Eating in Rome: Budget Travel Guide

Rome is famous for its delicious (and often quite affordable) cuisine. Whether you’re looking to dine al fresco in Trastevere, go vegetarian, or head to the grocery store to cook up your own Italian feast, we’ve got tips on ways to save. And don’t forget the gelato!

More Rome articles:

• Our reviews of the best cheap hotels in Rome
• Articles about saving on Rome hotels
Practical ways to save when visiting
• Tips for saving on sightseeing and museums in Rome

The Ultimate Guide to Budget Dining in Rome: Eat Like a Local

Don’t want to get trampled by meal costs when in Rome? Read on for tried, true, and tasted (or rather, tested) tips for budget dining in Rome. Rome is a culinary paradise, but dining out can quickly drain your travel budget if you’re not careful. This guide will help you navigate Rome’s food scene like » Read more

How to order coffee in Italy: Navigating cafe culture like a pro

Italian coffee culture is strong, just like the espresso, and cafes are always full no matter the time of day. In Rome, cappuccinos are fantastically frothy, and the espresso is always made with quality coffee beans and ground on site. One sip of an Italian coffee, and it will be hard to go back to » Read more

When it comes to eating lunch in Rome, there are several cheap options, the most common of which are grabbing some pizza al taglio and panini. Back in the States, everyone is crazed over the panini “concept.” However to Italians, panini are just plain old sandwiches! Whatever you think, panini make a very affordable lunch. » Read more

Rome: 5 rules for shopping in a Roman grocery store

Cheapos looking to save a buck or two during their trip to Rome can certainly save some money by buying food at the local neighborhood supermercato. If you have access to a kitchen during your stay, you can obviously save big on meals. Even if you don’t have cooking facilities, a supermarket is a great » Read more

Where to find the best gelato in Rome

In Rome there’s Gelato, and then there’s just gelato. Let me clarify: I am quite a snob when it comes to eating the heavenly dessert. Whenever friends ask me to meet them for a gelato, I have to ask, “Where?” After all, there is such a thing as a mediocre cone. Thus, take note. Here » Read more

By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— If there’s something to be said about Italians, one thing’s for certain, they sure know how to churn out a good cup of coffee. Just about everywhere you turn in Rome, behind every nook, cranny and yes, monument, you will find a coffee bar. To say that Italians are obsessed » Read more

There are a 101 places in Rome where you could kick back your feet, relax and reminisce over drinks. But not every café will serve up your cocktails with breathtaking views of the Ancient City. Many of the most jaw-dropping vistas have been taken over by Rome’s most exclusive hotels, yet there are still a few » Read more

It’s lunchtime in Rome and you’re on the hunt for a quick bite on a budget. Where to turn? When I have friends in town and I feel like taking them for a fast and simple lunch, I take them straight to a “pizza al taglio” (pizza by the slice) shop. Lunch by the slice Simply » Read more

Italian food and the Eternal City—what could be wrong? Um, costly dinners, for one thing. Rome is no stranger to overpriced restaurants catering to tourists. But this doesn’t mean you have to shell out for tasty Italian fare. A first step toward finding a cheap meal is heading beyond the historic center. The closer to » Read more

After visiting all the historic sites of Rome, what better way to spend your evening than sipping a glass of wine to quench that thirst? But where do you start with that long list proudly presented to you by the waiter? Fear not: Whether you are a wine buff or a wine buffoon,  we are » Read more

While Italian food is considered to be among the best in the world, sadly you do not always get what you pay for. Tales of tourists being asked to pay €700 for a meal in Rome’s center (as happened during the summer) are happily rare, but substandard, overpriced fare is far more common that anyone » Read more

Rome: The 2 best espressos in Rome, steps from the Pantheon

When it comes to coffee, the Italians pretty much have it down pat. Like fashion, food and football, coffee is an art, a matter of national pride, and a daily ritual which is taken very, very seriously. It is actually quite hard to find a bad coffee in Rome. What is more difficult, however, is » Read more

Rome Cheap Eats: Dine like a local at these affordable restaurants

When in Rome, want to eat like an Italian with the Italians? Want to escape overpriced tourist menus? Want to experience authentic Italian cuisine at the right price? Well, why not take the metro out of the historic centre and dine in the spots that only the locals know about! Here are three absolute gems that are » Read more

Rome Tip: Cheap eats survival guide

By Sav D’Souza in Rome— Don’t want to get trampled by meal costs when in Rome? Read on for my tried, true, and tested cheap eat survival tips. 1) Watch out for package deals. Stay away from what I call the “slashers”: Anything that touts itself as an all-inclusive “Bar/Restaurant”  or has a menu decreeing that it offers pizza/gelato/pasta. » Read more

Rome: Affordable wine bars in central Rome

Rome—It’s Friday night and you’re in the mood to grab a few drinks at a cool spot with some friends. Where can you find the right “vibe” without putting a dent in your wallet? Where can you sample delicious local wines? Step this way… Campo de’ Fiori: La Vineria A delightful watering hole overlooking the » Read more