Discover Rome’s 200 best Local Soul spots for your trip

Osteria La Gensola

★ 4.3 · 1,226 reviews

Discover Osteria La Gensola, a seafood osteria tucked on a hidden Trastevere piazza. Settle in among welcoming staff for a genuinely local, traditionally rooted meal, with outdoor seating on warm evenings away from the tourist crowds.

Osteria Fratelli Mori

★ 4.4 · 2,677 reviews

Discover Osteria Fratelli Mori, a Roman neighbourhood favourite tucked in Ostiense. Join the Friday-night local crowd and order the standout tiramisu, zucchini, and cod that keep reviewers coming back.

Bar San Calisto

★ 4.5 · 5,558 reviews

Discover Bar San Calisto, a no-frills piazza institution in Trastevere. Grab a cheap coffee or drink and soak up authentic Roman street life alongside neighbourhood regulars.

Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto

★ 4.4 · 2,704 reviews

Discover Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto, a genuine neighbourhood trattoria beyond Rome's tourist core. Settle in for a relaxed lunch or dinner and try the oxtail pasta, tender meat in a well-balanced sauce that reviewers call the best of their trip.

Fornace Stella - Piazza Lecce

★ 4.5 · 1,458 reviews

Discover Fornace Stella, a neighborhood favorite on Piazza Lecce where tourists rarely wander. Settle in with locals over reliable pasta and pizza in a casual setting, perfect for an authentic late dinner in Rome.

Nuovo Cinema Aquila

★ 4.2 · 1,198 reviews

Discover Nuovo Cinema Aquila, a cozy neighborhood theatre tucked into Pigneto near the metro. Settle in among locals for a film screening, keeping an eye out for the occasional free admission periods that make this spot a genuine community fixture.

Cinema Troisi

★ 4.6 · 704 reviews

Discover Cinema Troisi, a neighborhood favorite near Trastevere. Settle into comfortable seats for a film screened in its original language, soaking up the relaxed, authentic vibe locals love.

L'Osteria della Trippa

★ 4.3 · 795 reviews

Discover L'Osteria della Trippa, a stylish Trastevere spot named for Rome's classic tripe dishes. Sit down to authentic offal specialties and attentive, unhurried service, just as comfortable solo as with company.

Libreria Caffè Bohémien

★ 4.5 · 721 reviews

Step into Libreria Caffè Bohémien, a cosy bookshop-café bar tucked into Monti. Settle in with a well-priced glass of wine or a cocktail for a relaxed, low-key evening or catch-up.

FRENI E FRIZIONI

★ 4.2 · 4,364 reviews

Discover Freni e Frizioni, a former mechanic's garage turned Trastevere cocktail favorite. Sip expertly made drinks alongside locals and in-the-know visitors in a lively, unpretentious setting.

Salotto42

★ 4.1 · 2,624 reviews

Discover Salotto42, a compact bar tucked into the atmospheric Piazza di Pietra. Grab a drink among locals and travellers, soak up the lively, sociable energy, and see why so many visitors end up popping back in more than once.

Brancaleone

★ 4.1 · 264 reviews

Discover Brancaleone, Rome's underground home of Italian hip-hop. Head to the city's outskirts on a Thursday for the long-running radio show and live event night, dancing alongside locals with no booking required.

Romanè

★ 4.3 · 2,191 reviews

Discover Romanè, a tucked-away neighbourhood spot far from Rome's tourist crowds. Settle in for home-style Italian cooking, sip a glass of vermouth, and try the squid dish reviewers rave about.

Necci dal 1924

★ 4.2 · 4,493 reviews

Step into Necci dal 1924, a Pigneto institution since its founding year that still channels the neighborhood's bohemian spirit. Settle in for a leisurely coffee or a full meal of dishes like artichoke fettuccine and Bolognese ragù, whenever the mood strikes.

Trattoria Pennestri

★ 4.6 · 2,013 reviews

Discover Trattoria Pennestri, a modern take on the classic Roman trattoria tucked into the local Ostiense neighborhood. Sit down for an elevated yet authentic Roman meal, served by a team happy to squeeze in walk-ins even without a booking.

