Best Restaurants Near The Colosseum In Rome

For nearly 2,000 years, the Colosseum has earned its name as one of the biggest attractions in Rome. The spectators probably enjoyed their daily bread and munched on street food snacks, which were provided for free by the emperor, while watching a gladiator match inside the stadium the time it first opened in 80 AD. The free loaves of bread people so cherished are nowhere to be found nearly two millennia later. So where do they eat near the Colosseum now?

Keep reading…

• Trattoria Luzzi 

Address – Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 88

It doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive treat to eat near the main monuments. The case which is in point is Trattoria Luzzi based near the Colosseum. Since 1945, the Trattoria has been serving the local Roman food at just a short walk from the Colosseum. A liter of house wine here is served at €4 and most of the pastas here amount to an average of €6-8 a piece. Although the pizza at Li Rioni is better, there is a pizza menu even here, which starts at €6. Make sure you should steer clear of the culinary nirvana and not expect frozen seafood second courses at such prices. There is no doubt in the fact that in this day in age in Rome, Luzzi is an incredible deal, particularly when you consider the enviable location.

• Li Rioni 

Address – Via dei Santi Quattro, 24

Pizzeria Li Rioni is sometimes also called Li Rioni a SantiQuattro because of the street it is found on. Based just a few streets away from the Colosseum,this restaurant is a classic pizzeria. Pizza is generally a great option for budget dining in Rome. This makes Li Rioni one of the best places for a cheap and good meal near the monument. Try to avoid the other items on the menu as the thin crispy pizza is the real draw here. The local pizzeria has an interior which is decorated to look like a street in a tiny Italian village which is complete with laundry which flaps in the wind, and it borders on kitsch. You can call ahead to book for dinner if possible.

• Caffè Propaganda 

Address – Via Claudia, 15

The Caffè Propaganda in some ways looks like it belongs in Paris more than in the shadow of the Colosseum. It has a cool bistro design which is marked by a long zinc bar perfect for wine and cocktails, and sleek white subway tiles. The drinks also come highly recommended. Propaganda has many of the innovative mixed drinks made with homemade ingredients and is also famous for having one of the best bartenders in Rome. The casual but funky dining room here has a contemporary menu which blends international with Italian influences and creates everything from mini sliders to bite-sized tortellini which is filled with carbonara sauce. Beyond the savory meals and fancy cocktails, the desserts here are delicate and are a major draw.

• Aroma 

Address – Via Labicana, 125

The Aroma is located on the terrace atop Palazzo Manfredi which is jaw-droppingly romantic. It offers once in a lifetime views of the Colosseum in its fine-dining area. From the open dining room, the ancient amphitheater is also known to dominate the view with the Forum’s twinkling lights vying for attention. The refined Italian cuisine of Chef Di Iorio has earned a Michelin star for its seasonal and local approach to fine dining and stands up perfectly to the amazing vista. Here, you can go to town on the almond pesto and pachino tomato confit, handmade pasta mixed that comes with king prawns, or propose a toast over Mediterranean couscous with lemon and oil marinated fish. And do you what gives the restaurant its name? It is actually a play based on ‘Roma’, but also because all the herbs that are used in the dishes here are grown directly on an open-air terrace.

• Tempio di Iside 

Address – Via Labicana, 50

Let me just tell you in advance that there are no budget seafood restaurants worth trying near the Colosseum. On the other hand, Tempio di Iside is you place if you are looking for an exceptional fish-based meal. It is located just a brief walk away from the Colosseum. It is an upscale seafood restaurant where there is an extravagant display of crabs, shrimp, prawns, lobsters and fish on ice at the entrance. On any given day, start with the ever-changing appetizers like oysters, fried squid, and/or fish carpaccio for the most varied and freshest sampling of the menu. The first course which is a stand out here is one of the specialties of the restaurant – the spaghetti ai ricci (pasta with sea urchin).

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