Modena balsamic vinegar is such a kitchen staple today that it’s hard to imagine that it was almost unheard of outside Italy until relatively recently. It’s only been about 40 years that the term became widely recognized in the United States, let alone recognized enough to be as ubiquitous, as it now is on grocery […]
All About Sardinian Food: 10 Must-Try Dishes and Drinks
Sardinian food is a world apart from that of its closest Italian neighbors on mainland Italy. It offers a huge variety to the travelling gastronome. It might have something to do with the fact that, in centuries past, the island of Sardinia was fought over by the Catalans, the French, and the Italians (and others […]
Where to Find the Best Seafood Restaurants in Rome
With so many amazing sights to see in the center of the city such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and endless array of glorious fountains, it’s easy to forget that Rome is about 15 miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea. This proximity means that there are some spectacular seafood restaurants in Rome. And while […]
La Dolce Vita: Where to Find The 8 Best Bakeries in Rome
There’s a reason why bakeries are so buonissimo in Italy, in general, and Rome, in particular: pastries are a regular part of the Italian breakfast experience. Cornetti (aka croissants) are an edible institution here. Rome happens to be sprinkled with bakeries, some passable and others impeccable in their deliciousness. But don’t worry, our list of […]
Craft Beer in Italy: A Comprehensive Overview
Craft beer in Italy might not be the initial beverage that dances through people’s thoughts when they think about their upcoming visit to Italy. What come to mind is probably a delicious Chianti wine or a refreshing Aperol Spritz. But Italy has a thriving craft beer scene, and it’s growing all the time. Over the […]
Our Top 9 Picks for Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Italy
If you’re keeping score, there are 381 restaurants in Italy that have earned one, two, or three stars from the esteemed tire company, Michelin. That makes Italy the country with the third most Michelin stars on the planet (after France and Japan). Which is really saying something, considering Italian cuisine is also known as “cucina […]
Our 5 Top Spots for the Best Maritozzo in Rome
While enjoying your trip to bella Roma, you’ll taste some of the best bites ever – carbonara, suppli, fried artichokes… but there’s one little snack you definitely shouldn’t skip: the maritozzo! The pastry is truly a symbol of Rome, you can enjoy it all day long, though more commonly it’s eaten with a quick caffè […]
Apericena, Italy’s Favorite Tradition (and How It’s Different From Aperitivo)
When the day starts coming to an end, and you finally decide to sit down for a break from all that site-seeing, it’s the perfect moment to enjoy the Italian tradition of aperitivo. Aperitivo, or Apericena – however you might hear it called – is an essential moment of the Italian experience. A time to […]
Rome vs Naples: Which to Visit on Your Next Trip to Italy
With just a week or so of vacation time to visit Italy, it can be tough to decide where exactly to go! Two of our favorite cities year-round are Rome and Naples, but it’s even hard to just pick one. If you only have a week to ten days in Italy, you won’t want to […]
The Essential Guide to Rome’s MAXXI Museum
You don’t have to be a fan of ancient history to fall in love with Rome. The food, wine, people, and romantic atmosphere are sure to capture your heart no matter what. But of course, if you were looking for a museum to pass the afternoon in, where should you go? The Vatican and the […]
Complete Guide to the Borghese Gallery: Must-See and Hidden Gems
It’s hard to plan a trip to Rome and not see amazing art. The whole city being an open-air museum, you are sure to catch a glimpse of several masterpieces. But which museums in Rome should you visit? While the Vatican City Museums and Capitoline Museums are top options, we recommend you don’t skip the […]
Complete Guide to the Vatican City Museums: Sistine Chapel, Hidden Gems, and More
One of the most visited museums in the world, you can’t miss a peek into the Vatican City on your trip to Rome. The Vatican City Museums have been welcoming visitors to their most impressive art collections since the 16th century. Many focus on getting straight to the Sistine Chapel, but there are many other […]
Complete Guide to the Rome Capitoline Museums (With Hidden Gems)
One of the first places you’ll stumble upon when you visit Rome is most likely the Piazza Campidoglio. Michelangelo designed this round piazza, which is marked by the looming statues of Castor and Pollux. Here you’ll find Rome’s famous town hall, but also two palazzi that make up the Rome Capitoline Museums. It is referred […]
An Art Historian’s Guide to the Best Art Museums in Rome
It could take a lifetime to visit all of the art museums in Rome. In fact, the Italian capital has hundreds of museums, from those owned by the State, those managed by the city, those still belonging to noble families of Rome, and then of course the Vatican. The art you can admire in Rome […]
Rome Then & Now: The Truth about Fettuccine Alfredo
This blog post was originally posted on September 27, 2019 and was updated on January 29, 2021. Fettuccine Alfredo—the real thing, anyway—is served at just two restaurants in Italy, but its popularity has exploded abroad. Everyone has heard of fettuccine Alfredo, sometimes called “Alfredo pasta” abroad. It’s so popular outside Italy that when I lived […]
Everything You Need to Know About Roman Pasta
There’s something comforting about the dependable, the quotidian, the downright normal. Roman pasta is just that. Amatriciana, carbonara, gricia and cacio e pepe are the main pastas of Rome, and most restaurants have at least two of them on the menu at any given time. They are, by and large, the things Romans love about their food. […]
Our 6 Favorite Restaurants In Trastevere
Trastevere is Rome’s most charming neighborhood, and that’s saying a lot. A bit overrun with tourists and students, yes, but no one who’s walked its winding streets can deny there’s something magical about it. But you can still find great restaurants in Trastevere – if you know where to look! The word Trastevere literally means […]
Perfect Italian Tiramisu Recipe
Quite appropriately, “tiramisu” translates to something along the lines of “pick me up.” And that’s exactly what it is—a sweet pick-me-up that’s well worth saving space for, no matter how much carbonara or cacio e pepe you may have already eaten. Coffee-dipped ladyfinger cookies and sweet, fluffy mascarpone come together in a beautiful symphony of […]
Best Pizza Bianca Recipe (From One of Rome’s Best Pizzerias)
Pizza bianca is pizza at its simplest. There’s no bright red tomato sauce, no cheese, and no fancy toppings. Pizza bianca (which translates to “white pizza”) is as simple as it gets: fresh-baked focaccia topped with nothing more than olive oil, salt, and sesame seeds or rosemary if you’re feeling adventurous. But don’t let the […]
Best-Ever Traditional Roman Carbonara Recipe
Forget everything you think you know about carbonara. Outside of Italy, carbonara pastas are often unrecognizable. Drenched in a thick cream sauce and studded with peas and bacon, these international adaptations are a far cry from the traditional carbonara recipe used in Rome. But here in the Eternal City, real carbonara is one of the […]