6 Reasons to Take a Food Tour in Rome
Rome is full of so many fabulous treasures. Home to the world-famous Roman Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Vatican, you will find fascinating sites around every corner of this iconic city.
Another of the many treasures of Rome is home to some of the best traditional Italian food you can find, making a food tour in Rome a perfect addition to your Rome itinerary!
The best food tours in Rome take you beyond the bad tourist restaurants.
A Roman food tour takes you outside of just pizza and pasta and introduces you to the Italian food in Rome, and maybe even a wine tour during your guided walking tour.
Rome food tours let you eat like a local, tasting incredible Italian food and making your experience even better!
So, keep reading to see why food tours in Rome can introduce you to some of the finest food venues in the Eternal City.
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How to Choose a Roman Food Tour
As you have probably already discovered, there are many options when choosing one of the food tours in Rome. There are so many food tours in Rome that it can be overwhelming.
I say to look for one of the food tours in Rome that meets your specific needs.
By that, do you have a specific reason you are doing your Roman food tour? For example, do you want to learn more about a specific neighborhood? Do you want to try a specific type of food, like street food or a particular venue? Are you interested in wine tastings?
If so, you would probably enjoy a Roman food tour that focuses on that neighborhood, like this tour of Trastevere, this tour of Monti, or the neighborhood around the Trevi Fountain, all of which focus on native Italian cuisine.
We chose to take a walking tour with Secret Food Tours for our Rome food tour.
We loved our time with Secret Food Tours in Dublin, so we knew we would have a great experience with them in the Eternal City, and we were right!
We have found Secret Food Tours to be among the best food tours anywhere, and it is one of the best in Rome!
Whatever you desire, you can find Roman food tours that match it; do your research before deciding, especially if you are looking for an evening food tour or private tours.
Next time we visit, I will do a wine tour because I love wine tasting while I explore Rome!
Reasons to Take a Roman Food Tour
Take Food Tours in Rome to Learn Local History
Now, don’t let them scare you off; this isn’t going to be a boring history book type of history. NO! This is cool, food and culture-related history.
We met our guide in front of the famous Pantheon to start our walking tour.
Not only did we learn some fabulous facts about the Pantheon, but we also learned about the Piazza, ancient ruins, the Trevi Fountain, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Don’t worry, though, your guide knows that you are there for a food tour, so they keep the historical facts to a minimum and instead truly focus on the Italian cuisine.
The best food tours in Rome give you the opportunity to see the city through a different lens while offering several delicious tastings.
These tours are available throughout Rome and the Vatican City.
Discover Off-the-Beaten-Path Restaurants During Rome Food Tours
It is no secret that restaurants in the Eternal City are a dime a dozen.
Don’t fall for those who focus strictly on tourists. They are truly just tourist traps.
To get true Italian cuisine, you must venture off the beaten path and eat where the locals eat, tasting authentic Roman dishes.
One of our favorite ways to discover local food venues is to ask locals.
This is exactly what we were introduced to on our food tour.
We were led off the beaten path and into local butcher shops, street food, bakeries, gelato shops, true Italian trattorias, and some of the best pizza ever!
We ventured down little side streets that I didn’t even know existed and wound our way through cobblestone lanes, only to be introduced to some of the best food in Italy we had ever tasted.
Discovering off-the-beaten-path restaurants with a local is one of our favorite things about taking food tours.
Tasting Local Food is a Highlight of Food Tours
Our Rome food tour allowed us to visit places we wouldn’t have otherwise.
During our Roman food tour, we visited local restaurants and tried local foods, street food, and wine. This was truly some of the finest food we have ever tasted.
Marty and I upgraded our Secret Food Tours tour to include the drink package.
I recommend doing this, or at least checking for the option, when you are considering food tours.
This allowed us to enjoy delicious tastings of alcohol, including wine tasting and coffee beverages at the stops along with the food. Several friends we made on our tour wished they had upgraded, too!
During our Roman food tour, we tried so many amazing foods. We visited Roscolio (which I probably never would have found on my own), where we had the most amazing arancini.
Don’t know what arancini is? I didn’t either until this tour. Arancini are rice balls filled with cheese and meat, deep-fried to perfection.
Trust me, they are delicious.
Get Tips From a Local Guide
As I said in the history section, having a local guide is incredible.
We were taken through the back streets and alleys as we ventured from destination to destination, all while hearing about the area's culture and history.
Our guide apparently knew the businesses we were visiting and the community.
This was especially true when we visited the market and the butcher had prepared our cured meats.
Several times, he was greeted on the street while giving our tour. We enjoyed hearing his take on Rome’s food and drink scene as we ate through the city!
While exploring food tours, be sure they offer a local guide knowledgeable about Roman cuisine.
Pro Tip: Include that information in your booking if you have any food allergies. The guide will ensure that you and the restaurants are aware of all food allergies.
Make New Friends
Nothing brings people together like delicious food and great Roman cuisine!
We had so much fun making new and interesting friends on our Roman food tour.
On our tour, we met people from all over the United States, a lady from Scotland, and one from Japan.
Really, bonding while enjoying delicious tastings is such a great experience. We still have friends we talk to from our Galveston and Dallas food tours!
Food tours are truly an awesome way to make new friends.
Try Some New Drinks
We were glad we purchased the drink upgrade for our Roman food tour! This upgrade allowed us to see even more of Rome's food culture.
