9 Must-Visit Gluten Free Rome Stops for Your Next Visit
Eating delicious gluten free Rome food will easily be the highlight of your trip if you know the right spots to hit up on your next adventure to this food-filled city. I had the most amazing time visiting restaurants in Rome as someone with Celiac on my first trip to Italy last year. Believe it or not, eating gluten free in Rome is incredibly easy. Contrary to the United States, there is much more widespread knowledge about Celiac Disease and how to prepare gluten free foods safely.
In the United States, I am so used to calling restaurants ahead of time to go over their kitchen procedures, speak to the manager, re-run through the procedures once at the restaurant with my waiter, and double check to make sure they let the kitchen know that I have an “allergy”. The process is exhausting!
In Italy, the process was as simple as asking “do you have gluten free food?” and “is it safe for someone with Celiac disease?” and most restaurant staff could give me a confident answer right away. Normally, traveling gluten free can be incredibly stressful and tiring, but in Rome it was a breeze. However, even with my increased confidence is kitchen procedures in Italy, I primarily stuck to restaurants that offered more extensive gluten-free menus and had more rigorous kitchen procedures for cross contamination.
When I visited Italy, I was travelling with two friends that are not gluten free and it was important to me to find restaurants that would not sacrifice their experience to eat delicious gluten-filled food but also would keep me safe. For this reason, most of the places on this gluten free Rome list are not 100% gluten free, but I vetted extensively to make sure they take cross contamination and Celiac disease seriously.
Another thing that was important to me was the ambience of the restaurants we ate at. Since Italy is a country for foodies, I knew we would be spending a lot of time eating! I wanted to sit in cute, Italian eateries like “normal” Italian travelers, so I researched each of these restaurants through pictures and videos ahead of time. If the ambience is something important to you too, rest assured I highly recommend the “vibes” of each of these places as well.
With all that said, after having spent a few food-filled days in this magnificent city, I’ve put together a list of the restaurants, bakeries, and gelaterias visited that I would highly recommend if you are planning to eat gluten free in Rome.
Gluten Free Italian Phrases
Senza Glutine: Gluten Free
Sono Celiaco/Celiaca (male/female): I am Celiac.
In my experience, most Italians in major cities (like Rome) can speak English pretty fluently. But just in case, it’s great if you can memorize these two phrases to have in your back pocket. Typically I would start out by using my limited Italian vocabulary to explain I have Celiac, and then we would ease into English from there.
Italian Celiac Association (AIC)
For those with Celiac, the Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC) or Italian Celiac Association has helped accelerate the knowledge, and care for citizens with Celiac in Italy ahead of anywhere else in the world. They work diligently to disseminate information regarding Celiac Disease to improve the lives of thsoe with Celiac.
How does this affect you as a traveler? The AIC made my search for gluten free restaurants so much easier. Restaurants have the option to become AIC-accredited, which means they follow a strict set of protocols to avoid cross contamination and provide safe gluten free food for those with Celiac Disease.
Additionally they provide an app for a small monthly fee. Since Rome is major metropolitan hub in Italy, I found that Find Me GF sufficed for finding places to eat since there were a substantial amount of reviews. However, if you would like the additional information and added peace of mind, the AIC app is really cheap and may be worth buying for your trip.
Throughout this article, you will see me call out AIC-accredited establishments- which translates to “Celiac-safe”.
Gluten Free Rome Restaurants
Mama Eat
The first of many gluten free Rome restaurants that you must head to is Mama Eat. This 100% gluten free, AIC-accredited gem has three locations throughout the city and a menu to die for. From pizzas, to linguine, to fried chicken, there is something for everyone on this menu.
We loved it here so much we ended up going back for a second time on our four day trip to Rome. On our first trip, I got a delicious linguine with actual linguine noodles, which if you’re accustomed to eating gluten free, you know is hard to find! On the second trip, we started with a meat and cheese board (as one does when dining in Italy) and then I tried one of their pizzas. The noodles were a fantastic texture and the pizza crust was as close to “normal” as you can get.
The location we visited was situated in the adorable village of Trastevere. Trastevere is known for its nightlife- loaded with restaurants, bars, and street performers- this is easily one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Rome. I highly recommend sitting at an outdoor table and immersing yourself into the full Trastevere experience.
Pizza in Trevi
The next stop on your gluten free Rome itinerary needs to be Pizza in Trevi. Unsurprisingly, this AIC-accredited pizzeria is only steps away from Trevi fountain. With both gluten free and non-gluten free options, this is a great option if you are traveling with a non-gluten free group.
Given its name, I highly recommend grabbing a pizza while dining at Pizza in Trevi. Throughout my ten days in Italy I tried a lot of gluten free food in Venice and Florence, however, this contends for some of the best gluten free pizza on my trip. I opted for the vegetarian pizza which was topped with eggplant and tomatoes- but this was a tough choice as their entire menu left my mouth watering.
In case you or someone in your group isn’t in the mood for pizza, you will be relieved to learn that there are plenty of other options on the menu including pasta, meat, seafood, and salads. And don’t forget about dessert! We ended the night with a delicious gluten free cheesecake.
Mercato Hostaria
Looking for a lively restaurant experience in one of Rome’s many piazzas? Head on over to Mercato Hostaria, located in Campo de’ Fiori for your next gluten free Rome restaurant stop. This AIC-accredited restaurant has a gluten free menu with all of the Italian classics. From pizzas to pastas, you will not be disappointed.
