The Best Food Tours In Rome Based On What You're Looking For, According To Reviews

Rome is arguably best known for being the former capital of the Roman Empire and having the ancient landmarks — like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Roman Forum — to prove it. But the Eternal City (it does date back to 753 B.C., after all) is for more than just history buffs — it's also the perfect spot for foodies. Rome was voted as the second best food destination on the planet by Tripadvisor, and luckily for those feeling overwhelmed at its seemingly endless food options, there are plenty of food tours throughout the city to help you get a taste of the best of the best. And if you're still wondering where to stay in the city, here are some highly-rated places to stay in Rome for every budget.

We combed through Roman food tours on Tripadvisor to determine which food tour is the most high-quality, depending on what you're looking for. Whether it's a budget-friendly food tour or a food tour where the wine flows freely, these are the finest based on which tours had the best and most reviews. To learn more about how we assembled this list, read the slide at the end of this article.

There are countless food tours in Rome, but The Roman Food Tour in Trastevere with Free-Flowing Fine Wine has nearly 1,150 Tripadvisor reviews, with a whopping 98% of reviewers recommending the five-star tour. "The best food and wine tour we have been on with delicious food and definitely lots of wine, which was equally as delicious," said one reviewer. "Thoroughly recommend this tour." For $130 per person, tourgoers spend four hours eating their way through Rome's Trastevere neighborhood, which is across the Tiber River from the Colosseum. Known as one of the big city's most enchanting spots, Trastevere is full of hip restaurants and bars, which visitors will get an inside look at thanks to an expert guide.

The culinary journey begins at Il Trapizzino, which has outposts all over Italy and New York and is known for its pizza pockets, stuffed with eight varieties such as chicken cacciatore and meatballs with tomato sauce. Next, head to Essenza Wine Bar, where you'll dine on Italy's iconic cured meats and cheeses while you taste wines in a rustic chic interior lined with a chalkboard menu and metal stools. After that, get traditional Italian at Peppo al Cosimato, where you'll try pizza made from the oldest wood-fired oven in the neighborhood, as well as homemade pasta. Finally, finish your delicious day at Fonte della Salute gelato shop, which has been making artisan treats for four decades.

In Rome, a white tablecloth isn't required for a memorable meal — street food does the job, and it's packed with both creativity and flavor. That's where the Rome Street Food Tour comes in, which introduces tourgoers to five Italian street foods in three-and-a-half hours for $75 per person. Hosted by Do Eat Better Experience, the tour takes visitors to authentic spots that are anything but tourist traps. Reviewers on Tripadvisor agree. "This is an excellent way to get around the city and experience the local culture," said one reviewer. "It was like having a private tour guide with food! We had some terrific food in places we might not have found or tried without her guidance."

Tourgoers will start their scrumptious walk by tasting scrocchiarella, a traditional type of Roman pizza known for its thin, crunchy texture. Then, they'll get to try suppli, which is the Roman version of Sicilian arancini (fried rice balls) but made with arborio rice and mozzarella. Next, they'll head to a norcineria, a shop known for its meats and cheeses from Norcia (a town in Umbria). Many of these shops began as butcher shops specializing in pork preservation. Afterward, visitors will have their share of tiramisu and coffee to get a little energy back after a belly-busting afternoon — Italians traditionally finish their meal with a shot or two of espresso.

With 15,000 pizzerias and 8,000 restaurants in Rome (supposedly), it's easy to get lost in the dinnertime shuffle and fall victim to the countless tourist traps that line the ancient streets. However, with the Hidden Gems of Trastevere with Dinner & Wine tour, visitors can taste the secret favorites of the city over three hours for $82 per person. With over 300 Tripadvisor reviews, the tour held by The Roman Guy is recommended by 97% of tourgoers. "We had a great time with our tour guide Dimitri exploring a few hidden eating spots," said one reviewer. "Dimitri was very fun and provided lots of good insight into touring Rome in general. The places we stopped were small and very Roman, which made it fun."

The first Roman spot on the tour is at a family-owned salumeria, which is an Italian deli. Here, guests will munch on various Italian charcuterie like prosciutto, salami, and cheese paired with complementary wines. Then, depending on the day, visitors will try suppli or baccala, salted cod often enjoyed during Lent or the Feast of Seven Fishes. However, those delectable dishes are only lead-ups to the three-course meal served at an authentic Roman eatery at the next stop. There, tourgoers will eat Roman pastas and meats and drink limoncello and wine. It all ends at an organic gelateria.

