Where to eat near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona

The Pantheon and Piazza Navona form the most touristy heart of Rome, and both squares are lined with terraces where you mostly pay for the setting. Yet turn into the neighbouring lanes and you find traditional houses, bakeries, famous cafés and neighbourhood pizzerias. This guide says where to eat, what to avoid and what to order. The addresses are established places; check opening hours and closing days before you go. To visit the area, see Pantheon and Piazza Navona: the historic centre guide and the Pantheon page.

The traps on the two squares

The Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda

On Piazza della Rotonda, as on Piazza Navona, terrace tables cost more than in the neighbouring streets: a coffee or a drink taken seated costs clearly more than at the counter, and terrace service has its own rate. Laminated menus with photos, fixed "tourist" menus and touts are common; the "pane e coperto" is billed per person and must appear on the menu. Tipping customs are detailed in money, payment and tipping.

Simple tip: read the menu before sitting down, and prefer a place that is not on the square itself, three streets away.

The lanes around the Pantheon

Armando al Pantheon (salita dei Crescenzi 31): a family-run house of Roman cooking, in high demand; book well ahead.
Roscioli and the area's forni: the Antico Forno Roscioli (via dei Chiavari 34) is an established bakery, ideal for pizza bianca, pizza al taglio or a takeaway sandwich.
Pizzeria Da Baffetto (via del Governo 114), near Piazza Navona: a thin, crisp Roman pizzeria, with a wait in the evening.
Traditional cafés: the Caffè Sant'Eustachio (piazza di Sant'Eustachio 82) and the Tazza d'Oro (via degli Orfani 84, facing the Pantheon) are two references for espresso and coffee granita.
Gelato: the Gelateria Giolitti (via degli Uffici del Vicario 40) is an institution; see also the best gelato in Rome.

The Caffè Sant'Eustachio

Around Piazza Navona

The streets west of the square (via del Governo Vecchio, via dei Coronari) line up antique dealers, bars and restaurants quieter than the square itself. In the evening the square fills with street artists and portrait painters: you can stroll through without buying anything. To go out after dinner, see Rome at night.

Quick or long lunch?

What you want	Where to look	Good to know
A seated Roman meal	Lanes around via dei Chiavari and Campo de' Fiori	Book for the evening
Pizza or a sandwich	Forno or neighbourhood pizzeria	Priced by the slice or by weight
Coffee at the counter	Sant'Eustachio, Tazza d'Oro	At the counter it is cheaper than seated
Gelato	Giolitti or another artisan gelateria	Avoid the cones on the square

Campo de' Fiori, 10 minutes' walk away

Campo de' Fiori is noisier in the evening but its neighbouring streets hide good trattorias. The rest of the Roman meal is described in where to eat Roman cuisine.

Going further

Addresses noted in October 2026; opening hours, closing days and prices to be confirmed. See also what to eat in Rome, scams to avoid in Rome and, for the nearby fountain, where to eat near the Trevi Fountain.