Culinary art in Rome: the most typical restaurants in Monti district

Off the tourist route of Rome, a few steps from the magnificent Forum and the Colosseum, this bohemian neighbourhood is the place where the Romans go to eat and enjoy the local cuisine. From luxury to traditional restaurants, the culinary art of Rome is like its empire and its history: immense. Here you are the most typical in Monti district.

Trattoria Monti

Undoubtedly a possible candidate for the best trattoria in Rome, Trattoria Monti is very popular thanks to its friendly service, elegant furnishings and high quality dishes. However, booking well in advance is essential. Managed by the Camerucci family of Marche origins, mother in the kitchen and two brothers at table service, the offer is a creative with a well-balanced menu. The game of flavours finds ample space in the menu, such as Tagliatelle with duck or rabbit, as well as the delicious egg yolk Tortelli, large Ravioli filled with raw egg yolk, Ricotta cheese and spinaches, and many other typical dishes.

Urbana 47

The story of Urbana 47 talks about farm-to-table food: fresh ingredients from the local region, highlight the culinary value of the countryside and include many freshly picked organic products. Serving breakfast, lunch, tapas and dinner, there is a wide variety of exciting options on the menu, such as boiled rabbit salad with plums and pomegranate, Stracchino cheese with grilled vegetables, persimmon jam and spell crêpe, and pumpkin muffin with cinnamon. An elegant and minimalist design, bricks and borders still visible next to simple iron chairs, puts Urbana 47 at the forefront of a new generation of trendy restaurants in Rome. Free Wi-Fi makes it the perfect place to relax with a coffee.

Ai Tre Scalini

With a list of exclusively Italian wines - peculiar particular attention is given to the local options of Lazio - Ai Tre Scalini offers a greedy menu that includes hearty dishes such as Porchetta and more creative options such as Ricotta cheese with truffle honey. It gets full in the evening, at aperitif time, and the crowd pours on the cobblestone streets until late at night, listening to the sound of jazz and traditional Roman music.

Aromaticus

The dream of the urban farmer. Aromaticus is a restaurant that sells plants, spices, herbs and even edible flowers, along with the tools necessary to start your own farm in the courtyard. But this place is not exclusively vegetarian, the menu includes tartare steak with fine Piedmontese Fassona meat, raw salted cod with figs and almonds, and a variety of salads in constant evolution. Fresh juices, craft beers and a selection of selected wines complete the offer.

Da Valentino

The favourite place for lunch of businessmen and government employees of the nearby Palazzo del Quirinale is Da Valentino, an old-fashioned antique trattoria. The menu includes a variety of typical dishes based on meat and pasta, but the best of is a grilled Scamorza cheese made in several variants. Simple furniture with white tablecloths complete this classic Roman institution, unpretentious but with a really delicious cuisine.

Gaudeo

Gaudeo's menu is simple: sandwich and just sandwich, but made with style. Founded in 2012 by a group of friends who tried to mix the passion of standard snacks, Gaudeo creates mixes with the best ingredients: you will not find his sandwiches elsewhere. The bread is specially made by the Antico Forno Roscioli, one of the oldest and best pastry shops in Rome. The fillings are a variety of meats, cheese and vegetables.

L'Asino d'Oro

L'Asino d'Oro is the creation of chef Lucio Sforza, who brought his trade from his native Umbria to a northern suburb of Rome, before starting his current adventure in Monti district, in 2010. A sophisticated interior design with elegant modern and red furniture is fully reflected in well-presented food. Whether it is boar cooked with chocolate, "drunk goose" with cherries and pine nuts, or pudding garnished with broccoli and horseradish, Sforza's cooking is full of deliciously contrasting flavours. The set lunch offers the best quality/price ratio in Rome, with three gourmet dishes and a glass of wine for only 13 euros.

La Carbonara

This traditional Roman tavern opened in 1906 and it serves anyone who considers himself a lover of full-bodied flavours. The name derives from the fact the original chef was married to a charcoal burner. As La Carbonara is as trendy as historical, the diners can write a message on the wall after meals. The restaurant serves timeless Roman dishes, such as Ricotta and walnuts Ravioli and Pasta alla Carbonara. For the most adventurous customers, La Carbonara is a good place to taste the offal, the tripe, sweetened by vegetables.

The Taverna dei Fori Imperiali

The great name of this establishment in nice contrast with its relaxed nature, as it actually is a restaurant with no excessive expectations, which has gained a loyal following since its opening over a decade ago. La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali serves delicious Roman and Italian dishes. Everything such as Trofie alla puttanesca - a short pasta with an exuberant soul, capers and tomabto sauce -, scallops with ham and sage, and a menu of Sicilian swordfish. The walls are full of photos of many famous customers who ate here, such as famous Italian-Americans like Robert de Niro and Al Pacino, or Lou Reed and Woody Allen.

Alle Carrette Pizzeria

No list of Monti's best cultural restaurants would be complete without an old-school pizzeria, and it is Alle Carrette. It is a real pearl, with the same staff serving loyal customers from decades. The wood-fired pizzas can be tasted in over 20 tried-and-tested recipes, such as pizza Margherita served with Buffalo mozzarella cheese and rocket, Capricciosa pizza and Calzoni. There are also salads and fried food, and the typical Roman artichoke and fried zucchini.