Breakfast in Rome: I Tried 7 Popular Spots. Here Are My Thoughts, Including My Favorite.

Breakfast is my favorite time of the day. I love waking up in a new city, getting ready, and looking forward to a day of exploring and discovering. 

It’s also my favorite meal of the day since I adore pastries, biscuits, cakes, and anything crunchy, lightly sweet, and with a chocolate, jam, or pistachio filling. My taste buds clearly show I am Italian!

I also enjoy planning my holiday breakfasts, doing the research, finding the best spots, and fitting them into my itinerary.

Let me tell you something. Never have I had over 30 cafes on my breakfast list. Yep, my Breakfast in Rome spots list started with 35 coffee shops.

That gives you an idea of how big Rome is, and also how many delicious breakfast options exist.

Don’t worry though. I managed to reduce those to 7 spots I personally visited, and will be reviewing here, plus 5 more recommendations I didn’t get to try, but you should, if you have the extra time or are closer to them.

PS: I will be listing these in the order I visited them, and not of preference. I will be comparing and sharing my favorites as we go, and again at the end.

Caffè Roscioli (Centre)

In Piazza Benedetto Cairoli, 16, Rome

This was my first breakfast spot on this Rome trip. It actually worked out perfectly, as we got the bus from Mazzini Square (in Della Vittoria neighborhood) to Torre Argentina, and then walked just a few minutes to Roscioli.

It was a Saturday and already past 9.30 am. Although I woke up early, I took my sweet time getting ready that morning. If you want to know what our plans for the weekend were, I share it all in this 5 Days Rome Itinerary.

First Impressions: Great Savory Options

The cafe is located in the cutest Roman narrow street, not quite an alley but not wide either. It has a gorgeous sitting area outside, but was all full plus we were slightly late for our first museum of the trip.

Inside was packed with people standing at the bar, the kind of packed that would have me turn away and find another spot, had I not wanted to try this to review for you. 

Upon entering, I noticed that most people were actually standing to eat and not waiting to be served, which is very common in Italy, especially when there are no tables inside.

So if you want to be served, you have to understand when it’s your turn, and then shout what you want, politely but lift your voice so they can hear you.

Food options

Everything looked delicious. I kind of wished we tried their maritozzi, the brioche with custard was very appealing, and so were the treccine pastries. They also had small petit fours, like cannoli, and small tiramisu, as well as many savory options.

You can order a variety of egg dishes including: scrambled, Benedict, and avocado toast. And if you go later, at lunchtime, you’ll find a wide selection of pizza bianca with different toppings, as well as tasty rolls with mozzarella, hams, and veggies.

Overall, they had a good mix of both traditional Italian breakfast items as well as modern international favorites.

Breakfast at Caffè Roscioli

We decided to have breakfast to go, just pastries as it was too busy. My husband had a croissant with apricot jam, which he said was his favorite cornetto of the trip. I had a medium-sized chocolate chip milk roll, as I wanted to leave some space for our second breakfast later (a review of that is coming next).

Prices

We paid under €5, and we thought it was a good price considering the cafe’s reputation and location.

The eggs options on the menu are all €14, an espresso costs €2, a cappuccino is €2.40, and most pastries cost €2.50, except for the large maritozzi which are €4.50.

L’Antico Forno di Piazza Trevi (Trevi Fountain)

In Via delle Muratte, 8, Rome

You can’t go to Rome and not come here, at least once. It’s evident everyone else is thinking the same, by looking at that queue. 

We came here after our museum visit ended, and right after stopping by Fontana di Trevi. 

I envisaged it being busy, but not this busy. We decided to wait nonetheless, and it took us 30 minutes to be seated inside.

You can choose to sit outside, but it’s likely you’ll have to wait more. I wouldn’t recommend it since your view will be blocked by the others in line, and who wants to eat with all those eyes on you?

First Impressions: One Of The Busiest Spots In Rome

I love the location of this cafe. On an early morning, if you are lucky, you can sit outside in the direction of the Trevi Fountain, and likely get a good view from your table. They open at 7 am, so give it a try.

My first thoughts were I hope this is really good considering the wait. However, by looking at the small selection, I was a little disappointed. There were few options, but at least they looked good.

