The Best Food Tours in Rome

The Best Food Tours in Rome

Everyone knows that a visit to Rome will include some of the best food in the world. Think pizza, gelato, pasta, and cheese. And you could have an amazing time eating your way through the Eternal City! But I recommend booking one of the best food tours in Rome.

While all of Italy is a food destination, Rome has its own unique food culture. What better way than to trust a knowledgeable Roman guide to teach you the ins and outs of how to eat and what to eat while you’re there? In this post, you can read about 10 different, specialized food tours of Rome, each offering a unique experience.

On these food tours of Rome, you might learn how to eat like a local or visit the largest market in Rome. Eat dinner like a true Italian or combine a site-seeing tour with amazing food. Read about these experiences and even more on the list below!

Indulge in the Most Delicious Food Tours in Rome

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when visiting Rome is only eating where the tourists eat. All the best food tours in Rome offer genuine experiences led by Romans.

I suggest going with a 3rd-party site like Viator, Get Your Guide, and WithLocals. There you’ll find highly rated tours led by real people with a love for sharing their food and their city.

Most of the tours you’ll read about are walking tours where you’ll meet your guide at a designated public location unless otherwise stated. So, here are my top 10 picks for the best Rome food tours from each of those sites.

Ultimate Sample Tour with a Visit to Mercato Trionfale

Immerse yourself in Roman culture with 18 different samples at 5 different stops, including Rome’s largest open food market. Your guide will give you fascinating information about the neighborhood and Roman dining culture as you walk.

On this Rome food tour, you’ll visit some of the best eateries in Rome, including Bonci Pizzarium and La Nicchia Café. Learn about the ingredients of the foods you sample and talk to the establishment owners. Your guide will even help you pick out olive oil, cured meats, produce, and more if you want to shop.

• Best for: this is a solid, classic food tour for those who want to eat like a local
• Length: 4 hours
• Days available: Monday through Sunday
• Group Size: small group tour, maximum 25 guests

Private Walking Tour of Trastevere and the Old Jewish Quarter

If you prefer private tours, this one is for you. Your local Roman guide has handpicked specific destinations to give you a true feel for what Rome is all about. Start at the Campo de Fiori square market.

Along the way, you’ll sample items like buffalo mozzarella, porchetta, and pastries. You’ll walk through the Trastevere neighborhood and the Old Jewish Quarter. Your guide will share local history and points out restaurant recommendations along the way!

• Best for: the person who’s never been to Rome and just got here
• Length: 4 hours
• Days available: Monday through Saturday
• Group size: private tour

Street Food Tour Through an Iconic Historic District

This street food tour is one of the best food tours in Rome because of how customizable it is! You get to choose between a private tour or a small group tour. You’ll also decide whether you want to visit the Trastevere or the Jewish Quarter neighborhood.

Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy stops with 5 samples of the most beloved Roman street foods, like suppli, Pizza alla Romana, and gelato. You’ll also get to sample Italian wine and beer while your guide shows you historic sites in the neighborhood of your choice.

• Best for: the tourist who loves trying street food that the locals eat
• Length: 2.5 hours
• Days available: Monday through Sunday
• Group size: both private and small group tours are available

Vespa Tour with Street Art and Street Food

Not for the shy traveler, this tour is one-on-one with your local guide, Oliver. He’ll communicate with you to agree on where he’ll pick you up on his Vespa! From there, he’ll show you the best Roman street art, both new and old.

Zip around the city while he points out historic art, up-and-coming art, and historic sites. You’ll stop at different points along the way, with chances to try Rome’s ultimate street food, like Trapizzino. Take a break for espressos and gelato before you end your ride at the Piazza Navona.

• Best for: the solo traveler looking for a unique experience in Rome
• Length: 3 hours
• Days available: Monday through Sunday
• Group size: private tour, only 1 person

Roman Food and Wine Tour with Dinner and Dessert

Spend the afternoon walking around historic Central Rome and trying the most iconic local foods. Your guide will take you to a handful of places where you’ll learn how to pair which wine with which food. Sample cured Italian meats, hard cheeses, baccalà fritto, and more.

If you’re looking for a food and wine tour in Rome, Italy that leaves you satisfied, this might be the one. You’ll end a half day of walking and wining with a 3-course meal at a traditional restaurant with more wine! Finally, top off the night with a walk to a gelateria for dessert.

• Best for: any adult who loves wine and classic food experiences
• Length: 4 hours
• Days available: Monday through Saturday
• Group size: small group tour

Cycling Tour with Local Chef Who Cooks for You

For one of the best food tours in Rome, meet up with Chef Luca for a true Rome breakfast. There’s nothing quite like a food tour with someone who has dedicated their life to food itself. You’ll spend the morning cycling to all the best sights in the city.

Stop for pizza at a 200-year-old pizzeria and sample ingredients at the Campo de Fiori market. After more historic sites, you and Chef Luca will head to his kitchen studio where he’ll cook Cacio e Pepe for you. Watch the master at work while you sip on a glass of Italian wine. He’ll guide you home only after dessert and espressos!

