Are you looking forward to your trip to Rome, but worried about how you will eat gluten free? Even though it is the home of pizza and pasta, Italy is surprisingly gluten free friendly.
As a coeliac in Rome you will not miss out on any traditional Italian food if you know where to look. This guide to Rome gluten free gives you 15 safe options around the city, including some 100% gluten free options! I have been told gelato often has wheat added to it in Italy, so there are also two safe ice cream shops listed. Buon appetito!
There are some useful links at the end of the post for the Italian Coeliac Society, translation cards and a handy overview map of Rome.
*100% gluten free food is noted, but as some things may have got lost in translation, please ensure you do your own checking!
Mama Eat
Mama Eat restaurant is a haven for coeliacs, with gluten free options being particularly close to their heart as one of the co-owners has coeliac disease.
Recognised by the AIC (Italian Celiac Association), coeliacs can feel confident of having a safe and delicious meal due to the separate gluten free kitchen and being spoilt for choice with a gluten free version of every meal on the menu!
Can you imagine eating exactly the same as your family? Bruschetta to start, followed by a pizza or pasta for a main course, washed down with a gluten free beer! If you prefer, you can have a steak, fish or a salad, but you are not limited to these options here if you are gluten free. If you have any room left, you can also have a chocolate cake or ice cream for dessert (lactose free options available)!
Mama Eat is around a 35 minute walk from Vatican city in Trastevere, a lovely medieval neighbourhood with plenty of touristy things to do as well as a great nightlife scene. For some ideas on what do in Trastevere, this Lonely Planet article has some ideas.
Via di S. Cosimato, 7, 00153 Rome Tel: +39 06 580 62 22 (bookings taken)
Mon – Sun 10.30am – midnightThey also have a restaurant in Naples.
Mama Frites
*100% gluten free. Owned by Mama Eat (above), Mama Frites is a street food concept where the food is 100% gluten free and lactose free.
Here coeliacs can enjoy all the fried foods that are not normally available gluten free – Neopolitan cuoppi (fried food in a paper cone) such as fish & chips, fried vegetables, croquettes, arancini, scugnizielli*, bombettes and donuts. You can also enjoy a salad or risotto, panuozzi**, sandwiches, pizza and pasta (including lasagne) and risotto.
* scugnizielli is fried pizza dough ** panuozzi is a pizza dough sandwich
This is a casual venue where food is served in paper cones, cardboard boxes or on plastic plates. Fantastic for a quick bite to eat before going out for the evening, or to satisfy the late night ‘munchies’.
It is the same menu in both locations and beer (traditional & gluten free) and wine is available. There is a small amount of seating available if you wish to eat in (no bookings).
Vatican area – Borgo Pio, 28, 00193 Rome Tel: +39 06 8351 3906
7 days 10:30am – midnightTrastevere area* – Vicolo de’ Cinque, 42 00193 Rome Tel: +39 06 581 7692
7 days generally Mon – Wed 6pm – midnight, Thurs – Sun 11:00am – midnight
*NB Oct 2016 closed for building renovation
La Soffitta Renovatio
There are great reviews of this restaurant for pizza, pasta (all available gf for surcharge), foccacia and desserts. Separate gluten free menu. In the Vatican area.
Piazza del Risorgimento, 46/a, 00192 Rome Tel: +39 06 6889 2977
Voglia di Pizza
All dishes on the menu are available gluten free (gluten free menu available). There is pizza (of course!), but also fried appetizers and desserts so you will not go hungry. For the beer lovers, there are also 5 different gluten free beers. They have a separate area for gluten free meal preparation.
Source: Voglia Facebook
Nearby to: Campo de’ Fiori, piazza Navona, Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo and Vatican.
Via dei Giubbonari, 33 , 00816 Rome Tel: +39 06 98381849
Open 7 days, midday to midnight
Pizza in Trevi
I believe they have a separate kitchen for gluten free and they are located in a great spot near the Trevi fountain. They provide a separate gluten free menu with appetisers (incl. bruschetta), mains (incl. pizza) and dessert available. I have seen some reviews saying it is the best gluten free pizza in Rome, so worth checking out!
Via di S. Vincenzo, 30-30A, 00187 Roma Tel: +39 06 678 5986
7 days 10am-midnight
Sans de Ble (Bakery)
*100% gluten free. An entirely gluten free bakery with sweet treats and freshly made sandwiches. They also have ice creams.
Source: SansdeBle Faceook
For a review, click here.
Via Gabriello Chiabrera, 58, 00145 Rome
Tues 2pm-7.30pm, Wed-Sat 9am-7.30pm, Sun 9am-1.30pm
Pandali a Roma (Bakery)
*100% gluten free. An entirely gluten free bakery where you can takeaway or stop for breakfast or lunch.
Source: Pandali Facebook
Source: Alan&Tanya
Click the link for a review.
Via di Torre Argentina, 3, 00186 Rome Tel +39 06 6813 6731
Mon – Fri 7.30am – 4pm, Sat – Sun 9.30am – 7.30pm
Celiachimao.com
Source: Celiachiamo Facebook
*100% gluten free
They have three shops around Rome for gluten free products, with two stores producing fresh gluten free bakery products, including sandwiches, pizza, cakes and donuts. These mini supermarkets stock a huge range of packaged gluten free brands, including freezer products.
Via Giulio Venticinque 32/34 Tel +39 06 39754621
opposite Metro Cipro (line A)Via Carlo Caneva 40 Tel +39 06 64260188
Tiburtina station areaVia della Magliana 183 Tel +39 06 5506174
Marconi Portuense sideOpening hours vary between stores – check website for up to date details.
Gluten Free Food Store.com
*100% gluten free Sweet and savory food to order as well as packaged products. Daily arrivals of bread, focaccia, sandwiches, pizza, donuts and even croissants!
Owned by a pharmacist with a coeliac daughter.
viale, Viale Anicio Gallo, 57, 00174 Rome Tel +39 06 8117 5601
No opening hours on website
New Food Gluten Free Bakery
Source: New Food website
*100% gluten free Bread, pasta, pizza, desserts all freshly prepared each day.
Largo Alberto Pepere 26, 00151 Rome Tel +39 06 5823 0394
Mon-Fri 8:30am – 8pm, Sat 8:30am – 1.30pm
GROM gelateria
Grom is 100% natural, using fresh, raw ingredients with no nasties.
Source: Grom Facebook
They work closely with the Italian Coeliac society to ensure coeliacs can eat safely and all the cones are gluten free. If you look at the ‘intolerances‘ link on their website, none of the listed items (gelato, sorbet, granita, hot chocolate) contain gluten. They even have especially made corn biscotti! The list also shows what contains soy, nuts, milk, eggs and what is suitable for vegans.
They have 10 locations around Rome, and are also in many other popular Italian tourist destinations (and also around the world!)
Long opening hours and some stores even do home delivery!
Fatamorgana gelato
The ice cream as natural as possible, containing only pure raw materials and is gluten free. Gluten free cones available as the owner is coeliac! There are also dairy free and nut free ice creams.
Source: Fatamorgana Facebook
6 locations around Rome – check website for more detail
Via Leone IV, 50, 00192 Rome
Via Laurina, 10, 00187 Rome (Trieste)
Via Roma Libera, 11, 00153 Rome (Trastevere)
Piazza degli Zingari, 5, 00184 Rome (Monti)
PLACES TO STAY
Gilli’s Holidays
Wherever possible Gilli’s hotel choice is
 Hotel in Lake Garda |
 Hotel in Siena, Tuscany |
Over time Gilli’s slogan has become ‘Italians do it better’ – as more and more hotels and restaurants offer gluten free options. When asked about her job, she said the most rewarding part is welcoming the number of guests who return to Italy year after year!
Borgo Gentile Relais
This guest house 66 kilometres out of Rome is run by a dietitian and the restaurant is totally gluten free (and also suitable for lactose free and vegetarians).
Via dei tre colli SP 53 N. 8, 02040 Tarano RI, Italy
USEFUL WEBSITES & RESOURCES
Gluten Free Roads – search database for restaurants, shops & accommodation
Translation cards – cards explaining gluten free in other languages
Coeliac Italia website – has a lot of suggestions for places to eat
Italian Coeliac Association – helpful if you can speak Italian!
Rome Map – a map with a high level overview of the areas of Rome to get your bearings
*****
For more ideas on travelling gluten free, please check the following links:
- 100% Gluten Free UK page (including London)
- Paris
- Amsterdam
- Visiting the UK
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Melbourne, Australia
- Barbados
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