The small streets between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps reward a little wandering. On Via di Gesù e Maria, Hostaria da Pietro offers a reason to pause that wandering and sit down to the familiar pleasures of an Italian meal.

Pietro Massotti's family background in restaurants gives the address its starting point. He opened the hostaria in 2005 and describes running it with his family, a detail that helps explain the emphasis on continuity and cooking. The appeal is in discovering a personal story within an area where so much attention goes to the surrounding monuments.

The menu includes homemade fettuccine and Roman references such as carbonara, with seasonal ingredients suggesting other possibilities. Ask about the day's dishes and let the table find its own balance between the familiar and whatever is newly tempting. A straightforward choice can be exactly right after a long afternoon on foot.

Hostaria da Pietro suits a dinner for two or a small gathering that wants to remain in the centre and settle into a proper meal. Reserve by telephone and leave the next stop undecided. Once dinner is over, the surrounding streets will still be there, ready for a slower walk back through Rome.

Hostaria da Pietro
Via di Gesù e Maria 18, 00187 Roma
Telephone: 06 3208816
Official website & reservations