Just like around the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, also in the surroundings of the famous Trevi Fountain, it’s pretty difficult to find a good restaurant that is not overpriced and just tourist-menu style. Living in Rome, I know more ways to skip the tourist areas for lunch and opt for more local restaurants. But sometimes I find myself around famous landmarks and hungry, so I have to find a compromise.
Thankfully, even all around the historic center, there is no lack of good restaurants, pizza places, eateries and gelato shops. Here are some of our favorite places where to eat near the Trevi Fountain.
Given how popular the fountain is, this list will come in handy to most Rome travelers, but especially to those who booked a hotel near the Trevi Fountain so that they don’t need to go too far for dinner after a long day of sightseeing.
Best Restaurants near Fontana di Trevi
Piccolo Buco, great pizza near Fontana di Trevi
Piccolo Buco pizzeria and restaurant is by far my very first choice of eating places near the Trevi Fountain. Often regarded as one of the best pizzerias in Rome, their gourmet pizza is truly remarkable. Thin and Naples-style, their edges are tall and slightly chewy, and their ingredients are high-quality and organic.
The flour they use is of semi-wholegrain farro (spelt) and also a part of refined one, the water is from Plose, then sea salt and extra-virgin olive oil. Of course, the ingredients for their toppings too are picked among slow food and locally sourced goods, so nothing less than the best quality in the area.
Unfortunately, the place is really small. “Piccolo buco” is the Italian standing for “little hole”, and sadly, this is kind of what it is, small and quite narrow inside and no space to put tables outdoor. Needless to say, if you want to eat there, you need to book beforehand, I suggest even one or two days before. You can also try your luck and just show up and stand at the door, but be prepared to queue for a long time and take the risk of having to go somewhere else.
- Where: Via del Lavatore 91
- When: Tuesday 12-3 pm and 6-11 pm, Wednesday to Sunday 12-11 pm. Monday Closed.
- Website.
Baccano, where to eat near the Trevi Fountain in style
If you feel like experiencing a slice of Paris in Rome, Baccano might as well be a good place to start. Very large interior and many places also outside, its décor makes it elegant and cozy at the same time. Waiters are professional and helpful. Even though the place wants to give a sophisticated and formal look, not once you will feel out of context.
The menu offers a diverse range of dishes that include gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, and the dishes are delicious. I would say it’s a tad expensive but given its location and level, it’s something to expect and not that over-the-top. I’ve been there twice so far, once for lunch and once only for drinks, and it made a good impression both times.
Baccano is open every day from 12 pm to midnight so it’s great even if you are in only for an afternoon tea or an after-dinner cocktail. It’s pretty big so on ordinary weekdays off-season booking shouldn’t be necessary, but given the privileged location, if it’s high season or weekend, prior reservation might be a good idea.
- Where: Via delle Muratte 23
- When: Every day 12 pm-12 am.
- Website.
Aromi Bistrot, gourmet fast-food restaurant near Trevi Fountain
A new opening in the area, Aromi Bistrot is where to eat near the Trevi Fountain if you want a quick meal but without sacrificing quality and taste. Located some 500 meters (1650 feet) from the Trevi Fountain, 200 meters (650 feet) from Piazza Venezia, and 250 meters (820 feet) from the Trajan’s Markets, its location is hard to beat.
Imagination, creativity, and the constant quest for new flavors are the ingredients of the innovative project of a young couple, chef Erica De Falco, who boasts a pretty remarkable roster of past experiences from Arcangelo Dandini to Palazzo del Quirinale, and Luca Longo, who says “Aromi Bistrot is the ideal place to turn a break from work, shopping, or sightseeing into a tasty experience, to seize the moment of a quick stop made precious with the taste and warmth of our offer.”
From the appetizers to the sandwiches, from the tartare to the deep-fried treats, Aromi Bistrot offers a combination of fun and original flavors. Delicious and versatile, their dishes can be enjoyed inside the restaurant or on the go, but wherever you decide to have them, be sure that the surprise factor of fares such as “fish cold cuts” and ham of amberjack is guaranteed.
Some of the dishes you won’t forget include deep-fried squid in a tabasco and lime mayo, supplì with eggplant cream, scamorza smoked cheese, a cube of smoked gilt-head bream, and herbs mayo, mille-feuille of potatoes, salmon marinated with lime and pink pepper, and burrata.
Their sandwich fillings include porchetta-style tuna and amberjack sausage, fried anchovies with burrata and smoked lemon jam, or salmon tartare with grilled zucchini and mint and goat cheese mousse with caramelized red onion, while the first courses are prepared with homemade egg pasta.
Passion and a personal food philosophy have quickly made Aromi Bistrot one of the favorite places where to eat near the Trevi Fountain.
- Where: Via Quattro Novembre 137M/138
- When: Tuesday to Sunday 12-4.30 pm. Closed on Monday.