Food Options – Maritozzi &..

The options that I could see while waiting outside, even after peeking at the pastry counter inside, were these: chocolate or pistachio croissants, maritozzi with fresh cream, classic ricotta cannoli, and sfogliatelle – likely with ricotta too.

By the rate at which they were bringing fresh ones, the most popular choices were the pistachio croissants and the maritozzi. They also had many more trays of these two inside. We decided to try those popular options.

Later while seated inside, I saw others having lunch, and their tomatoes, hams & cheese platters looked very inviting. So you don’t need to have a sweet treat. You could also have a light lunch here.

As for the interiors, you can see this place is old from the structure and very local arches and brick features. However, it’s really well maintained. Of course, inside you don’t get the Trevi fountain view, but you wouldn’t get it outside either because of the queue.

Breakfast at Antico Forno di Trevi

Food here was good and I enjoyed this Roman breakfast experience. The cornetto had a nice texture and the pistachio filling was not too sickly sweet, although I have tasted better. 

As for the maritozzo, it was the best one we tried during our stay. It was my first time trying it, as I don’t like fresh cream.

I really liked the brioche bun, as it reminded me of a Sicilian granita brioche, although those are much tastier. The cream was nice, light and fluffy, but it could benefit from the addition of a little vanilla, or lemon essence, or even just a drizzle of chocolate on top.

Once we were seated, the service was relatively fast, although we took our time and spent over 40 minutes inside. After all that wait, you don’t want to just eat and leave.

Prices

We paid €15 for one croissant, maritozzo, 2 still water, and 2 slices of lemon, plus the seating cover I guess. 

Again, considering the cafe’s history and fame plus location, and the fact that we sat inside for nearly an hour, the price was worth it.

The maritozzi here looked larger than Roscioli’s, but they were cheaper. I can’t compare them though, since I didn’t try the others.

Antico Caffè Greco (Spanish Steps)

In Via dei Condotti, 86, Rome

This was probably the one I was most excited about, because it was the oldest coffee spot in Rome, and I love historic coffee houses.

Unfortunately, we were running late again, as the walk from our accommodation to here took longer than planned. Google must have messed up the directions, plus we also stopped by key attractions and took pictures.

We still managed to get to the Pantheon in time, but we would have taken things a little more slowly, had we had more time.

First Impressions

Via Condotti is drop-dead gorgeous, and so is the cafe seating area outside. It’s not as busy as sitting outside Fontana di Trevi. 

The cafe inside didn’t look as busy either. And by this point, I couldn’t understand why, since I hadn’t look at the prices. 

The place looked nice, and the food looked tasty, so why wasn’t it full of people on a Sunday morning? You’ll get it once I share the price below, and so did I (boy oh boy, what a surprise!).

Food Options at Antico Caffè Greco

The breakfast options behind the pastry counter looked really good, especially the jam tarts and the small crumbly pastries.

There were also many other small pastry options, cannoli shells of different sizes ready to be filled, croissants, custard tarts with berries, cakes, savory focaccias and stuffed croissants.

So we took a picture of our choices, to remember them when ordering, and asked to be seated.

The Service

The service is at a whole other level here, at least for a cafe, and you’ll soon understand why. My husband funnily said, the waiters are dressed like they are working at a theater.

The waiter shows you the available tables and lets you choose one. That’s really nice.

I chose a table in the corridor, as I loved that view from the pictures. It was also nice and private, and close to the bathroom, but not too close.

We waited about 10 minutes for the waiter to take our order and another 10 minutes for the food to arrive. 

The bathrooms were nice and clean, and the waiter catered to our oat milk request without issues. He even asked about food intolerances and tried to recommend options without too much dairy.

Is the food worth the price at Antico Caffè Greco?

Here’s what we ordered:

1 caffelatte

1 English breakfast tea (I don’t drink coffee)

1 apricot jam crostata (tart)

1 small pastry with custard and jam

1 slice of cinnamon spiced cake

Everything was nice, except the cake. The cake was dry and just not good enough. The tart wasn’t amazing either. The drinks were nice.

The tastiest thing was the small pastry with custard and jam. It’s a pasticciotto with a different shape.

The pastry was fresh, crumbly, and tasted homemade; plus the filling was well balanced and had a nice flavor.

