There’s a sort of magic that surrounds the Trieste-Salario neighborhood. Between eclectic architecture, elegant rationalist buildings, Art Nouveau villas and pretty tree-lined squares, every corner of this area, located between Via Salaria and Via Nomentana, is an invitation to explore. Are you looking for a complete culinary experience that will accompany you from morning to night? In this article we will guide you to the best places to have breakfast, lunch, enjoy an aperitif and end the day with a memorable dinner.
Sugar, leavened products and timeless aromas
Breakfast, as we all know, is much more than a ritual. It’s a small daily luxury, an opportunity to pamper yourself and start the day on the right foot. For lovers of homemade pastries, the Bar Pasticceria Romoli awaits you at 142 Viale Eritrea. This historic bakery (and more) in the capital is especially famous for its “maritozzi con la panna” (a sweet bread with cream), a traditional Roman dessert, and for the “Gabriella”, a local specialty covered with cream, sugar and cinnamon. Remaining on the subject of historic places, a stop at Cavalletti, in Via Nemorense 179, is not to be missed. This place has been sweetening the days of the neighborhood since 1951 with its three-layered millefeuille, filled with Marsala-flavored Chantilly cream. A wide selection of desserts prepared with passion and the highest quality ingredients also await you at Pasticceria Boni, at 84 Via Tagliamento, known for one creation in particular: the tart with cream and wild strawberries. It’s the perfect dessert for those who want to treat themselves to a moment of pure joy, whether for a special breakfast, a delicious snack or a gift to share. Are you looking for a place where every bite is an experience? Grué Pasticceria, at 95/99 Viale Regina Margherita, is a must. A jewel of taste and award-winning “luxury pastry”, created by master pastry chefs Marta Boccanera and Felice Venanzi, it offers great classics and more modern desserts, which play with shapes, textures and flavors, all rigorously prepared with the highest quality ingredients and without the use of semi-finished products or margarine. For a relaxing breakfast Marziali 1922, a historic Roman coffee roaster overlooking the elegant Piazza Caprera, awaits you in its very pleasant portico, where you can enjoy espresso, cold brew and specialty blends.
If you love the atmosphere of France, you won’t be disappointed by the bakery Santi Sebastiano e Valentino, at 107/109 Via Tirso, where the smell of butter and freshly baked cakes is irresistible. For breakfast, let yourself be tempted by the fragrant croissants, available in both the classic Italian and French versions. Here, however, they don’t just live on desserts: the menu offers a wide choice of delicacies for lunch, aperitifs and dinner, with a single common denominator, the love of leavened products. Follow the delicious smell of bread and Valli Il Fornaio awaits you at Via Bergamo 37. It’s a traditional place that, since 1959, has been baking goodness that tastes of home: from warm bread to homemade biscuits, to delicious gastronomic delights. It’s the perfect place for a breakfast that speaks of Rome and tradition, but also for a lunch break or an aperitif. For those who fancy a savory breakfast, the place to go is Panis 1890, at 62 Via Tagliamento, a historic bakery with a retro feel. Known as the former Gentilini bakery, it is famous for its little red pizzas, the famous “linguette” that are baked every three hours, crispy and tasty, and are excellent with a coffee or a glass of juice.
Ready to treat yourself to an American-style breakfast? Sweet King Café, at 64 Via Asmara, is the place for you! With vintage details, music boxes and an irresistible pink color scheme, you’ll feel like you’re in a 1950s bakery, surrounded by pancakes, waffles, muffins and cookies, not to mention the inevitable scrambled eggs with bacon. But there’s more: if you are gluten or lactose intolerant or follow a vegan diet, you’ll find plenty of delicious alternatives here.
Another place that stands out for its original offerings is Inzuppo, at Via Bisagno 16. Have fun creating your own personalized bowl, choosing from cereals that are almost impossible to find in ordinary supermarkets, biscuits, doughnuts and other delicacies, to be dipped in milk or in irresistible alternatives, such as vegetable milks or the exclusive “Special Latte” varieties. And for those who want that little bit extra, there are plenty of options: crunchy sprinkles, spreads, marshmallows and toppings.
From traditional dishes to the coolest brunches
From cozy taverns to contemporary restaurants, every table has something unique to offer. We start with authentic Roman cuisine, the kind that tells stories of family, traditions and real flavors, with the Osteria Chiana, at Via Agri 25, a place with a warm and genuine atmosphere, where every detail speaks of a passion for good food. The menu, which follows the seasonality of the ingredients, includes timeless classics such as tonnarelli pasta with cheese and pepper and rigatoni all’amatriciana, all accompanied by a good glass of wine. If you fancy a culinary journey that celebrates old-fashioned recipes, but with a twist, the place to go is BucaVino, at 45/A Via Po. The menu, inspired by an old family recipe book, combines the authentic flavors of Roman cuisine with a touch of creativity. You can enjoy the dishes either sitting comfortably in the restaurant or in the “ristocceria” version, a take-away service that combines the practicality of a Roman rotisserie with the care and quality of a restaurant. The well-stocked wine cellar is also worth discovering! A visit to Al Simeto, in Via Simeto 30/32, is recommended for all those who want to celebrate the cuisine of Rome with rich and abundant first courses: cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper), amatriciana, gricia and carbonara await you in more than generous portions. The Roman pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven is also excellent: thin, crispy and irresistible.
