The 10 Best Pizza Restaurants in Rome
Our Favorite Places to Eat Pizza in Rome
Pizza needs no explanation. This simple dish of dough topped with cheese and tomatoes (or whatever you fancy) has spread from its humble origins in Naples to conquer the globe and is nowadays one of the most popular foods on the planet. But although you can find pizza in almost every country in the world, there is nothing like eating authentic pizza in Rome and Naples.
Pizza is divided into two major categories: Pizza Napoletana is the Neapolitan style with a doughier base and a thicker rim; Pizza Romana is the Roman take which is crispy thin and with a narrow border. In both cases, pizza should be cooked in a forno a legna, or wood-fired oven, to lightly char the edges and give the pizza a smoky element. Obviously, in Rome, the second style is more common but there are pizzerias that make their pizzas in the Napoli style. Pizza napoletana and pizza romana are traditional, round pizzas (pizza tonda) and are mainly considered an evening meal, especially at the weekends when families decamp to the local pizzeria, often to watch the soccer match.
Roman pizzerias are, by-and-large, a rowdy affair with brusque service, quick turnover, and few frills. A true Roman pizza experience begins with the fritti which are fried appetizers such as supplì (fried rice balls), fiori di zucca (stuffed, fried zucchini flowers), baccalà (battered salt-cod), and olive ascolane (meat-stuffed fried olives). Pizzas themselves are usually uncomplicated, with the most popular choice always a classic Margherita. As with many aspects of Italian food, pizza toppings are kept simple to allow the flavor of the ingredients to shine through, often using seasonal, local ingredients. To drink, it has to be beer as the carbonation will de-grease your palate from all those fritti.
There is no shortage of traditional pizzerias in Rome but recent years have seen a wave of fancier establishments pop up across town which match more gourmet offerings with quality craft beer in sleek surroundings and with more emphasis on service. So whether you opt for Roman or Neapolitan, thick or thin, rustic or refined, Rome has a pizzeria to suit you!
Here are Local Aromas’ top 10 favorite places to eat pizza in Rome:
Li Rioni
An old-school pizzeria a few blocks from the Colosseum, Li Rioni churns out wonderfully thin Roman pizza and crispy fritti served in a dining room mocked-up as a Roman street scene.
Via dei Santi Quattro 24 (Colosseum)
Emma
Part of the ever-expanding Roscioli empire, Emma is a great option for fantastic pizza in Rome’s centro storico, with top-notch ingredients and excellent service in a contemporary location.
Via del Monte della Farina 28 (Campo de’ Fiori)
Ai Marmi
For a really Roman late-night pizza experience head to Ai Marmi in Trastevere. Tables spill across the street and young lively locals devour super-fine pizza romana until the early hours.
Viale di Trastevere 53 (Trastevere)
180g Pizzeria Romana
A journey out to the eastern neighborhood of Centocelle is rewarded with spectacular fritti and fabulous Roman pizza with a creative twist.
Via Tor de’ Schiavi 53 (Centocelle)
Da Remo
A Testaccio institution, Da Remo offers classic Roman-style pizza at knock-down prices in a raucous atmosphere with no fancy additions. Arrive early or be prepared to wait.
Piazza di Santa Maria Liberatrice 44 (Testaccio)
Da Enrico
A locals’ favorite in the northern Piazza Bologna area, Da Enrico serves great pizza romana and regional specialties in their bright, welcoming dining room.
Via Michele di Lando, 28/36 (Piazza Bologna)
Seu Pizza Illuminati
Inventiveness and quality ingredients combine at this new pizzeria which combines a light, Neapolitan-style crust with sleek, modern surroundings south of the city center.
Via Angelo Bargoni 10 – 18 (Porta Portese)
La Gatta Mangiona
A forerunner of Rome’s gourmet pizza scene, this pizzeria in residential Monteverde combines creativity with quality in a warm ambiance.
Via Federico Ozanam 30-32 (Monteverde)
Da Francesco
Tucked in a small square near Piazza Navona, Da Francesco is a stalwart of the Roman dining scene. It’s crowded, chaotic and loud but for typical Roman pizza in the heart of town look no further.
Piazza del Fico 29 (Piazza Navona)
Alle Carrette
Hidden down a quiet street in trendy Monti, this good-value restaurant offers wafer-thin pizza with traditional toppings a stone’s throw from the Colosseum.
Via della Madonna dei Monti 95 (Monti)
If you want other pizza experiences in Rome, you’ve got to try pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) which is cooked in a gas or electric oven and sold by weight. And if you want to learn to make pizza so that you can prepare it at home, join our Pizza Cooking Class in Rome.
