Prati

On the banks near Piazza del Popolo, Anna Fendi’s Villa Laetitia has twenty guest rooms, each one paying a quiet homage to one of the brand’s inner circle, be it its founder Adele or designer Karl Lagerfeld. As a result, each room is wholly unique, thoughtfully appointed with a mix of vintage pieces from Fendi’s personal collection of 19th- and 20th-century furniture, lighting, and artwork. (Look for a Mies van der Rohe sofa, paintings by Enrico Castellani, sketches on the walls by Dior and Saint Laurent.) Kitchenettes are kind of a thing throughout Europe, so each room has one (these are very modern), and most rooms have their own private terrace. For families traveling, bilingual babysitters are available upon request, and the ace general manager, Giulio Delettrez Fendi, can do everything from arrange a picnic basket for an afternoon in the park to set up bike rentals to explore the city.

Close to the Vatican yet not super touristy (unlike say, Campo dei Fiori), this longstanding large indoor food market is the real deal: You’ll find fresh seafood, meat, produce, pizza, and the best selection of specialty cheese, bread, and wine in the city—all at reasonable prices, too. It’s definitely a local’s market; aim to go in the morning to get the best selection. Photo: @divoraroma

Although it’s somewhat removed from Rome’s dense center, this Prati gelateria’s reputation for being one of the best in the city can draw lines (which are never unreasonable). Ultra-fresh ingredients are used to create next-level flavor combinations like green apple and mint, ricotta and pear, and eggnog, rum, and marsala. The classics (think: chocolate and espresso, pistachio) are great here, too.

Somewhat removed from the chaos of more touristy parts of Rome’s center, this unassuming restaurant in Prati—which isn’t as warm or charming as other parts of the city, but blessedly calmer—offers excellent, locals-approved classics. You can’t go wrong with any of the pasta on the menu, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t order the restaurant’s namesake dish, which never disappoints. Note: During the week, the area swells with the bustle of workweek foot traffic from nearby business, so nights and weekends are actually a bit more relaxed here.

“Hipster” is not a word you would use to describe the restaurant scene in Rome, though this happy, light-filled spot is as close as you’ll get—in a way that’s not remotely pretentious. You can sit at the bar for a pastry-and-coffee breakfast, then move to the back room for a veggie-centric lunch (the menu changes according to the season’s harvest), aperitivo in the evening (the cured meats and cheeses sold at the front complement the cocktail menu), and a traditional Roman dinner after that (the fish is great, the pastas are even better).

The perfect spot right near the Vatican to grab a panini and coffee or Italian soda. The space exudes a clean, modern feel, and the staff is super friendly and approachable. There's lots of meats and fish, but also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. The paninis are a meal in themselves, fresh-made withs all the accoutrements atop incredible bread (light and crispy with the slightest chewiness). Given its location, this place is usually packed, but the staff will wrap your goods to go.

Dubbed the “secret bakery” of Rome (it's located in the basement floor), this Italian pastry shop serves up some of the city's best sweet and savory goods.