The 5 Best Pasta Restaurants In Rome

As the home of four of Italy’s most treasured pasta dishes, I’d be stating the obvious by saying that Rome has some outstanding pasta restaurants, whether it’s the renowned Tonnarello or the up-and-coming al42.

However, it can be difficult to pick out the average and the outstanding when visiting a city like Rome, brimming with seemingly endless pasta restaurants, from boujee eateries serving gourmet gnocchi to street-side spots offering some good old bolognese.

I’ve compiled a collection of the best pasta restaurants in Rome that I’ve dined in when designing my Rome food tours to lead you in the right direction when you get that inevitable hankering for a hearty serving of punchy amatriciana or a rich cacio e pepe. Let your authentic Roman gastronomic adventure begin.

Pasta e Vino Osteria – Largo Arenula

 

Considering its proximity to some of Rome’s most beloved landmarks, namely the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, Pasta e Vino Osteria might be dismissed as a tourist-oriented establishment because of its popular location. However, you’ll soon realize it’s anything but it.

A family-owned restaurant that embraces enduring recipes and traditional practices, Pasta e Vino Osteria is everything I love in an Italian restaurant. Especially when its name translates to pasta and wine. If you ask me, that’s a pretty great selling point.

Both the exposed brick walls of the interior and the fairy-light-covered patio are what first lured me in, but it’s the fresh pasta from the Italian cuisine (that’s made right in front of your very eyes) and the welcoming staff that has kept me coming back.

I’ve tried a handful of dishes here over the years, though the spaghetti alla carbonara, possibly Rome’s most iconic creation, is often too tempting to look past. I was given the option to select a pasta style of my choice here, but I preferred to keep it classic and stick to spaghetti when it came to carbonara.

This dish here is everything it should be, with the harmonious blend of smokey guanciale, pungent pecorino, creamy egg yolk, and a touch of black pepper finely balanced each time. I have to give Pasta e Vino Osteria some bonus points for always getting the portion size just right.

Pasta e Vino Osteria – Largo Arenula (€€) – Largo Arenula, 14, 00186 Roma RM, Italy, Every day, 9:00 am to 11:30 pm

Tonnarello

 

I’ve rarely walked past Tonnarello in Trastevere and not found it packed with pasta lovers like myself. How could anyone say no to classic Roman pasta, superb wine, and the sound of acoustic guitar in the background?

The busy outdoor terrace is undoubtedly the best place for me to be on a warm Italian evening, though the interior is just as gorgeous and is full of old-world charm, so it’s no biggie if you get seated inside. Waiting for a table here is commonplace, but, in my experience, they turn over quickly.

I’ve always found staff in most restaurants in Rome to be super friendly, but the team at Tonnarello goes the extra mile. On my most recent visit, from the moment I sat down until the second I left, the waiter couldn’t have been more courteous, something I have to give them credit for.

Amatriciana is what these guys do best, and so it’s what I tend to go for whenever I stop by. It has a little bit of everything: sweet tomato sauce, a spicy kick from the chili flakes, salty pecorino, and savory, crispy pork. The cherry on top is the al dente pasta, homemade in-house.

For the full experience, I highly suggest you pair your amatriciana with the house red Montepulciano, a dry wine with deep fruity flavors and herby undertones from Abruzzo. They have a lengthy list of wines here, but the acidity of the Montepulciano with the fatty pork is hard to beat.

Tonnarello (€€) – Via della Paglia, 1/2/3, 00153 Roma RM, Italy, Every day, 11:30 am to 11:00 pm

al42 by Pasta Chef rione Monti

 

An authentic, modest gem in the Monti neighborhood just a 10-minute walk from the Colosseum, al42 is another one of the city’s best restaurants for pasta. It’s as endearing for its simplicity as its reasonable prices and mouthwatering pasta and Roman food.

Although al42 has only been around since 2015, it’s as revered among foodies as many of the long-running pasta restaurants in Rome. The concept behind this compact spot is to make gourmet food accessible to everyone, which is what this place is known for today.

