Roman holiday? Dodge the “tourist‑traps” traps and taste the real flavour of the Eternal City
Lock in the Rome‑for‑Two Deal and dive into authentic Roman cooking—your second fresh‑pasta course is on the house!
Book your dinner at Il Bocconcino: hand‑rolled pasta, bold flavours and Roman recipes that tell the city’s history better than any guidebook.
And if, after the last bite, you’re not shouting “Grazie Roma!” we’ll hand you a voucher to come back to us.
Why travellers pick Il Bocconcino:
- Fresh pasta kneaded by our hands every day, just like Roman grandmothers did. No packets of industrial spaghetti or bags of frozen ravioli. Every morning we prepare homemade pasta. Cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana... if you try them, it will be hard to go back (and you will finally know the authentic taste of Rome!).
- Steps from the Colosseum—light‑years from tourist menus. If you want carbonara with cream or bacon‑laced amatriciana, this isn’t your door. We serve only dishes with history inside and real guanciale that sizzles flavour.
- Not satisfied? There is a Fall in Love or Free guarantee. If you don't feel like a "Roman citizen" at the first course, we'll give you a voucher to try another. Because nobody leaves with a bitter taste in their mouth.
- Ten years of research & passion. Il Bocconcino was born on three pillars: territory, forgotten ancient recipes and seasonality. Over time we’ve partnered with local producers to rescue rare ingredients and dust off dishes left in attic cookbooks.
- “Horses used to stop here—today it’s foodies.” ll Bocconcino was once a coaching inn. Now travellers still pause—but with a fork in hand. Even tourists walk out looking Roman to the core!
“Rome for Two Offer“
Come with a friend, partner or travel buddy, pick any two pasta dishes that set your mouth watering…
Pay for just one.
(Yes, the second plate is FREE!)
Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City.
Here every stone tells a story, every glimpse gives an emotion.
And yet, among the charm of the Colosseum and the imperial ruins, there is often an insidious obstacle for those who want to taste the real local cuisine: the “tourist-catching” restaurants.
Have you ever seen those banal menus with laminated photos, the centurions who try to catch you as PRs for nightclubs and the dishes that you would find in any discount store?
Maybe you too came here convinced that the good places, the real ones, are hidden who knows where, and you think that to find the authentic Rome you have to grind out kilometers.
Instead, just 3 minutes walk from the Colosseum, there is an osteria where time has stopped.
A restaurant where the pasta is kneaded by hand every morning, the bacon is chosen from local suppliers and the recipes are those of our grandparents, passed down for generations
“Il Bocconcino is without a doubt one of the best restaurants I have ever tried.
From the moment you enter, you can feel a welcoming atmosphere with attention to detail. The staff is extremely professional, friendly and attentive, ready to satisfy every need with a smile.
The appetizers are simply unbeatable: each course is an explosion of flavors, prepared with the freshest ingredients and presented impeccably. Personally, I particularly appreciated the homemade gnocchi, a real delight for the palate. One detail that struck us was the kindness of the owner, an exquisite and helpful person, who made sure everything was perfect. It was so pleasant to talk to him that we even asked him to sit at our table for a few minutes. A gesture that made the evening even more special, making us feel at home.
I recommend Il Bocconcino to anyone who wants to treat themselves to a high-quality meal in a pleasant and relaxing environment. I can’t wait to go back!“
Farshad Shahabadi
“After a beautiful walk around the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine, why not pop into Il Bocconcino?
A gem beside the Colosseum where you can recharge with Roman cuisine. Thanks to Paolo, who made us feel at home and turned our stop into a fun, unforgettable moment.”
Fabiana Da Riva
“Being next to the Colosseum, I feared a tourist trap with mediocre food and high prices. Instead, as a local I savoured true ancient Roman cooking with classy twists. Generous antipasti, Thursday gnocchi with veal & mushrooms like my grandma’s, plus ricotta‑and‑sour‑cherry tart, trifle, marsala zabaglione… sheer delight—and fair prices. Locals and tourists alike should try it!”
Cosimo Errede
Welcome to Il Bocconcino, where you enter as a tourist and leave as a family!
An osteria that is just a few steps from the Colosseum, but “light years” away from the tourist traps! Our mission: save Roman tradition from extinction.
From coda alla vaccinara to fried baccalà, carciofi alla giudia to offal meatballs—we said, “These dishes must not disappear!”
We knocked on farm doors and dairies, hunting down excellence to bring rare flavours back to the table.
