Looking for family friendly restaurants in Rome you can enjoy with your kids? We have you covered! This is our round up of delicious and kid-friendly places to eat in Rome.
Eating out is one of our favorite pastime in Rome.
We used to gorge on the city’s delicious cuisine before the kids arrived and now that they travel with us, we always make a point of bringing them out with us, may it be for pizza, gelato or more ‘grown up’ flavors.
Finding family friendly restaurants in Rome it is not hard or, should I say, it is not hard if you know what to expect.
Italy in general is a very family oriented country and kids are welcome in most places.
This means that you don’t have to worry about a restaurant presenting itself as kid friendly to know you are allowed an welcome in but it also means many do not feel they need to make special provision for little visitors.
Some restaurants have high chairs and space for a stroller, but hardly any has kids menus as such and usually cater for kids making a simple plate of pasta or a half portion on anything on the menu on request.
I am used to this approach and being local it is easy enough for us to order even in the case of special requests, but I know this can be hard for visitors who don’t speak Italian.
So, since where to eat in Rome with kids is a question I get asked often but and so, after a lot or thinking, I came up with a selection of some of my favorite places in the city in Rome for a family friendly meal.
I have selected several types of places: some are restaurants for a sit down meal, some are ‘enoteche’ (lit. wine bars serving also food) and some are take out places.
I choose some in the city centre, thinking this is where most visitors are likely to find themselves, but I also picked some in more local neighborhood because lets’ be honest: this is where Rome cuisine often truly comes to life!
Not sure what to order? Have a look at our guide to the best traditional food in Rome!
Table of Contents
Where to eat in Rome with kids: family friendly restaurants in Rome city centre
313 Via Cavour
This is a place I used to go before I had kids and just recently discovered with great pleasure it is also child friendly.
The 313 is an enoteca, so literally a traditional wine bar, and its decor is typical of this type of establishments, with dark wood and barrels creating a warm and cozy interior.
There is nothing specific ‘for families’ here but kids are welcome and the kitchen is very accommodating to small taste buds requests.
My kids were happy with what was on the menu (lasagne for one, roast beef with roast potatoes for the other) but their friend wasn’t as impressed with the menu and orders simple pasta with butter.
The chef didn’t bat an eyelid and simple pasta arrived: the child was happy and we were able to have a lovely meal accompanied by house wine: everyone wins!
What is nearby: Roman forum, piazza Venezia, Rione Monti. This is a great stop if you are visiting the Roman forum or you are following our itinerary around Rome city centre.
Address: 313 Via Cavour, Rome Official website here
Cul De Sac
This is another wine bar and another favorite of mine: if I am in town, you are likely to find me here!
Cul de sac is a small establishment and once again one that does not tick the traditional family friendly boxes if judged by its space: you won’t fit a stroller in here!
However, if you are exploring Rome with a baby in a carrier or have older kids, this is a fantastic address.
The food here is delicious, many dishes are child friendly (lasagne, pasta, simple roast meat etc) and they have high chairs as well as a fabulous friendly attitude towards clients of all ages.
Open both at lunch and at night, you cannot book in advance so go early, especially if you want to secure a table outside.
What is nearby: Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori
Address: Piazza di Pasquino 73
Cafe cafe
Cafe cafe used to be my local coffee place as a student and it is still now a very pleasant and family friendly space.
The location close to the Colosseum makes it a great address to have if you are sightseeing and the informal and colorful space is inviting for kids.
The menu is eclectic and designed to include family favorites (pizza, lasagne etc) but also more ‘adventurous’ taste such as tzatziki and curry.
This bistrot is also a lovely stop for the afternoon since it has a nice selection of teas and cakes.
What is nearby: the Colosseum
Address: Via dei Santi Quattro, 44 Official website here
Where to eat in Rome with kids: other areas
La Limonaia
This place is off the main tourist tracks but makes my list for a couple of reasons. First, it is in an area worth visiting, close to the famous quartiere Coppede’.
