Trastevere by day is charming; by night it becomes Rome's great stage for eating and drinking, from trattoria classics to cocktail bars and piazzas packed until late.
Last updated August 23, 2026
In a nutshell: from trattoria staples and Roman pizza to craft cocktails and bars open until late, this is where Trastevere's evenings happen. Start from the district overview, visit Santa Maria in Trastevere, climb the Gianicolo or browse Porta Portese before you eat.
If you want to mingle with locals, and especially with Trastevere's youth, Piazza Trilussa is the place to go. It is dedicated to the Roman poet Trilussa, whose statue and verses can be found in the square. The best way to soak it in is to plop yourself down and do some good old people-watching, most likely on the steps of the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola. Its construction was ordered by Pope Paul V in 1613 to bring water to Trastevere, but it was relatively short-lived, since it was mostly dismantled in 1870 after a disastrous flood of the River Tiber. What remains today is only a small part of what the fountain once was, though we have an idea of how it looked: its pieces were used to build another fountain higher up, the so-called Fontanone on the Gianicolo hill, whose proper name is also Fontana dell'Acqua Paola.
Right in front of Piazza Trilussa, the bridge is often called the bridge 'with the eye' because of the circular opening in its middle pillar, from where you can peek at the dome of St Peter's Basilica soaring above the trees. It dates to 1473, when it was completely rebuilt from the ancient Roman bridge it used to be, and finally earned a more respectful name than Ponte Rotto, literally 'broken bridge', which it had been called ever since it was severely damaged by the flooding of the Tiber in 792.
The Fontanone: the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola is known to locals simply as the Fontanone, the 'big fountain'. It was built as the terminus of the run of the Aqua Traiana aqueduct, whose restoration was happening at the same time as the fountain's construction in the early 17th century. Its name, however, comes from the pope who commissioned it, Pope Paul V. Today the fountain is one of the symbols of Rome, even if it may not be as famous as some of its colleagues, and it has made appearances in several movies, including Paolo Sorrentino's La grande bellezza in 2013.
Open since the late 19th century, this historic bakery is the perfect stop for a quick bite, from slices of pizza to biscuits.
Dig into everything fried at this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, its namesake risotto balls in particular.
One of the neighbourhood's most popular pizzerias, with an incredible selection of fried delights on the side.
Cheap but delicious lunches as well as sliced pizza, perfect for a quick stop before you head back out exploring.
If you think Trastevere is vibrant during the day, wait until you see how it comes alive at night. This walkable route starts at Ponte Giuseppe Mazzini and ends at Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, covering about 2.5 km in an hour.
Somewhat hidden, with traditional Roman food and excellent wine.
A little-known grocery store and restaurant in one, with dishes of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
The crowd of locals and tourists takes nothing away from the authenticity.
A popular spot with communal tables and incredible family-style cooking.
The menu of this industrial-chic restaurant is entirely based around eggs, and not just chicken ones.
Roman extra-thin and crispy pizza, a neighbourhood institution.
Famous for the trapizzino: ingredient-filled pizza triangles.
Tiny but cosy, with Roman-style pizza and fried delicacies.
Highlighting products from small Lazio producers and the history of Roman cuisine.
An exclusively vegetarian, vegan and organic menu; the dishes are simple, with quirky ingredient combinations.
A rich wine selection, and dishes served to complement the bottles.
A textbook trattoria with thin-crust pizzas and fish dishes.
Sleeping on this side of the river means falling asleep to the sound of the evening crowds and waking up to the quiet of the Gianicolo. The neighbourhood's overnight options include these B&Bs and hotels, scattered between the heart of Trastevere and the slopes of the hill.