Essential Restaurants You Can't Miss In Pigneto Rome

Rome’s Pigneto neighborhood is a favorite of locals for its street art, lively nightlife and restaurants serving all types of cuisine. From classic Roman trattorias and ethnic restaurants to take-away spots and vegetarian havens, we list the tastiest spots to try while you’re here.

Pigneto Quarantuno

Pigneto Quarantuno, named for its number guarantees a good meal at a great price. It excels at Roman dishes while adding a subtle twist to the classics: Roman artichokes are stuffed with cod and potatoes and tagliolini noodles are served with turnip greens, anchovies and breadcrumbs. Hearty and satisfying without being heavy, Pigneto Quarantuno hits all of the right nails on the head and is a great go to for any occasion. http://instagram.com/p/BCV69oko42-/

Primo Al Pigneto

Restaurant, Italian

Another Roman eatery along the same street, Primo al Pigneto is an elegant, industrial restaurant that kicks it up a notch with modern adaptations of Italian dishes. Here you can taste creative concoctions such as spelt linguine with violet prawns and pistachio or grilled tuna with feta, tomatoes, almonds and mint. If you have trouble deciding what to order, you can opt for the tasting menu to sample the chef’s specialties.

Opulentia

Pigneto residents rave about this tiny pizza-panino joint because of its heavenly white pizza sandwiches. Opulentia takes simple ingredients seriously and its pizza dough is left to rise for up to 72 hours, ensuring the final product is light, crispy and highly digestible. These pizza pockets are then stuffed with delicious ingredients. http://instagram.com/p/utH4GSyNrP

Kalapà

Almost directly in front of Opulentia you’ll find no-frills Greek joint Kalapà which serves up scrumptious stuffed potatoes. For under €6 you can eat your fill of potatoes loaded with Mediterranean ingredients, including the Koriatiki. Kalapà also has a variety of gyros and souvlaki if you’re after other foods.

Kalapà Via Ascoli Piceno 17a/b, Rome, Italy + 39 06 8308 1997

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Mesob

With its large Ethiopian and Eritrean population, it should come as no surprise that Rome has fantastic east African restaurants, many of them located in Pigneto. Family run Mesob is one of the best and has a delightful atmosphere to boot. Make sure you order the sambusas to start, these stuffed pastries are the best way to whet your appetite for the deliciousness that will ensue.

Waraku

Many of the city’s ethnic restaurants are actually cultural associations, which is the case for Waraku. Although sushi is one of the more proliferous non-Italian food items to be found in the city, Waraku is special because it focuses on other Japanese specialties: ramen, rice curries and dumplings.

Vitaminas 24

Vegetarians and vegans will be happy to know that Pigneto is an effusively veggie-friendly neighborhood. Almost all restaurants have vegetarian options and there are multiple places that serve exclusively fruits, vegetables and grains. Vitaminas 24 is a colorful vegetarian spot with Brazilian flavors and a slew of juices incorporating tropical ingredients such as mango, papaya and maracuja. From veggie burgers to savory tarts, the menu is ample and sure to appeal to omnivores as well. http://instagram.com/p/41rIcLxcbn/

So What?!

Restaurant, Vegan

So What?! sticks closer to home and offers vegan alternative of Italian dishes: bolognese sauce made with seitan, pesto served with peanuts and all the ingredients in both are organic. It’s a playful restaurant and demonstrates the creativity of the chefs.

About the author

Livia Hengel

Livia Hengel is an Italian-American writer, photographer and traveler with a penchant for la dolce vita and a severe case of wanderlust. Originally born in Rome, she spent her life living around the world in Peru, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey and the US before moving back to her city of birth. She is passionate about all things cultural, existential, stirring and beautiful and is happiest when she is contemplating human nature over a glass of wine or wandering off-the-beaten-path in a new city. When she's not traveling around Italy, you can find Livia eating her way through the best restaurants in Rome or keeping up with Instagram. Livia is the author of The HUNT Guide for Rome and also contributes to Spotted by Locals.