BY FRED SPANNER
Rome is the ultimate city break for anyone who loves history, culture, and stuffing their face with top-tier Italian grub. This place is dripping in legendary sights, from the mighty Colosseum to the Vatican’s jaw-dropping Sistine Chapel. Fancy chucking a coin in the Trevi Fountain for a bit of luck? Go for it. Need a break? Grab a cold Peroni, smash a plate of carbonara, and watch the world go by in a sun-drenched piazza. Ancient ruins, buzzing nightlife, and the best pizza on the planet. Rome isn’t just a holiday, it’s a full-blown experience.
Where to Eat:
Osteria da Fortunata
Proper pasta, the way it’s meant to be. If you think you’ve had good pasta before, think again—this place will reset your taste buds. Big portions, big flavors, and a buzzing atmosphere. If you leave hungry, that’s on you.
Rione XIV Bistrot
Family-run, but this isn’t your nan’s Sunday dinner. This is Michelin-level magic without the ridiculous price tag. Their lasagna? Absolute magic. Get a table, tuck in, and prepare to have your mind blown.
Ambrosia Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
If you’re coming to Rome, book this place now. The view? Unreal. The food? Even better. This is where you go for a proper big-boy dining experience, whether it’s a date, a celebration, or just because you fancy eating like royalty.
Cantina e Cucina
No messing about, this is some of the best pizza you’ll ever eat. The menu’s simple, but the flavours incredible. No reservations, so rock up when you’re hungry and be ready to wait. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Where to drink:
Bar San Calisto
Fancy a no-frills, locals-only drinking den? This is the spot. No one's gonna remember your name, but who cares when the beer’s cold and the welcome’s warm? Expect a proper Roman dive bar experience, cheap booze, zero pretension, and a front-row seat to the city’s raw charm.
Necci dal 1924
Top-notch service, a setting straight out of a Fellini film, and a cocktail list longer than your last Tinder scroll. The outdoor terrace is prime real estate for pretending you know Italian, or at least nodding along until sunrise.
Bar del Fico
Daytime? Chilled. Nighttime? Absolute carnage. This cocktail bar-turned-party palace is where the city’s beautiful people come to sip, flirt, and throw questionable dance moves. If you’re looking to rub shoulders with the Roman in-crowd, this is your hunting ground.
Stravinskij Bar
Luxury cocktails with a side of sticker shock. These guys know their way around a drinks list, and you’ll be halfway through before you realise your wallet’s taken a hammering. But hey, you’re in Rome—when in doubt, order another round.
WHAT TO DO:
Colosseum
If you go to Rome and don’t hit up the Colosseum, did you even go? This is the place to get your culture fix. Or at least pretend you did when you get home. Sure, the days of gladiator showdowns, wild beast hunts, and public executions are long gone, but your imagination (and a few beers) will fill in the gaps.
Quartiere San Lorenzo
Once a rough-around-the-edges spot, now a banging nightlife hub packed with bars, street markets, and enough live entertainment to keep you going till the early hours. It’s buzzing, it’s cheap, and it’s where the party’s at. Forget tourist traps. This is where the real fun happens.
Janiculum Hill
Want to make your mates jealous? Get yourself up Janiculum Hill. The views are next level, and your Insta is crying out for it. Perfect for taking in Rome from a fresh angle. Or just proving you’re actually on holiday and not just posting old pics from Tenerife.
Baths of Caracalla
Fancy a proper throwback? Hit up the ancient Baths of Caracalla. This was the spot for Romans to chill back in the day, and even now, it’s got serious history vibes. Plus, every summer, they throw in a bit of opera. Yeah, opera. Sounds fancy, but trust us—seeing it in a place like this is actually pretty epic. Just do it.
