Dinner in Rome
The entries in this Rome information blog are written for the English speaking guests of the B&B Chaplin Hostel Rome.
Rome restaurant opening hours
Foreign tourists in Rome, and Italy in general, will have to adapt to the opening hours of Italian restaurants, especially in the evenings. Visitors to the Eternal City used to to eating at 6pm (or still earlier) will have to suffer for at least an hour, since the various osterie and trattorie traditionally do not open their doors till 7pm.
Avoiding tourist traps in Rome
Of course there are eateries that open earlier than that, but those are bound to be restaurants that cater especially for tourists, and that will in turn also influence the quality of the food served.
Best time to arrive
Another reason to eat slightly later is that, by arriving too early, one misses the chaotic, noisy yet cozy atmosphere characterizing the authentic Italian restaurant. Therefore it is best to arrive at around 8pm when it is still early enough to not have to fight for a table. Half an hour later the restaurant will be packed.