Unmissable Middle Eastern Food in Rome

Unmissable Middle Eastern Food in Rome

Middle Eastern food is my go-to the minute I feel I can’t possible stomach one more bowl of pasta, or one more slice of pizza. I didn’t believe this would ever be possible; but even travelers going into their second week in Italy feel the hankering eventually.

Having eaten my way through the Italian capital for quite some time now, I like to think I know the very best spots for Middle Eastern food in Rome. Let’s see…

Mezé Bistrot in Rome

I would eat at Meze Bistrot every day if it were easily accessible for me; the restaurant sits a bit further west of the Trastevere than is convenient for me, but any event or guided walking tour out here brings me straight to Meze afterwards.

It’s a fusion kitchen specializing in a range of different cuisines from all over the Middle East, with a few Sicilian and North African dishes thrown in as well. The hummus and falafel plates are a must as either a starter or your main. They also have a full wine menu.

Mezé Bistrot in Rome – by Mezé Bistrot – Uploaded by them

It’s a great, wholesome vibe that makes you want to sit there all night long. Even the staff will mix and mingle with the tables the later it gets. There is a beautifully, strong sense of community at Meze Bistrot.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  6:30pm to 11:30pm

ADDRESS: Via di Monte Verde, 9B, 00152 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Roma Trastevere

Shisha Zenobia in Rome

Similar to how different parts of Italy have varying ways of preparing the same dishes, different parts of the Middle East do the same.

Shisha Zenobia is Syrian cuisine. It’s an authentic, cosy spot and the menu is not bad. But people don’t really come here for the food; they come for shisha.

You’ll pay €15 for one set up. The staff will replace the coals throughout the evening without you having to ask, which is a nice touch. It’s an ambient experience and nice to pair with some hot tea and small plates of food to snack on.

Shisha Zenobia in Rome – by Shisha Zenobia – Uploaded by them

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  11am to 3pm // 6pm to 12am

ADDRESS: Piazza Dante, 23, 00185 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Mazoni

La Via Della Seta Roma in Rome

La Via Della Seta Roma is the Middle Eastern restaurants that is convenient for me to eat at everyday, and I often do.

It’s located on the right bank, right across the Tiber where the Vatican sits.

This is an Arabic fusion house and the food is phenomenal. Salads, dips, falafel, vegetables, bean dishes, grape leaves… you name it. One of the best shared dining experiences you’ll find in Rome!

La Via Della Seta Roma in Rome – by La Via Della Seta Roma – Uploaded by them

La Via Della Seta Roma gets busy, which is a sure sign of how consistently good it is. A typical waiting time at the door is around an hour, so making a reservation in advance is a good idea.

What you can also do is show up, put your name on the wait list, and then take a walk over to the Vatican side of the water to see it by night. There are guided walking tours available for this during the day, but a night stroll is truly incomprehensible and worthwhile as well.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  12pm to 11pm

ADDRESS: La Via Della Seta Roma

METRO STATION: Spagna

Mandaloun in Rome

While most Middle Eastern cuisine is incredible inclusive of vegan and vegetarian eaters, Lebanese is undoubtably the one with the most variants.

Mandaloun is a well loved spot near the Termini train station right in the center of Rome. For many, this is the first neighborhood that they engage with upon arrival in the eternal city; a place like Mandaloun goes overlooked next to all the trattorias and Roman pizza houses.

Mandaloun in Rome – by Mandaloun – Uploaded by them

While tourists may overlook this spot, locals and members of the Middle Eastern community certainly do not. On weekends it’s one of the most buzzing restaurants on the block, the option of smoking shisha making things all the more attractive.

If you want to dine here with a family with small children, opt for a weekday instead. The smoke fills the space on weekends and I wouldn’t recommend it for developing lungs, you know?

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  12pm to 12am

ADDRESS: Via di Porta Pinciana, 16B, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Spagna

Le Mille e una Notte in Rome

This final Arabic eatery makes the cut thanks to it having some of the very best falafel in Rome. I know this because I have quite literally eaten falafel all over the city.

Le Mille e una Notte is traditional Arabic fusion food, with a few Italian items on their menu, but we’ll overlook this. Their Middle Eastern menu consists of a lot of fish based dishes, and then of course that falafel.

Le Mille e una Notte in Rome – by Le Mille e una Notte – Uploaded by them

You can smoke shisha here too, which makes this a very social spot on the weekends. Despite being a very large, accommodating space I would still recommend making a booking if you’re intending to dine in a group larger than four.

On weekends there is bellydancer entertainment and Arabic music throughout the night, sometimes live. You’ll forget all about Rome for a few hours while you dine in the middle of the UAE or Iran — it’s wonderful.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday TO Sunday –  11am to 2am

ADDRESS: Via Toscana, 41, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

METRO STATION: Spagna