In Rome, it’s hard to decide where to direct your focus first.
Bright, colorful streets meander around ruins dating back to the Roman Empire itself, locals on Vespas go whizzing by, and trattorias owned by generations of Italian families sit along every corner. All of these timeless pieces carry the city’s essence straight to your senses.
Being a solo traveler in Italy’s largest city can definitely be overwhelming. At first, doing anything alone felt like a huge roadblock, but I had to stick to my promise of absolute immersion.
Before I could think twice, I threw myself into the deep end and into the hustle and bustle of this ageless city. And if dining alone was the price I had to pay to experience Rome’s even richer food culture, the gamble was a no-brainer.
Restaurants are Like a Window Into True Roman Culture
Italian food doesn’t have its respected international reputation for quality and authenticity for no reason. It’s not a secret that cuisine is deeply embedded in the culture of Rome just as much as its history; the city prides itself on the ability to combine fresh ingredients with a practiced, slow way of producing their meals.
While I was in Rome, I discovered there was truly nothing better than spending a mealtime in an authentic Roman restaurant.
The menu might seem simple at first glance (basic pizzas, a few pastas, and classic entrees), but the warm atmosphere, comfort of familial presence, and vibrant, orthodox flavors create a space for the heart of Roman cuisine to show off.
Traditional Italian food doesn’t need to stand out with dazzlingly innovative dishes or uniqueness. Its lived-in success falls under tradition and a complete mastery of the basics, deserving respect attuned to a classic novel. Fundamental yet tasteful, the full flavors found in traditional Italian food serve as a reminder that you are in the birthplace of a multitude of modern ideas, demonstrating the massive influence early Italian culture continues to have on our society.
I learned about the four traditional pastas in Rome, which are pretty much guaranteed to be on any menu. Rome’s specialties include Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe, Gricia, and of course Carbonara. I tried each pasta dish too many times to count, and the Gricia had to be my favorite. An uncomplicated Margherita pizza in Rome will always top a decadent Domino’s meat lovers loaded pie in the United States.
Past the food itself, the low-lit and homey restaurant ambiances found throughout Rome make dining absolutely integral to the city’s culture. Genuine hospitality as second nature sits at the forefront of the Italian way of life, with every establishment from local sandwich shops to high-end restaurants treating you like family.
It feels too good to be true, even cliché, when a motherly figure with a thick Italian accent almost embraces you as you exit her restaurant. In Rome, you can never feel truly alone when you’re welcomed by a staff of amicable and ready people.
Prepared from my observations of the welcoming atmospheres cultivated, combined with the insane quality of what I had already tasted, I knew I was ready to take on a restaurant alone.
My First Time
The first time I remember dining by myself, it felt casual, too easy even. I was still a bit antsy to have landed in my temporary home, but I thought of a cheat code that would make me a little more at ease: bringing a comfort object.
Me and my journal sat together perched at a casual breakfast bar, as I dusted croissant crumbs from beneath me and looked around. There were soft songbirds flitting through the alley and people chattering in rushed Italian – it all blended together in this pivotal first step of my career in dining alone.
What came after this initial ice was broken was even better. It was the thought, “Wait, that wasn’t weird at all.” I remember thinking this as I suddenly felt so comfortable rising from my seat an hour later to return to my apartment. The deed had been done.
Throughout the next few months, I continued to break through levels of my comfort zone by stepping up the risk bit by bit. One day, I would grab a quick sandwich for lunch in Piazza Navona by myself, the next I’d stop for my favorite drink, the Hugo Spritz, at an outdoor café for an aperitivo. It was like a game of chicken that I was playing against myself, the only prize being a boost in self-confidence, swapping comfort for loneliness.
Read More: A First-Timer’s 72 Hours in Rome: Rainlit Walks, the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum Awe
And Suddenly, I Liked It
I became eager. Every week or so, I now had a routine. After some online research or a dive into my notes app, already full of recommendations I would pick up, I would be my own date and head out to find an empty table for one.
Upon arrival, I would no longer look around with worry to see if there was anyone I knew. This felt like a common practice when, on occasion, I would go to the dining hall in college alone – I was so worried about being seen alone for some reason.
No one knew me in Rome. And even if they did, the feeling of being ashamed of being alone didn’t feel so embarrassing anymore, because in a way, it was a conscious choice. I’m not alone because no one else is around; I’m alone because I wanted to be here, and that was all that mattered.
From Eating Alone to Traveling Alone
Traveling on the weekends also helped me find comfort in the inevitability of dining alone. I’ll always remember taking the train to Orvieto, the setting of the book I was reading at the time and a hillside town covering a system of mysterious underground caves.
It was a rainy day, so I hopped off the train and into my first memory of Orvieto. The restaurant I had chosen seemed like nothing special on the outside, but upon entering, I was immediately engulfed underground. The four walls and ceiling around me were made up of one cohesive tunnel inside a cave.
I marveled at the awe-inspiring underground tavern with no need to fill the air or make conversation with a travel partner. I sat down and ordered a glass of their cheapest white wine and a whole pizza that had French fries on top of it. I ate and drank it all.
I spent the rest of the day with satisfaction as I slowly wandered the steep hills of Orvieto, only my umbrella to keep me company. At around 4:00 pm, I got on the train home.
Food Tastes One Thousand Times Better
While I always love time spent with good company over dinner, I’ve also found that a meal can sometimes be better enjoyed solo.
When conversation is taken out of the equation, the details become the center of attention. Flavors have room to breathe and flourish, and a temporary food critic rises from the ashes.
I found myself really tasting my meals the times that I dined solo. The memories were savored as I tried not to go on my phone during this sacred time, entertainment coming solely from what was on my plate. Of course, people-watching also became a new hobby with this.
Read More: Taste the Best Food in Venice, Italy, With an Educational Food Tour
Why I Miss It
Eating alone in a new city is an admirable way to fully experience local culture with all distractions removed. My adventures of dining in Italy were always about more than just food – it was about learning how to be present, self-assured, and fully at ease in my own company.
That confidence followed me home to San Francisco, long after the plates were cleared and the coffee cups emptied. I can recall with fondness the person I was before this ability to confidently tackle going somewhere alone. And while I don’t dine alone as frequently anymore, I carry the confidence and freedom I earned in everything that I do, and I hope it’s something that you can experience too.
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Author Bio: Monique Evdokiou is a freelance travel journalist based in San Francisco, CA. She writes based on personal experiences, the people she meets, and travel adventures, as well as food and wine.
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