As is often the norm in Rome, I had to queue to get my hands on the pasta here, but the casual, order-at-the-counter setup means that things move quickly. When my turn came, the waitress showed me to my seat, gave me some recommendations, and explained the ordering process.

It took me all of 30 seconds to settle on the lasagna, as I was craving some comfort food. My stacked, parmesan-topped slice looked almost too good to eat, and despite the restaurant’s self-described street food style, it was akin to lasagnas I’ve only had in high-end eateries.

Honestly, it tasted even better than most other lasagnas I’ve had, too. A mix of beef, pork, and tangy tomatoes was used to create the intense flavors of the ragu, which was made even more delicious with the slight chewiness of the pasta and the velvety fusion of cheeses.

al42 by Pasta Chef rione Monti (€) – Via Baccina, 42, 00184 Roma RM, Italy, Wednesday to Monday, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Cantina e Cucina

Having spent an afternoon admiring some of the artworks at the Palazzo Braschi gallery, I was feeling a little peckish and spotted Cantina e Cucina just a few steps away. I quickly learned that there wasn’t one menu item I wouldn’t eat, so I was confident I was in safe hands.

When I stepped inside, I was enchanted by the laid-back atmosphere, old-style brickwork, and vintage-feeling decor. There were quite a few tables packed into a relatively small space, but it felt cozy and inviting, whereas some similar establishments I’ve been to felt rather than cramped.

Because so many different dishes were appealing to me, I thought I’d have a tricky decision on my hands, but I opted to go for a long-time favorite of mine, cacio e pepe. This is one of the staple Roman dishes, after all, and I feel compelled to have at least one serving anytime I’m in the capital.

Cantina e Cucina instantly made me remember why I’m so fond of this dreamy dish. Simple ingredients brought together in just the right proportions is what cacio e pepe is all about, and this was a particularly delectable take on it, like the rest of their Italian food.

The textures were fabulous, from the thick tonnarelli pasta and smooth pecorino Romano to the fine black pepper. 

When I factored in the flavors of the pungent pecorino Romano and subtle heat from the black pepper together, it was one of the most satisfying (and super-filling) pasta dishes I’ve ever tried. 

Cantina e Cucina (€€) – Via del Governo Vecchio, 87, 00186 Roma RM, Italy, Every day, 11:00 am to 11:30 pm

Trattoria Vecchia Roma

 

Between Monti and Esquilino’s neighborhoods is Trattoria Vecchia Roma, a rustic old-school eatery with a delectable pasta menu that I’m a massive fan of.

The setting is one of the things I love best about this intimate little hideaway. A set of wooden stairs at the entrance leads to a dining room filled with burgundy walls, frescoes inspired by famous local landmarks, and original stone walls.

Though the amatriciana flambé has become a signature menu item here at Trattoria Vecchia Roma, I happened to be there on a Thursday a few months back when they served up their mouthwatering gnocchi, which the chefs change up for their special of the week.

Mushroom and gorgonzola gnocchi was the special on the night I visited, and it was every bit as good as it sounds. I knew it would taste unbelievable from the moment I smelt the pungent and tangy aromas of the gorgonzola in my smoking hot bowl.

The soft consistency of the gnocchi and the gentle earthy flavors from the mushrooms let the oh-so-buttery gorgonzola do all the talking.

Trattoria Vecchia Roma (€€) – Via Ferruccio, 12/b/c, 00185 Roma RM, Italy, Monday to Saturday, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Conclusion

After reading this article, you’ll have your pick of the best pasta restaurants in Rome ahead of your next trip.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planning that trip to Rome and get ready to enjoy La Dolce Vita in style with a visit to at least one of the Eternal City’s top-tier pasta restaurants.

Instead of trying to seek out some of the pasta restaurants on this alone, you can join one of our Eternal Rome Food Tour with a local guide who can help you navigate the city and try some of the finest regional pasta dishes.