Guide to Rome

When I asked my daughter what she wanted to do for her 16th birthday- a party? a meal with friends? Her reply was- a weekend in Rome with you. I was a bit surprised, but happy as that was something I could enjoy too! So I got planning....

We would have to go after their GCSE's were finished (so it was kind of a double celebration) at the end of June- which isn't the best time to go as its busy and hot, but it had to be done. We took along her best friend, who happens to be my best friends daughter - @MORstyle, so off the four of us went on our girly trip.

I choose a small hotel right in the centre Albergo Ottocentro, a short walk from the Spanish Steps and The Trevi Fountain.

The first thing we did was go to see the Trevi Fountain and throw a coin in to ensure our return. I haven't been to Rome for many years, it's a lot busier than I remember (isn't everywhere?) you have to queue to go down to the fountain. But, it is a beauty and we took some photos and tossed our coins in.

marianna and sally throwing a coin over their shoulders into the trevi fountain in rome

Sally and I at the Trevi Fountain

We stumbled across a great gelato shop close to the fountain called Il Gelato Di San Crispino, I had the walnut meringue ice cream- it was heavenly!

We ate dinner at Osteria Da Fortunata - there are a few of these dotted around the city. They are popular because they serve traditional, homemade pasta and you can watch them making the pasta in the window while you eat. The dishes are typically Roman and the pasta is delicious.

a street in Rome with a Church at the end

The beautiful streets of Rome

a orange coloured building with lots of windows in rome

After dinner we had a stroll around and ended up by the Pantheon, which is really bustling in the evenings, we then went on the hunt for a rooftop bar. This became a bit of a theme for the trip! We had a cocktail at NOTOS Rooftop at the gorgeous Six Senses hotel- a short walk from the pantheon, it was a beautiful spot.

The Pantheon

The next day we had tickets booked to go to Vatican City. I have been to Rome a few times, but the queue was always too long to go into the Sistine Chapel, so this time I pre-booked skip the line tickets. Even skip the line tickets have a queue- but it was really quick and the Chapel was stunningly beautiful. We didn't spent much time looking around the museum as it was way too crowded with tour groups clogging up the corridors... and it was boiling hot.

The Sistine Chapel

We had lunch booked at Roscioli Salumeria Con Cucina, its very popular here so you have to book. It's like a restaurant within a deli, we ate downstairs in wine cellar so it was nice and cool. The food was amazing.

A table with 2 dishes of pasta o it and a bowl of olives

Traditional pasta at Roscioli Salumeria Con Cucina

Around the corner is a tiramisu shop- Two Sizes- which is great if you want something small and sweet as you can get a tiny little portion for €3. We had a stroll around the streets and did some shopping before heading back to the hotel.

back of two girls with a sun parasol walking down the street in rome

Dinner was booked at Trattoria Al Moro, just around the corner from the Trevi Fountain. This was my favourite restaurant. Very traditional Italian food and decor. We had veal with artichoke, followed by the most divine strawberry cake.

Wild strawberry cake at Al Moro

We finished the evening with drinks and people watching overlooking the fountain at Trevi Rooftop.

view fro rooftop bar of trevi fountain at night

Trevi Rooftop Bar

The next day we had a golf cart tour booked, a great way to see the whole city and save your feet! We went to the Colossum, stopped at an incredible church and ended up at the Spanish Steps.

painted and gold ceiling of a church in Rome

sally and marianna at the spanish steps in Rome

Sally and I at the Spanish Steps

The girls went back to the hotel for some down time so Sally and I decided to do some retail therapy and stopped off for affogato at Caffe Greco- the oldest (and most expensive!) bar in Rome. Couldn't have asked for a more luxurious afternoon.

The oldest bar in Rome- Caffe Greco

We had dinner at Terrazza Borromini over looking the Piazza Novana and drinks afterwards in their rooftop bar watching the sun go down. We strolled back to the hotel stopping off for (more) tiramisu at Mr. 100 Tiramisu and then ended up at Flores Terrace for a nightcap- we had not planned to go here but were ushered in as we walked past- it was absolutely beautiful and had really cool vibe.