I was pleasantly back in Rome for a few days, celebrating my 41st Birthday. It was a fantastic little break for me and my husband, simply an hour and a half’s flight away from Malta, a perfect little treat. As you know from last week’s blog entitled Michael Kors outfit in Rome, I also found the time to shoot some lovely pictures for the fashion blog.
However, in this article, I will be sharing with you a few things we experienced on this trip including restaurants, places we visited and our two-wheeled experience. I hope you find this interesting or useful for when you visit the Eternal City.
When Italians think of food in Rome, without question the first thing that comes to mind is pasta and of course.carbonara; It is difficult to imagine life without it. I had a delicious one for lunch at Oppio Café.
According to TripAdvisor Reviews, this is one of the best eateries in the touristic area next to the Collosseum so we tried it. The verdict is that the spaghetti carbonara here was amazing. My husband had a very good chicken salad. I recommend this restaurant for its friendly staff, varied menu and reasonable prices, all this with a great view of the Collosseum.
Other restaurants in Rome I highly recommend for spaghetti carbonara are Flavio al Velavevodetto (Testaccio), Da Danilo (Central Rome) and Roscioli (Central Rome).
The Colosseum
Even today, in a world of impressive architecture, the Colosseum is hugely impressive. It stands as a glorious but disturbing monument to Roman imperial power and brutality that came with the Roman’s pleasure to be entertained. Inside it, behind those ranks of arches and columns, Romans for centuries pitilessly killed thousands of people whom they believed to be criminals, as well as professional fighters and animals.
The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators , It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
Although partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions. You cannot visit Rome many times without doing the tour at least once.
Travel Tip:
To avoid waiting in long queues for tickets, I suggest you pre-buy your Collosseum tickets online on a site like this one HERE
Alla Rampa
Sometimes it happens that you have a favourite restaurant and you always return because it brings great memories when you revisit. It’s a safe bet, and on top of that the service and the food never disappoints. Well this restaurant is one of them for me.
Visit: www.allarampa.it/
Located around the corner from the Spanish steps lies Alla Rampa, where I’ve been going for over 10 years, year after year, and nothing has changed, not even the waiters who greet me as a family member every time I go. A favourite with travellers from across the globe, the menu is huge, almost like a book, with a range of pasta and meat options, no pizza though. Highly recommended are the Spinach Ravioli, the Tonnarelli with Mazzancolle, the Lamb Ossobuco for your main course, and the meringue or tiramisu for dessert. Love this place and so does my husband now!
Moma Restaurant
Moma is where I was treated to dinner for my birthday. What can I say, first of all the décor – minimalistic and modern with the perfect lighting already made me feel confident about the experience.
Situated in Via San Basilio, in central Rome, a real treat to gourmet dining, this restaurant features seasonal menus reflecting a truly creative inspiration, both in the menu à la carte, and the Tasting Menu. We tried different dishes including pasta and meat.
Every detail was well taken care of – the preparation of the food and the constant attention by the head waiter who kept topping up our wine glasses. You could taste different flavours with every little bite. With the most exciting selection of prime ingredients, the passionate research of rare and genuine flavours reflecting small artisanal traditions. Small portions, intricately designed and presented with a play of texture and colours, served on crisp white plates, transform a simple dinner into an extraordinary sensory experience. The dessert too were so unusual and so interesting to the palette. Here are a few images that don’t do the food justice. Thank you for the experience. I highly recommend this one if Gourmet Dining is what you are after.
Visit: www.ristorantemoma.it
Ginger
Another place I discovered only last year with my friend Kirsti is this fantastic eatery also situated quite close to Piazza di Spagna. This one in Via Borgognona is more of a bistro restaurant, an informal though elegant place where you can find fine foods, salads, meats and cheeses from around the world. For the health conscious and lovers of fresh fruit and salads, this is your new heaven in Rome! They serve juices and fresh fruit smoothies, it is a fantastic place to stop in between shopping sprees and sight seeing tours.
Visit: www.ginger.roma.it
This salad is called the Vignola, it’s bursting with fresh mixed greens, fennel, avocado, walnuts, organic sprouts and vibrant orange slices. I know you will also be checking it out – It’s a must-try!
Rent a Motorcycle
Visit www.rentscooter.it
How did we see so many places in a few days? Well, this time we rented out an Italian Vespa from the rental company called Barberini Scooter & Bike Rental situated just a two minutes’ walk away from our hotel in Via della Purificazione. It was extremely easy to collect and drop off. All we had to do is to provide our ID Cards and driving license and that’s it. We were given excellent instructions together with a map.
As motorbike riders, I recommend for you riders to also have a go. We enjoyed sightseeing on this day, and we saw many more places than we usually do when we are on foot. Yes as I mentioned on my Instagram page, we did get lost quite a few times along the way but the Italians are so helpful and friendly. They are sure to help you find your next destination.
Where we stayed
This time, location was important for me because I wanted to be as close to the Spanish steps and the Trevi Fountain as possible because I had a specific fashion shoot in mind. So we stayed the guesthouse called La Piccola Maison in Via Veneto.
This is an ideal choice for guests wishing to be immersed in the prominent atmosphere in central Rome and benefit from convenient prices. WiFi is available which is important for both myself and my husband as we need to check our online activity every so often.
Visit www.lapiccolamaison.com
Excellent service from the staff who were helpful to book restaurants, taxis and pretty much everything we could have asked for. They did not have an elevator, so the only thing I would say is that I would not recommend it to travellers who do not wish to walk up or down two flights of stairs every time. Otherwise, very good place to stay bang in the centre of Rome.
Hope you enjoyed this blog! More coming your way
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