Food and Italy are inextricably intertwined concepts in the minds of most people, which is why it’s worth combining food and travel on these seven great food tours.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Many regions of Italy boast their own types of pasta and even their own bread. Dishes that are dear to the hearts of many Romans include cacio e pepe, a simple but effective pasta dish made with cheese and pepper, carbonara and the street food classic of supplì, a crispy rice, tomato and cheese croquette. Roman-style pizza should of course not be forgotten either. It’s all worth trying while you’re in the great city. These guided food tours of Rome will demystify the city’s culinary secrets, while introducing you to some of the city’s finest landmarks en-route.
Rome’s Campo de’ Fiori & Ghetto Street Food Tour with Tastings
The scent-filled morning produce market in Campo de’ Fiori piazza is the perfect place to attune your senses to the freshest Italian ingredients. Taste local cheeses, olive oil and truffles here to understand why Italian cuisine places such emphasis in getting the ingredients right. During this 150-minute walking tour, which runs on most days of the year, you will also get to try suppli, Roman pizza and carciofi alla Romana (Roman-style artichokes), while wandering through the Jewish Quarter towards the Pantheon. From €44 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Rome Street Food Tour with Local Guide
One of the finest ways to get to know Rome is to take a guided sightseeing tour that also involves sampling the fantastic street food of the Italian capital city. Along the way, you’ll take a break at a market stall or elegantly tiled old restaurant to sample supplì and sweet cannoli, washing it all down with locally produced wine and beer. With prior notice, gluten free and vegetarian requirements can also be accommodated on this tour. Please note that this tour actually has two options: the Jewish Quarter or Trastevere. You’ll be given the choice of your preferred option when booking. From €48 per person.
No Diet Club’s Unique Food Tour of Trastevere in Roma
This three-hour tour drinks in historic neighbourhoods such as Trastevere, along with many other lively public spaces, in the quest for the perfect embodiment of Roman cuisine. What sets this tour apart is the range of foods you get to try that aren’t commonly included on other itineraries, including pastries such as sfogliatella, or maritozzo, and the Roman favourite of pizza rossa (literally ‘red pizza’), which consists of a thin, crispy crust topped only with the best tomato sauce. From €57 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Eat As the Romans Do!
To eat like a local, you need to be guided by a local who eats like a local. That’s how you get to visit eateries of the Italian capital often overlooked by newcomers. But what makes this Roman food tour special is the number of tastings, with samples of over a dozen individual dishes, including pastas such as cacio e pepe and amatriciana, a bacon and tomato spaghetti. Other highlights include tiramisu, limoncello and filetto baccalà, a deep fried, salty cod fillet. Tours run daily. Arrive hungry. From €69 per person.
Rome Street Food Tour with Pizza, Tiramisu and Coffee
There are certain dishes and drinks that immediately make you think of Italian food heritage. Pizza, tiramisu and a good shot of espresso coffee after a meal are perfect examples of this. To visit purveyors of the delicious supplì croquettes, Roman pizza and espresso, from a coffee shop that has been around since the 1930s, take this tour. If that’s not enough, you’ll also visit a city centre restaurant for an Italian cheese and cured meat board, accompanied by a perfect wine pairing. From €68 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Rome Street Food Tour of the Jewish Quarter & Historic Centre
When it comes to paying somebody to show you the best places and dishes to eat, you’ll always be in safe hands in Rome, where great quality is commonplace. The main consideration you have to make is how long do you want to spend exploring, and eating(!), with your guide. This tour is a three-and-a-half-hour tasting extravaganza. Stop at seven eateries throughout Rome’s historic centre and Jewish Quarter to try delicacies such as Jewish-style fried artichokes and filetto baccalà. This tour usually runs on Mon, Wed and Sat. From €72 per person.
Private Food Tour of Rome
One of the most frustrating things about the large-group organized tours is that the itinerary is designed to suit the largest proportion of visitors. However, for the vegans and vegetarians of us who can all-too-often feel left out and restricted by food tours, there is a good solution: a private food tour. Sticking to Rome’s Jewish quarter, you can personalize the tour to your own tastes, taking in dishes and wine-pairings while also sampling delicacies like fried courgette (zucchini) blossoms and finishing off with a tasty gelato. From €199 per person.