The Complete Guide to Breakfast in Rome

When visiting you'll want to fuel up before exploring Italy's capital city so breakfast in Rome is very important.

While Italy is famous for its morning ritual of enjoying a delicious coffee and a freshly baked cornetto, there’s more to the country’s breakfast culture than just that.

Everything you need to know about having breakfast in Rome

While breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day in the United States, Italy might not entirely agree!

Breakfast in Rome is quite different from what you might find back home, though it shares some familiar elements like coffee, fresh juices, and pastries.

On this page, I'll be talking about:

• What is a classic Italian breakfast?
• What type of breakfast will be on offer at your hotel?
• Going out for breakfast
• How much does a traditional breakfast in Rome cost?
• Brunch in Rome
• Some of our favorite places to visit for breakfast in Rome

What is a typical Italian breakfast?

A typical Italian breakfast, colazione in Italian, is simple and quick.

It usually includes an espresso-based drink and common choices are a caffè (a single shot of espresso) or a cappuccino (a shot of espresso with frothy steamed milk) accompanied by traditional Italian pastries.

In Rome, the most popular breakfast combination is a cappuccino and a cornetto.

While a cornetto may resemble a French croissant, the Italian version is generally sweeter.

It can be served plain or filled with various fillings such as jam, cream, chocolate, or pistachio cream. 

Italians typically enjoy this light meal at a local bar, standing at the counter to savor their breakfast before heading to work.

While in Rome, I recommend trying a maritozzo, one of my favorite treats.

This indulgent pastry, native to Rome, is a sweet brioche bun split down the middle and filled to the brim with freshly whipped cream—a whipped cream lover's dream!

Italian children’s breakfasts are similar, though they usually forgo coffee until their teens.

Instead of espresso, kids often start their day with a glass of milk or fruit juice, accompanied by simple breakfast cookies or slices of bread with jam or Nutella.

What breakfast will be served at your hotel?

Many accommodations in Rome offer breakfast included in the price of your stay.

Depending on whether you’re staying at a small B&B or a larger hotel, the breakfast offerings can range from simple fette biscottate (crunchy Melba toasts) served with packets of jam to a full breakfast buffet.

If the included breakfast is an important factor in your booking decision, we recommend reading reviews to better understand what to expect.

In general, hotels provide a buffet-style breakfast with a wide array of Italian and American options.

You can typically find freshly baked pastries, such as cornetti, along with bread, butter, and jam.

It’s also common to have a selection of local cheeses and cold cuts, as well as fresh fruits, yogurt, and cereals.

Larger hotels often include hot items like scrambled or poached eggs, bacon, and sausages to cater to North American tastes.

Drinks usually include coffee, hot tea, water, and fruit juice.

While a free breakfast is a nice perk, we highly suggest venturing outside your hotel at least once during your trip to experience a traditional breakfast in Rome.

Going out for breakfast

In Italy, a bar refers to a café that is open from the early morning until early evening and serves breakfast, lunch, and aperitivo.

Having your morning coffee paired with a pastry amongst the locals can be intimidating for tourists, but the process is quite straightforward.

For breakfast eaten standing at the bar, it's common to pay the cashier for your items before heading to the counter to order from the barista.

We suggest greeting the barista with a pleasant "buongiorno" before placing your order for both food and drinks.

If you feel inclined to tip, you can leave a ten or twenty-cent coin on your receipt while waiting for your service.

When having breakfast seated at a table, you may receive table service, where someone takes your order at your table, or you might need to order at the bar and carry your items to the table yourself.

It’s important to note that the price of your meal will vary depending on whether you consume it standing at the bar or seated at a table.

The surcharge for table service is typically around ten to twenty percent more than the price of consumption at the bar.

In recent years, many bars have introduced breakfast menu deals, which usually include a coffee-based drink, a pastry, and a freshly squeezed orange juice, known as a spremuta.

In addition to enjoying breakfast at a bar, you can also visit a pastry shop, or pasticceria, for a variety of excellent food options.

These shops offer a wide range of freshly baked pastries, from classic cornetti to other sweet and savory delights.