I guess it all comes down to how much we paid. I would have happily paid €35 for all of that, considering the interiors, fame, service, and location. However, we ended up paying €62. The price is outrageous, but I would still go again, for the experience and the memories, and also to share it all with you.

Was it worth it though?

Definitely not! I have been to many historic coffees in Italy, in Vienna, in Zurich, and more. I had never paid this much, and the food was much nicer.

Should you go?

It depends on your budget. Also, if you go knowing that the place is expensive, you’ll likely be more careful with what you order. That dry cake cost us €12. My tea was the most expensive thing, at €18. I mean not even a cocktail usually costs that much!! 

Panella (Rome Termini Station)

On Tuesday we headed to Rome Termini by taxi. You might not know, but the station is not that central. Taking a taxi allowed us plenty of time to have breakfast at the station and take an early train to Gaeta. You can read about that coastal day trip here.

As we entered the station from the front, there was another breakfast option we checked out, but I always like to have multiple options and then choose the one I like the best. That first option was called Cafe Mignon, in case you’d like to know. The best thing about it is the seating and the view.

After buying our tickets, we looked around and found Panella. It’s located in the center of the station, next to all the shops. There’s no seating, but plenty of space to stand and eat at the bar or take it to go and have it outside.

First Impressions: Typical Breakfast On The Go

The food looked delish, and there were so many options. That’s why I opted for this one, even it it had no seating, after all, we were going to spend nearly 2 hours sitting down on the train. The tarts, semi-moons, and croissants caught our attention.

Prices & Food at Panella

We ordered a cappuccino for my husband, an apricot croissant for me, an apricot tart for him, and a pear jam and chocolate pastry to share.

Everything was tasty. Interestingly, the pastries all had this extra color on them, as if they had been baked just a bit longer, but they weren’t overcooked. That gave them an extra dimension in terms of taste.

We paid €12 for all of that, which is not cheap considering we didn’t seat, and if you compare it to the €15 paid near the Trevi Fountain. However, to me, it was worth it.

If you are in a rush, you can take it to go and enjoy it on the train.

Forno Monteforte (Centre)

In Via del Pellegrino, 129, Rome

We went to Monteforte on a Wednesday, which was our shopping day in Rome. Read this Shopping in Rome article, if you are interested in that.

We took it easy that morning, and slept longer, after the early start we had the previous day to go to Gaeta.

We arrived at the cafe at 9.43 am, which was perfect since most locals had already left for work.

First Impressions: Contender For The Best Breakfast In Rome

The location was really central and easy to get to with the bus and a little walk. The place looked gorgeous outside and in. The interiors remind me of a trendy Italian cafe in New York.

It was busy but not too busy. There was one table left in the corner, which we luckily took, and sat down.

How good is this Cafe?

We admired the options for a while, but since I wanted to stay light that day, I opted for chocolate chip milk rolls again. This time I had 3 since they were very small. 

My husband had a latte, a maritozzo, and a butter cookie. 

Everything was great. My husband said this was his favorite maritozzo.

We liked it so much and found it convenient when shopping in Rome, that we came again for lunch. 

We spent under €10 and even sat down, amazing!

Sciascia Caffè Mazzini dal 1919 (Prati)

In Via Sabotino, 33, Rome (Prati)
In Via Fabio Massimo, 80, Rome

This spot was just 7 minutes away from our apartment. I had initially planned to go to the one in Via Cola di Rienzo, but we didn’t manage to explore that area of Rome.

This is your typical Italian cafe, the one you find in every town, where all the locals go to, and spend time sipping espresso and chatting.

There’s a lot of history behind this cafe. It was established right after World War 1, and the Sciascia family served as an early supplier of coffee and liquors to locals as well as the military and the police.

Food at Sciascia Cafe

There was a lot of choice, including some vegetarian options such as the fascinating charcoal cornetti. The brioche looked delicious too.

My husband ordered a cappuccino, an apple turnover, and a brioche filled with custard. They were small and we had a very long day ahead. We actually didn’t eat anything else till 7pm.

I had a jam croissant and a mini plain brioche (I am usually more adventurous, but my stomach was a little delicate after eating a tiramisu.

Everything was very tasty!

I don’t remember the exact price, but I did take note that this was the most convenient cafe after Dolcemascolo (coming next).

Pasticceria Dolcemascolo (Prati)

I was looking to try this one as the owner is a well known local pastry chef, third generation after his dad and grandpa, and the place looks stunning.

We went there on our last morning. We were going to fly back at 5pm, so we had plenty of time for a large breakfast and one last walk around the neighborhood.

We even went to Villa Borghese, but you can read all about our adventures in My 5 Day Rome Itinerary.

First Impressions: Unique Cornetto Options

Since this was located next to the bus stop on our way home, we passed by many times, so it wasn’t truly a first impression.

However, it was my first time going inside. I loved how white and bright the decor was. The pastry options looked super inviting from the inside, as much as they did from the outside.

We were truly spoiled for choice, and it looked like there were a few empty tables where to sit.

Breakfast at Dolcemascolo

After taking a glimpse of the pastries, I immediately suggested the Veneziana pastry to my husband. A Veneziana is a brioche with iced sugar and almonds on top but nothing inside. He also ordered a maritozzo with sultanas and custard. He enjoyed both.

I went for my usual apricot jam croissant and a chocolate chip one. However, the chocolate chip one had a different pastry. Both were delicious.

My husband ordered a cappuccino and said this was the best of the trip. I wanted tea but they didn’t have a plain option. They brought us a small glass of water each on the house.

We sat down on the table next to the window. The sun was shining, and there were tulips on the table (my favorite flower). The breakfast was delicious, and the service was excellent.

We paid just €11 for all of that, and we took a maritozzo with cream to go.

I don’t suggest you order the cream maritozzo though, as it has nothing special, but if you are in the area, definitely consider having breakfast here.

Which Was My Favorite?

Unlike Florence (you can read my Florence Breakfast Guide & Reviews here), I don’t have an overall winner breakfast spot for Rome. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy my breakfasts there; I just enjoyed each for different reasons.

Here’s my overall assessment for each spot:

Caffè Roscioli – I’d love to have breakfast here again on a table outside; the inside was too busy and I didn’t try enough food to give a thorough review.

Antico Forno di Piazza Trevi – I am happy I went, I would recommend it to everyone, but it’s too touristy to go again.

Panella – go-to breakfast spot in Rome Termini Station.

Antico Caffè Greco – most interesting breakfast experience (location & price).

Forno Monteforte – nicest ambiance (loved the interiors) and great food.

Sciascia – most authentic interiors & service (this reminds me of my childhood in Sicily).

Dolcemascolo – most worth it with a feel-good vibe.

Of course, all of the above had tasty food options. I guess, if I were to move to Rome tomorrow, and I could make that choice, I’d choose Forno Monteforte as my neighborhood coffee. The interiors are gorgeous, the atmosphere is vibrant but not crazy busy (we always found a seat), and there’s a lot of tasty food to choose from.

That sort of reveals the winning breakfast spot, doesn’t it?

Other Rome Breakfast Spots Worth Trying

If those 7 are not enough, or plan to have two breakfasts a day (no judging), here are 5 more I will be trying next time I am in Rome. You should too!

I have left a note of what attracts me the most about each, but I suggest you Google them and evaluate them yourself.

Regoli Pasticceria – no sitting but has nice pastries to go;

Il Maritozzaro – see my Trastevere food guide for more info & recommendations;

Biscottificio Artigianale Innocenti – I reviewed this in my Trastevere food guide;

Bar Pasticceria Gelateria Parenti Silvano in Prati – looks delicious;

Caffè Castroni in Via Cola di Rienzo – looks tasty & has a grocery too.

Other Tasty Food In Rome

Were these breakfast spots already on your list, or did you discover them first here?

I hope you find this post useful in narrowing down your options and planning your breakfasts in Rome.

Of course, you also need to eat lunch, dinner and dessert! Why not check out these other articles next? In each one, I share more great food spots in Rome.

Best Sandwich in Rome

Best Tiramisu in Rome

Best Cacio e Pepe in Rome

Best Pizza in Rome

Best Supplì in Rome

Trastevere Food Guide

Need help planning your Rome itinerary? Check out these posts: 5 Day In Rome Itinerary and How Many Days in Rome.