Discover where to find the best pasta carbonara in Rome with our expert guide. From classic trattorias to modern eateries, taste the authentic flavors of this Roman delicacy in the heart of Italy.
Carbonara is one of the classic pasta dishes of Roman gastronomy is known for, its fame has extended beyond the walls of Rome, becoming a dish of national and international intrigue. But who makes the best carbonara in Rome? Here are the 10 best restaurants in Rome that offer this delicious recipe on their menus.
- Where is Carbonara From in Italy?
- The Carbonara’s recipe
- History and origins of carbonara
- Where to eat the best spaghetti carbonara in Rome?
- To Roma with Italo
Where is Carbonara From in Italy?
Carbonara is famously associated with Rome, the capital city of Italy. This rich and creamy pasta dish is a staple of Roman cuisine and has become emblematic of Italian food worldwide. The classic Roman Carbonara is known for its simple yet delicious combination of ingredients: guanciale (a type of cured pork cheek), Pecorino Romano cheese, eggs, and black pepper, traditionally served with spaghetti. The dish’s simplicity, relying heavily on the quality of its few ingredients, and it’s deep roots in Roman culinary traditions, make Rome the city most famous for Carbonara.
The Carbonara’s recipe
Let’s start with the 5 basic ingredients for a good carbonara which are: pasta, eggs, guanciale (not to be confused with bacon, this cured meat comes from pig cheek), pecorino cheese and black pepper. There is not one official recipe, as Italian cooking is open to creativity, and there are different methods of execution. The final result, however, is to obtain a cream made up of egg, cheese, water, and fat from the guanciale which, when combined with the pasta, the crispy bacon-like bits, and black pepper, makes this dish remarkable. These are the official Italian ingredients that we use today, however in reality, the genesis of this dish is Italian-American.
History and origins of carbonara
As for the history and origins of carbonara, it must be said that it’s not a very ancient recipe and is only Roman by appropriation. In fact, it seems that it was born in response to the need to stretch the rations of the American soldiers in Italy during the Second World War. Legend has it that the Bolognese chef Renato Gualandi, in September 1944, was preparing lunch for a meeting between the British Eighth Army and the American Fifth Army in Riccione, when he reworked the ingredients available, bacon, cream, cheese, powdered egg yolk, together with the pasta and adding black pepper, to give life to this first form of carbonara. The dish was a great success and Gualandi continued to prepare it for the American troops in Rome. Only in 1960 did carbonara have its initiation into traditional Italian cuisine, with the appearance of the recipe in Luigi Carnacina’s La Grande Cucina, in which it is prepared with guanciale instead of bacon or pancetta, and cream is still a key ingredient that will disappear completely in the late 80s. Since the 1990s, all the aromatic and creamy ingredients such as garlic, onion, parsley, wine and cream have been eliminated and the recipe we know today as typical and traditional is the accepted one: guanciale, egg, pecorino romano cheese and black pepper. The pasta of choice can vary but are usually spaghetti, rigatoni, or mezze maniche are used.
Where to eat the best spaghetti carbonara in Rome?
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Roscioli – Salumeria con Cucina
- Via dei Giubbonari, 21 – Phone: +39 06 687 5287
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Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina is a restaurant, delicatessen, and wine bar in via dei Giubbonari 21 in the heart of the Capital, a few steps from Campo de’ Fiori. In this historic restaurant you can enjoy a carbonara centered on tradition and a meticulous search for quality ingredients. A tradition maintained even after the arrival of chef Fabrizio Di Stefano in place of Nabil Hassen, the latter at the helm of the kitchen for twenty years. Roscioli’s famous carbonara is the dish most loved by customers because it is made to perfection: the spaghettone with artisanal guanciale, cut into cubes, is very crunchy and melts in the mouth, the trio of pepper, Paolo’s eggs Parisi and the quality certified (d.o.p.) Roman pecorino make this pasta dish one of the best in Rome. Roscioli Salumeria is open every day
- Lunchtime: from 12:30 to 15.30
- Dinnertime: from 19:00 to 23:30
Menu and booking: salumeriaroscioli.com The restaurant is small, but very popular because it is quaint. Therefore, we recommend that you make reservations as early as possible.