I was on a pizza-trying rampage while in Rome (how can you not when they all taste so good?), so I got a pizza at Mercato Hostaria and have no regrets because I found the coolest pizza- a lasgana pie. Yes, I had lasagna in pizza form. It was red sauce based with minced meat and parmesan and was both unique and tasty!
My favorite part of eating here was the atmosphere though. The majority of the seating is along the square. The square is dotted with other restaurants and comes alive at night. There were performers meandering by throughout our meal. All in all, this is a fabulous cultural and food experience wrapped into one.
Voglia di Pizza
If you are like me and can never get sick of pizza, head over to Voglia di Pizza next! Another AIC-accredited, 100% gluten free restaurant so you can be assured you will have yummy gluten free food that is safe too.
Voglia di Pizza has some pretty unique pizza options such as a “Margherita Pizza with French Fries and Sausage”. Similar to the other restaurants on this list, you would never know this pizza is gluten free- the texture of the crust is akin to that of a thin-crust glutenous one.
And rest assured if you don’t like pizza, or perhaps don’t want to eat it every night like me, the menu has a number of other dish options including pasta, chicken dishes, vegetarian options, and more. And don’t forget to try one of the many gluten free dessert options!
McDonalds
Believe it or not, McDonald’s is safe for Celiacs to eat at in Italy! However, the only option on the menu is a gluten free burger on a Schar bun that comes wrapped in plastic. The burger is heated up in the plastic wrapping in the facility so there is no risk of cross contamination.
While I wouldn’t consider this to be real fine Italian dining, I had to stop in McDonald’s and give the gluten free burger a try since it’s been many years since my last McDonald’s hamburger. Much to my surprise, it was fairly tasty for a pre-packaged food item. If you are on the run or miss the novelty of ordering at McDonald’s (like many of us Celiacs do) you should absolutely pop in.
Bakeries/Cafés
Pandalì Roma
One of my favorite stops while eating gluten free in Rome was a 100% gluten free breakfast/lunch café called Pandalì near the Pantheon. Self described as a “happy place in the heart of Rome”, this is a great place to start your day with a sandwich, yogurt, fruit, or bakery treat before embarking on your Rome adventures.
The menu fluctuates by the day, but I tried a sandwich and got a slice of carrot cake and they were both to die for. The bread was one of the most fluffy, flavorful finds I have eaten since going gluten free. And the carrot cake fully satiated my sweet tooth.
The cafe is set up to order at the counter, but there is seating indoors if you prefer to dine in. If you are on the run, this is a good stop to pop into for food on the go as well!
New Food Gluten Free
Looking for more baked goods? Pop into New Food Gluten Free in Ponte Sisto. As you can infer from the name, this bakery is 100% gluten free and was stacked with every baked good you can dream up. You can start your day with a bagel, muffin, pastry, croissant- whatever your gluten free heart desires!
The bakery is fairly small, so this is more of a grab-and-go type of place before embarking on your adventures of the day.
Gelaterias
Grom
Your gluten free visit to Rome will not be complete without a trip to get some gelato. Head on over to Grom for 100% gluten free gelato and cones. In Italy, I found it difficult to find gelaterias that were safe from cross contamination so finding this completely gluten free gelateria was a massive stress relief!
Grom is a chain throughout many major cities in Italy, so I visited them several times on my trip to Italy in Venice, Florence, and Rome and they never disappointed. There are 9 Grom locations around Rome, so you should have no trouble finding a spot close to you no matter where you are.
Fatamorgana Gelato
For your final must-visit gluten free Rome stop, I highly recommend checking out Fatamorgana for more delicious gelato. This is another 100% gluten free gelato spot and it has 8 locations throughout the city- so where you can’t find a Grom, you will be sure to find Fatamorgana!
Gluten Free like Me?
It’s uber important to always travel prepared! No matter where you are going, its important to always travel with some gluten free snacks on hand!
Click here to learn more about my favorite gluten free travel snacks!
Looking for more gluten free travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
- Gluten Free in Florence: 7 MUST Visit Restaurants and Eateries for a Delicious Trip
- Gluten Free London: 9 Delicious Stops for Your Next Visit
- 14 Delicious Gluten Free NYC Dining Options
- Gluten Free in Disneyland
Looking for More Italy Inspiration?
Check out my other itineraries and guides to seeing Italy:
- How Many Days in Venice is Enough? Itinerary + Recommendations for a 1, 2, or 3 Day Stay
- How Many Days in Florence is Enough? Hand-Crafted Itinerary for 2+ Days in the City
- How Many Days in Rome is Enough? The Perfect Itinerary for 2, 3, or 4 Days
- Ultimate Florence to Venice Day Trip: 5 Major Sites + Food Recommendations for the Perfect Day
Don’t Stop Exploring Here!
Check out my other city guides below!
- How Many Days in Madrid is Enough? Itineraries for 2, 3, or 4 Days in Madrid
- Malaga in One Day: 5 Must-See Places to Visit
- Day Trip to Austin Itinerary: The Best of Austin in 1 Day
- Ultimate NYC 4 Day Itinerary
- San Diego in One Day: Ultimate Guide
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