As our fellow participants were drinking water (unless they paid for it), Marty and I sipped Aperol Spritz, delicious lattes, ice-cold Italian beer, wonderful Italian wine, and Limoncello. These were a perfect accompaniment to our delicious tastings, especially the cured meats and street food!
If you haven’t tried limoncello or Aperol Spritz, you need to!
We first had limoncello in Capri and loved it!
We were introduced to Aperol Spritz during the hot summer months in Venice and have drunk them in Italy ever since. I wouldn’t have survived the summer heat in Cinque Terre or Florence without my Aperol Spritz!
Adding the drinks truly made this the best food tour ever! Especially when you combine it with a great wine tasting or two!
Final Thoughts on Food Tours in Rome
We loved our Roman food tour in the Eternal City with Secret Food Tours. They gave us the best food tour and let us taste some delicious local foods, making this one of the great cultural tours.
This tour allowed us to kick back, relax, do a wine tasting, eat amazing food, and meet some awesome people. If you do anything while in Rome, take a Roman food tour!
This is the perfect activity whether you are looking for a family food tour or a solo tour!
Now I'm looking for that wine tour with as many wine tastings as possible, since I have uncovered Rome's favorite food tour!
Happy Travels, Friends!!!
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Michelle Snell- Founder/Writer
Michelle is a Texas-based travel creator who has spent years exploring Texas, Europe, Mexico, and destinations across the U.S. She shares thoughtful, experience-based travel guides focused on great scenery, good food, and easy, enjoyable trips.
Born and raised in Texas, Michelle Snell graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Master’s Degree from Texas Wesleyan University. Her passion for travel has taken her all over the world. She has received multiple awards for her writing. She has been featured in numerous publications, including Travel Awaits, Fort Worth Magazine, Fort Worth Weekly, NewsBreak, Voyage Dallas, Ella Inspires Magazine, and more. You can view her complete profile on MuckRacks and explore the section on this website, Why Trust Us?
I love doing food tours! We've been able to try so many things that we might not have and now we'll buy/order them when we see them. On our last trip to Paris, we actually went back and purchased things from one of the stores we visited on our food tour. We even got more adventurous on what we tried. 😉 I'd love to do one in Rome because I know there are so many neighborhoods withe delicious food that we have not explored yet.
This is so true, Sara. We try to do them at the beginning of our time in a new city that way we can go back and eat there again 🙂
I always try new local food when traveling, it's one of the highlights of the trip actually. It's even possible to find vegetarian street food, which is my absolute favourite!
We do also, Anna!
I totally agree when you say you have to venture off the beaten path and eat where the locals eat. This is definitely one of my favorite things to do when traveling
Doing a food tour or cooking class is one of my favorite things to do when traveling. Food tours helpp learn about local foods instead of the stereotypical foods. Great tips!
We couldn't agree more, Pam. Not only are they fun, but you get to learn so much about the area. Glad to hear we are in good company 😉
Cheese and Ice Cream, they are tow of my favourite things. I visited Italy years ago and basically ate my way around the country. Looks like I'll be going back to do more of the same.
Italy is a great place to eat. There is no doubt about that. The pasta there is unlike any other, and of course the wine and gelato! Thanks for reading, Becki!
I have never done a good tour before, mainly as I am vegan and vegan food yours are slightly harder to come by. Your tour looked lovely though. Would love to discover more food in Trastevere as that was my favorite area of Time. Also love a cooking class as you can then cook and remember your trip when you get home 🙂
Hi Anna. I understand your concern with a food tour. I would say that you should give one a try. We had a vegetarian person on our tour and the restaurants accommodated her perfectly. 🙂
This sounds like such a fun tour! I lived in Rome for half a year (almost a decade ago now) and the best food is definitely off of the beaten path. Glad you enjoyed!
Yes, it was so wonderful. We loved it!
This is a great article! I postponed my Italy trip to later in the year (hoping we could still go), so I'll definitely keep this handy for when I get to Rome.
Thank you, Taylor! I hope your trip makes this time!
I think the best way to learn about a country is through its food! I agree with your whole post, 100%. And who wouldn't want to partake in a tour where you eat Italian food? (someone I probably wouldn't be friends with haha!) 🙂
Yes, that is exactly how we feel! Thank you!!
This is making me miss the food in Italy so much! One of my favorite places to eat in the world.
Us too. The food there is fabulous. Thanks for stopping by and giving it a read 🙂
Love this! I’m so sad we didn’t do any tours when we went to Rome. I know we will be back though and I will absolutely be booking one! Thanks for all the info.
That's great to hear, Hailey!
I love food tours because you learn the food of a city from a local's point of view! Thanks for sharing some insight on food tours in Rome!
You are so welcome. Thank you for reading!
I am literally drooling right now. Italian food (real Italian food) is my favorite one in the world. When ever I go visit I always try to get as local as possible. It helps I know a bit of Italian also. Always ask the airbnb host. They know for sure. Or like the coffee place at the corner.
Yes, we always ask the locals as well! 🙂
Oh my god a food tour in Rome would be amazing!!
It was really perfect. We loved it!
Yum!!! I would love to do a food tour anywhere in Italy, it looks absolutely delicious! That is great advice for picking a specific neighborhood to explore the local cuisine more. I would have never even thought to go that route, but I'm sure it would be much more of an authentic experience as well. Will definitely save for later!