Rome Food Tours 2024
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Julia Eskins, Contributor
Forbes Vetted
Italy’s capital isn’t just a perennial favorite for iconic sights like the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum, but also for its delectable culinary scene. The best Rome food tours help travelers skip the lines (and tourist traps) to taste the authentic flavors of the Eternal City. Generous bowls of carbonara, fried artichokes, market-fresh buffalo mozzarella and artisanal gelato are just a few of its most sought-after delights.
For foodies seeking a guided experience in one of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods, we recommend the Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour with Eating Europe. Epicureans craving a more off-the-beaten-path adventure will appreciate the Taste of Testaccio Food and Market Tour, while hungry gourmands will enjoy the Rome Food Tour: Unlimited Tastings with Fine Wine and Barolo near Vatican City. Below, the best Rome food tours for 2024.
Editor’s Picks:
Best Rome Food Tour For History Buffs: Rome Wine And Food Tour In Trastevere Jewish Ghetto Campo De’ Fiori
Rome Wine And Food Tour In Trastevere Jewish Ghetto Campo De’ Fiori
Who Will Love It: Travelers interested in covering multiple foodie hubs while learning about Roman history
What Not To Miss: Booking a morning tour, which includes a stop at Campo de’ Fiori, one of the oldest markets in Rome
Duration: 3.5 hours
Meeting Spot: Via Dei Baullari, 106, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Focusing on three culinary hot spots—Campo de’ Fiori, the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere—this Rome food tour is perfect for those looking to see (and eat) a lot in one morning or afternoon. Groups of fewer than a dozen people will zig-zag their way through the city’s foodie enclaves while sampling 15 different delicacies, including buffalo mozzarella, pecorino romano, and suppli (fried rice balls). Highlights include tasting fried artichokes in the oldest restaurant in the Jewish Ghetto, skipping the long lines for pizza at Antico Forno Roscioli and sitting down to enjoy cacio e pepe and amatriciana pasta with wine pairings in Trastevere. We recommend booking the morning tour for a chance to stop at Campo de’ Fiori, one of the oldest markets in Rome.
Best Rome Food Tour In Trastevere: Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour With Eating Europe
Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour With Eating Europe
Who Will Love It: Travelers looking to skip the lines at Rome’s best restaurants
What Not To Miss: Saving room for organic gelato from Fatamorgana at the end of the tour
Duration: 4 hours
Meeting Spot: Piazza S. Bartolomeo All’Isola, 22, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
The charming neighborhood of Trastevere is well-known for its family-run trattorias (and long lines), which makes this exclusive evening food tour so appealing. You’ll get VIP access to notoriously hard-to-get-into restaurants like Trattoria Da Enzo al 29, sample Julius Caesar’s favorite dish and enjoy an exclusive wine tasting in the oldest cellar in the city. As you wind through the area’s ivy-covered alleys, you’ll sample typical street food like fried artichokes, pizza, porchetta and small-batch gelato. With group sizes capped at 12 people, this is an ideal food tour in Rome for those looking to intimately experience an iconic neighborhood in the evening.
Best Rome Food Tour For Pizza And Wine Lovers: Rome Food Tour: Unlimited Tastings With Fine Wine And Barolo
Rome Food Tour: Unlimited Tastings With Fine Wine And Barolo
Who Will Love It: Insatiable explorers looking to eat to their heart’s content in a lesser-visited area
What Not To Miss: The mortadella pizza at the Anthony Bourdain-approved Bonci Pizzarium
Duration: 4 hours
Meeting Spot: The Roman Food Tour Rome Via Cipro, 4 L, 00136 Roma RM, Italy
Those staying close to Vatican City will love this filling and informative food tour of the Prati neighborhood. The area is less touristy than others in Rome, which is a major plus for those looking to discover authentic Italian dishes and mom-and-pop gourmet shops away from the crowds. A highlight is a visit to one of Rome’s most beloved pizzerias, helmed by the “Michelangelo of Pizza” Gabriele Bonci, where you can taste inventive topping combinations like mortadella and crumbled pistachio, fig with prosciutto and burrata and anchovies. Those looking to taste a bit of everything will appreciate the whopping 20 samples that this tour offers, including delicacies like balsamic vinegar aged 30 years and caciotta cheese with pure black truffle pâté—all washed down with great wine.
Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Rome Food Tour: Taste of Testaccio Food And Market Tour
Taste of Testaccio Food And Market Tour
Who Will Love It: Foodies on the hunt for hidden gems and local experiences
What Not To Miss: Sampling fresh buffalo mozzarella and making your own tomato bruschetta at Testaccio Market
Duration: 4 hours
Meeting Spot: Piazza Testaccio, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
You’ll want to come hungry to this food tour of Testaccio, a less-touristy blue-collar neighborhood that’s locally regarded as one of the best places to eat in Rome. The tour includes 15 samples at eight different locations, including the Testaccio Market, a glass-enclosed foodie mecca. Here, nearly 100 stalls hawk Italian delights like buffalo mozzarella, pizza with porchetta, bruschetta and more. Along the way, you’ll discover lesser-known relics of Ancient Rome including the city’s only pyramid. Save room for the capital’s three famous pastas (carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe), as well as cured meats and cheeses, craft beer, wine, pastries, and, of course, gelato.
Best Rome Food Tour For Active Travelers: Hidden Rome: Small-Group E-Bike Tour With Roman Street Food
Hidden Rome: Small-Group E-Bike Tour With Roman Street Food
Who Will Love It: Adrenaline seekers looking for a scenic and tasty way to discover the city
What Not To Miss: The view from Colle del Gianicolo, one of the highest points in Rome
Duration: 4 hours
Meeting Spot: EsBike Tours & Experiences Roma
Via Antonio Rosmini, 22, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
With its seven hills, 22 districts, and countless restaurants, seeing the best of Rome in a day is no easy feat. But this e-bike food tour of the city’s famous viewpoints and flavors is a perfect option for travelers with limited time. Your efforts of climbing hills (with some electric assistance) and whizzing down cobblestone streets will be well-rewarded with a delicious lunch featuring traditional dishes and a generous sampling of Roman street food. Each group is capped at eight people, creating a personalized experience for advanced and beginner cyclists alike. With plenty of scenic stops including the panoramic viewpoint of Colle Aventino and the quaint streets of Trastevere, your camera will be just as well fed as you are.
Best Rome Street Food Tour: Rome Street Food Tour With Local Guide
Rome Street Food Tour With Local Guide
Who Will Love It: Energetic travelers looking for an informative walking tour with street food
What Not To Miss: Sampling the carciofi alla giudia (Roman Jewish-style fried artichokes)
Duration: 2.5 hours
Meeting Spot: Campo de’ Fiori, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
For travelers who can’t sit still, this snappy walking tour keeps things moving as you enjoy bites of street food, from pizza and pastries to zucchini flowers and gelato. Starting in Rome’s most famous market square, you and up to 14 others will meet a variety of local food vendors while sampling cheeses, meats, wine and seasonal fruits. Equal parts history tour, the entire experience is made even more memorable with evocative storytelling about Rome’s Jewish quarter and Ancient Roman structures. With no sit-down meals, this tour is perfect for travelers who would prefer to explore and graze in Italy’s open-air museum than spend hours in a restaurant.
Best Rome Food Tour For Groups: VIP Rome Golf Cart Food Tour With Eating Europe
VIP Rome Golf Cart Food Tour With Eating Europe
Who Will Love It: Families and groups looking to sightsee in style; travelers with limited mobility
What Not To Miss: Tasting local delicacies at the market in Testaccio
Duration: 4 hours
Meeting Spot: Piazza di San Francesco d’Assisi
As if zooming around Rome in an Aperol-orange golf cart wasn’t fun enough, this food tour includes a knowledgeable guide (one of whom studied archaeology) and stops at locally loved spots. Groups of up to seven people can ride in style, starting with a Prosecco toast at the Terrazza del Gianicolo viewpoint, followed by five different food and drink stops. From exclusive terraces to a spritz-making tutorial at a local bar, every part on this tour feels like a VIP experience. Make sure to arrive with an empty stomach—from appetizers at a local market to a sit-down meal featuring amatriciana pasta and tiramisù, and a second dessert of gelato, this feast will have you rolling back to your hotel.
