Delis, restaurants, and bakeries. The quiet gastronomic revival of one of Rome's most chic neighbourhoods

Old delis coming back to life, major international chains choosing to focus on residential neighbourhoods, and then street food, bars with specialty coffee, and solid musts that continue to amaze amidst so many novelties. This is how Prati, the elegant neighbourhood on the right bank of the Tiber, a residential area of Rome considered “chic,” just a stone's throw from the Vatican, was reborn. It has long been known to the city's gourmets as Bonci's neighbourhood, where he has both a Bakery and Pizzarium, but in recent times, the area has undergone a true gastronomic revolution.

The new openings to try in the Prati area

 Let it be clear, there were already valid proposals, but it seems that from the pandemic onwards – think of Carnal by Roy Caceres – there has been a real turning point in the neighbourhood. So here are the new things to try while strolling in Prati.

Pulejo

Pulejo has earned a Michelin star, a restaurant opened in 2022 by Davide Puleio, and it did so in less than a year, after already winning the Newcomer of the Year award in the Gambero Rosso Restaurants of Italy guide. What is convincing is the excellent cuisine in an informal, intimate, and comfortable setting, with elaborate yet uncomplicated dishes capable of impressing an increasingly broad audience.
Pulejo – via dei Gracchi, 31 - pulejo.it/

Federico Prodon Pâtisserie

Walking through the alleyways of Borgo Pio, Federico Prodon's boutique emerges, bringing a touch of France near the Cupolone from 2022. The pastries are perfectly layered, fragrant, and filled with silky creams, the single portions made with great precision and technique, and then there's the biscuit shop in elegant, perfectly packaged boxes suitable for gifting. All in a beautiful venue with shades of aquamarine, minimalistic, and refined.
Federico Prodon Pâtisserie – Vicolo del Farinone, 19 - @federicoprodon

Fischio

A stroll in Prati cannot begin—or end—without a stop at this kiosk in Piazzale degli Eroi. Specialty coffees here go hand in hand with a thoughtful selection of natural wines: those wishing to stop for a coffee can count on a wide choice of carefully selected beans, to be enjoyed as espresso or filter coffee, or opt for the house blend. Croissants, sandwiches, and some savoury treats for aperitifs complement the drinks.
Fischio – Piazzale degli Eroi - @fischioroma

Gabrini

How beautiful, via Cola di Rienzo. Walking along the neighbourhood shopping street is even more enjoyable since the former Franchi deli reopened, now called Gabrini: in 2021, it closed its doors after nearly a century of history, passing into the hands of the Castroni family (which has multiple locations in Rome with its niche roastery and gastronomy). In December 2023, it reopened with a new, elegant look. And an even wider range of offerings: for lunch, the choices are plentiful, from hot dishes to seafood salads, vitello tonnato, and then a rich selection of top-tier cold cuts and cheeses, various pastries and sweets of all kinds, from croissants to chocolate babka, as well as preserves, wines, and specialties to purchase for home.
Gabrini – via Cola di Rienzo, 200 - gabrini.it/

Starbucks

"Continuing along via Cola di Rienzo, at the corner of number 23, there is a new Starbucks, finally in a residential neighbourhood. After the arrival of the siren at the Parliament (where the chain, for us, isn’t expressing its full potential, becoming more of a tourist attraction for young people than a place to experience), and at Termini Station, the coffee giant faces a different, less touristy and crowded area (and meanwhile, it has also arrived at the Porta di Roma shopping centre). The branch in Prati is the only one, up to now, in the Capital that has brought the true concept of Starbucks, a nice bar where you can also stop for hours to work while sipping a cup of coffee, perfectly integrated into the urban fabric. Between a boutique purchase and a chat with friends, stopping here truly adds a bit of international flavour to the neighbourhood.
Starbucks – via Cola di Rienzo, 23 - starbucks.it

Love – Specialty Croissants

For those who love cooking at home, there's only one destination: the beautiful Trionfale market. However, before shopping, it's better to nourish oneself with a good, or rather, excellent breakfast: recently opened, Love already stands out for its morning pastries, offered in a great variety of flavours and shapes. The most distinctive is probably the Moon Love, a croissant shaped like a moon filled with coffee custard and dough made with coffee powder, in any case, branded by Aliena Coffee Roasters, the micro-roastery affiliated with Faro specialty coffee shop, which provides consultancy for this young café. However, it's worth trying the others too, especially the pain suisse, with fragrant and perfectly layered dough, filled just right with good custard and excellent chocolate. Pair it with a Cappuccino Love, featuring a double espresso.
Love – via Tunisi, 51 - @love.roma_

Triodinamico Vini

Natural wines, oysters, champagne... What tour would be complete without an excellent glass of wine to conclude the day? On via Properzio, a place suitable for every need has arrived: Triodinamico Vini, a wine bar and oyster bar created by Paul Pansera, owner of the wine bar Il Sorpasso, along with his partner Fabio Giacomobono, sommeliers Luca Boccoli, and Marco Catena. Responsible for the oyster menu is the expert in the field, Corrado Tenace, who has crafted a selection that is all about discovery. This is also experienced through the numerous events organised periodically.
Triodinamico Vini – via Properzio, 23 - @triodinamico_vini

Tibò

Since 2020, Thibaud Lacarin, born in Paris into a family of chefs, chose to open a bakery in Rome, the city where he spent his childhood, yet little is still said about his boulangerie. Bread is abundant here, but this is mainly the ideal place to try the authentic French croissants typical of a boulangerie: plenty of butter, few frills, traditional, and incredibly tasty. Pain au chocolat, classic croissant, and pain aux raisins, as well as glazed cinnamon rolls. Depending on the baker's inspiration, you can also find cannelés, pain d'épices, and other traditional sweets. No seating: it's a buy-and-eat-on-the-go experience, just like in Paris.
Tibò – via Leone IV, 6 - @tibo_boulangerie

Fase Cucina Spontanea

This new creative kitchen opened at the beginning of December, a beautiful, modern establishment with a welcoming and design-oriented ambiance. Its standout dish is the 100% Spontaneous, featuring herbs, roots, mushrooms, and fruit, but the menu here is anything but vegetarian: choices range from katsu sando, a pork cutlet sandwich, to sheep tartare with beets, radishes, red onion, and horseradish mayonnaise. It's still early for a comprehensive review, but it's definitely a signboard worth keeping an eye on.
Fase Cucina Spontanea – via Muggia, 14 – faserestaurant.it

Taco Libre

Fun, casual, and indulgent is the offering of this taqueria on via Tacito, a newcomer at the end of November 2023, entirely dedicated to Mexican street food. You can sit at communal tables or at the counter, order a good cocktail, and then various tacos adorned with the most diverse ingredients, such as the pastor, with spit-roasted pork. A relaxed atmosphere and a good value for money complete the experience.
Taco Libre – via Tacito, 14 - @taco_libre_roma