A Vegan’s Guide to Eating in Rome

Roman cuisine is known for its hearty home cooked meals, most of which include a number of different types of meats. Lately, however, we are definitely seeing more and more restaurants pop up around the city that either focus partially, or entirely, on vegetarian cuisine, some even flaunting their 100% vegan menus.

There aren’t many vegan restaurants in Rome (yet!), but I’ve put together a list of places that can help you out at any time of the day, whether you wake up craving gluten-free cookies and a soy cappuccino for breakfast, a mid afternoon lactose-free gelato, or a full vegan dinner.

Make sure to send over some reviews if you manage to drop by!

Rewild Cruelty-Free Club

Vegan products require a much smaller fraction of land and fewer resources than those necessary to produce animal products. According to Rewild Cruelty-Free Club, the choice is simple: choose vegan. Visitors get the opportunity to eat and drink whatever they like without having to worry about ingredients or limited choices. They offer sandwiches and wraps with vegan cold cuts, sausages and veggies burgers. Main courses (lasagna, tagliatelle, ravioli, soups and rolls), and second courses (breaded cutlets, roasts, medallions etc..) are all made with a tempeh, seitan or tofu base. You can choose between bruschetta with tofu/vegetable/ organic spreads, vegan cheeses, and even shakes and puddings with vegetable milk. You won’t miss out on anything! And everything is obviously…free of animal exploitation!

Via Giovannipoli, 18 (Garbatella). Open Tuesday-Sunday starting 8pm

Ops! Cucina Mediterranea

This restaurant is 100% vegetarian and almost entirely vegan. It offers an extensive buffet of vegetarian/vegan dishes, Mediterranean style. You can find anything from the soup of the day (pumpkin, legumes, cereals…), vegetarian meats, fresh salads, vegan cheeses, chickpea falafel, vegetarian risotto, pasta made with semolina flour, and soy nuggets. What’s more they offer an array of typical Italian desserts, all vegan friendly. You can try little amaretto semifreddi (an icecream-like dessert), apple crumble and vegan cakes. The staff is young and friendly; the place modern and stylish. Definitely worth seeing!

Via Bergamo, 56. Open Monday 9:30am-3:30pm, Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-11pm

Alvarado Street

Alvarado Street is all about “expressing yourself.” It was born as a way to combine the pub atmosphere with different cultural and underground scenes. Spread over two floors, Alvarado Street offers pub style vegetarian and vegan dishes, combined with everything from photographic exhibitions, literary readings, live music, and more. Alvarado Street is not primarily vegan, but is a vegan friendly pub and offers a number of dishes including vegan cannelloni, mopur and tofu sandwiches, vegan couscous and biological wine and beer. It also organizes a vegan aperitivo 1-2 times a month, at very affordable prices

Via Attilio Mori, 27. Open every day 7pm-2am

Giufà Libreria Caffè

This is an intimate gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan-friendly bar/bookshop. Serves gluten-free chocolate cookies, hot chocolates and cappuccinos made with soy milk, biological teas and infusions, and a small array of vegan desserts (try the mini wine doughnuts!). Also serves vegan and biological savory tarts. You can aim at spending around €10.

Via degli Aurunci, 38 (San Lorenzo). Open Tues-Thurs 1pm-1am, Fri-Sat 1pm-2am, Sun-Mon 3pm-12pm

Tropical Ice

For an afternoon gelato head over to Tropical Ice, a summer haven for gastronomical minorities such as vegetarians and celiacs. The ice cream is delicious and made with all natural ingredients. You can find a number of soy flavors, including the panna (whipped cream) that goes on top! All fruit flavors, as well as the dark chocolate are completely milk free. The consistency of the ice cream is perfect, which is something not all vegan ice cream is able to achieve. They serve in both cups and cones; the former made with biodegradable material and the latter gluten-free and vegan.

Via Nomentana, 115. Open Mon-Sat 10am-1am. Sun 3pm-1am

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We recently submitted a similar post to 30 Traveler blog. Read that one here: Rome for Vegans. If you’re interesting in additional stories about eating in Rome, be sure to follow us on Twitter @eatingitaly.