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Eggs
- Via Natale del Grande, 52 – Phone: +39 06 5817281
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Eggs restaurant is a paradise of eggs and the home of carbonara which is served in the classic style, according to one of the first recipes published in 1954 by La Cucina Italiana. Eggs is a landmark in Trastevere because it’s modern, welcoming, traditional but at the same time innovative because of the artistry of chef Barbara Agosti. At Eggs you can taste both the classic version of carbonara with mezze maniche from the Mancini agricultural pasta factory, eggs from Arianna Vulpiani’s BioFarm, Campofelice guianciale, Pecorino Romano d.o.p., and wild pepper from Madagascar, as well as the 1954 version of the recipe published by Cucina Italiana. On the menu you will find the first Carbonara List in Italy, with variations for the most loyal customers, such as the addition of caramelized onions, pumpkin, truffles, or even ‘nduja and stracciatella.
- Eggs is open every day from 12:00 to 23:00.
Menu and Reservations: eggsroma.com (only in italian)
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Pipero Roma
- Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 250 – Phone: +39339 7565114 / +39 06 68139022
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If you want to enjoy a stellar and starred carbonara, Pipero in the center of Rome, with its Michelin star, is the restaurant for you. Here you can taste a carbonara made with pasta from Pastifico Graziano, guanciale from King Norcino, and Pecorino Romano d.o.p. in elegance and sophistication. In addition to the excellence of the cuisine, admire the general beauty of the dining room, its tasteful design completes this starry reality. Pipero Roma is one of the select restaurants to be awarded the prestigious gastronomic star and its dishes have a decidedly higher price than the average, but it is worth it. Thanks to the young chef who originated from Campania, Ciro Scamardella, you can taste how an everyday dish can be transformed into something outstanding by a careful choice of high-quality ingredients and attention to the smallest detail. Pipero is open Tuesday through Friday
- Lunchtime: from 12:00 to 15:00
- Dinnertime: from 19:00 to 23:00.
- Mondays from 19:00 to 23:00.
- Saturdays is closed
Menu and Reservations: Piperoroma.it
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Trecca
- Cucina di Mercato – Via A. Severo, 222 – Phone +3906 88650867
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Trecca is a typical Roman restaurant located in the south of the city in the Ostiense neighborhood. This trattoria with pop influences, found between viale Cristoforo Colombo and Garbatella, uses local and high-quality ingredients as much as possible. The interior is marked by wooden tables and chairs, straw paper placemats, white dishes with hand-painted floral motifs, and a blackboard with the day’s menu listings, providing a warm and homey atmosphere. This place is praised by the Gambero Rosso guide for the excellent quality of the ingredients used in the creation of its carbonara. Trecca is famous for its cream made with a skillful mixture of egg whites and yolks, as well as a locally produced pork guanciale and pecorino d.o.p. mixed directly in the pan with the cooked pasta. Trecca is open
- Monday through Friday from 20:00 to 23:00.
- Saturday from 13:00-15:00 and 20:00-23:00.
- Closed Sunday.
Menu and Reservations: Trecca
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Flavio al Velavevodetto
- Via di Monte Testaccio, 97 – Tel. +39 06 574 4194
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If you want to eat a good carbonara in an authentic Roman tavern, it’s worth your while to stop by Flavio al Velavevodetto. This tavern, located on the urban hillside of Monte Testaccio, has by now become an institution in Rome, despite having only opened in 2009. Thanks to the Roman chef Flavio De Maio from the Garbatella neighborhood, you can taste the smoothest carbonara in the whole capital. What’s the secret of Carbonara? The egg, water and guanciale sauce is prepared separately and poured into a pan so that it mixes with the mezze maniche pasta cooked to a perfect al dente. Then it’s off the heat, before it becomes an omelette, to be doused with a generous handful of pecorino cheese! This perfected process makes this pasta dish a true legend. Flavio al Veloavevodetto is open every day
- Lunchtime: from 12:30 to 15:00
- Dinnertime: from 19:30 to 23:00.