Would you like to enjoy a delicious lunch, accompanied by a glass of wine selected to enhance each dish? At Via Velletri 12/14 you’ll find the Enoteca Ponziani, with over 500 labels from every corner of Italy and the world. Traditional dishes, prepared with homemade pasta and the freshest ingredients, paired with intense reds, aromatic whites or refined sparkling wines, offer a unique experience. And, if you have any doubts about which bottle to choose, the expert staff is always ready to advise you with enthusiasm and competence. Part shop, part wine bar, part bistro: this is Sciccherie, the emporium of taste at Via Metauro 55. Here you can do your shopping, stop for a quick snack or a full meal. The watchword is quality: on the shelves you’ll find a careful selection of preserves, extra virgin olive oils, jams, fresh bread and, of course, a cellar of excellent wines. Excellent wines à la carte (about 80 labels) also await you at the Locanda Leone, in Via Chiana 77, where, in a lively and cheerful atmosphere, you can enjoy creative dishes prepared with the utmost attention to the ingredients. At aperitif time, the beverage section also includes spirits, bitters, cocktails and soft drinks, to accompany refined appetizers.
Fancy brunch? Elio, the restaurant at the Hotel Hoxton, at 220 Largo Benedetto Marcello, offers a contemporary take on brunch, to be enjoyed in the charming, well-kept outdoor area or in the metropolitan-style interior. If you’re looking for a place where lunch becomes a unique experience, the Materia – Terrazza Macro restaurant is the place for you. Located on the top floor of the Macro Museum, at 138 Via Nizza, it’s an open space that combines innovative design and Italian and international inspired cuisine.
Are you a fresh fish lover? Here are two original suggestions for you: Fish Hub, at 112 Corso Trieste, a restaurant and take-away where you’ll find raw seafood, crispy fried fish, grilled fish, salads, poke bowls and fish burgers, and Sor Duilio, at 9 Via Agri, the first fish restaurant in Rome: here they promise (and deliver) fresh seafood for lunch and dinner, without too many frills but with lots of flavor.
For those who love organic food, Tierra Organic Bistrot, at 34 Via Tirso, promises a journey through surprising and healthy dishes. Don’t forget the shop, where you can buy products to replicate at home… a little bit of Tierra magic! Finally, how about having lunch in a colorful local market? Mordi Roma, in the Mercato Nomentano, Piazza Alessandria 1, is a revolutionary place where you can eat at the counter, with dishes ranging from timeless classics to small reinterpretations of popular flavors.
A top aperitif for all tastes
To toast the Roman sunset, sipping glasses of wine and creative cocktails, this refined and lively area of the capital offers a rich selection of bars. Let’s start with a great classic, the Enoteca dei Principi in Via Tripolitania 205 where, in a well-kept and informal environment, you’ll find an excellent selection of wines from the best vineyards in Italy and Europe, to be combined with happy hours and themed tastings. To enjoy the warm and intimate atmosphere of a lounge, Etienne Vinery, in Via Scirè 16/18, welcomes you with comfortable armchairs, a lit fireplace and light wood shelves displaying 560 wine labels.
If you love beer, don’t miss these two gems in the neighborhood: Angolo Trieste, in Piazza Trento 3, where you’ll find craft and specialty beers, with an exceptional IPA list, to pair with coppiette (Roman specialties) and red pizzas, and Gradi Plato, at 113 Corso Trieste, a small beershop for true connoisseurs, with a wide selection of craft beers, bottled and on tap, to accompany with delicious snacks.
For an aperitif that smells of faraway lands, Pequeño, at Largo Somalia 39, is a cheerful place with a clear Hispanic inspiration: here, imaginative drinks go hand in hand with exotic tapas, available in more than 60 varieties. Misto Cocktail Bar, in Via Fezzan 2, offers a vast selection of cocktails, both classic and original, combined with international inspired delicacies, in an industrial chic environment with vintage furnishings. Finally, at VaSano, in Via Po 66, you’ll find a little corner of France in the Eternal City, where you can discover an unmissable selection of French cheeses and other specialties, accompanied by a wine list that includes the best labels from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, the Loire and much more.
