The Eternal City has pasta on every street, so finding the best cacio e pepe can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. On vacation in Rome, my girlfriend and I tried some of the top-rated cacio e pepe the city had to offer and found a clear winner.
During my three summers teaching English in Italy, I stayed with a new Italian family every week and had amazing pasta just as much. Since I was a kid, pasta has been my favorite dish, so believe me when I say that I take this stuff seriously… very seriously.
We have three contenders for the best cacio e pepe in Rome: Ristorante Roma Sparita, Osteria Da Fortunata, and Osteria La Carbonara (Monti). Some have lines out the door and others are hidden gems. Which will come out on top, and which is worth your time? There are plenty of things to do in Rome, but there’s always room for pasta!
Ristorante Roma Sparita, Trastevere
Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Cacio e Pepe
Made famous by Anthony Bourdain’s show, No Reservations, Ristorante Roma Sparita draws in crowds for its iconic bowl made entirely of crispy parmesan cheese. Don’t worry, this is no gimmick, and the crispy shell’s texture contrasts their cacio e pepe perfectly. For me, this was a little on the dry side, and I’d have appreciated more sauce. However, more liquid could ruin the cheese shell, so that’s up for debate.
This restaurant sits on a square in the Trastevere neighborhood, away from the crowds and tourist traps, but we still had to wait in line for a spot at Roma Sparita. Likely due to its fame, the wait time for our food and the check (yes, we asked for it) was also longer than the other restaurants on this list. I’d still recommend heading here, especially if you’re in Trastevere already. Like most things in Rome, it’s famous for a reason!
Osteria Da Fortunata, Regola
Tik Tok’s Favorite Cacio e Pepe
Videos of women making pasta outside the window of Osteria Da Fortunata made this a viral spot to get authentic, hand-made pasta in Rome. Many credit this as the best cacio e pepe and feature it in their videos. Its ambiance is incredible, and the staff retain their southern Italian charm even during peak hours.
But honestly, this only felt like a good place for a picture. The pasta was undercooked and had way too much salt (even for my salt-loving girlfriend–don’t tell her I said that!). Still, it’s a fair option close to the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps which makes for a romantic pit stop during a long day of sightseeing.
Osteria La Carbonara, Monti
The Cacio e Pepe Underdog
Osteria La Carbonara is the cheapest restaurant on our list, coming in at around nine euros for a plate of cacio e pepe or gnocchi. It’s a few minutes walk from the Colosseum in the Monti neighborhood and makes for a perfect pit stop if you’re heading to the Colosseum from Termini Station.
The staff were incredible and selected a perfect wine for our meal at a reasonable price. The best part is that this is by far the least busy spot on the list. We had to wait once when going with friends and simply grabbed a beer at the supermarket across the street and admired the city. If I’m being honest, I recommend the gnocchi more than their cacio e pepe, though, but I’ve always been more of a red sauce guy.
And the Winner Goes To…
Walking into Osteria La Carbonara feels like walking into an old movie. It’s understated, relaxed, charming—exactly what so many Italian restaurants try and fail to replicate. This was the spaghetti of my dreams, the one I tried to make at home so many times as a kid. It is a reason to go to Rome, just like the sights, if not better. It’s the only restaurant in Rome I have to visit whenever I go.