I had coffee with an old friend today and he told me he was going to be visiting Rome in a few weeks - for the first time! I really enjoyed a trip to Rome last September with my wife, and my friend asked for some recommendations - neighbourhoods and restaurants. I compiled the following for him, but it's worth adding a few photos and diagrams...
We stayed close to the Spanish steps which was a short walk away from Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Some of the narrow streets were jammed with tourists (especially around Trevi Fountain) but taking a side street often led to less crowds and better restaurant choices. A good resto steps away Trevi Fountain is Il Chianti Osteria ($$). A reservation is definitely needed but we think it was worth it.
On our walks to/from Vatican City we found the very pleasant Piazza Navonna and had a wonderful dinner at Osteria Olimpia ($$). We returned for a drink on another night. The traditional Roman dish Cacio E Pepe was superb. Service was excellent.
We enjoyed a drink on the rooftop of the upscale department store called Rinascente.
We didn’t find many rooftop restos so this was a nice treat. Dinner reservations may be tricker and expensive but we just had a late afternoon drink ($$$).
This is all in an area generally referred to as Old Rome or the Historic Centre.
Pretty bridges connect Old Rome to Vatican City. The Vatican Museums (tickets need to be purchased way ahead) were superb and lead you to the Sistine Chapel (a little disappointing). Saint Peter’s Square and Basilica are must sees.
We only had a quick visit to Trastevere for dinner - I didn’t feel that special for us.
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