The ingredients of the perfect dinner
Do you prefer a traditional dish, a creative cuisine or an excellent Roman pizza? Here are some suggestions to satisfy every gastronomic desire. Trattoria Verbano, in Piazza Verbano 23, offers a menu inspired by the great classics of Roman gastronomy, in an environment reminiscent of the timeless neighborhood trattorias. The atmosphere of the typical osteria, revisited in a more modern key, can also be found at Opificio Vescovio, in Piazza Vescovio 16: the name refers to an “artisan workshop”, where homemade dishes meet creativity, always starting from excellent raw materials. The Ristorante Mezzo, in Via di Priscilla 25/A is a lively restaurant with a contemporary design and a pleasant outdoor area, offering Italian/international fusion cuisine with a nod to tradition. At Sale Fino, in Via Clisio 1, experimentation and research in the kitchen make this the perfect place for a romantic dinner or an evening with friends, with gluten-free and lactose-free options. Fine dining and experiential cuisine are the heart of Etienne Bistrot, in Via Scirè 16/18: here the tasting menus, designed to amaze and entertain by chef Stefano Intraligi, a pupil of Heinz Beck, become culinary journeys inspired by the world of fairy tales, with dishes that stimulate emotions and taste buds.
For pizza lovers, Berberè, in Via Mantova 5, is a pizzeria that has revolutionized the concept of pizza, based on light and easily digestible doughs. The toppings are also perfect, a riot of flavors: from porchetta with fiordilatte to coppa di mora romagnola, including pumpkin, mushrooms and taleggio, each pizza is a journey of flavors. Do you like Neapolitan pizza? Don’t miss an evening (or even more than one) at Lievito Chiana, in Via Chiana 58, where the artisan care starts from the pre-dough made with water, flour and yeast, which gives the pizza a unique taste, digestibility and texture. The fried food is also excellent, all rigorously homemade.
And if you want a “wow” effect burger? At Limerick Burger Bar, in Via Nemorense 88 f/g, the meat comes directly from a quality butcher, while the milk buns are prepared according to a traditional recipe. To accompany the meal, homemade chips and sauces are ready to conquer your palate, in a somewhat Scandinavian and contemporary atmosphere. Can street food and design get along? You’ll find the answer at Docks&Co., in Via Cliso 18, where the best of “street” cuisine, revisited with a contemporary touch, has given rise to the first all-you-can-eat burger and Tex-Mex restaurant in Rome.
Finally, if you want to take a trip through the flavors of the world, without leaving the same restaurant, Lime Restaurant & Bar awaits you at 33/35 Via Ancona: it’s a curious place where you can enjoy themed dishes ranging from American to Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine, accompanied by cocktails and excellent desserts.
Tasty tidbits: the specialties of the Trieste-Salario neighborhood
Fancy something quick but irresistibly good? Real culinary delights are hidden among the streets of this neighborhood. Let’s start with the great classics of Roman street food, pizza and supplì (rice balls). A historic sign, at 66/70 Corso Trieste, indicates one of the most loved pizzerias in the area: Agostino, a reference point for generations of residents and students, attracted by the irresistible aroma that fills the street. Here the pizza is a true masterpiece of authenticity and flavor. Supplizio & Vino, at 24 Via Bergamo, is a paradise for supplì, from the classic version with meat sauce to more imaginative variations. Alongside the supplì you’ll find other fried specialties of the Roman tradition, such as cod fillets, aubergine meatballs and mozzarella in carrozza.
For lovers of exotic flavors, JiaMo Lab, at 15 Via Bergamo, offers “jia mo”, a sandwich typical of central and northern China, filled with meat and spices. Smor, at 23 Via Cesare Paoletti, brings a touch of Scandinavia to the heart of Rome. The star of the menu is “smørrebrød”, a slice of rye bread topped with marinated salmon, fish roe and herring, accompanied by sour cream. The sandwiches, made with fresh or smoked fish, and the mixed platters with carpaccio and cod are served together with specialties from northern Italy, such as Arctic char.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, go to the Guttilla ice cream parlor, at 267/277 Via Nomentana. Each flavor reveals the passion of the master ice cream makers, who choose only the highest quality natural ingredients. A boutique of taste where, in addition to the timeless gelato, available in many flavors, you’ll find minu, ice cream sticks, cakes and semifreddo, with vegan and gluten free options. At RivaReno Gelato, in Corso Trieste 207, the ice cream is served at a slightly higher temperature than average, so as to enhance the flavor and offer a unique experience. At Piazza Alessandria 19, Stefino is a must for those who want to try a unique type of ice cream, multi-award winning and famous for being entirely organic and gluten-free, with a wide range of vegan flavors. On the shaded terrace of La Casa del Cremolato, at Via di Priscilla 18, a historic ice cream parlor that has been open since 1966, treat yourself to a refreshing break with a cremolato, a cold dessert made with fresh fruit and prepared entirely by hand. Another realm of natural ice cream is Gelateria daRe, at 17/19 Via Bisagno, where one of the most popular flavors is the absolute must-try chestnut ice cream, dedicated to one of the local products. Alongside the ice cream, you can enjoy desserts such as crêpes and waffles, prepared with chestnut flour, also perfect for those on a gluten-free diet. And now, one last gem in the neighborhood. In Piazza Buenos Aires, Lemoncocco, one of the city’s historic kiosks, awaits you, perfect for a regenerating and alternative break. Its specialty is a particular drink (the lemoncocco, in fact!), which is prepared on the spot and combines coconut and lemon, creating a very fresh mix, perfect for quenching your thirst in the warmer months.
