17 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Rome, Italy

Founded as a hotel and restaurant in 1720 and set beside the striking Roman Temple of Vesta and the Sanctuary of the Sybil, this establishment has an idyllic, wisteria-draped terrace overlooking the deep gorge of the Aniene River, with a thundering waterfall in the background. Standards are high, and the trip to Tivoli is worth it even if you do nothing more than order a lunch of upscale versions of local dishes and take in the spectacular view.

The Cacciani family has been running this stylish restaurant in the heart of Frascati old town since 1922, when it was a popular hangout for the likes of Clark Gable and Gina Lollobrigida. Perched high on a rise overlooking the town and the Roman plain, there are spectacular views from the Cacciani terrace, but you can also keep an eye on the gorgeous food being prepared in the open kitchen. The family runs a hotel in the same building in case you want to spend the night after enjoying the celebrated local recipes.

Set on the tranquil shores of Lake Nemi, next to the Roman Ship Museum, La Fiocina has been serving local specialties, including lake fish and homemade gnocchi with porcini mushrooms, for more than 50 years. The interior is elegant and welcoming, with a roaring fireplace on cooler days; in warmer months, you can dine on the terrace overlooking the lake.

Only a couple of miles outside Frascati, this 16th-century coaching inn has a tastefully renovated dining room and an old fig tree (its namesake) that shades a charming table-filled garden. Long known for its excellent cooking, which was beloved by Italian director Federico Fellini, the classic restaurant still prepares typical Roman dishes, among them pollo al diavolo (spicy braised chicken) and abbacchio allo scottadito (sizzling grilled lamb).

Tucked on a side street off the medieval Piazza delle Erbe, the Osteria del Vecchio Orologio offers top-quality Tuscia specialties like wild boar ragù and local lake fish in a warm and informal atmosphere. Overflow seating for this popular eatery can be found at the cozy wine bar two doors down. The osteria is a member of the Slow Food Movement, with a menu that changes according to the season.

Across the road from the Abbey of San Nilo is one of Grottaferrata's most esteemed restaurants, which has been run by the Consoli family since 1989. The decor is rustic but stylish, with plants hanging from the ceiling and rows of polished antique copper pans and molds decorating the walls. In the cooler months, a wood-burning stove adds to the cozy ambience. 

Visitors to Caprarola's landmark Palazzo Farnese often round out the experience with a hearty meal at this celebrated trattoria. There's a cozy, familial atmosphere inside, and when the weather permits, a pleasant seating area outside.

One of the most refined restaurants in the Castelli Romani has been in the same family since 1882. Its dining room windows open onto a breathtaking view across Lake Albano to the conical peak of Monte Cavo. In winter a log fire blazes in a corner; in summer you can dine on the flower-filled terrace. Be sure to ask for a tour of their famous winding cellars, carved into the volcanic rock below the restaurant and home to a small wine museum.

A short walk from the excavations—tucked away in the charming walled medieval borgo of Ostia Antica next to the Castello di Giulio II—this cozy trattoria is an ideal spot to restore your energy with some seasonal dishes and Roman specialties. On warm days, request an outdoor table.

Situated in the heart of the village of Castel Gandolfo, Bucci occupies a splendid position overlooking Lake Albano far below with an outdoor terrace shaded by a grape pergola. Food has traditional roots but offers a modern twist, ranging from lasagna with crispy guanciale to spicy stewed calamari.

This former wine cellar just beyond Frascati's market square is now a cheerful trattoria serving hearty portions of traditional Roman dishes and pizza. In summer you can sit under an awning outside and enjoy the sweeping view over the plain toward Rome.

Tucked away in a garden at the bottom of a steep side road, this elegant restaurant comes as a bit of a surprise. The menu has both seafood and meat dishes (some topped with white and black truffles), and the pasta can be made gluten-free if you call at least one day ahead of time. The excellent service makes this a favorite choice for wedding parties and anniversaries, which are usually in one of the private rooms. In summer, you can eat outside on the small patio overlooking the garden.

This fraschetta around the corner from Palazzo Chigi is great for people-watching, which you can do while enjoying a platter of cold cuts and assorted cheeses, washed down with a carafe of local Castelli wine. Order your own appetizers and slices of porchetta at the counter near the door, snag a table on the patio, flag down a waiter if you want to order a hot dish like pasta, and then settle into the rustic setting surrounded by Roman families who've abandoned the city for the day to enjoy the local food.

A 10-minute drive from Ostia Antica in Fiumicino, modern Rome's fishing port, Pizzeria Clementina is set on a seaside promenade with views of bobbing boats. The fried appetizers and the pizzas are made using ingredients sourced from the hills around the city or from the daily catches brought in by local fishermen. The seafood pizzas are excellent, particularly those topped with crudo (raw fish). Pizza maker Luca Pezzetta grew up in Marino (next to Ariccia), so the porchetta pizza is also superb.

Located between the heart of San Pellegrino and Porta Romana, this friendly trattoria is known for its excellent home cooking and pizza. Be sure to admire the Etruscan-inspired decorations and check out the dessert—all the gelato is made on-site.

The name of this cozy trattoria between Bomarzo's Sacro Bosco and the historic center is a reference to its eight tables—four upstairs and four downstairs. The small, family-run restaurant serves up lunches of traditional pastas and simple main courses with friendly and speedy efficiency.

Viterbo's oldest restaurant—and one of the most ancient in Italy—has been operating in the centro storico since 1622. The small, wood-paneled dining room, chummily packed with tables, was a favorite haunt of movie director Federico Fellini and, before that, of British and American soldiers during World War II.