Bypass the crowds with the Rome By Night-Ebike Tour with Food and Wine Tasting hosted by EsBike Tours & Experiences. For $70 per person, groups of eight people climb aboard electric bikes and spend four hours tasting and seeing Rome's famous spots by nightfall, when it's cooler and less crowded. This is also a big win for those who hate the heat — August temperatures in Rome can go up to 89 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime but drop as low as 63 degrees Fahrenheit at nighttime.

The tour has over 400 reviews on Tripadvisor, and 97% of past customers recommend it to others. Said one, "Riding e-bikes was such a fun and unique way to see the city and we really got to immerse ourselves in the history of it all with the help of our tour guide, Duarte! We could not recommend this experience enough!" Combining history and food, the tour visits the first residential neighborhood in the city at Suburra, one of the city's biggest open areas at St. Peter's Square, the historic area home to the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum, which is magically lit up every night. Midway through the tour, dinner is served at a salumeria, where tourgoers can eat salami and cheese and enjoy plenty of wine.

Since most food tours factor in receiving enough food for a full meal as well as an education, they are anything but cheap — most of the tours on this list cost between $70 and $130. However, the Rome Street Food Tour with Local Guide (hosted by Raphael Tours) lets visitors taste Rome on a budget. For just $50 per person, tourgoers can spend two-and-a-half hours trying Rome's delicious street food and seeing the city's iconic sites thanks to the guidance of a local expert. And with over 700 reviews and a five-star rating on Tripadvisor, you're getting more than your money's worth with this tour. "This tour was absolutely amazing, food was great, fellow travelers were great and Luca's knowledge and his way of delivering the tour was brilliant," said one reviewer. "Highly recommended and fantastic value."

The tour begins at Campo de' Fiori, the most well-known open-air food market in the Eternal City and perhaps the epicenter of Roman street food. Here, hungry tourgoers will munch on cheese, cured meats, and wine from various vendors. Between checking out important Roman sites like the place of Julius Caesar's assassination, the Jewish Ghetto, and ruins hailing from the first century, participants on the tour will also taste suppli and zucchini flowers, which are zucchini, mozzarella, and anchovy inside a crispy, fried batter. The tour finishes at a gelateria, where customers will taste gelato and learn how it's made.

Although food tours are great ways to meet other tourgoers, sometimes you just want to bond with your family and friends. If that's what you want to do during your trip to Rome, book The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Rome hosted by Withlocals. For about $115 per person (the price changes depending on the size of your party), private groups will taste 10 authentically Roman dishes over three hours. The tour has more than 600 reviews on Tripadvisor, with 96% of travelers recommending it to others. "Martina took us to several spots that were not 'Instagram famous' but rather actually very good and frequented by locals," said one happy customer. "Highly recommend this tour for folks wanting to get a real taste of Rome."

Each tour is slightly different depending on the day's guide, as each guide selects their favorite Roman spots. Some potential delights on the day's menu include buffalo mozzarella, which is made from milk from Italian buffaloes and has a more flavorful taste than the more commonly eaten cow's milk mozzarella. Visitors can also expect to taste gelato on their private walking tour through Rome, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will also be served to complement the food tastings. And if you're vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, no worries — the Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Rome can accommodate most diets.

All of Rome's areas have their own unique charms, and food tours are a fabulous way to find completely different experiences. Piazza Navona is one of the most well-known of the city's squares, dates back to A.D. 86, and is home to the iconic Fountain of the Four Rivers, the Museo di Roma, and tons of amazing cafes. Just 10 minutes from the square is the Jewish Ghetto, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Rome and one that greatly influenced Roman cuisine. Tourists can experience both in one go with the Jewish Ghetto and Navona Food Wine and Sightseeing Tour of Rome (hosted by Raphael Tours), which costs $99 per person and lasts four hours.

Over 100 reviewers on Tripadvisor have given the tour five stars, saying things like, "I cannot recommend this tour enough! The group we were with was so friendly, we learned a lot about the history of the area, and our guide Fabrizia was EXCELLENT. She was so kind and knowledgeable, I would do another tour with her in a heartbeat! The food was also delicious!" On the tour, which intersperses important sites like the Theater of Pompey, Portico of Octavia, and the Pantheon, visitors will taste Rome's staple pizza and pasta, as well as meat, fish, and vegetable items at seven restaurants.

