Eating when you visit Piazza del Popolo can be very fun it you know the right places to go!
Around Piazza del Popolo there are various restaurants and “apero-dinner” (happy hour drink with food – a typical Italian thing to do around 7.30) places. Like always, I’ll tell you about the top restaurants and also about the budget but always quality places. For lunch I would suggest something quick like the
Babette Caffè – Restaurant in Via Margutta, 1/d 3 – Rome. By the way, Via Margutta is one of the nicest streets downtown!
How to get there: You must go down Via del Babuino coming from Piazza del Popolo and you'll find Via Margutta on your left right after the Chopard shop.
Lunch time Babette restaurant offers a buffet, together with a small basket of bread and a big bottle of water for only euro 14.00/person. It’s not an “all you can eat” buffet, you can have soup and fill your plate once – which is enough considering that they offer a large selection of pasta that will fill you immediately.
If you’re looking for a vegetarian place to eat, right across to Babette is Il Margutta Vegetarian restaurant - Via Margutta 118 - 00187 Roma
Not only is it known as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Italy but it’s location is in the mythical Via Margutta, home of Fellini, and a few meters from Piazza del Popolo. Not only will you get healthy delicious food but you can admire a stylish and spacious interior full of art. In the evenings instead of the buffet they have an à la carte menu and a special à la carte menu for anyone who suffers from gluten intolerance!
Il Margutta restaurant Rome
Happy Hour in Rome
The two best hot spots for an Italian Aperitivo (a drink with some finger food usually from 7.00PM to 8.30PM) especially during the summer, is the
Hotel Locarno - Via Della Penna 22, 00186 Rome. You’ll be finding yourself sitting in a garden, of an old-fashioned art deco hotel, on charismatic chairs and benches, sipping your refreshing drink and listening to lounge music. If you want more, their menu offers a satisfying range of selections on foods. The hotel Locarno chef will carefully select high quality ingredients, so that he can offer a menu which is both delicious and light. You'll arrive by walking down Via di Ripetta from Piazza del Popolo and it will be the first street on your right. Two blocks down you'll find the Hotel Locarno.
The other place to go to, is absolutly a must see. Hotel De Russie - Via del Babuino 9 - 00187 Rome
Arrive at De Russie Hotel just by walking down Via del Babuino, off of Piazza del Popolo and you'll find it just shortly after on your right. A beautiful almost rural like setting amongst the hustle and bustle outside. Time stands still.
If you've ever wondered what a 5 star aperitivo looks like you'll find out here. This is the only place in Rome where I have ever gotten served warm olives and warm hand-made potato chips! With your drink you'll get lots of extra nibbles free of charge. You’ll be served in one of the most beautiful and exclusive gardens in Rome. The Stravinsky Bar, known for their lovely champagne selection, offers everything your heart desires. Hotel de Russie is also an unforgettable place to come for a romantic dinner. Coming here can be pricey, but it's a sublime experience!
Hotel De Russie garden
While we're at it, I'll take you to another expensive and well know place. Il ristorante Dal Bolognese - Piazza del Popolo1/2 - Rome. The
restaurant lies near the twin churches right on Piazza del Popolo itself.
The motto here is: to see and be seen. I wouldn’t go further into details about that because you’re a tourist and couldn’t care less…This restaurant is a place for Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Also, many VIP’s and politicians eat here especially for dinner. Their dishes are originally from the geographical zone Emiglia Romagna (in the north of Italy) – Bologna.
Dal Bolognese in Rome is famous for the Tortellini in brodo
On the top of the hill, once known as Collis Hortulorum, the highest point of the Pincio, lies the restaurant Casina Valadier - Villa Borghese, Piazza Bucarest - 00187 Rome. You get there either by walking up the stairs to your left facing the Pincio when standing underneath in Piazza del Popolo or grab a taxi and come from the other side. This spot vaunts a 180 degrees view over the city! The mansion is beautiful...it's a neoclassical structure with a lovely garden and terrace for tea, lunch and dinner. A perfect meeting place for a feeling of excitement and mystery!
Casina Valadier restaurant - Rome
Down the hill back to Piazza del Popolo again, we have another couple of places to eat which are much more obvious and where most of the tourists go to because its right in front of Piazza del Popolo and the seats and tables are facing it. One is called Restaurant-Cafe'-Bar Canova Piazza del Popolo, 16 - 00187 Roma. You can sit outside and face Piazza del Popolo, feeling a truly magical atmosphere and being surrounded by some of the most impressive works of art in Rome, or you can eat in their splendid music garden in the back. Canova’s chefs offer the very best of Italian and international cuisine, as well as mouth-watering and memorable specialties of the local tradition.
Canova restaurant - Rome
Right next to Canova is another small place called Modi' - Caffetteria and Wine Bar - Piazza del Popolo 19 - 00187 Rome. They have chairs and tables out in the front so you can enjoy your meal on a bright sunny day! They offer a good price compared to other places and considering the location you're at! Perfect for a fast snack!
Modi' - Caffetteria and Wine Bar
On the other side of Piazza del Popolo you'll see the famous Ristorante Rosati - Piazza del Popolo, 4/5a - 00187 Rome.
Rosati is one of the oldest places around that area. Style, quality and elegance have always characterized their brand. Rosati dates back to 1922 and already then it was famous for their good tasting coffee. Rosati’s love and passion for their client’s make them have a responsibility of a high standard, with proven reliability that is expressed through the rigorous selection of raw materials, variety, genuineness of food and the professionalism of the staff.
Restaurant Rosati - Rome
A little bit hidden away behind Piazza del Popolo is a fantastic genuine roman restaurant called Fraschetteria Brunetti - Via Angelo Brunetti, 25 - 00186 Roma. I only have one word that describes the food: excellent. To get to Fraschetteria Brunnetti just walk down Via di Ripetta starting from Piazza del Popolo and to your left you’ll see Via Brunetti. They're open for lunch and dinner. You decide!
Entrance door of Fraschetteria Brunnetti