where to eat near the Vatican and not include gelato places, especially since there are some great ones in this area!
For delicious gelato near the Vatican my favorite addresses is Cremilla, in Via di Porta Castello 39, 00193 Rome
Where to eat near the Vatican: pin this!
Looking for more restaurant recommendations? Don’t miss:
Our top restaurants near the Colosseum
Our selection of the best family restaurants in Rome city center