Obviously, after spending a week in Italy, I have to dedicate an entire post to the best food/drinks that we experienced. We spent two and a half days in Rome and then two and a half days in Florence, and I can honestly say that I had the best food I’ve ever had in my life. Pasta, pizza and gelato will never taste the same again. Here is a list of my favorite restaurants, cafés, gelaterias, and clubs that we went to throughout the week:
ROME
Pizza Forum
4/5 stars
Pizza Forum was our very first taste of Italian food, and it was not a disappointment at all! Our waiter was super funny and helpful, and he told us that whenever there is an asterisk next to something on a menu in Italy, that means that the food is frozen (this came in super helpful throughout the trip!). We each got our own pizza and it was amazing. We had just arrived in Rome not even an hour before and we were starving, so it was exactly what we needed. The location was perfect too, it was about a 10 minute walk from our Air BnB and 3 minute walk to the Colosseum.
Ristorante Pizzeria Massenzio Al Fori
5/5 stars
Ristorante Pizzeria Massenzio Al Fori is a restaurant that we stumbled upon for lunch after our tour of the Colosseum, and we were absolutely starving. We sat outside and the ambiance was adorable. It was about a 5 minute walk from the colosseum, so it was a great location. I got THE BEST lasagna of my entire life. Seriously, lasagna will never be the same anymore after this lasagna. The prices were super reasonable too, which was a huge plus.
Cicculá Gelato
5/5 stars
We got this as an afternoon snack after we saw the Pantheon. It was by far the best gelato we had on the entire trip! The place was adorable and there were DOZENS of flavors to choose from. It was a little expensive, but you definitely get your money’s worth, because you can choose 3 flavors when you buy a medium cup, and each scoop is pretty large. It is right next to the Pantheon, so it was amazing to sit outside and enjoy the Pantheon while eating some of the world’s best gelato!
Ice Club Roma
5/5 stars
This was a super fun and unique experience! Basically every European city has an ice club, so it’s not super unique to Italy, but it was an awesome experience nonetheless. It was only 15 Euro, which included the entrance fee and 3 drinks, so it was a pretty good deal. The drinks were really good, and since we went on Halloween, the bartender was dressed up which was fun! It was freezing but they give you cute cloaks that keep you pretty warm. The hardest part was drinking out of cups made of ice because it turns your lips completely numb. We only stayed for about 25-30 minutes before we couldn’t handle the coldness anymore, but it was totally worth going to!
Tratoria Fusco
6/5 stars
Probably my favorite restaurant that we went to in Rome. This was literally right across the street from our Air BnB; when we walked out the door we only walked for about 15 seconds to get there. It was somewhere that our host Paolo recommended because it isn’t a tourist spot, it’s a neighborhood restaurant that the locals love. It was really small and cozy, and there was only one waiter for the whole restaurant. He spoke Italian, English and Spanish, so we had fun talking to him. I had the best ravioli I’ve ever had in my life at this restaurant! It was very simple, but it was the best possible way to spend our last night in Rome.
(Café near metro)
4/5 stars
I hate that I don’t remember the name of this Café, but we went a few times because the location was so convenient! It was close to our Air BnB, right next to the Metro station and directly on the way to the Colosseum. We went there for cappuccinos and pastries for breakfast, and it was super cute and Italian and always really busy!
(Other club)
2.5/5 stars
I don’t remember the name of this club or where it was, but it was okay! It was expensive; between the entrance fee, coat check (which was mandatory) and drinks, it was definitely the most expensive place we went. The atmosphere was okay, the music was good but it was a weird crowd. Probably wouldn’t go back, which is good because even if I wanted to I couldn’t cause we have no clue what it’s called lol.
FLORENCE
PaStation
4/5 stars
This was the first place we got food in Florence, we just stumbled upon it when we left our Air BnB. We got there half an hour before they closed for the afternoon, so we were a little rushed, but the pasta was worth it! You got to choose the type of pasta and then type of sauce you wanted, so I got ravioli with Bolognese sauce. It was incredible and I wish I had had more time to savor it!
Gusta Pizza
7/5 stars
I CAN’T RAVE ENOUGH ABOUT GUSTA PIZZA. IT CHANGED MY LIFE. Friends recommended this place to us, saying it was the best pizza on the planet, and the internet also raved about it. We actually ate dinner here every night we were in Florence because it was cheap and we just couldn’t get enough. For a personal pizza it was only 6 euros, so obviously it doesn’t get much better than that. The service was great, everyone was super friendly, and it was a super cute atmosphere. I can’t even express how incredible the pizza was; it honestly changed my life it was so good. The crust was exactly what crust should be, the sauce was unlike anything I’ve ever had in my life, and the cheese was probably the best cheese in the entire world. I’m honestly drooling just thinking about it. If you go to Florence and you can only choose one restaurant to go to, make sure it’s Gusta Pizza!
Volume
5/5 stars
This place is right around the corner from Gusta Pizza, so it’s in a great location! We went here two nights in a row after dinner because we had such a good experience the first night. The drinks were a really good price, and they were so good. The service was great and it had a really fun, chill ambiance. They played great music, and you get a free spread of chips, veggies, bread, cheeses and dips when you order drinks!
Trattoria Za’Za
5/5 stars
We went here for lunch after we went to the Accademia, and it was really adorable! We ordered Bruschetta as an appetizer, and it changed my life. I’m not much of a tomato person, but I couldn’t get enough of these tomatoes. They were so fresh and delicious and seasoned perfectly and ugh. So good. I had ravioli, my favorite, and it was amazing, not a shock. Really great experience and probably the best pasta that we had in Florence!
YAB Club
4/5 stars
Besides the really lame name (YAB stands for You Are Beautiful *eye roll*) this club was awesome! You can get in for free if you go before 1am, and the drinks were really cheap. The music was great and it had a really fun vibe! It got mixed reviews online but we had a really good experience here, so I would recommend it!
Panini Toscani
10000/5 stars
Besides Gusta Pizza, this was the best food I’ve had in my entire life. It’s a tiny little place right next to the Duomo, so it’s a great location. When you walk in they guide you to the back, where a man lets you sample four types of cheese and three types of meat. I had no idea that cheese could taste like that!! It was LIFE CHANGING. I can’t even begin to describe how good they were. I’m not a huge deli meat fan, but the meat was also INCREDIBLE. It was all local and fresh, and I had no idea that food could be that good. After trying the cheeses and meats you choose one of each to go in your panini, and then you can choose from six fresh breads. Then you can choose three more toppings, and I chose tomato, arugula and some sort of spicy sauce. They put it all together and put it in the panini press, and then give it to you hot. We ate ours outside with an amazing view of the Duomo, and it was the #1 BEST THING I ATE IN ITALY. I’m not even kidding. It was insane. I have no words. I have never had such a deep appreciation for food as I did while I was eating that panini.
Gelato Santa Trinita
5/5 stars
This is definitely the best Gelato in Florence!! It is super pretty on the inside and out, and they have a great selection of flavors. I got coffee and chocolate, which is an INSANE combination. It is pricy, but well worth it.
Idly Wild 