Ask anyone to name famous Italian foods, and you'll probably hear the same trio over and over again — pasta, pizza, and gelato. Of course, there's no better place to taste them than in the Italian capital. To try these three classic eats in Rome, book a spot on the Pasta, Pizza, and Gelato Food Tour in the Heart of Ancient Rome tour hosted by Show Me Italy, which lasts two-and-a-half hours and costs $83 per person. A dozen people have reviewed the tour on Tripadvisor, and all of them have recommended it to others. One said, "We had a wonderful evening with Lisa. Some of the best food we had in the entire 10 days in Italy, especially the pasta stop! You won't regret spending your evening in Monti!"

The tour takes place in the Monti neighborhood, where many locals live and where people can find tons of great restaurants, bars, and shops. Here, tourgoers will taste 10 items, including limoncello, cured meats and cheeses, and wine at five stops with expert guides. If you're looking for even more pasta, head to these Stanley Tucci-approved restaurants with the best pasta in Rome.

Rome is more than 2,700 years old, and some of its food markets must have been lost to history. However, the Campo dè Fiori Market — which dates back to 1869, making it the oldest market in the Eternal City — still thrives in a square that was once a floral meadow. For the curious who can't decide on one place to eat, it's the place to sample produce, meats, spices, nuts, rice, and more. To get a front-row look at this market, book the four-hour Campo dè Fiori Market and Trevi Fountain Food and Wine Tour, hosted by Food Tours of Rome, for $99 per person. Every single one of its Tripadvisor reviewers has given it five stars. "The tour was perfect, got the chance to see and taste Rome in its best," said one reviewer. "Found out something new and learned a lot of things about history and present of the city."

Besides tasting truffle, pesto, and balsamic vinegar at the market, tourgoers will also visit a nearby shop for wine and cheese before heading to a few other historic sites. This is a tour that's both educational and filling. The group will sample gelato near the 2,000-year-old Pantheon and tiramisu near the Fountain of the Four Rivers before heading to the Trevi Fountain, which took three decades to create.

No country makes more wine than Italy, and with an ideal grape-growing climate and 4,000-year-old winemaking history, arguably no country is better at it. To taste the literal fruits of its labors, hop on the Unlimited Tastings with Fine Wine & Barolo tour hosted by the Roman Food Tour. The $110-per-person tour lasts four hours and includes a mix of both wine and food, such as pizza from Pizzarium (which Anthony Bourdain visited in "The Layover") and a smorgasbord of Italian specialties from La Nicchia Café. The vast majority of Tripadvisor reviewers recommended this five-star tour (98%, no less), saying things like, "If you like food and alcohol I would definitely recommend this tour! We got to sample a wide variety of food, ranging from a cafe to street food to open market food to a sit-down restaurant. The espresso, Prosecco, and wines were also fantastic."

At each stop, wines are expertly paired with food, giving each brew a chance to shine. At the fabulous restaurant Il Segreto, tourgoers will also get to try Barolo — one of the most acclaimed wines on the planet — alongside plates of pasta. They can also look forward to trying more eclectic wines, like the Casa Divina Provvidenza, which one reviewer said tasted like cherry amaretto cookies and was one of the best wines she's ever had.

For some people, that Italian lifestyle of staying out late with a bottle of wine just doesn't cut it, and they would rather be up early to catch the sunrise — and also miss the crowds and enjoy the cooler weather. On the Small-Group E-Bike tour with Italian Breakfast hosted by EsBike Tours & Experiences, travelers can do just that over a three-and-a-half hour period for $71 per person. The tour has more than 60 reviews on Tripadvisor, and 98% of tourgoers recommend the tour to fellow visitors. "Because it's an early morning tour you get to avoid all the crowds and the weather is great for bike riding," said one reviewer. "They say you can't see Rome in a day, but with this tour it is absolutely possible." Is Rome in one day even possible? Maybe, but this is how Rick Steves would do it. 

The tour stops at various can't-miss attractions in Rome, like the Piazza del Campidoglio, which offers picture-perfect views of the city. Other landmarks like the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica Italian Renaissance-style church in the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain are included. For foodies, the tour heads to Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè— the oldest coffee company in the city — for an Italian-style breakfast.

Rome is a delicious city, and there is no shortage of excellent food tours available. So, we did the work for you by determining which food tour was the best depending on your wants and needs. To do that, we evaluated which food tour in each category had the best and highest number of reviews and was also most recommended by travelers. We also considered which tours had the most extensive and interesting itineraries, as well as the most unique and fun offerings, to help tourists enjoy a one-of-a-kind yet authentically Roman experience. No matter which food tour you choose, follow it up with these underrated bucket list-worthy attractions in the Eternal City.