- Website.
La Sandwicheria, street food near Fontana di Trevi
La Sandwicheria, as the name suggests, specializes in sandwiches. They also sell salads and easy pasta dishes to take away ready in their boxes, but the main course on their menu is hearty rich panini. Hanging on the wall is a huge menu with all the sandwich suggestions, even though you can either replace one of the topping ingredients with another of your choice or create a whole new sandwich from scratch with the ingredients you prefer keeping in mind that the price mentioned refers to the sandwich with a 5-ingredient topping, so any extra is charged.
The sandwiches on the list are so many that they naturally meet every possible taste and preference. Whether you are a vegan or vegetarian, you like smoked fish, or enjoy some chicken, you are bound to find great combinations with other tasty ingredients. I wanted one of the vegetarian sandwiches but instead of the cheese, I preferred to stay dairy-free, so I switched with roasted artichokes and my combination was just excellent.
At La Sandwicheria, you can’t eat inside, it’s only a take-away, so even if there is a bit of a line, it will finish quickly. This is both a pro and a con because while you won’t need to wait, you will also need to find a place to have your sandwich, and in the very surroundings, there is none. But this makes perfect if you are on a speed sightseeing and don’t have time for a restaurant meal, you just grab your sandwich and have it on the go. Fast, delicious, and cheap, it’s a pretty sweet combination for an affordable restaurant near Fontana di Trevi and an easy on-the-go street food place in Rome.
- Where: Via del Nazareno 16/17
- When: Monday to Saturday 11 am-3 pm. Sunday closed.
Colline Emiliane
Colline Emiliane is a great restaurant some 500 meters from the Trevi Fountain. Its name doesn’t leave much room for interpretation, and if you sit here, expect the kitchen to dish out all types of delicacies typical of the northern Emilia Romagna region including their legendary fresh pasta such as lasagna, tortellini, and tagliatelle, as well as the cold cuts and cheeses they are so famous for.
With 15€ for the first dishes and between 15 and 18€ for the main courses, their prices are not too high, especially given the high quality of the fares. Being such a central place, between Trevi and Barberini, booking is highly recommended.
- Where: Via degli Avignonesi 22
- When: Tuesday to Saturday 12.45-2.45 pm and 7.30-10.45 pm. Sunday 12.45-4 pm. Monday closed.
- Website.
Gelato di San Crispino
This is a bonus and not exactly a restaurant for lunch or dinner, but still a place I suggest you try at least once if you are around the Trevi Fountain. San Crispino is a quite famous gelato place in Rome and for a reason. Its gelato is really nice, creamy, all-natural, artisan and full of flavor.
Don’t expect a large display of fluffy, bright-colored gelato trays to order from, just like a good-quality artisan gelato should be, it’s kept in closed wells that get opened only at the moment of serving to avoid air spoiling the flavor and the texture.
At Gelato di San Crispino, they don’t serve it with a cone so you can only order a cup but it’s totally worth it. You can either enjoy your gelato sitting at one of their tables outside or on the go while you go see the famous Baroque fountain or other landmarks in the city center.
- Where: Via della Panetteria 42
- When: Every day 12 pm-12 am.
Sora Lucia
Another restaurant near the Trevi Fountain popular for its delicious dishes and reasonable prices is Sora Lucia in Via Rasella, some 500 meters away from Piazza di Trevi. From the starters to the main courses through the first dishes, they serve the recipes of Roman gastronomy. So for appetizers, you can order fares such as prosciutto and melon, bruschetta, or a selection of cheeses and cold cuts.
As a first course, you can either go for one of the main pasta such as carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe or gricia, or also a veggie soup or a bean soup. For the main course, you can choose one of the hearty dishes such as abbacchio (lamb), saltimbocca alla romana (veal cutlet topped with prosciutto and sage), tripes, but also fish-based dishes including sea bass or gilt-head bream in the oven, as well as different types of seafood.
- Where: Via Rasella 138
- When: Every day 12.30-3 pm and 6.45-11 pm.
Nanà seafood restaurant near the Trevi Fountain
Are you wondering where to eat near the Trevi Fountain if you feel like great seafood dishes? Nanà is what you are looking for. Serving specialties from the Amalfi Coast, this is a great seafood restaurant near the Trevi Fountain. While most dishes are fish and seafood-based, you are also going to find meat fares and vegetarian options.
Decorating in a pleasant southern style with clear hints to the Amalfi Coast in the blue and yellow hues, Nanà’s dishes are made with fish coming fresh daily from places like Procida and Manfredonia, and ingredients from their native Campania region such as buffalo mozzarella, Corbara tomatoes, and the famous Gragnano pasta.
- Where: Via della Panetteria 37.
- When: Monday to Friday 12.30-3 pm and 7-11 pm, Saturday and Sunday open only for dinner 7-11 pm.