How much does a traditional breakfast cost in Rome?

At a local bar, a shot of espresso typically costs between €1 and €1.50, while a frothy cappuccino ranges from €1.50 to €2.50.

Breakfast pastries generally cost between €1.50 and €3, depending on their size and type. 

Prices can be significantly higher near major monuments (sometimes two or three times the normal rate) so I recommend opting for a low-key local bar to avoid paying excessively for your breakfast.

Can you go for brunch in Rome?

Simply put, yes, you can enjoy brunch in the Eternal City!

It has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in tourist-frequented areas, and I enjoy the change from a typical breakfast.

Brunch menus in Rome offer significantly more variety compared to a typical breakfast, including dishes like eggs Benedict, pancakes, avocado toast, and bagels.

These are often complemented by Italian classics such as pastries, cured meats, and cheeses.

Brunch in Rome typically starts around 11:00 AM and extends into the early afternoon.

Prices can vary widely depending on the location and whether the brunch is served buffet-style or à la carte.

At more casual spots where you order from the menu, expect to pay between €15 and €30 per person.

In upscale locations, such as luxury hotels, brunch can range from €50 to as high as €90 per person.

My favorite Rome breakfast places

If you're looking for the perfect breakfast, I've got you covered with the best breakfast spots in Rome that I and the Romewise team love.

These options range from traditional Italian bars to popular American breakfast spots:

Sant’Eustachio il Caffè

Known for its legendary coffee, Sant’Eustachio il Caffè has been a staple in Rome since 1938.

Located near the Pantheon, this iconic café provides a quintessential Italian breakfast experience with its expertly crafted espressos and cappuccinos.

It's also an excellent spot to grab a quick coffee or pick up some coffee beans to bring back home!

Details:

• Address: Piazza di S. Eustachio, 82, 00186 Roma RM
• Phone: +39 06 6880 2048
• Opening hours: Sunday - Friday 7:30 AM - 00:00 PM, Saturday until 1:00 AM
• Walk-in

Barnum Cafe

Barnum Café is well-loved for its specialty coffee options, which are a rare find in Rome, where locals generally prefer traditional Italian coffee. 

Located near Campo de' Fiori, Barnum Café offers a great breakfast with delicious pastries as well as popular breakfast staples like scrambled eggs and avocado toast.

Details:

• Address: Via del Pellegrino, 87, 00186 Roma RM
• Phone: +39 06 6476 0483
• Opening hours: Daily from 8 AM - 3:30 PM
• Walk-in

Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria

Next to the famed Roscioli Salumeria, you'll find Roscioli Caffè, where you can enjoy their homemade bakery items.

This café is renowned for its great food, including delicious pastries and excellent pizza.

You can also pick up a sandwich to enjoy for lunch.

Details:

• Address: Piazza Benedetto Cairoli, 16,
• Phone: +39 06 89165330
• Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM, Sunday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Walk-in

Homebaked

Owned by an American who has been living in Italy for twenty years, Homebaked is an American-style bakery and café offering a variety of brunch options, including bagels, pancakes, and a range of baked goods.

Most importantly, it's the only place I’ve found in the city where you can enjoy good bacon!

Details:

Homebaked has two locations, with the larger of the two being located near St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums.

Vatican Location - Via di Porta Cavalleggeri, 25

• Phone: +39 338 137 1344
• Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday - Saturday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. (Closed on Tuesday)

Monteverde Location - Via Fratelli Bonnet, 21, 00152 Roma RM

• Phone: +39 338 137 1344
• Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday - Saturday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. (Closed on Tuesday)

Babingtons Tea Room

Located at the foot of the Spanish Steps in the Centro Storico, Babingtons Tea Rooms is a historic English tea room that has been serving guests since 1893.

Babingtons offers a distinctive brunch experience featuring a variety of teas, scones, pastries, and traditional English breakfast dishes.

Details:

• Address: Piazza di Spagna, 23
• Phone: +39 06 678 6027
• Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, closed on Tuesday.
• Reservations suggested