The Rome IndexBreakfast in Rome
What Romans actually eat in the morning — and where to find it.
The Roman breakfast
A cornetto (the Italian cousin of a croissant, typically filled with jam, custard or Nutella) eaten standing at a bar counter, washed down with an espresso or cappuccino — done in under five minutes and costing under two euros at a local bar.
What to order
Cornetto integrale (wholegrain), vuoto (plain), or alla crema (custard-filled) are the standard choices. A cappuccino is perfectly acceptable at breakfast — just not after 11am.
Where to go
Almost any neighborhood bar that opens before 8am — the best breakfasts in Rome are not at the famous places, but at the small bar nearest wherever you're staying, where they've been supplying the same locals every morning for decades.