Menu and Reservations: Ristorante Velavevodetto
6. Baccano
- Via delle Muratte, 23 Roma – Phone: +39 0669941166
Baccano, situated a stone’s throw away from Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain, has carved out a niche for itself in the bustling Roman culinary scene, particularly for its rendition of the classic Carbonara. This dish, a staple of Roman cuisine, is elevated at Baccano through a combination of culinary finesse and high-quality ingredients, meticulously curated to offer a unique and memorable dining experience. The restaurant’s modern bistro vibe, reminiscent of dining spots in Paris or New York, provides a cosmopolitan backdrop to its traditional fare. The key to Baccano’s celebrated Carbonara lies in the harmonious balance of textures and flavors: the pasta, cooked to al dente perfection, is enveloped in a creamy sauce that achieves its richness from a thoughtful blend of pecorino cheese, with a hint of Parmigiano Reggiano for added depth and creaminess. Behind this celebrated dish is the expertise of Chef Nabil Hadj Hassen, whose previous tenure at Roscioli—a name synonymous with quality Roman cuisine—has infused Baccano’s offerings with a level of gastronomic excellence. His approach to Carbonara combines traditional techniques with a nuanced understanding of ingredient synergy, resulting in a dish that is both authentically Roman and distinctly Baccano. What truly sets Baccano’s Carbonara apart is not just the skillful preparation or the quality of ingredients, but the ability to create a dish that resonates with both locals and visitors alike.
7. Armando al Pantheon
- Salita de’ Crescenzi, 31 Roma
Armando al Pantheon in Rome is celebrated as one of the city’s top destinations for traditional Carbonara, thanks to its unwavering commitment to authenticity and quality. This revered institution, nestled right next to the Pantheon, has been a bastion of Roman culinary traditions under the stewardship of the Gargioli family. Have you heard of it yet? It was one of the restaurants visited by Stanley Tucci in his “searching for italy” program. The well-known actor ordered rigatoni all’amatriciana just as good as the carbonara. However, we are talking about carbonara here, and Armando’s at Pantheon is distinguished by its adherence to the classic recipe: a simple yet perfect combination of four essential ingredients, including the pivotal black pepper and spaghetti, the original pasta choice for this dish. The restaurant’s popularity is not just about its location but also its reputation for excellence, making it crucial to book in advance due to high demand. The essence of Armando al Pantheon’s success lies in its approach to traditional recipes, where the quality of each ingredient is paramount. The dish’s creaminess and al dente pasta provide a contrast that elevates the Carbonara, creating a memorable dining experience that pays homage to the roots of Roman cuisine. This commitment to tradition and quality, combined with the restaurant’s historic setting, contributes to its acclaim as a premier destination for one of Rome’s most iconic dishes.
8. Trattoria Sora Lella
- Via di Ponte Quattro capi, 16 Roma – Phone: +39 066861601
Trattoria Sora Lella, nestled on the quaint Tiber Island in the heart of Rome, has garnered acclaim for its exceptional take on the classic Roman dish, Carbonara. This storied establishment, a winner featured on the popular Italian TV show “4 Ristoranti,” stands out for its dedication to traditional Roman culinary practices, setting a high bar for authenticity and flavor. The restaurant’s approach to Carbonara emphasizes the quality of ingredients and adherence to time-honored Roman cooking techniques, making it a must-visit for enthusiasts of this beloved pasta dish. The secret behind Trattoria Sora Lella’s celebrated Carbonara lies in their meticulous preparation and selection of ingredients. The restaurant prides itself on using only the freshest, high-quality eggs with rich, almost orange-golden yolks, a crucial component that adds a distinctive creaminess and depth of flavor to the dish. The use of guanciale, a type of cured pork cheek, imparts a unique savoriness and texture that is quintessential to a genuine Carbonara. This focus on sourcing the best possible ingredients, combined with expert culinary skill, results in a Carbonara that is not only a feast for the palate but also a true representation of Roman gastronomy. Moreover, Trattoria Sora Lella’s ambiance and setting contribute to its reputation as a top destination for Carbonara in Rome. The trattoria’s location on Tiber Island provides a charming and picturesque dining experience, complementing the exquisite quality of the food. The warm, family-run atmosphere of the restaurant further enhances the dining experience, inviting guests to partake in a meal that feels both sumptuous and homey.
