Family Restaurants in Rome

Taverna de' Mercanti

Taverna de' Mercanti offers the most fun atmosphere of any family restaurant in Rome. The pizza in which it is located (Piazza de' Mercanti) is a classic example of quaint Italian life, with flower boxes in the windows of medieval buildings, and a cobblestone path leading up to the Taverna. Housed in a 15th century building, the Taverna de' Mercanti greets visitors with a front door flanked by torches. Open the door and walk upstairs to the dining area, and you'll soon see why this is one of the best family restaurants in Rome.

An attention-grabbing grill anchors the spacious dining room, and you'll be given a souvenir poster-size menu whose highlights are grilled meats and pizzas. The pizzas aren't typical of the authentic Napoli style, and come with toppings like olives and sausage. If you've worked up an appetite during a long day of sightseeing, order the bistecca alla Florentine, the house specialty. This porterhouse steak comes from the Chianina cattle, Tuscany's prized breed that is renowned for its tenderness and beefy flavor. Try to beat the evening rush, by coming between 5 - 7 pm, which may also get you a coveted table outside on the piazza. You'll be eating much earlier than most Romans, but fashion can go out the window when it comes to feeding kids at family restaurants in Rome. A kid's gotta eat when a kid's gotta eat.

Le Grotte

Le Grotte is another great family restaurant in Rome that offers kid-friendly, authentic Italian meals. It is located near the Spanish Steps, and it is open seven days a week. Le Grotte offers locally-inspired dishes cooked in wood fired ovens, and its chef only uses fresh ingredients. Fresh fish is purchased daily, and specialty seafood menu items include linguine with prawns, and grilled prawns with squid. Your kids will love the various homemade pasta dishes, as well as the appetizer selection, which features ham and mozzarella and smoked beef. For the adults in your group, Le Grotte has an impressive wine list consisting of Italian vintage.

Il Fornaio Bakery

When traveling abroad, it can sometimes be more challenging to find kid-friendly places to eat breakfast than other meals. If you're looking for family restaurant in Rome for an early meal, opt for the Il Fornaio Bakery in Campo di' Fiori. You'll find a vast variety of sugary baked treats to spike your kids' insulin levels and kick them into overdrive for the long day to come.

This is a great place to come in the first day or two of your trip, when you haven't yet adjusted to the difference in time zones. Get here early for piping hot pastries and a Roman sunrise. Many of the pastries come with a delicious lemon-flavored custard filling, which starts off any day on a happy note.

Come back at lunch for Il Fornaio's famous paninis, as well. You shouldn't miss the cannolis or frozen tiramisu, either, and you might want to pick up a few at breakfast (they sell out quickly).

Now that you know where to take your kids to eat, find a Rome hotel where the family can rest up for the night.