Dirt Cheap Rome

A Roma se magna, literally, “In Rome, you eat”. So do as the Romans do and stuff yourself silly. the city is blessed with several low cost eateries that actually serve up some of the most hearty and authentic food around…if you know where to go.

Da Tonino
The place recently underwent a renovation, but is still grubbier than most restaurants in town. What they saved on décor, you’ll save on your meal however. Giant steaming plates of matriciana, carbonara, and rigatoni con melanzana (eggplant) are the best around, and the polpette (meatballs) are something close to godly. House wine is more than passable, and desserts (both those made in and out of house) are luscious and sized to share.
Main course: €6–8.

Address: Piazza Navona. 16-19 Via del Governo Vecchio. Telephone: 333 5870779.

Alfredo e Ada
A little old woman and her son scurry between the kitchen and the ten-or-so tables in this one of kind restaurant where there is no menu, but rather, one meal. You take what you get, which includes a pasta of the day, a meat dish, vegetables, and biscotti. Wine and sweet wine included. It feels a bit like visiting granny (she’ll ask why you didn’t clean your plate) and you’ll spend about €15 a person.

Address: Piazza Navona. 14 Via dei Banchi Nuovi, 14. Tel. 066878842.

Da Augusto
In a piazza just off of one of Trastevere’s swollen main drags, this no-frills trattoria makes everyone’s list year after year for genuine, hearty Roman cuisine at shockingly low prices.

Address: Trastevere. 15 Piazza de’ Renzi Telephone: 065803798.

Idillio
Mama Paola and Pops Vincenzo are busy in the tiny kitchen rolling out their own pasta, and whipping up original new recipes along with Roman classics. Their son Andrea is a certified sommelier and will pair your meal with an equally cheap (yet very tasty) bottle.
Price of a main dish ranges from €5.50-€9.

Address: Pigneto.  46 Via Augusto Dulceri. Telephone: 06297089.

Pizzeria L’Economica
Literally, the ‘cheap’ pizzeria, this place lives up to its name with €5 pizzas and €2 beers. The best part it, it’s pretty good too! The crust is thin and crispy, and the toppings are fresh. An establishment of the University area San Lorenzo is gritty and alternative, and these days attracts just about anyone on a budget, student or not.

Address: San Lorenzo. 48 Via Tiburtina. No phone.

Visiting European cities on a tight budget? Check out our other dirt cheap guides!

Amsterdam budget travel guide.
Barcelona budget travel guide.
Berlin budget travel guide.
Birmingham budget travel guide.
Copenhagen budget travel guide.
Istanbul budget travel guide.
London budget travel guide.
Madrid budget travel guide.
Vienna budget travel guide.