We will stay in Rome during New Year Eve with two Kids 9 and 11. About the normal tourist visits we know.
We need some help about good quality restaurants, and special exibitions for Kids.

Thanks

Nuno

In addition to any replys you get here, also check out SlowTrav.com. They have lots of information on restaurants, to include sample menues, reviews, etc.

Here is the page:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/food/index.htm

How long will you be in Rome? Do you have some self guided walking tours mapped out? Are you going to walk up to the top of the dome at St. Perers (Vatican)?

On Via Veneto (are you staying near there?) there is a church called Santa Maria della Concezione which has a crypt under the church (side entrance). The bones of the monks (mostly deceased) are arranged in very interesting patterns including bone chandeliers. Your kids will probably enjoy that. However, it was closed for refurbishing, and I do not know if it will be open by the time of your visit. Perhaps another Fodorite will know if it will be.

--Marv

Go to Time Elevator at the beginning of your trip; it's a sort of interactive movie that shows the history of Rome. My kids liked it alot. I think the website is www.time-elevator.it.

There's a very good trip report from a poster named Grinisa, but this was some time ago. You may find it if you search Grinisa Rome.

We are going to Italy with our two kids (9 and 12) this March. Buy Fodor's Around Rome With Kids. It has a lot of good ideas.

Also, Grinisa has a posting on SlowTrav.com called Chills and Thrills in the Eternal City. In it she lists churches with bones and skeletons as well as other creepy places that may keep older kids motivated to see one more church. We plan on using her ideas this March.

Thanks Tulips and Jgg, I'm glad you've found my information useful. If you can't find my trip report here, it's easy to find in the trip reports section of SlowTrav. It's entitled "Princepesse Tour." I second the recommendation of the Fodor's book "Around Rome with Kids." My daughters liked the Time Elevator but it isn't for anyone who gets motion sickness.

We found the Time Elevator-last August - interesting but I think that the machines are getting old. They made a terrible noise and the ride was very jerky. This can't be good for your back. Didn't see the regular chairs that were off the ride until it was finished.

There is a good restaurant that is reasonbly priced and has excellent variety right off Pantheon Square. Il Faciolari (sp? I do not have biz card here with me). They also own the Pizzeria across the street. I visit once or twice whenever I am in Rome.

Le Volte is a good family-style restaurant near the Pantheon.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks all.

Please give some more ideas about restaurants

Thanks again

What area are you staying in?

L'Insalata Ricca (at least 2 locations), Largo Chiavari 85 (near Campo d’Fiore), Piazza Pasquino 72 (near Piazza Navona) It’s a small chain of casual trattorias. Busy with families and visitors-- arrive early for lunch and dinner because there will be a crowd waiting for seats. Everyone sits at closely-packed tables,, there are large helpings of antipasti, pastas, and salads, plus beef, veal, omelettes, and desserts, but the pastas are better than the meat dishes. House wine is cheap and good. There is a non-smoking area.

Latteria del Gallo, Vicolo del Gallo 4, near Campo de’Fiori. Hot chocolate! Cappuccino!

Another restaurant is La Bucca di Ripetta, at 13 via di Ripetta. Small, home-like, and reasonably priced. It's near Piazza di Popolo.

Buon Viaggio, & Buon Appetito,
BC

Although not somewhere to go with kids in tow (ages 9 and 11) - - if you DO go to via di Ripetta, then the enoteca Buccone is also an exceptional treat.

Sorra Lella was one of the best restaurant I have eaten at in Italy.
Its on that little Island in the middle of the river.

This trip I had a great English speaking tour of the Colleseum- just a guide that we got outside for $10-with all the juicy details of the Gladiators,etc. My husband- who is about on par with a 9 or 11 year old loved it.

I love the Jewish Ghetto too- a place called Giggetto (fried baccalao-fried zuccini flowers-fried artichokes-). The kids will love it- but its not a place to go if you are worried about clogging your arteries. There are ruins next to it of the palace Mark Antony built for Octavia- you can really get up close to all the stuff.

Restaurants my daughters (ages 10 and 7) enjoyed in Rome: Dar Pallaro, Largo di Pallaro near Campo di Fiore; Da Baffetto, Via Governo Vecchio; Alfredo e Ada, Via Banchi Nuovi; Buca di Rippetta (already mentioned); Otello, Via delle Croce near the Spanish Steps; and Piccolo Arancia, Via Scandenberg near the Fontana del Trevi.

We spent a week in Rome with slightly older children a few years ago. Here are our favorites:

Angeletti -- Via dell’Angeletto, 3, Piazza Madonna dei Monti (not far from the corner of Via Cavour and Serpentini very close to the church with Moses in chains). Everyone's favorite, I think we ate there three times. Chickpea soup was delicious; my kids loved the desserts, lots of gelati and fruit.

Tavernelle (may be called I ragazzi di Via Panisperna), Via Panisperna n. 48. Right next door to the apt. we rented, never saw another tourist in the place. I remember lots of good dishes with fresh vegetables.

Taberna de Mercanti in the Piazza de Mercanti – pizzas – you might be skeptical when you see the somewhat touristy, scroll-like menu, but the pizzas are really fabulous.

Ristorante de Pancrazio, Piazza del Biscione, 29, is a very nice unassuming restaurant just next to the Campo di Fiori

Romolos, Via Porta Settimiana, 8. Built next to the old city wall, which actually forms the back wall of its patio. We ate outdoors and it was lovely.