Pizza is probably the first things that pops to mind when asked to name an Italian culinary specialty. And there’s a good reason for that: it’s simple, and simply delicious.
When traveling to Rome with kids, there is a good chance you will end up in a pizzeria. Not only because you are curious to taste “the real thing”, but also because your children will be begging for a slice of that mouthwatering pizza Margherita!
But just like any other big city, you have to know where to go and stay away from the many tourist traps.
Rome is a great city to get a solid pizza experience. But don’t start thinking about a thick “cheesy crust” pizza! Roman pizza has a thin and crispy crust. In theory, that doesn’t make it much different for the hundreds of other types of pizzas in Italy, but the pizzas mentioned here are made with quality dough, as well as carefully selected toppings. As a matter of fact, the best pizzerias only open at night for dinner, as the rest of the day is spent to make the perfect dough.
Paola, a local Roman food expert and experienced chef (she is the woman that makes our Make Your Own Pizza cooking class so much fun and interesting for families with kids), has helped us make a selection of the best pizzerias in Rome. These 10 restaurants are not only about the pizza, but also about going for the local experience, away from the touristic areas. Starters and deserts are also excellent, so you might want to save a spot for a homemade tiramisu for example!
To make your stay in Rome with your family a moment you will cherish for many years to come, here is Paola’s list of the 10 best pizza places in Rome with Kids
1. Gatta Mangiona – For pizza and cat lovers
You like cats?
You like pizza?
You have now got your little place of culinary paradise on earth: Gatta Mangiona.
This cat-themed restaurant serves some of the best pizza in town.
To reach Gatta Mangiona, you will have to venture away from the touristic areas of the Eternal City. Hail a taxi in the city center and you will get there in 20 minutes. Once you have arrived, you will see that this is a local favorite where Romans come in numbers! You will also notice the many cat pictures on the walls!
Since it is very popular, it can be very crowded, and therefore quite noisy. But that’s just the typical local experience. Just remember to make a reservation before going (you might be ok to wait in line for a while, but your children might run out of patience a lot quicker than you!)
As for the pizza, you have a fair choice of “red” and “white” classic pizza, as well as creative pizza with surprising mixtures of fresh ingredients. Add to that a nice offer of craft beer for adults and quick and efficient service, and you are in for a great dinner!
Address: Via Federico Ozanam, 30-32, 00152 Roma
Tel: +39 06 534 6702
Opening hours: Everyday from 12:30PM to 3PM and from 7 :00PM to 11 :30PM
Prices: €9,00 for a classic pizza Margherita
Website: www.lagattamangiona.com
2. Emma – 4th generation pizza baker
Located in the heart of Rome, a mere 5 minute walk from the Pantheon or Piazza Venezia, Emma is truly a gastronomic heaven for pizza lovers. Here is why:
Pierluigi Roscioli is the man behind the delicious pizzas, and since he is 4th generation baker, he knows how to get the dough right! As for the toppings, they come from one of Rome’s finest restaurants, Salumeria Roschioli, whose motto is “before the kitchen comes the raw material”. That says it all.
Since day 1, Pierluigi and his team have had the ambition to turn pizza into a delicious and healthy product made with quality ingredients from local producers.
Needless to say that this is not your ordinary pizza, meaning that prices are slightly higher than average pizzerias. But quality has a price, and an evening at Emma is… priceless!
The staff is polite, efficient and friendly and they generally speak English. As for the ambiance, just like any popular local restaurant, the level of noise can be high. But that’s what makes it authentic, doesn’t it?
Address: Via del Monte della Farina, 28, 00186 Roma
Phone: +39 06 6476 0475
Opening hours: Everyday from 7 :45PM to 11 :30PM
Prices: €8,00 for a classic pizza Margherita
Website: http://www.emmapizzeria.com/
3. Sforno – Of pizza and imported beers
Sforno, another delicious pizzeria, lies approximately 30 minutes away from the city center, but it’s definitely worth the ride.
