Finding Vegan Pizza in Rome

Finding Vegan Pizza in Rome

Why go to Italy if you don’t eat cheese? The question every vegan in Europe, and possibly the world, is tired of hearing.

Non-cheese eaters are actually more welcome and accommodated to in Italy now than ever before. Same goes for gluten intolerant people, or anyone who prefers a plant based diet over a carnivorous one.

If you prefer to avoid dairy, but still want that authentic, Roman pizza experience while visiting the city, here is where you need to go.

Piccola Palermo Specialita Siciliane in Rome

There are two ways to eat pizza in Rome. The first is to sit down in a formal restaurant and have your own pie brought out to you after being freshly prepared in the kitchen. The second is to simply grab a slice from the deli-like pizza shops that line the streets, with display cabinets filled with ready made options.

Piccola Palermo is just that; a ready-made, grab & go pizza joint that I very recently learned have been making vegan options for quite some time now.

Piccola Palermo Specialita Siciliane in Rome – by Piccola Palermo Specialita Siciliane – Uploaded by them

They don’t even advertise their plant based options. You simply have to walk in and inquire as to whether or not they offer dairy and meat free options & you will be pointed to the relative pizzas straight away.

There are always a few options available, with different toppings and tastes to each. Vegan pizza in grab & go pizza places in Rome is virtually unheard of. Piccola Palermo are paving way for a movement in this cuisine. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  9:30am to 12am

ADDRESS: Piccola Palermo Specialita Siciliane

METRO STATION: Manzoni

Rifugio Romano in Rome

Rifugio Romano is right by the Termini train station, which is where I recommend every new traveler to Rome enter the city, as well as embark on a guided walking tour from. It’s the perfect spot in the city center from which to greet the ancient land — direct trains from the airport are available.

Rifugio Romano is one of the most popular pizzerias in all of Rome, and they have been for many, many years. It was only recently that they spent some time creating a full vegan menu to add to their restaurant, opening their cuisine up to a whole new market of eaters.

Rifugio Romano in Rome – by Rifugio Romano – Sourced from their Facebook

Rifugio Romano’s vegan menu contains a variety of tasty, cheesy plant based pizzas that will have you back for more the very next day. In addition to plant based cheese they do plant based sausage, plant based ground beef, plant based chicken… the list goes on.

I must recommended making a reservation for dinner dining; the space is tiny and will be full before 7pm in peak season.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Tuesday TO Sunday –  11am to 11pm

ADDRESS: Via Volturno, 39/41, 00185 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Castro Pretorio

Origano in Rome

You’ll find this hidden gem to the west of the Trevi Fountain, just before you cross the River into the Ancient Town. It’s an area that is great for guided walking tours, and as of recently, also great for vegan Italian food.

Origano took their traditional Italian trattoria menu of pizzas and pastas and added an equal amount of plant based options as well. The options for vegans are clearly marked amongst the meaty menu items, and the list is extensive.

Origano in Rome – by Origano – Uploaded by them

Most vegan travelers to Rome maintain that Origano was the best rendition of vegan pizzas and pastas they were able to come across while eating their way through the city. I do agree; at no point during your meal are you actually conscious of taste or texture differences in the mock cheeses or meats — which is incredibly rare!

The best part? You can dine with your carnivore friends who want regular pizzas and pastas for their own meals. No one is left out and everyone has more than just one or two options to choose from — a Roman treat, this is.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  9am to 11pm

ADDRESS: Largo dei Chiavari, 84, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Colosseo

Buddy Italian Restaurant Cafè in Rome

Buddy’s is just a short walk from Oregano, also within the Trevi Fountain district. Perhaps one took a leaf from the other’s book, because both of these traditional Italian restaurants have significantly upped their game in catering to the vegan community.

Buddy’s has an extensive varsity of vegan meal options on their mean, and since they open at eight in the morning these include breakfast and brunch options as well.

Buddy Italian Restaurant Cafè in Rome – by Buddy Italian Restaurant Cafè – Uploaded by them

Their plant based pizzas are outstanding (based on my experience with their vegan truffle pizza). Again, possible in cahoots with Oregano because there is little to no differentiation in quality and taste compared to regular dairy/meaty pizzas.

Buddy’s has spent some time perfecting a vegan carbonara pasta dish to be as creamy and taste as a dairy based one usually would.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 8am to 12am

ADDRESS: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 107A, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Colosseo

Pizzeria La Boccaccia in Rome

In the north of Trastevere, right on the bank of the Tiber, is a another grab & go Roman pizzeria with a few vegan options on their menu. There is no way to access this side of Rome via public transport, the easiest way to get there is by foot.

These pizzas are prepared daily in batches, and served by the slice to anyone who walks in. Because of the rarity of grab & go vegan pizza options, their plant based slices can sell out early on in the day and aren’t aways available into evening service.

Pizzeria La Boccaccia in Rome – by Pizzeria La Boccaccia – Uploaded by them

Either way, their plant based options are fresh and tasty. They also cater a wide range of pizzas to vegetarians who don’t mind cheese, and then meaty pizzas for the carnivores that come to visit.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  9am to 11:30pm

ADDRESS: Via di Santa Dorotea, 2, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Colosseo