MYP

Hello everyone!

I've been busy reading trip reports and compiling lists of things to do and where to eat for our 9 days in Rome (21 - 30 March, 2014). My husband and I are renting an apartment near Piazza Navona with our (then) 11 month old son.

We don't have an itinerary just yet, but would love suggestions of baby friendly restaurants (though I know Italians love kids - we were last in Milan / Como / Bologna when I was pregnant!). We will have a folding highchair that can attach to tables, since I read that most places won't have those for kids.

Some of the places on trip reports look amazing, but I'm wondering if a) we can go there with our baby and b) if we will need reservations. I am hesitant to make reservations for anything other than dinner, since we have no idea how he will be with jet lag (we are coming from Chicago).

I just thought I'd post a request for baby friendly places.... Your help would be much appreciated!

Grazie!
M

BKP

You can ask about your baby when you make the reservations.

I don't know if you came across this trip report but it has loads of info about traveling to Rome with a little one. If you click on her name you'll see all of her trip reports of traveling with a little one and they are all super informative.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ravel-tips.cfm

Bamaman

I would suggest you check the immediate neighborhood for restaurants and to check them out to see if they're family friendly.

Luckily you're in an apartment and can deal with some meals there.

Jean

Since Italians LOVE babies, I think it's likely any moderate-range restaurant would be fine.

pittsburgh

Would love to hear your plans with the 11 month old. We are trying to plan a month-long trip right now with what will be about an 18 month old. Thinking 2 weeks in Spain and 2 in Italy. But trying to see what he can survive.

bvlenci

For the most part, it's not necessary to make reservations, and, when traveling with a baby, I'd really not want to. Most people in Rome eat rather late, and a large proportion of Italians never reserves unless they're a group of six or more. So as long as you go a bit on the early side, say at 7:30, and if you don't have any restaurants that you'd be desolate to miss out on, you're very likely to get a table unless it's a place very popular with foodie tourists.

Almost all restaurants, except perhaps for the very elegant ones mostly frequented by foreigners, are very happy to accommodate a family with a baby. They'll also be happy to prepare a special little plate for the baby, perhaps well-cooked pasta with just a little butter or oil, that you can then mash up, or plain rice with a little broth. They'll even heat up a bottle if you want.

I don't remember ever having a problem finding a restaurant with high chairs, but it's been five years since I last traveled with a baby. We used to bring the baby to the restaurant in a stroller, and, if possible, kept him or her in the stroller during the meal, holding the baby on our lap at times. Italian meals are rather slow affairs, and most babies get restless before they're over. At least in the stroller, the baby could have a nap. We would feed the baby from our own plates, or from a little plate prepared by the restaurant, by spoon, in the stroller, or on our laps, or sometimes both. I think we only felt the need for high chairs from the age of about two on.

dfourh

This place, Ai Marmi, has really pleasing Neapolitan pizza and is big, informal, breezy, easygoing; nice location right on Viale Trastevere (a couple bus stops south from Largo Argentina, which is just south of the Pantheon).

Here's pix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/douglas...7640512455924/

And here's the Tripadvisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ome_Lazio.html

vinoroma

Maybe also do tell us which restaurants caught your eye and you are considering, we can then give youvspecific info re baby-friendly and reservations.

nytraveler

I think you need to consider dinner time - most restauants don;t really start to serve until 8 pm - will your baby be up that late?

voyager61

We didn't travel with a baby, but we did travel with a 10 year old to Italy. The earliest most restaurants will open is 7 or 7:30, and as noted above, Americans are usually the first in line. We had only wonderful service experiences in Italy with our son, but the meals are at a much slower pace than in the U.S. Could be a problem for some toddlers. You might end up eating out for lunches, a little faster, and in for dinners. I agree that most moderate restaurants will happily accommodate your little one.

MYP

Hi all,

Thanks for your help and the link to that other travel report. I had seen that one before and provided some valuable insight! We thought we may do some meals in the apartment, but may try for some dinners out. We have no idea if Oliver will be up later, since we have no clue how he will adjust / react to the jet lag.

As for restaurants, a few that look good are:
Felice a Testaccio
00100 pizza
Enoteca Ferrara
Roma Sparita
Cavour 313 (not sure a wine bar would be do-able with a baby?)

Thank you!
M

vinoroma

Felica a Testaccio is not what it used to be, I personally would not recommend. But if you want to go, the baby won't be a problem. Reserve couple of days ahead of time.
00100 - it is a whole in the wall with no seating (just a few bar stools and a bench outside), you could go anytime if prepared for that, but do not eat the pizza there, go for suppli and/or trapizzino. They are closed for renovations at the moment but should be open when you are here.
Enoteca Ferrara is an upscale and pricey winebar - with the baby you won't feel very at ease, I would think. If you want to go, reserve a day or two before going.
Roma Sparita - totally ok with the baby, reserve a day ahead. Do not love the place, though, it lost a lot of its quality after being on Bourdain.
Cavour 313 is *very* uncomfortable to sit but ok with baby. No reservations. Good for drinking and cold salumi/cheese type dishes.