Best Rome Food Tour Near The Colosseum: Pasta, Pizza And Gelato Food Tour In The Heart Of Ancient Rome
Pasta, Pizza And Gelato Food Tour In The Heart Of Ancient Rome
Who Will Love It: Foodies looking to explore small delis and trattorias with a savvy guide
What Not To Miss: The hidden gem gelato shop; writing down the local guide’s expert recommendations for Rome
Duration: 2.5 hours
Meeting Spot: Via Cavour, 301, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
A short walk from the Colosseum, the residential neighborhood of Monti has recently evolved into a trendy spot for dining, drinking and shopping. On this Rome food tour, you’ll feel like you’re exploring with a friend as you get to know the area’s best family-run bodegas, trattorias, gelaterias and cafes. Whether you choose a lunchtime or dinner tour, you’ll sample at least 10 different foods while listening to funny stories, personal anecdotes and insider tips from Lisa, an American transplant who speaks Italian fluently and knows Rome well. An ideal way to start your trip, this tour will show you a new side of the city (and give you plenty of recommendations to check out on your own).
Best Rome Food Tour With A Market Visit: The Roman Food Tour Including Visit To The Trionfale Food Market
The Roman Food Tour Including Visit To The Trionfale Food Market
Who Will Love It: Epicureans curious to discover unique foods and artisanal shops
What Not To Miss: The trapizzino, a Roman-style pizza pocket
Duration: 4 hours
Meeting Spot: La Nicchia Cafe
Via Cipro, 4L, 00136 Roma RM, Italy
Truffle honey, wild boar salami and 28-year aged balsamic vinegar are just a few of the concoctions you might try on this unique food tour in Rome. Discerning palates will love the visit to Trionfale, Rome’s largest food market, but you’ll want to pace yourself: this foodie adventure near the Vatican includes a total of 18 different samples. Other highlights include a Roman breakfast at La Nicchia Cafe, pizza made with dough that undergoes a 72-hour fermentation process at Bonci Pizzarium, homemade pasta at a beloved trattoria and a scoop of artisanal gelato.
Best Private Rome Food Tour: Rome Food Experience With Private Option
Rome Food Experience With Private Option
Who Will Love It: Groups desiring a private food tour in the historic center
What Not To Miss: Eating cacio e pepe pasta in front of the Pantheon
Duration: 3 hours
Meeting Spot: Piazza Mattei, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
With a maximum of six people and the option to book a private experience, this Rome food tour is perfect for those looking for an exclusive introduction to the city’s best dishes. Nosh on pizza, gelato, fried artichokes and zucchini blossoms as you learn about the historic center. You’ll get plenty of personalized attention from your guide (a trained sommelier) as you explore a mix of upscale eateries, cherished food stalls and relaxed trattorias with a view of Rome’s ancient architecture. Make sure to save some room for the second last stop: a delicious plate of cacio e pepe pasta at a table with a sought-after view of the Pantheon.
About Julia Eskins, Your Rome Food Tours Guide
I have been writing and editing travel and lifestyle content for over a decade, with a focus on luxury hotels, innovative sustainability initiatives, and immersive cultural and wellness experiences. Along the way, I have explored over 50 countries, lived in five (Canada, Portugal, Finland, Germany and Mexico), and gone on dozens on food tours, including several in Rome. No matter where I go, I’ll always track down the best cup of coffee, sunset viewpoint, and local restaurants. In addition to Forbes Vetted, my travel guides, reviews, and feature stories have also appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Vogue, Bloomberg Pursuits, Lonely Planet, Time, The Globe and Mail, Afar, Elle Canada, BBC Travel, Architectural Digest and more.
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