• Best for: Solo foodie travelers who like to meet new people and ride bikes
• Length: 4 hours
• Days available: Monday through Saturday
• Group size: private tour, only 1 person

The Best VEGAN Roman Food Tour

Yes, there’s even a food tour for Vegans in Rome! As a vegan (especially if you have other dietary restrictions) your food options in the Eternal City can feel really limited. Roberta will walk with you to several locations to show you just how many amazing choices you have! She’s also great about working with your dietary restrictions so you have the best time no matter what.

Try seasonal fruits and vegetables at the Campo de Fiori Market, as well as vegan street foods like Roman pizza, wine, and classic Italian cuisine that are naturally plant-based. You’ll get to shop for Italian vegan food to take back with you. Make sure to get all of Roberta’s restaurant recommendations for the rest of your visit.

• Best for: Vegans who love Italian food and are looking for food options in Rome
• Length: 2 hours
• Days available: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
• Group size: private tour, just you and your traveling companion(s)

Driven Food and Wine Tour in the Roman Countryside

Get away from the busy streets of Rome and see another side of this ancient region. Consider this food and wine tours that takes you by vehicle out to the Roman countryside for an elegant food and wine tasting in a medieval village! You’ll meet your guide at a piazza, where you’ll enjoy a scenic drive to the 13th-century village of Borg in the hills of the Lazio region.

When you arrive, the afternoon will start with a visit to a wine cellar in a historic castle. A certified sommelier will lead your group on a tour of the wine cellar. See how wine is processed and learn about the fascinating history of the ancient cellar that was rediscovered in the 1930s.

From there, you’ll go to a fine-dining restaurant in the village for a multi-course meal. Each course is complete with a handpicked wine pairing. The sommelier will explain how to experience each wine alongside each course. After your meal, you can shop for wine bottles before taking the scenic drive back to the city.

• Best for: history lovers willing to meet new people
• Length: 4 hours
• Days available: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
• Group size: small group tour, up to 50 guests

Roman Nightlife Tour with Food and Drinks

Learn how locals relax and savor the nightlife in Rome on what might be the best food tour in Rome. You’ll meet a friendly, entertaining guide in Trastavere after dark for an evening full of magic and fun. Soon, your guide will feel like a good friend as you both stroll to a variety of relaxing and lively hotspots for street food and beer, cocktails, or wine.

Learn about the history of the neighborhood and immerse yourself in true local culture with your private guide. Enjoy local Italian dishes off the beaten path, eating at places most tourists probably wouldn’t go to by themselves! Dance the night away, eat great Italian food, and take in the beauty of Rome at night.

• Best for: those who love the nightlife and meeting new people
• Length: 2.5 hours
• Days available: Monday through Sunday
• Group size: private tour, just you and your traveling companion(s)

Walking Tour of the Best Roman Coffee and Desserts

Desserts and coffee have a specific place in Roman hearts, and you can learn all about them on this Roman walking food tour. Start the day in a famous piazza in Central Rome, where you’ll visit the most famous coffee shops and gelaterias in the city.

Tour a roasting room and learn how espresso beans are made. Sample tiramisu and the very Roman Granita di Caffè con panna (a sweet, iced espresso drink with whipped cream). Try some of the best gelatos at different shops in central Rome and learn how to spot the best quality gelato in Rome. You’ll round out your visit with a stroll through the Piazza Navona and the Pantheon! Or you can do your own tour of the best gelato in Rome.

• Best for: Anyone with a sweet tooth and a love of coffee
• Length: 4 hours
• Days available: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
• Group size: small group tour, up to 10 guests

FAQs about Rome Food Tours

Are food tours in Rome worth it?

They’re definitely worth it! You’re getting so much more than just a meal. You’re getting an entire experience where you’ll learn about Roman life through the food you’re eating. These tours are led by individuals with a love for food, just like you, who want to show you what Rome is all about. So, a food tour in Rome can be priceless!

What food is Rome famous for?

Rome is known most famously for its elegantly understated pasta dishes, like Cacio e Pepe and Pasta alla Carbonara. But you can’t miss out on Roman pizza (trust me, it’s different from the rest of Italy!) and all the amazing desserts. And don’t overlook the Roman Jewish food scene.

What time is dinner in Rome?

While you’re sightseeing, you might notice restaurants closing after lunch and not opening again until 7 or 8 PM. Romans indeed eat dinner late, and they don’t rush through it, either! It’s a whole event, often with aperitivo before and dessert or drinks and dancing afterward! Often, dinner can go until midnight or even later.

Go on One of the Best Food Tours in Rome

Being a traveler in a foreign city can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time! When you come to a city like Rome, you want to see the biggest attractions and have all the classic experiences. Lean into that tourist life! But one of the best ways to learn about a place and its culture is to try food that the locals eat.

That’s why I suggest going on one of the best food tours in Rome. Trust a local guide who will show you a side of this magical city that you would never know about on your own! Leave the planning and travel up to them and enjoy all of Rome’s good food.