Checchino Dal 1887

★ 4.4 · 992 reviews

Step into Checchino Dal 1887, a family-run Testaccio institution serving Roman cuisine since the days of the neighboring slaughterhouse. Order traditional quinto quarto offal dishes and taste the authentic, historically rooted cooking that's kept locals coming back for over a century.

Piatto Romano

★ 4.5 · 1,342 reviews

Discover Piatto Romano, a Testaccio trattoria locals treat as a true institution. Sit down to authentic Roman dishes served with friendly, efficient service that keeps regulars and first-timers alike coming back.

Caffè Hungaria

★ 3.6 · 1,350 reviews

Discover Caffè Hungaria, a neighbourhood breakfast spot tucked away in residential Parioli. Tuck into fluffy banana pancakes piled with fresh fruit, or try a burger or pastry, eating budget-friendly and alongside actual Roman locals.

Quartiere San Lorenzo

Explore Quartiere San Lorenzo, Rome's unpolished student quarter near Sapienza University. Wander streets covered in political murals and street art, grab cheap pizza al taglio, and linger in punk-leaning bars that stay open late.

Theatre Vascello

★ 4.5 · 1,482 reviews

Discover Theatre Vascello, Monteverde's low-key home for contemporary performance. Catch experimental theatre and dance productions that draw local culture enthusiasts rather than the typical tourist crowd.

Villa Torlonia Theatre

★ 4.7 · 373 reviews

Discover Villa Torlonia Theatre, a tiny historic gem tucked inside the park's grounds. Enjoy an intimate show away from the busy central Rome venues, welcomed by friendly staff in a genuinely charming setting.

Felice a Testaccio | ROMA

★ 4.3 · 9,260 reviews

Discover Felice a Testaccio, the local favorite even Uber drivers swear by. Sit down for a plate of the celebrated cacio e pepe and attentive service, but book ahead since tables fill fast.

Teatro India

★ 4.4 · 2,367 reviews

Discover Teatro India, a converted industrial theatre tucked along the Tiber south of Rome's tourist circuit. Catch an experimental production or low-cost screening for just a few euros, alongside locals who make this riverside stage their own.

Supplizio

★ 4.5 · 3,263 reviews

Discover Supplizio, a pint-sized counter near Campo de' Fiori dedicated to Rome's beloved fried rice ball. Grab a crispy classic supplì or try the carbonara-flavoured twist for a quick, cheap bite between sightseeing stops.

Ristorante Pecorino

★ 4.6 · 2,238 reviews

Discover Ristorante Pecorino, a Roman favorite tucked away from the tourist crowds. Dig into handmade pasta with artichoke or amatriciana, then finish with an in-house, from-scratch dessert.

Mordi & Vai

★ 4.7 · 1,135 reviews

Grab a stool at Mordi & Vai, Testaccio Market's legendary sandwich stall. Order the signature allesso di scottona panino, boiled-beef Roman comfort food served fast and unfussy for a quick, satisfying bite.

Agustarello A Testaccio

★ 4.4 · 1,046 reviews

Discover Agustarello A Testaccio, a no-frills trattoria devoted to Roman offal cooking. Let attentive staff walk you through quinto quarto classics, making unfamiliar dishes approachable over a genuinely local lunch or dinner.

Collettivo Gastronomico Testaccio

★ 4.3 · 478 reviews

Discover Collettivo Gastronomico Testaccio, tucked behind the old Ex-Mattatoio slaughterhouse in an up-and-coming corner of Testaccio. Enjoy classic Italian dishes with regularly changing flavors and warmly praised service, away from Rome's more crowded tourist tables.

Quadraro

Explore Quadraro, Rome's under-the-radar "little Moscow." Wander residential streets marked by wartime memorials and discover dozens of MURo murals painted across building facades since 2010.

Osteria Bonelli

★ 4.5 · 6,802 reviews

Discover Osteria Bonelli, a residential trattoria where Romans actually eat. Dig into an authentic carbonara and real Roman cooking, far from the tourist-menu versions near the center.