steve

Our first trip to Rome and I have a long list of reccomended restaurants from the Spanish Steps to Piazza Navona but don't seem to have much for a break in the middle of a full day at the Vatican without going to far?

Eye Spy

The problem with finding suitable restaurants close to the Vatican is not hard to figure out from what I have gleaned from all my trips. When you walk down the hill from the entrance of the Museum as if you were going to go to San Pietro, there aren't that many decent places. And the places that are there are rather mediocre and crowded because you get 1) the locals and 2) the tourists. Ergo, you wait and wait and waste a lot of time. Although there may be better options of which I am unaware, if you are wanting to get the most out of your time there, grab something to eat in the cafeteria of the museum. You may find a place outside to sit if the weather is nice and try to hold out until dinner so you'll be able to make the most of the day. You can drag out dinner but you don't want to drag out lunch or you'll be giving up time. I am not a professed expert and I hope you don't think I am being too forward. I guess my enthusiasm for the Vatican Museum and San Pietro give me enough adrenaline to forget about the food!

susan

Dear Steve,<BR><BR>My husband and I ate at the following restaurant for our mid-day break at the Vatican. We liked it enough to return 2 days later, after extensively walking through the Borgo and finding no other place that looked as appealing:<BR><BR>LA VERANDA DELL'HOTEL COLUMBUS<BR>Borgo Santo Spirito 73, Rome, Italy<BR>Phone: 06/6872973<BR><BR>Directions: If you exit St. Peter's Basilica, walking east through Bernini's colonnade and past the taxi stand on the main street leading to the Vatican, the Hotel Columbus is on your right after only two or three blocks. The restaurant is located inside the hotel, (we had to ask the front desk where, as it wasn't obvious).<BR><BR>The restaurant is a quiet oasis, with both indoor and outdoor seating (we ate outside 3 weeks ago and the weather was pleasant at 1 PM). It is a little formal (linens and china), and will cost between $15 and $30 per person depending on whether you drink wine.<BR>I had a great creamy pea soup for an appetizer, my husband had an excellent mixed salad. One day we had grilled fish entrees, another pasta and gnocchi. A good wine selection (by the glass for us in the mid day), great freshly baked bread basket, and fresh mixed fruit (macedonia) for dessert.<BR><BR>We liked getting away from the crowds for a hour or so, resting and recharged our batteries, and then returned for some high powered sight seeing for the rest of the afternoon.

true

This is absolutely true.<BR>The closets place for lunch at the Vatican is on the roof. They have vending machines up there. You will see more posts who have also been up there and seen the machines.

john

Not any more. Since the Vatican constructed a new entryway to the elevators going to the roof/cupola, they also eliminated the snack bar (and vending machines) on the roof. Actually put in a second religious goods shop where the serving area for the snack bar used to be. <BR><BR>I was there three weeks ago - looking forward to a sit-down and a snack - rosaries and plastic Bambini only, I'm afraid.<BR><BR>There are several "pretty good" small restaurants in the streets just north (to the right as you exit the Piazza) of the Colonnade - nothing fancy but good for lunch. - work your way to the right at intersections after you leave the Bernini columns, getting to the other side of the corridor between the Papal Palace and San Angelo.