The old slaughterhouse quarter where the quinto quarto tradition was born; home to Mercato di Testaccio, Flavio al Velavevodetto and Da Felice.
Felice a Testaccio in Rome has served the Testaccio working-quarter cucina since 1936. Kitchen leans roman trattoria. At Via Mastro Giorgio 29.
OrderThe tonnarelli cacio e pepe tossed at the table, then saltimbocca alla romana and tiramisu.
TipBook a fortnight ahead on the website. Lunch is calmer; the 21:00 dinner sitting is the longest wait.
Flavio al Velavevodetto in Rome's Testaccio is built into Monte dei Cocci, the ancient amphora mound. Priced at €€. Kitchen leans roman trattoria.
OrderThe rigatoni alla gricia, polpette al sugo and a half-litre of Cesanese del Piglio.
TipThe amphora-walled back rooms are the spot to ask for; the terrace fills up first in summer.
Checchino dal 1887 in Rome's Testaccio is the dynastic temple of the quinto quarto. Kitchen leans roman, offal cuisine. At Via di Monte Testaccio 30.
OrderRigatoni con la pajata, coda alla vaccinara, animelle and a glass from the historic Lazio cellar.
TipThe cellar tour before lunch is worth booking. Closed Sunday and Monday all day.
Piatto Romano in Rome's Testaccio is the small-room trattoria where the Cocco family cooks the four Roman pastas exactly as the rulebook says.
OrderThe four Roman pastas tasting if it's offered, otherwise the gricia and cacio e pepe.
TipClosed Wednesday all day. Book a week ahead; the dining room holds 30 covers.
Perilli in Rome's Testaccio has cooked the rigatoni con la pajata and the bucatini all'amatriciana since 1911. Kitchen leans roman trattoria.
OrderRigatoni con la pajata (the dish of the house), bucatini all'amatriciana and a glass of Frascati.
TipClosed Wednesday all day. Cash and card; cover charge is €2 per head.
Pizzeria Da Remo in Rome's Testaccio is the classic Roman pizza room with paper-thin crusts, the city's busiest suppli counter and a queue that wraps.
OrderRoman pizza margherita, suppli al telefono, and the bruschetta with anchovies.
TipCash only. No bookings; arrive 19:00 or after 22:00 to skip the queue. Closed Sunday.
Volpetti in Rome's Testaccio is the 1973-founded salumeria counter with 300 Italian cheeses, a salumi case stocked from every region and a takeaway pasta.
OrderThe cheese flight tasting at the counter and a salumi board with prosciutto di Parma.
TipOpen Mon to Sat 08:00-14:00 and 16:30-20:15. Closed Sunday. Cheese tour by request.
Tram Depot in Rome's Testaccio district is the 1903-built tram-yard cafe with outdoor tables, the all-day espresso-and-aperitivo bar and live music at sunset.
DrinkAperitivo, granita di caffe
TipOpen daily 07:00-02:00. The 19:00 aperitivo with a granita di caffe is the summer ritual.
Mordi e Vai in Rome's Mercato di Testaccio is Sergio Esposito's market-counter sandwich stall, with the slow-braised allesso di scottona (beef shoulder).
TryRoman braised-meat sandwich
TipClosed Sunday all day. The allesso di scottona with chicory is 5 euros; queue forms 12:30 onward.
Mercato di Testaccio in Rome's Testaccio district is the 1907-founded covered market (moved to the new building 2012), with 100 stalls, plus Mordi e Vai.
TipClosed Sunday. The lunch counters (Mordi e Vai box 15) get busy 12:30-14:00; arrive 12:00 for the queue.
Mordi e Vai in the Mercato di Testaccio in Rome sells Sergio Esposito's slow-braised allesso di scottona (beef shoulder) sandwich for €5, the city's defining.
TryRoman braised-meat sandwich
TipClosed Sunday all day. The allesso di scottona with chicory is 5 euros; queue forms 12:30 onward.
L'Alibi opened on the slopes of Monte Testaccio at the end of the 1970s and is Italy's longest-running gay club, with three rooms, a rooftop terrace and a programme that swings between drag, house and commercial nights through the weekend.
TipThe terrace runs through the warm months and is the reason to come; the inside rooms can be hot and packed past 02:00. Tessera at the door.
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