Where to eat around the Eur lake in Rome

Taking a stroll along the Passeggiata del Giappone by the Eur Lake in spring is a ritual for Romans as the warm season approaches. It's time to snap a photo, and it already feels like summer. A visit to the Garden of the Waterfalls, which faces the Obelisk head-on, and the languor sets in: but where to eat at the Eur?

The dining scene at the Eur

There's nothing at the Eur, because the Eur doesn't exist. It's the Molise of the Capital, the "wrong side" of the river: anyone living in the shadow of the Square Colosseum (the Palace of Italian Civilization) or even worse, from Viale Europa downwards, is considered some kind of second-class Roman. Especially when it comes to food: while other areas grow, suburbs evolve, and the historic center rebels against the dictatorship of tourist restaurants, placid Eur remains still. Solid, granite-like, all stretching towards the sea: after all, it was almost born by mistake, due to a missed appointment, that with the Universal Exhibition of Rome in 1942, canceled due to the war. An unfulfilled promise that gave birth to an imperturbable and sometimes beautiful residential area.
It has always remained a world apart, a different Rome, that extra bit forcibly attached to a city with an already defined identity, an extension that the "true" Romans may have never fully embraced. But when you get to know it, you end up loving the Eur. Dining may not be its strong point, but a walk along Viale Europa, the ascent to the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on sunny mornings, an ice cream by the lake passing by what was once the puppet theater represent precious moments of tranquility in a schizophrenic city.

A drink and a slice of pizza, before getting back in the car and rushing to the beach, or perhaps heading into the city center: there are a few but good addresses to grab a bite to eat. Let's hope that more will emerge over time.

Where to eat at the Eur in Rome

Gegè

The secret to success lies in the well-tested dough formula: a mix of quality flours, natural leavening for up to 72 hours, very little yeast, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. There's a wide variety of flavors available at the counter, from the most classic to those dictated by imagination and season. Supplì and stuffed panzerotti are also available. Other locations at Via Cassia 927, Via di Villa Severini 18, and Via Acerenza 4.

Gegè – viale dell’Aeronautica, 125 - pizzagege.it/

Héco

Well-made cocktails, good food, and a relaxed atmosphere: that's the magic formula of Héco, a cocktail bar with a kitchen where you can stop for a snack (with a selection of carefully chosen cold cuts and cheeses) or for a simple and tasty dinner. There are many gastronomic proposals, many of which are based on fish, but for those who want a less demanding dish, there's also pizza, with Neapolitan-style dough with classic or more original toppings. House cocktails and traditional drinks are served, as well as wines and craft beers. Another location at Via Portuense, 47.

Héco - viale dell'Arte, 5 - hecoroma.com/

Lievito Francesco Arnesano

With his trays, Francesco Arnesano continues to confirm himself as a pizza artist. The dough never disappoints, light and well aerated, perfect even as a base for more structured toppings. The counter is a parade of combinations that pay homage to vegetables in every season and the work of carefully selected producers. Not to mention the fried foods with their beautiful robust breading, from grandma's supplì to potato croquettes. Another location (with a café) at Via Simone Martini, 6.

Lievito Francesco Arnesano – viale Europa, 339 - lievitopizzapane.it/

Ottimo – Caffè e Cucina

A beautiful array of leavened goods welcomes every customer in the morning, who knows they can find a comfortable meal at any time here, but above all, a familiar environment to relax with a creamy cappuccino. The brioches are of good quality, while for lunch there are daily specials, such as couscous with baked vegetables, fusilli alla Checca, risottos, chicken strips, vitello tonnato, and turkey nuggets. There are also appetizers for aperitifs, to be enjoyed in the spacious outdoor area.

Ottimo – Caffè e Cucina – viale dell’Aeronautica, 89/91 - instagram.com/ottimo_caffe_e_cucina/

Panì

There are baguettes that are stuffed with quality cold cuts, cheeses, vegetables, and other quality products for a quick and tasty lunch. And then there's the evening menu with hamburgers in various types - beef, pulled pork, breaded and marinated cod, vegetarian options - accompanied by fries. In any case, here you feel good even just for a quick bite, choosing from the various fried options available, thanks to the informal and welcoming service, and the menu that satisfies everyone.