The classic pizzas are delicious, but you might want to try something new, as they have quite a few original pizzas that you won’t find anywhere else. Among the best sellers are the Cacio e Pepe (with grated sheep’s milk cheese and ground black pepper), Greenwich (Stilton cheese, mozzarella and port reduction) and Pizza in Bocca (mozzarella, sage, prosciutto marinated in white wine).
Sforno also has an excellent choice of imported beers, especially from Belgium.
Here too, reservations are preferable as this is a very popular place for local Romans. This also means that the level of noise can also be quite high sometimes.
So, for those that are not afraid to wander off the beaten touristic tracks, this in one pizza gem that is definitely worth trying!
Address: Via Statilio Ottato, 110/116, 00175 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 7154 6118
Opening hours: Everyday from 7 :45PM to 11 :30PM
Prices: Reasonable
Website: http://www.sforno.it/
4. Tonda – the best Napolitan-style pizzas in Rome
Tonda is to die for. And this comes as no surprise when you know who is behind this restaurant.
Take Stefano Callegari of Sforno (see above) and Antonio Pratticò of 00100, two of the most delicious pizzerias in Rome, put them together and voilà. The secret to delicious pizza is right there!
It is not surprising either to know that Tonda combines elements of both of these pizzerias, like Sforno’s Greenwich (stilton, mozzarella and port reduction) and Cacio e Pepe (pecorino and black pepper) pies.
The brick oven is a hand crafted, you will see the wood burning, and the Napolitan-style pizzas that come out of it are inimitable: puffy, slightly charred on the outside but nice and soft on the inside…
You’ll want to come before 8PM if you don’t have any reservations, otherwise you’ll have to wait in line (or even be told there is simply no room). The place gets packed within minutes after 8PM!
Address: Via Valle Corteno, 31, 00141 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 818 0960
Price: Reasonable.
Opening hours: Every day from 7:45 PM to 11:00 PM
Website : https://www.facebook.com/Tonda-435204489999845/
5. Moma – buzzing atmosphere and delicious pizza
Another pizzeria with a buzzing and lively atmosphere is Moma. Adored by the locals and offering a real Roman dining experience, the pizza here is a delight for your taste buds. Unlike other pizzerias in Rome where the dough is prepared during the day (and served at for dinner), it is said that at Moma, the dough is made with a 72 hour rising time.
The result? A rich, light, crispy and delicious pie. Add to that fresh toppings and you have one of the best pizzas in Rome, be it for the classic recipes or the house specials.
Just like any popular place, it is better to make reservations as the place is easily packed.
Address: Via Calpurnio Fiamma, 40-44, 00175 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 767 4717
Price : reasonable
Opening hours: Every day from 7 :45PM to 11PM
Website: http://www.momapizzeriaromana.it/
6. Pizzarium – Pizza street food
Good pizza don’t mean you necessarily have to be sitting down in a restaurant. You can (and you should, at least once) buy a slice of pizza and eat it outside. And one of the two best places to by “street food pizza” is Pizzarium.
If you are on the go and want a quick fix, make your way behind the Vatican and stop at Pizzarium. It’s basically a hole in the wall, but the pizza here is simply finger licking good, and not greasy!
Just like any take-away place, the pizza slices are sold by the weight. You might want to take a smaller slice of several different pizzas rather than a big slice of just one kind.
The pie is nice and puffy, and there is a wide range of different pizzas with great original topping combinations. The best sellers here include the cream cheese with fresh salmon pizza, or the Chicken with fresh peppers pizza.
Unlike most of the pizza restaurants listed here, Pizzarium is open nonstop from 11AM to 10PM.
Address: Via della Meloria, 43, 00136 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 3974 5416
Opening hours: Every day from 11AM to 10PM
Prices: by weight, affordable, but can add up quickly
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pizzarium/157316287629478
7. Magnifica – The chicest pizza place
Magnifica means magnificent, and the restaurant has indeed the “chicness” and food quality you would expect with a name like that. Of course, the star of the show is the pizza: dough of the best quality, fresh ingredients of the finest choice including San Marzano tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, 24 month old Parmigiano Reggiano and mozzarella di Bufala Campana… Your taste buds are in for a real treat.