Second, it is in a park, compete with playground and children museum, which means you can have a meal on its outdoor terrace for a while and then let the kids loose without worry!
The place is spacious and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
They serve both restaurant food and pizza and they are super child friendly, with plenty of space and high tolerance for kids running around.
For the most freedom, pick a table on the front terrace rather than the one at the back, slightly more formal.
What is nearby: Villa Torlonia, Mussolinis’ bunker,key Quartiere Coppede’, one of Rome’s hidden corners
Address: Via Lazzaro Spallanzani, 1/A
Felice a Testaccio
This is a Rome institution and allegedly the place with the best ‘cacio e pepe’ (cheese and black pepper pasta) in the whole of Rome.
The place has the typical Roman feel with simple decor and brick walls and the food is the real star: go there hungry as it is simply delicious! Once again, there is nothing specific fir kids, but children are welcome and you can ask for a doggy bag to bring home should the serving prove too big for them.
What is nearby: Testaccio area and the Protestant cemetery
Address: Via Mastro Giorgio, 29
Da Michele
I am going to be honest with you: this is not a great address for food but rather a handy one. It is inside Explora children museum and is therefore geared towards kids with kids menu, space for strollers and changing area in the bathroom.
Kids are likely to want pizza but they also have meat and vegetables in good child portions. This is a great family friendly address if you are looking for a place for kids rather than adults with kids in tow.
What is nearby: Explora children museum, Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese
Address: Via Flaminia, 82
Lola
Down the road from Explora, there is another child friendly place, this one with genuinely great food. Lola is a large establishment with both inside and outside seating. Lunch is usually served as a buffet (delicious and with so much choice!) and the outside space is equipped with a small climbing frame for kids.
Loads of space for buggies make it a firm favorite among young families. The place is a little off the beaten path but worth the extra trek for welcome and quality of food.
What is nearby: Explora children museum
Address: Via Flaminia, 305
Porto Fluviale
This address is off the beaten path but is excellent in terms of the quality of food and family friendliness.
It is open for lunch and dinner, they serve from pasta to pizza to meat dishes and has a fantastic lunch buffet we simply cannot have enough about: fresh salads, several types of pasta, rice, meat, fish, pizza, fruit and dessert and as much as you like it. Simply amazing!
What is nearby: Centrale Montemartini museum
Address: Via del Porto Fluviale, 22
Vivi bistro Villa Doria Pamphili
Villa Doria Pamphili is one of the most beautiful parks in Rome and comes with a family friendly restaurant too.
Vivi Bistrot is small and very attentive to the quality of the products, all organic and carefully selected.
They are just beside the playground and they offer the opportunity of eating on site or get a picnic, which is a lovely option in such a lovely park
What is nearby: the park itself
Enoteca Ferrara
Located in Piazza Trilussa, in Trastevere, this is a great address for Sunday lunch, when this restaurant offers entertainment that is just for the kids.
While the parents eat, each Sunday two entertainers take care of the smaller guests (3 years of age up) with several types of activities that go from cooking classes to story time (in English too)
What is nearby: Trastevere neighborhood
Address: Piazza Trilussa, 41
Il datterino giallo
I am closing with an address that if off the beaten path for many but that I love so much I simply had to add here!
This is a nice restaurant that has something we found super handy with kids: a buffet lunch.
The lunch is available during the week, it is super rich in terms of options and kids go half price.
Our two started off with simple pizza and pasta and as the meal progressed got more adventurous ending up testing and tasting a bit of everything.
The magic of a buffet lunch is that you ca go back and lead up you plate and many times as you want!
Try the tiramisu since it is truly special. If in the area, this is a great family friendly restaurant in Rome with excellent food and pleasant service.
What is nearby: Quartiere Coppede’, Villa Nemorense, Villa Torlonia
Address: Piazza Ledro, 1
I hope you enjoyed this selection of our favorite family friendly restaurants in Rome.Have a wonderful time in my hometown!
