Rome

Bella Italia. Need we say more?

We flew down to Rome for a long weekend filled with food, wine, some sightseeing, shopping, and, most importantly, good friends and lots of laughter.

STAY

For our stay we decided to try out the Plum Guide, offering a curated selection of vacation rentals, and were pleasantly impressed with our home for the weekend. Our modern three-bedroom apartment The Canopy was perfectly situated on Via del Babuino.

If you are looking to celebrate with a couple of friends, our tip would be to stay at their The Golden Frame apartment. There’s even a pool table.

If you don’t mind splurging, stay at the luxury five-star Hotel De Russie, located in the heart of the city between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo.

EAT & DRINK

Ristorantes, Trattorias & Osterias
One of the hardest things about Rome is finding a restaurant that’s not a tourist attraction. As such, it became something of a mission to explore those that aren’t geared towards tourists and eat with the locals.

If you only have one night in Rome, snag a reservation at the casual-eatery Roscioli, where delicious Italian dishes are paired with wines from the restaurants rich and varied wine bar. Another favorite is Ristorante Santa Lucia, frequented by Carla Fendi and others in Rome’s fashion set. Their outdoor terrace makes it one of the city’s most charming dining spots.

Ristorante Matricianella serves delicious fresh pasta, fish, and vegetables and has an extensive wine list, while the lively Maccheroni is a dinner favorite when we are in the mood for a no-frills atmosphere and good food. More fail-safe restaurants include Osteria La Gensola, Dal Felice and Sora Lella.

Splurge: Get a table at Da Giggetto, one of our favorites in the Jewish Ghetto. Piperno has one of the most comfortable outdoor terraces and serves mouthwatering dishes, such as their saltimbocca alla romana or grilled squid and shrimp. If Piperno is closed, try Pierluigi for fish and seafood. Dal Bolognese serves traditional Emilian food and is a great place to get some fancy pasta, including the best Bolognese in town. Ask Italian friends to book your table, or you may find yourselves seated alongside other foreign guests.

IA Tip: When it comes to dinner, try to make all your reservations beforehand, especially if you are more than 2 people. Also, always order the Carciofi alla Romana (Roman style Artichokes) or the Carciofi all Guidia (Roman-Jewish fried artichokes) if they are in season!

Aperitivo
For a solid aperitivo, stop by the charming Antico Caffé della Pace or watch the sun set on the rooftop terrace of Eitch Borromini’s La Grande Bellezza bar. The best Negroni is served at the Stravinskji Bar in the beautiful courtyard of Hotel de Russie, while Freni e Frizioni offers a lively atmosphere for late night drinks.

Gelato
When your sweet tooth is calling, grab a coppa of gelato at Gelateria dei Gracchi or Il Gelato di San Crispino.

SEE & EXPLORE

Shopping
The shopping opportunities in Rome are endless. Staples of Italian fashion in their own right, drop by Fendi, Valentino or Prada if you are looking to splurge. Nuyorica and Massimo degli Effetti stock everything from Miu Miu to Sigerson Morrison to Marc Jacobs.

For hand-tailored menswear visit Brioni. Vintage shopping is best done at Le Gallinelle, while the best last season designer deals are made at Il Discount dell’Alta Moda or Il Discount delle Firme, which stocks the likes of Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci and Alberta Ferretti.

Culture
Visiting Rome for the first time, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon and St. Peter’s Basilica are musts. If you can bare the hordes of tourists, the Sistine Chapel should also be on that list. IA Tip: Get skip-the-line tickets for any of the major attractions to save time.

That being said, our preferred way of enjoying a culturally rich city like Rome is simply by strolling down its streets, walking down the Spanish Steps or stopping at the Trevi Fountain to throw a coin into it, exploring the oasis that is Villa Borghese or the Jewish Ghetto, all while enjoying a scoop of gelato on the go.