Top Places to Eat in the Jewish Ghetto of Rome in 2021

Looking for a great restaurant or place to eat in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto?  The good news is, there are tons of delicious restaurants and trattorias nearby – just gotta find them amongst the tourist traps. Look no further as our local team in Rome has done their homework and updated this list for 2021!

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Pro Travel Tip: When you find good content that will help you in your travels, bookmark it in your internet browser so you can circle back to it on your trip. These restaurant recommendations will come in handy when in Rome. Also, check out our list of the top foods to try in Rome.

The 9 Best Restaurants and Places to Eat in the Jewish Ghetto 2021

The Jewish Ghetto is an extremely important area of Rome for many reasons but above all is the cuisine. It could be argued that it’s religious importance is even more important, but I really like the food so I am biased.

The cuisine was once much different from that of Rome due to the fact that the area was walled off and separated from the rest of Rome by the Vatican for religious persecution. The produce brought into the ghetto and the food they produced differed from that of the rest of the city due to isolation and extreme poverty. Today, the differences are much less but many locals argue that the ghetto has maintained the most traditional cuisine in the center.

If you like our recommendations check out our Rome food tours.

Beppe e i Suoi Formaggio

€€ | Cheese Shop & Restaurant | Family Friendly

I found Beppe and His Cheeses (translation) sometime in 2014 and it is now a bucket stop for me whenever I am in the Jewish Ghetto.

Their strategy is to purchase and sell cheeses, meats and other products that are produced by smaller farms. The idea is that smaller, more meticulous producers will yield better quality products than the mass producers. That concept is almost certainly true.

You can pop into Beppe and purchase cheese to go or have a tasting of cheese, meats, and local products. They even prepare seasonal dishes which makes it an excellent choice for lunch or dinner. A cool tip is to order a glass of wine standing up and have a cheese tasting at the bar.

Address: Via di S. Maria del Pianto, 9a/11

Hours: 9am – 11pm | Closed Sundays

Boccione

€€ | Jewish Bakery | Family Friendly | Kosher

This small bakery is a cornerstone of the Jewish community in Rome and I mean that both figuratively and literally. They make many delicious treats inside which has earned them international praise. They are best known for two things.

The first is sour cherry and ricotta pie which is really nice since it is less sweet than pies you may be used to and focused more on the natural ingredients. You have to try it to decide for yourself. The second item is a dish named Pizza Ebraica which translates to Hebrew Pizza.

It is not actually pizza but more of a cake. I personally don’t like it but regardless you should try it as it is extremely particular and culturally very important to the area.

Address: Via del Portico d’Ottavia, 1

Hours: 8am – 7:30pm | Closes at 3:30 pm Friday and All Day Saturday

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Sora Margherita

€€ | Family Friendly | Traditional Jewish-Roman Cuisine

Sora Margherita is one of those local spots that has been famous for years that you simply have to go to. Every year I wonder, “Is this place too popular with tourists for its own good?” And every year my answer is basically yes, but I still go because the food is really good and priced reasonably.

It isn’t simply foreign tourists that go here to eat – Italian tourists from all over wait outside for a table to try the food since it is a great example of authentic Roman cuisine in the historical center. I wouldn’t rate anyone dish as the “best in Rome” but I do think they have a balanced high-quality menu.

Address: Piazza della Cinque Scole, 30

Hours: 12:30 – 3pm | 8 – 11pm | Closed Sunday

Nonna Betta

€€ | Family Friendly | Traditional Jewish-Roman Cuisine | Outdoor Seating

Nonna Betta is a great lunch or dinner spot since it is right on the main road in the Jewish Ghetto Via del Portico d’Ottavia and excellent food. They are my choice for the best Jewish Artichokes in Rome which would also mean the best on Earth.

It is a nice enough restaurant and relatively inexpensive which makes it an easy choice. Definitely put it on your radar as the ambiance is great.

Address: Via del Portico d’Ottavia, 16

Hours: Noon – 5:30 pm | 6 – 10:30 pm | Closed Tuesday

Al Pompiere

€€ | Family Friendly | Traditional Jewish-Roman Cuisine

Traditional Jewish-Roman cuisine and a cool atmosphere makes Pompiere a contender for your Jewish Ghetto lunch or dinner. It is a little more low-key than Nonna Betta or Sora Margherita which may make it a better choice for those who don’t want the hustle and bustle.

Address: Via di S. Maria de’ Calderari, 38

Hours: 12:30 – 3 pm | 7 – 11pm | Closed Tuesday & Sunday Lunch Only

Piperno

€€€ | Jewish-Roman Cuisine | Outdoor Seating

If you are looking for a more elegant lunch or dinner and possibly to sit outside, Piperno is great. It is considered “high-end” but not over-priced. The food is possibly the best quality Jewish cuisine in Rome as higher prices normally signal higher quality ingredients.

You can sit inside our outside and be waited on by professional white-jack waiters at this lovely jewel in the Jewish Ghetto. It is an old-school formal experience that will likely be added to your long-term memories of Rome!

Address: Via Monte dè Cenci, 9

Hours: Noon – 2:15pm W, Th, Sat, S | 7:45 -10:30 pm Tues – Sat

Yotvata

€€ | Kosher Italian | Family Friendly

If you want the most traditional Jewish-Roman experience then Yotvata is the place to go. They are completely kosher which makes them a little more traditional than some of the other restaurants listed. They also have a beautiful restaurant design that is on the more elegant side.

Address: Piazza Cenci, 70

Hours: 12 – 3pm | 6:30 – 11pm | Friday Lunch Only

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Bartaruga

€€ | Wine Bar | Cool Atmosphere

This a super quirky and cool wine bar in the Jewish Ghetto right near the famous Fontana della Tartarughe in Piazza Mattei. This is also how it got its name which is a combination of “Bar” and “Tartarugha” – the Italian word for Turtle.

The atmosphere is perfect for groups of friends or couples. Lots of different couches, chairs, and musical instruments make for an interesting evening!

Address: Via dei Funari, 26

Hours: Noon – 11:30 pm Daily | F & Sat until 1:30 am

Corona Gelateria

€ | Family owned | Delicious

Any Roman ( or Italian for that matter) when asked, will tell you that their local gelateria is the best in the city. While I don’t have only one favorite, Gelateria Corona is definitely in the top 5. This 2nd generation, family owned gelateria has been making sweet gelato for years and quite frankly it’s delicious.

They are located right outside the ” walls” of the Jewish ghetto in busy Largo Argentina, but you have to look closely or else you will walk right past the entrance. What I love about this place, besides the taste obviously, are the adventurous flavors they use for example Lemon with Basil or Honey with spicy pepper. Skip dessert in the restaurant and come here for a gelato after dinner.

Address: Largo Arenula, 27

Hours: 11:00 am – Midnight 7 days a week

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