9. Ristorante L’Arcangelo
- Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli, 59 Roma – Phone: +39 063210992
Ristorante L’Arcangelo in Rome stands out as a beacon of culinary excellence, particularly famed for its Carbonara, which has garnered enthusiastic praise from diners. The restaurant, nestled in the Prati neighborhood, is celebrated for its commitment to traditional Roman cuisine while incorporating chef Arcangelo Dandini’s personal taste and innovative flair. Patrons have consistently lauded the Carbonara for its authenticity and exquisite taste, often describing it as one of the best they’ve ever had. The dish’s success is attributed to the quality of ingredients and the skilled preparation that highlights the rich flavors and creamy texture characteristic of a quintessential Carbonara. The ambiance of L’Arcangelo adds to the dining experience, with a great atmosphere and attentive service that complements the exceptional food. Diners have specifically noted the perfect cooking of the pasta—al dente, as it should be—which is a critical aspect of a genuine Carbonara. The restaurant’s ability to combine a welcoming environment with outstanding cuisine has made it a must-visit for anyone seeking the ultimate Carbonara experience in Rome. Moreover, L’Arcangelo has been featured in TerroirSense Wine Review, where its diverse menu, including the praised Cannacce al sugo di coda, and the selection of top-tier Italian wines, curated by Arcangelo’s wife Stefania, received high marks. The review emphasizes the restaurant’s knack for creating dishes that are at once hearty, soulful, and refined, making every meal there memorable. In sum, L’Arcangelo’s reputation for serving one of the best Carbonara dishes in Rome is well-founded, based on the combination of culinary expertise, high-quality ingredients, and a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes diners feel truly special. L’Arcangelo has undoubtedly cemented its status as a top destination for authentic Roman cuisine
10. Da Enzo al 29
- Via dei Vascellari, 29 Roma – +39065812260
Da Enzo al 29, situated in the heart of Rome’s vibrant Trastevere neighborhood, has earned its reputation as one of the best places for Carbonara through a combination of traditional Roman culinary practices and the warm, authentic atmosphere it offers its guests. This trattoria stands out not only for its dedication to serving high-quality, traditional Roman dishes but also for its no-reservations policy, which speaks to its popularity and the local and tourist demand for a taste of its famed cuisine. Visitors to Da Enzo al 29 rave about the Carbonara, praising its authenticity and the depth of flavor that this classic dish provides. The restaurant’s commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients shines through in this dish, making it a standout experience for those seeking to enjoy one of Rome’s most iconic pasta dishes. The atmosphere in Trastevere, coupled with the trattoria’s cozy and inviting ambiance, adds to the dining experience, making a meal at Da Enzo al 29 memorable beyond just the food.
To Roma with Italo
Is your mouth watering yet? Come to the capital to taste the best carbonara while discovering the sights of Rome! Together with your foodie friends, get on board any of the numerous trains headed to Rome every day from all the main Italian cities. Traveling by Italo’s high-speed trains, you can arrive at either Roma Termini or Roma Tiburtina station, which are connected to the subway (Metro) lines and other urban transport services to take you to every part of the city. Italo has so many Milan-Rome trains scheduled daily that you can arrive in the capital in under 3 hours, at a moment’s notice! Buy your modifiable, Low-Cost ticket by logging in to your Italo account to also take advantage of the Italo Più exclusive offers and rates for members. If you haven’t already done so, you can register for free for the Italo Più Loyalty Program and you will immediately get a 5% discount on your first trip. You also accumulate points with your train trips to earn free rewards tickets