We follow the rhythm of the earth, not of social media. Carciofi in season? You’ll find them fried or alla romana. Fava beans time? They’re the stars.
Our creed is “good‑kilometre,” not mere zero‑kilometre: we choose the best product—whether steps away or a bit farther—so long as it’s outstanding.
Today at Il Bocconcino you’ll find again:
- Ingredients with real flavour from tiny artisans—unseen in supermarkets.
- Pasta rolled by hand each morning, exactly how feisty Roman grandmas demand.
- Nearly forgotten Roman dishes.
- A family vibe where the staff always has a joke ready.
Here are the words of thousands of customers from all over the world, who entered Bocconcino as tourists and left with the passport of “Roman DOC”
“The placemat of this nice place, not far from the Colosseum on foot, says: “Unfindable cuisine”.
I would start by saying: unfindable courtesy. Yes, because at a time when restaurants now have two shifts and you find yourself having to choose between stuffing yourself or being hungry until 9:30 pm, here you call and they tell you: “There’s room, come whenever you want”.
You arrive at this nice inn and are welcomed with a smile, you, but also your children, who are immediately taken a liking to the kind host who with the right savoir-faire puts them at ease.
At this point you begin to browse a menu of the right size (a not very vast choice means having the intention of doing those things well), and above all refined to the right point for a Roman tavern.
We enjoyed an appetizer made of focaccia and good quality ham. Then first courses for everyone, really good. The right price, considering that you can almost see the Colosseum from the window and that in other places closer the price goes up significantly. I will gladly return, just for the courtesy.”
Giulio Molinari
“I’ll start by saying that I was coming from the Colosseum and I was looking for a place to eat. This place is very nice, well located. It was very hot and we went in. Air conditioning, well-arranged tables, sofa to sit on. Very welcoming. Staff always smiling and ready.
I wanted to eat a good carbonara and drink some good wine, Malvasia. My children ate meatballs with sauce and tagliatelle. Everything was really delicious. Costa Angela served me, really super.
For a tourist who wants to taste good Roman cuisine, it is definitely recommended.”
Francesco Luzzi
All you have to do is try Il Bocconcino for yourself!
This is your official invitation:
Lock the Rome for Two offer now and come visit us in company, every day for dinner
We’ll take you on a journey through past flavours and rare recipes that tell our story.
Order one pasta (carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, gricia, whatever calls you) Your companion’s plate is FREE. Double the joy, not the bill.
Not only are you about to discover the traditional Roman flavors, which are difficult to find nowadays, but you will do so by doubling the pleasure without doubling the price
And there’s more!
We’re so confident that you’ll fall in love with our homemade pasta at first taste, that we’re offering a special guarantee.
Guarantee: Taste Rome or it's free
If the first bite doesn’t make you exclaim “Aò, what did I just eat?!”…
if your fork isn’t a time machine to kitchens of old, then no excuses: we give you a voucher to return and pick another dish, on us.
You’re not a number: we treat you as a guest.
We take the risk so your only thought is, “Why didn’t I come sooner?”
“ROME‑FOR‑TWO DEAL” at
IL BOCCONCINO
Order 2 pasta dishes … pay for only 1!
Book a table for two, choose any two pasta mains, and your guest’s plate is our treat.
You both feast—yet pay for one.
Ready?
Fill in the form below and secure the Rome‑for‑Two Deal.
(Valid every evening, new customers only)
Do you want to go home with just a “fake postcard” of Rome—or to say you lived and tasted its true soul?
Book now at Il Bocconcino, and join that clan of travelers who have discovered the heart that beats, to the rhythm of the fork, behind the thousand-year-old stones of the Colosseum.
FAQ (frequently asked questions)
“Can I use the deal at lunch?”
The offer is designed for dinner, when Rome’s magic peaks and you can relax. Need lunch? Call us and we’ll try to help.
“Do we have to order the same pasta?”
Nope! Feel free to pick two different dishes—perfect chance to sample more specialities.
“What if I don’t like the dish?”
We refund it as a voucher. Come back and try another pasta or speciality—our pledge, because we trust our kitchen.
“Do you have vegetarian options?”
Absolutely! Think grandma‑style tomato pasta, cacio e pepe, carciofi alla romana (in season) and more, rotating with the calendar. Just mention it when you book.
We’re waiting for you!
Giancarlo Pragliola
Owner, Il Bocconcino
Old‑school Roman flavours