A Roman Picnic - What To Pack And Where To Eat It

Last updated on February 24th, 2025

Are you visiting the Eternal City but the city center’s got you feeling overwhelmed? Recharge with a bit of nature and a Roman picnic!

I love packing picnics for a change of pace while traveling. Eating out can be exhausting and expensive, so why not consider a Roman picnic for your next meal?

It’s easy to shop for and pack a Roman picnic that is no-cook or fully pre-prepared. Let’s take a look at:

my favorite picnic ingredients in Rome
which foods work best for a Roman picnic
my tips for picnicking in the Eternal City
my favorite picnic spots

So, whether you’re a family with kids, a group of girlfriends on a weekend trip to Rome, or a couple on a roman-tic holiday, a Roman picnic will help you slow down and rest your tired legs between all the amazing sights.

Jump to Section

Where To Have a Picnic in Rome

Piazza del Popolo in Rome as seen from above, in the Villa Borghese Gardens. — *Enjoy expansive views of Rome from your picnic spot in the Villa Borghese gardens*

Although Rome is quite green for a city, there are actually not that many places where you can picnic. For example, at the Roman Forum or Botanical Gardens, you are not allowed to eat. Instead, choose from one of the following outdoor areas best suited for a Roman picnic:

Villa Borghese – (my personal favorite) relatively central with lots of shade
Janiculum Hill – best place for a panoramic Roman picnic
Isola Tiberina – small island with greenery on the river
Villa Ada – another large green park north of Villa Borghese
Villa Pamphili – west of Trastevere
Appia Antica – outside of the center of Rome near the Ciampino airport

Where to Buy Ingredients and Supplies for a Roman Picnic

If you feel like slowing down and packing up a Roman picnic that is easy and simple then I suggest you buy pre-cooked or no-cook foods to fill your bag with. You can certainly go to a grocery store and get everything for a simple picnic but if you want to pick up typical Roman food to pack, then gourmet shops and open air markets are going to be your best bet.

Where to Buy Ingredients for a Roman Picnic

Open Air Markets

Glass ceiling lets light into the Testaccio Market in Rome. Woman looks at shelves on right and man orders from vendor on left.

Open air markets are where you will find the absolute best food items for a Roman picnic, and the freshest produce. Be sure to bring cash to pay with and learn all about how to shop in 10 Rules For Shopping At Markets In Italy and How To Shop At Markets In Italy.

Choosing A Market: It can be overwhelming but get a rundown of my picks in My Favorite Food Markets in Rome.

Curious to know more about Italy’s seasonal foods, dishes, and produce? Check out

Foods to Eat in Italy by Month in January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December and by Season in Spring – Summer – Fall – Winter.

Italian Fruits and Vegetables in Season in January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December.

Italian Nuts

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores are the best option for packing a picnic in Italy if you have little time at hand and aren’t interested in packing up traditional Roman prepared food (such as cooked artichokes). The upside to a grocery store is that you can find everything you need here without going all over town (including optional items such as knives, napkins and a corkscrew).

Pizzicheria/Gastronomia

A pizzicheria or gastronomia is a deli with daily specials that you can order and pack up to bring along for a no-cook Roman picnic. In addition, they make sandwiches, sell cured meats, cheeses, bread and basic grocery items.

My absolute favorite specialty shop in Rome for these items is Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina. They sell a wide variety of pre-made dishes that can be purchased and enjoyed at your picnic such as:

stewed vegetables
Roman meatballs
fried foods
cooked artichokes

Specialized Stores

Shop display of Beppe e I Suoi Formaggi in Rome. Cheeses on display behind glass and other products on sale too.

Buying food at specialty shops is the old school way of shopping in Italy and involves a bit of extra time. The quality of the food products is much higher than at a normal grocery store but you need time to burn.

Specialty food shops in Rome to buy ingredients for a Roman picnic:

Caseificio or negozio di formaggio – where cheese is produced but often sold as well/cheese shop. Beppe e I Suoi Formaggi in the Jewish Ghetto is my top pick
Confetteria – sweets shop
Drogheria – dry goods store selling coffee, tea, cookies, spices, soaps, herbs, etc.
Enoteca – my favorite wine shops
Forno/panificio – my favorite bakeries in Rome
Fruttivendolo or ortolano – fruit & vegetable shop
Macelleria – butcher for cured meats
Pasticceria – my favorite pastry shops
Pizza al taglio – pizza by the slice (sold by the weight). You can read about my favorite spots in Best Pizza in Rome.
Salumeria – another name for a deli

And don’t overlook the power of Roman street food for a good picnic. Supplì Roma, for example, has some of the best supplì in all of Rome!

Sandwich Shops

Street food stand in Rome with menu that includes descriptions and photos.

Hitting up a sandwich shop or other market vendor that sells pre-made sandwiches are an easy way to pack a no-cook Roman picnic. It also ensures you don’t need utensils to eat.

My favorites sandwich shops in Rome:

Er Buchetto (Via del Viminale, 2f): great porchetta sandwiches to eat near Termini
Mordi e Vai (Box #15, Testaccio Market): The best spot for porchetta at the Testaccio market.
Antico Forno Roscioli (Via dei Chiavari, 34): Order pizza bianca and have it filled with mortadella
Il Panino Ingegnoso (P.za di Pietra, 35): Probably the best classic sandwich centrally located in Rome
Panino Divino (Via dei Gracchi, 11a): right outside of the Vatican City

Where To Buy Picnic Supplies

If you need supplies such as a corkscrew, cups, a knife and spoon, you are likely to find what you need at a grocery store.

You can also go to a department store such as COIN, OVS, Rinascente with a HOME section.

A mesticheria is a small mom and pop home store or hardware store that will sell a lot of these items as well.

You by no means need any of these extra items. It does, however, make picnicking in Rome much easier. Try to choose items that you might also like to bring home as a souvenir or gift by which to remember your trip.