But Magnifica is also a designer restaurants, with an intimate setting and a simple yet tasteful decor.
And for those that speak just a little bit of Italian, it is preferable to ask for the Italian menu. Apparently, they have a broader choice of original pizzas on the Italian menu, as opposed to the more classic pizzas on the English menu.
Add to that a friendly atmosphere and nice staff, and you will enjoy a perfect pizza dinner in Rome.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Address: Via Ugo de Carolis, 72, Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 3545 2285
Opening hours: Every day from 7 :30 PM to 11 :30 PM
Price: €9.50 for a Pizza margherita
Website: http://www.pizzeriamagnifica.it/
8. La Pratolina – Pizza with a nice glass of Prosecco
It’s always nice to sit down in a local restaurant, away from the tourist traps, and get a complimentary drink. At La Pratolina, once you are seated, you will be able to enjoy a nice glass of Prosecco.
But that’s only a small part of the overall experience. There are many other reasons why La Pratolina is part of the 10 best pizzas in Rome with kids.
Needless to say, the pizza is excellent. A thin and savory pie, fresh toppings, original creations… it all seems so easy, yet it is terribly difficult to reach the perfect balance.
The staff is nice, friendly and welcoming, and it is important to mention that they all speak English (which is not necessarily the case for other restaurants!). Add to that a great choice of beer, a lively ambiance and a cozy decor, and you will understand why La Pratolina definitely has a place in any “best pizza” list!
(Oh, and just so you know, you might even get a complimentary Limoncello at the end of your meal…)
Address: Via degli Scipioni, 248, 00192 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 3600 4409
Opening Hours: Every day from 7 :00 PM to midnight
Price: affordable
Website: http://www.pizzerialapratolina.it/
9. La Boccaccia – delicious take away pizza
Another great place for a quick snack or a fast lunch is La Boccaccia in the Trastevere neighborhood. Just like Pizzarium (see above), La Boccaccia is the place to be when it comes to street food pizza.
Here too, the pizza is served “at taglio”, meaning by the cut (and therefore by the weight).
There are a few counter seats inside La Boccaccia, but the best thing to do here is to order “take away” and enjoy your slice(s) outside.
The staff doesn’t speak English, but pointing what you want and using a few other hand gestures will get you what you need, and this is all worth it as the pizza is simply delicious.
A lot of locals come satisfy their pizza crave here, so if you stop by during lunch or dinner, you might end up waiting in line for some time.
La Boccaccia in Trastevere is probably the most famous La Boccaccia restaurants, but there are 2 other locations in Rome.
Address: Via di Santa Dorotea, 2, 00153 Roma, Italy
Opening Hours: Every day from 10AM to 12:30AM
Prices: by the weight. Affordable.
Website: http://www.pizzerialaboccaccia.it/
10. La Pariolina – Simplicity is the key to great pizza
Simplicity if quite often the secret of success. At La Pariolina, the atmosphere is casual and lively, and the pizzas are simple yet out of this world! Even the most discerning palates will be amazed by the talent of La Pariolina’s young pizzaiolo.
The veranda by the road is the ideal place to have dinner during the summer.
Based on healthy food and using seasonal products almost exclusively, even vegetarians will be able to enjoy delicious pizza. La Pariolina’s goal, they say, is to give pleasure through food, and that is exactly what they do.
No worries here if you don’t know a word of Italian. They have English menus although the restaurants attracts far more locals than tourists!
Address: Viale dei Parioli, 93, 00197 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 808 6002
Opening Hours: Every day from 12:30PM to 3PM and from 7 PM to 1 AM
Prices: €7,50 for a pizza Margherita
Website: http://www.lapariolina.it/
If you want to learn about pizzas and make your own pizza in Rome while one holiday with your family there, book our “Make Your Own Pizza” workshop. Paola will welcome you with a smile and turn this cooking class into a family moment everyone will remember forever!