The best restaurants near the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
There are plenty of restaurants near the Vatican. While many of them are touristy, many are absolutely delicious and must-tries on your trip to Rome! Once you’ve finished visiting the Vatican Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica, you’ll probably be on the hunt for some local eateries. Whether it’s lunch, dinner or aperitif, we’ve got you covered with a selection of the best restaurants near the Vatican. Some are closer to the Vatican Museums entrance and others to St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Restaurants near the Vatican Museums
If you decide to opt for the tour of the Vatican Museums you’ll likely be in need of some food! Here are some of my favorite restaurants near the Vatican Museums.
Maybu Margaritas Y Burritos
Via Candia, 113
Tue – Sun 11am – 11pm
06.6941 6108
mayburoma
If you’re craving some comfort food that comes from the other side of the world, this gourmet fast food burrito and nacho place is the place to go! Frozen margaritas, crunchy nachos, ensaladas and flavor-packed burritos with the best homemade sauces and fillings await you. Maybu’s idea is simple: a gourmet fast food Tex-Mex with the freshest ingredients! And of course, Margaritas coming in two flavors – mango and lime – couldn’t be missing. If you’re vegetarian, Maybu’s vegetarian alternatives – from quinoa to beans and vegetables – will surely deliver!
La Cucaracha
Via Mocenigo, 10a
Mon-Sat 6pm-12am
06.39746373
lacucaracha.it
Run by the Beltran sisters, La Cucaracha is a small but colourful family-run restaurant near the Vatican Museums that virtually all of Rome flocks to when they get that authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex food craving. As soon as you enter this cosy hideaway filled with the aroma of burritos, chili con carne, enchiladas verdes, and tacos cucaracha, you know you are in for a great night. If you eat here on a Tuesday, there is live Mexican music while you enjoy your meal.
Isola della Pizza
Via degli Scipioni, 45
Thur-Tue 12.30pm-3pm; 7.30pm-12am
06.39733483
isoladellapizza.com
Isola della Pizza is one of the favorite family-run pizza, pasta and steak hangouts for the Swiss Guards. It’s great for large groups and one of the few places in the Vatican zone that you can trust not to run away with the bill if you leave the menu to them. Highly recommend the fillet steak, cacio e pepe (sheep’s cheese and pepper) pizza or fresh pasta with porcini mushrooms which you can also order grilled as a starter.
Cresci
Via Alcide de Gasperi, 11/17
Daily 7am – 12am
06.51842694
cresciroma.it
Cresci is a modern twist on your mom’s home style Italian cooking: the intersection of the old and the new, where fine dining meets tasty and affordable. The restaurant is known for its cicchetti – small plates which are similar to tapas and can function as appetizers or meals – you can order five, ten, or twenty. Pizza couldn’t be missing either, and Cresci stands out from the crowd with its pizza in teglia, which is tasty, square, and served in baking tins.
Old Bridge Gelateria
Viale dei Bastioni di Michelangelo, 5
Daily 10.30am-12am
328.4119478
gelateriaoldbridge.com
This tiny gelateria is perfectly placed before or after a visit to the Vatican Museums. All your favorite flavors and some extra seasonal ones. I keep returning for their banana flavor. The brothers who’ll serve your gelato are super-friendly and never push you to hurry your choice of flavor (even though the crowd of people behind you might)! Don’t worry the line moves quickly.
Duecento Gradi
Piazza del Risorgimento, 3
Mon-Thur 11am-3am; Fri-Sun 11am-4am
06.39754239
duecentogradi.it
When you’re desperate for a huge sandwich or salad, make your way here. The endless selection of panini (named after all the piazzas in Rome) are made fresh to order and you can eat in or take away. They even have freshly baked wholewheat bread. In summer they have amazing creations like fig and ricotta! You’ll love their choice of craft beers too. Open until 2am.
Il Sorpasso & Passaguai
Via Properzio, 31/33 (Sorpasso)
Via Pomponio Leto, 1 (Passaguai)
Mon-Fri 10am-2am; Sat 6pm-2am; Sun 5pm-1am (Passaguai)
Mon-Fri 7.30am-1am; Sat 9am-1am (Sorpasso)
passaguai.it
Il Sorpasso and Passaguai (literally a place to ease your troubles) are wine bars one street apart and have a common owner, so if you like one, I guarantee that you will like the other. They are both cosy yet casual, and heavily frequented by locals who keep coming back for the extensive list of Italian wines and bubbles by the glass (at very reasonably prices) – not to mention platters of cured meats and cheeses which change every ten days – a Roman aperitivo at its best!
Restaurants near St. Peter’s Basilica
If you take a group tour inside the Vatican Museums, you’ll likely finish the tour inside the Basilica of St. Peter. Here are a few favorite restaurants and takeaway spots close to St. Peter’s Square. And keep an eye out, you might just bump into some off-duty Swiss Guards!
I Quattro Mori Hostaria
Via di Santa Maria Alle Fornaci 8/A
Tue-Sun 12pm-3pm; 7pm-11pm
06.6390195
facebook.com/4mori.fornaci/
When you have a craving for a lot of seafood, spend an evening or even better, Sunday lunchtime, enjoying the fixed seafood menu at I Quattro Mori. The amazing seafood plates just keep coming. Don’t eat beforehand! The Sardinian owner Fabio runs a tight ship and most of the Vatican frequents his restaurant!
Bacio di Puglia
Via del Mascherino, 59
Daily 9am-9pm
06.68307697
baciodipuglia.it
Here you’ll find a selection of delicious ready-made pasta, pies and thick-based pizzas, typical of the south of Italy. Eat in or take away, or have them cater your event.
Angelico Box Bistro
Via del Falco 37/38
Mon-Thur 9am-9pm; Fri-Sat 9am-6pm
06.68300466
angelicoboxbistro
Angelico Box Bistro is a tranquil organic cafe with at least two vegetarian soups of the day to which you can add your choice of seeds and grains. Also a yummy selection of organic vegetarian salads, snacks and meatballs. The offering changes slightly daily but the friendly service doesn’t. They’re also moving into a greater selection of organic meats. Watch this space!
Da Benito e Gilberto
Via del Falco, 19
Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm; 7pm-11.30pm
06.6867769
benitoegilberto.it
Da Benito e Gilberto serves a mouth-watering array of raw and cooked seafood and pasta dishes, as well as a selection of French and Irish oysters. Carrying on the tradition started by their grandfather, Gilberto’s daughters will take extra special care of you both in the kitchen and in the cosy, nautically-themed dining room. Neatly lining the walls are photos of smiling celebrities taken over the last 40 years, a reminder as you enjoy every morsel of fresh seafood that you’re in good company. Be sure to save room for the housemade crostata (baked apricot or berry pie).
Ristorante Tre Pupazzi
Borgo Pio, 183
Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm; 7pm-11pm
06.6880 3220
ristorantetrepupazzi.it
This restaurant is consistently one of the top restaurants within walking distance of the Vatican. Their risotto is always cooked to perfection and changes daily with the specials menu. Yesterday it was saffron and asparagus! On Friday and Saturday nights they always book out as locals come for the Portughese specials in addition to the regular menu.
Pastasciutta
Via delle Grazie, 5
Daily 10.30am – 6.30pm
333.6503758
Six typically Roman choices of freshly-made pasta and sauces for takeaway. The pasta is made only hours or even minutes beforehand and it’s less than six euros a serve! Try the ‘strozzapreti’ (literally ‘strangle a priest’) with pesto. It’s delicious!