Panì – viale America, 13 - facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063516582304

Torcè

New location for this top-notch gelateria, made with quality ingredients and well-balanced recipes, which create a healthy but no less delicious ice cream. Many flavors are available: it's definitely impossible to resist a taste of chocolate (18 variants with or without milk). And for vegans, there are 20 options to choose from, including chocolate, fruit, and nuts.

Torcè – viale dell'Arte, 9 a - gelateriatorce.it/

Alt-Stazione del Gusto

Chef Niko Romito's project, in collaboration with Eni, has brought a new format to the neighborhood. In the historic service station, the popular catering proposal already tested in Abruzzo (and also present in Ostia) has arrived: a bar where you can stop from morning to evening for breakfast or a quick lunch break. Fried chicken, savory bomb, and focaccias are among the strengths of the menu, while in the morning there are filled croissants in various flavors, slices of cake, and pies to accompany espressos and cappuccinos.

Alt-Stazione del Gusto – viale America, 270 - altstazionedelgusto.it/roma/

Cavalletti Caffè

The millefeuille from the pastry shop on Via Nemorense has been a true myth for Romans over the years. For some time now, the sign has also landed at the Eur, and although the fame of the pastry has gradually waned, it's worth stopping here for a snack or a quick break to enjoy the elegant and spacious atmosphere. The outdoor area is reserved and pleasant on sunny days, the millefeuille is offered in various sizes, including single portions, and flavors, accompanied by a well-made classic pastry selection.

Cavalletti – viale Europa, 20 - cavallettimillefoglie.it/

O’bredy

The sandwiches for lunch are the highlight of this small establishment on Viale Beethoven, with the most diverse, fresh, and tasty fillings. Less known but equally good is the coffee: here you can find high-quality specialty beans, carefully extracted in well-balanced espressos. Cappuccino lovers are in for a treat, with various flavored croissants and slices of pies available, while for a pre-lunch drink, there are Spritz and glasses of natural wine. For those looking for a fresher meal, there are also rich bowls, but only at lunchtime: they close at 3 pm.

O’bredy - Viale Beethoven, 43/45 - facebook.com/obredyroma?locale=it_IT

Addore

Moving a couple of kilometers away, you'll find a traditional Neapolitan pizzeria offering delicious round and fried pizzas. The venue is spacious, perfect for families and dinners with friends, with a wide and varied selection starting from appetizers, bruschettas, spaghetti omelets, cacio e pepe supplì, and panar, a mixed fried Neapolitan dish. For pizzas, don't expect modern or innovative flavors: here you can rely on the classics of the Campania repertoire, with flavorful and balanced toppings that enrich light, digestible doughs with a soft and pronounced crust.

Addore – via Maputo, 2 - addorepizzeria.com/

Coming soon: San Biagio Pizza & Bolle

Pizza & Bolle is a Roman group that offers all types of pizza: contemporary Neapolitan with the Sant’Isidoro brand, Roman with San Martino, and by the cut with San Biagio. The latter, after having already experimented with the format in Prati, will arrive at the Eur by the end of April 2024. A pizza with carefully selected fresh and seasonal ingredients, which in the evening will also be available in a Roman-style low version, rolled out with a rolling pin.

San Biagio Pizza & Bolle – viale Europa, 15 - instagram.com/_san_biagio/

AO! Street Food Market Lab

A few steps (or kilometers) further

The neighboring neighborhoods deserve a separate guide, but in case you find yourself nearby and feel like moving just a few kilometers by car, here are some gastronomic gems not to be missed: arriving at Mostacciano, there's TAC - Thin & Crunchy, Pier Daniele Seu and Valeria Zuppardo's pizzeria dedicated to the Roman round pizza, in Montagnola the neighborhood market remains open in the evening with AO! Street Food Market Lab's hamburgers, while at lunch it delights passersby with seafood dishes from Maresca fish market.

Staying in the area, there's F.lli Nucilli's pizza by the slice (but only until 7 pm, then it becomes round), I Quintili's contemporary, Trecastelli's pinsa, and oWine's selection of natural wines.

I Mannari

Arriving at Roma 70, the pizza alla pala and kebab from Pizza Nader are a guarantee, on weekends the Grottaperfetta Market remains active with the Flash Market, a space shared by several stands offering express dishes, while gelato lovers can rely on I Mannari in Via di Grottaperfetta, an address to note especially for the fabulous sorbet. And for those passing by Via Laurentina, a stop at Nice Pizza is a must for a taste of the "old-fashioned" pizza by the slice, rustic, without frills, with abundant toppings and a crispy base.