Cornetti, crostate, cannoli, biscotti e sfogliatelle… Italian cuisine offers an array of sweet delights to enjoy as a dessert or simply as a quick bite. If you’re looking for an alternative to gelato, this is the list for you. In this post, I’d like to share my list of the best cafés, bakeries and pasticcerie (pastry shops) across the city.Buon appetito! 

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Tram Depot

If you’re in the Testaccio neighbourhood, have a coffee break at Tram Depot, a tiny café operating inside an old tram carriage. Don’t worry, you don’t need to squeeze inside the tram carriage to sip your coffee, there’s plenty of outdoor seating surrounded by pretty plants and flavours. Cozy, friendly and relaxed, it’s a great place to do some people-watching while sipping their high-quality specialty coffee, or a cocktail if you fancy something a bit stronger! This is somewhere I would often stop for a quick pick me up before I began my day (or something similar)

Artigiano del Caffè

If you’re a coffee lover, head to this hidden gem close to Ottaviano station in the Prati neighbourhood. Tucked away on a side street, this micro-roastery has a wide range of coffee on offer. You can choose between various coffee beans, which they grind fresh for you.  You can even buy their roasted beans to take home with you. Artigiano del Caffè also offers a selection of sweet pastries and savoury sandwiches. They open at 7am so it’s the ideal breakfast spot before a day of sightseeing at the nearby Vatican.

Voglia Di Pane

Close to Cipro station in the Prati neighbourhood, Voglia di Pane has everything you need to satisfy your sweet or savoury cravings! Their pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) is delicious, especially the pizza rossa (with a flavourful tomato sauce) and pizza with sliced potatoes and rosemary. They also have a good variety of bread rolls, biscotti (biscuits/cookies), pastries, savoury dishes in their deli counter and – of course – good coffee! They also sell larger cakes – perfect for birthday celebrations…. or just treating yourself! (not worth the space)

Forno Monteforte

Skip the tourist traps that litter the historic centre and eat where the locals eat. Forno Monteforte, a cozy pastry shop, has everything you need for a caffeine pick-me-up and a snack. From thick and fluffy focaccia loaded with different toppings, to flaky, buttery croissants and delicate tarts, everything is well-made and full of flavour. It’s the perfect place to rest your sore feet when you need a break from sightseeing. 

Antico Forno Serpenti

If you’re in the Monti neighbourhood, make a beeline for this pasticceria which offers an impressive array of homemade pastries, cakes and biscuits. I particularly recommend their sfogliatelle; a Neapolitan pastry filled with ricotta cheese and a tangy hint of lemon zest. You can also get lunch and dinner at there so it’s a great place to visit at any time of day.

Barnum

As much as I love a typical Italian breakfast of coffee and a pastry, sometimes you want something more filling and nutritious. That’s where Barnum comes in. In the heart of the city, it’s an affordable brunch spot serving up avocado toast, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, crispy bacon and all the croissants and cakes your heart desires. Their specialty coffee is excellent and while you might have to queue (especially at weekends), the food and friendly service is well worth the wait! 

Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti

This scrumptious, family-run bakery in Trastevere has been baking delicious sweet treats for generations. There’s a lovely sense of nostalgia here; it almost feels like you’ve got an Italian nonna cooking for you! Every day they bake thousands of cakes, biscuits, cookies and pastries and their panettones are especially popular at Christmastime. The staff here are really passionate about what they do and are happy to give recommendations if you’re not sure what to order.

Antico Forno Roscioli

A beloved Roman institution and lunchtime hotspot, famed for its pillowy pizza bianca, crispy supplì (fried rice balls), and utterly moreish slices of pizza rossa. If you’re craving something sweet, don’t leave without trying one of their buttery fruit tarts or a slice of rich ricotta and sour cherry cake.

Grezzo

The moment you step inside Grezzo, your eyes will be drawn to the dozens of chocolate truffles on display. Their truffles are so delicious, you won’t be able to order just one! They have a beautiful selection of raw vegan and dairy-free chocolates, cakes and gelato. Whatever your dietary requirements, Grezzo is a sweet treat you won’t want to miss.

Il Maritozzaro

This old school bakery, located close to Trastevere train station, is seriously good value for money. It is best known for its signature pastry: il maritozzaro, a sweet, fluffy bread bun filled to the brim with light whipped cream. How can something so simple be so delicious?

La Cannoleria Siciliana

I am a huge fan of all things Sicilian, especially the desserts! Whenever I am in Rome, I make sure to visit La Cannoleria Siciliana for their flaky cornetti (croissants) filled with pistachio cream and their cannoli (tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with creamy ricotta and sprinkled with chocolate or nuts). If you can’t fit a flight to Sicily into your travel plans, visiting this café is the next best thing!

Pasticceria Barberini

One of my favourite cafés in Rome, which many tourists don’t know about! There’s a fantastic energy as regulars gather here every morning for their daily coffee and cornetto (croissant). The café has rows and rows of mouth-watering pastries, tarts and cakes on offer, along with some savoury snacks. If you’re there at Christmastime, they sell fantastic panettone, and for a year-long recommendation, don’t miss their adorable mini desserts (like the rum babasand tiny tiramisu), which you can order en mass with zero guilt.

Regoli Pasticceria

This bakery, gelateria and pasticceria offers a wide variety of sweet treats. Its choux pastry, rum baba and cannoli are particularly delicious, and I can’t resist their maritozzari.

Pompi

Pompi is a consistently good café which specialises in tiramisu. Along with the classic type, they also have different flavours like strawberry, pistachio and banana & nutella. There’s no shame in ordering more than one (or each variety they have!).

Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria

This bustling café/restaurant does it all; it’s no surprise the Romans love it. There is a bakery, deli counter, wine shop and a standing area to sip coffee and eat a pastry. Their miniature desserts are a work-of-art, and I always pop in for a minirum baba and tiramisu when I’m passing.

Now I really want some panettone, a rum baba, a cornetto AND a generous portion of tiramisu! I hope these recommendations come in handy for your next holiday to Rome. If I haven’t mentioned your favourite café or bakery, please share it in the comments!

For more foodie recommendations in Rome, check out my posts: Where to Eat Like a Local in Rome, Italy and Where To Find The Best Pizza In Rome, Italy.

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow