Vegan
Pizza
Italian
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Family-owned vegan restaurant with roman style cuisine, seasonal dishes, and pizza. Dishes include carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe, gricia, and veganized traditional desserts. Reservations required; book through the restaurant website. LGBTQ+ friendly. Note: Previously veg options only, but fully vegan since 1st March 2023. Open Tue-Sun 11:00-23:00. Closed Mon.
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- Outdoor seating
- Reservations required
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 08 Aug 2025 by ValaBeneath
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1227 Reviews
First Review by lotustummy
Lily.Macpherson
Points +90
A proper authentic Italian - Edit
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian restaurant not just a touristy gimmick then this is the restaurant you need to head to. Come 6 o’clock the place is packed with locals which if you ask us is a great sign. It doesn’t matter if it’s an hour out of your way… you need to go
Read morePros: Incredible mozzarella , Authentic Italian menu options -well priced, Great Italian vibe
Guest
MakanMakanMakan
Points +639
Hearty & Filling - Edit
The restaurant isn't huge, and its pretty busy - we were lucky to get a table from a walk-in perspective on the evening we dined. It seems to be quite popular. The staff were friendly and helpful, but at times did seem a bit overwhelmed because of how busy it was - but on the whole the service was good, and there weren't any real issues.
Read moreThe food was great, pretty wholesome Italian cuisine - pastas, risottos, etc. all veganised. Made for a really enjoyable dinner! A number of gluten-free options available. Dessert options were quite tasty too. Little pricey, but food quality is fair for the price, portion sizes reasonable.
Overall a pretty solid experience. Not exceptional, but we feel these quality Vegan restaurants are the foundation of good plant-based eating everywhere!
Guest
ZedBee
Points +17
Rude - Edit
Found the restaurant on happy cow, didn’t know you had to book a table in advance. When we got there the women who greeted us asked how many it was for and if we had a reservation, when we said no. She said no and walked away even though the restaurant was half full.
Read moreValaBeneath
We understand it can be frustrating to be turned away, but the restaurant was fully booked — as it often is, especially during peak times. We always recommend booking in advance, and this is clearly stated on all our platforms.
Read moreThat said, we believe it’s unfair to leave a negative review for a place where you didn’t actually dine. Reviews should reflect the quality of food and service, not the fact that a guest arrived without a reservation. As a 100% vegan business, we work hard every day to promote ethical food choices, and reviews have a real impact on our visibility and work. We hope you’ll consider this in the future and that you’ll return another time — with a booking — to truly experience what we offer.
Guest
eduardapscarvalho
Points +36
Perfeito - Edit
Óptima comida, tiramisú incrível
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-06-09
Guest
Marisabecker
Points +78
Mega lecker - Edit
Sehr sehr tolles Restaurant in zentraler Lage💗Wir waren zwei Mal dort und ich habe die Carbonara und Margherita gegessen sowie verschiedene Bruschette und weitere Vor- und Nachspeisen. Alles war super lecker und relativ schnell zubereitet. Faire Preise
Read morePros: Auswahl ist riesig, Geschmack, Preis
Cons: Etwas besserer Sitzcomfort
Guest
Joscherino
Points +50
Sehr lecker und große Auswahl! - Edit
Ich war 2 mal hier. Beide male hatte ich als Hauptspeise die Pizza Bomba. Meine Freundin hatte die Pasta Carbonara. Mir hat vor allem die Pizza extrem gut geschmeckt. Die Vorspeisen sind auch allesamt lecker. Als Nachspeise hatten wir das Erdbeertiramisu welches auch sehr gut war! Also meine Empfehlung: PIZZA
Read morePros: Pizza, Auswahl, Service
Guest
Niknakaroo
Points +871
Wait was worth it… - Edit
I’ve been wanting to try this place for years, and finally I’m back in Rome, so we booked a table.
Read moreI was not disappointed…
The service was great, the vibe is high and the food was unbelievable!! We shared 4 dishes and a dessert and not a crumb was left on the plate!!
But the caramel cheesecake was to die for!!
Pros: Quick friendly service, Lovely space, The caramel cheesecake!!
Cons: None…everything was perfect
Guest
SofiaE3698
Points +18
Ottimo ristorante di cucina tipica - Edit
Carciofo alla giudia e carbonara buonissimi. Se si vuole andarci a mangiare, consiglio di prenotare con anticipo.
Read moreGuest
wyrd
Points +3523
Exceptional - Edit
I went to Rifugio Romano after reserving a table via its website a couple or hours before. I had an amazing experience. The restaurant was crowded, and yet service was kind and quick.
Read moreThe vegan arancino was really good, and I liked the tempeh with artichokes (carfiofo alla romana), but it's when I got to the dessert that I was blown away: the tiramisu is to die for!
Pros: Arancino, Tiramisu
Guest
PaigeBusbridge
Points +597
Great Authentic Italian Food - Edit
I wish I got to experience this restaurant in person but I didn’t have time so ordered via Deliveroo— we had the cannelloni which was amazing — loved the addition of pea protein inside to give it the meaty texture it was so yum. We also had the focaccia and tiramisu which was also really great. Highly recommend.
Read moreGuest
Ramashou
Points +110
Overrated - Edit
Considering how much I heard about this place, I was shocked at how disappointing their pizza was. Their tiramisu was good but not up to the hype. The staff was not very welcoming and on top of this the prices are really high.
Read morePros: Tiramisu was good
Cons: Unwelcoming staff, Overhyped , Overpriced
Guest
Yamiryou
Points +784
Good but high price - Edit
Three of us visited Rifugio Romano and tried quite a variety of dishes: the vegan appetizer platter, fried dough stuffed with pumpkin flowers, steamed artichoke, a pizza with potatoes and vegan meatballs, pasta, the 3D printed vegetable sliced meat and a panna cotta.
Read moreThe appetizer platter was very tasty, maybe they could put a bit more bread on the side. The fried dough with pumpkin flowers was amazing, seriously one of my favourites! The artichoke was well-cooked but lacked flavor.
I didn't really enjoy the pizza, and we regretted not going for a more classic option. I liked the pasta, but the vegan meat was not my thing, the texture was meat-like, but the taste wasn't good. Panna cotta was average.
The service was good overall, but I found the prices to be too high. Still, it was an interesting and mostly enjoyable experience.
Guest
LoraLondon
Points +239
Traditional Italian dishes - but vegan! - Edit
A small and cosy trattoria with a brilliant menu covering everything from antipasti, pasta, pizza, mains, sides and desserts. I had the Roman artichoke followed by the spaghetti carbonara and both were very good. Would love to come back and try some of the other dishes! It gets very full so definitely worth booking in advance.
Read moreGuest
SarahCartwright
Points +57
Delicious and reasonably priced! - Edit
Everything we ordered was fantastic - we had the nduja bruschetta, vegan octopus and the 'vegan refuge appetiser' sharing board, followed by salted caramel panna cotta and salted caramel cheesecake. There was lots of choice and some interesting dishes on the menu so we would definitely return!
Read morePros: Delicious food , Range of options on the menu , Reasonable prices
Guest
MoniaBicocchi
Points +18
vegana a Roma - Edit
ristorante piccolo ma molto accogliente,mezze maniche all'amatriciana superbe, fiori di zucca buonissimi. vino della casa buono. vasta varieta di cibo. Personale gentilissimo.
Read moreGuest
angpic
Points +2904
Pizza pazzesca - Edit
Locale pienissimo per tutto il pranzo, ma il servizio era veloce. Le pizze erano buonissime, dalla pasta al condimento
Read moreGuest
DanielaRu
Points +107
Would give 6 stars if possible - Edit
Make a reservation in advance. All tables were busy and after enjoying the dinner, I totally understand why!
Read moreHad an artichoke Roman style as starter and Carbonara as main. Both of which were super delicious. They have a really extensive menu, so difficult to make a choice 😉
Updated from previous review on 2025-05-18
Guest
KüblerLars
Points +132
Great Vegan Italian Food - Edit
Excellent food. Great staff. Must have: fried artichokes, saltimbocca, etc. and of course the tiramisu …
Read moreGuest
Chloe(Artemis)
Points +1254
Make a reservation - Edit
I was incredibly lucky! After touring the coliseum until it closed I was hungry and used Happy Cow to find a vegan Italian restaurant.
Read moreThis place requires a reservation and I put myself on the waiting list. When I arrived they had a table available only for an hour so I picked my food quickly and got sparkling water as well. I am so grateful they were able to accommodate me, but if I was part of a group I would not be able to get a table.
For the first course I ordered the Lasagna with pistachio and artichoke, homemade jerusalem artichoke bechamel sauce and chips. It was incredible. It tastes significantly better than it looks. The artichoke comes through very strongly and the sauce is cooling and fresh. It was hearty and filling and I thought I might have ordered too much food by getting a second course and dessert. However this was also the only thing I ate for the whole day so I was happy to be full. A delicious dish that I highly recommend trying.
For the second course I got Vegetable Sliced "Meat" Served on Carrot Cream, Balsamic Vinegar Reduction Flavored with Sage and Rosemary Mayonnaise and Roasted Potatoes. It looks and feels very much like how I remember meat. If you don't want anything to look or feel like meat do not get this, but for me it was fantastic. The flavor of the sauce and vegan mayonnaise was perfectly paired and balanced. The "meat" has a slight "beyond burger" aftertaste but it is so subtle and gives me a hint that it truly is vegan. I enjoyed it and didn't feel overly stuffed like I thought I might by the time I was done eating.
And lastly I got the Pistachio and Raspberry Tartlet for dessert. As a dessert it wasn't overly sweet although at the end the raspberry was a bit overpowering. The pistachio is perfect and has a creamy frosting on top. It was delicious but I would love to try a tiramisu next time I'm in Rome.
I highly recommend getting a spot here and trying this extensive menu!
Pros: Friendly to English Speakers, Huge menu, Fantastic flavors
Cons: Limited seating so reservations required
Guest
LolaCallies
Points +89
Food was good, but the staff made us feel unwelcome - Edit
We walked in during lunch and were told they were busy despite many empty seats. When I asked to make a reservation for dinner instead, the guy said they were booked out. However, when I checked their website, I realised they were actually still available the same evening.
Read moreGuest
archaeofiero
Points +1513
Great food - Edit
The entrees, pastas, etc, aren't anywhere near as good as Buddy Vegan, but the desserts are better at Rifugio.
Read moreGuest
SiMa
Points +283
Really lovely food - Edit
We came here on a reservation for an early dinner, the place was pretty quiet but that was fine. It’s right near Termini train station, so convenient for food if you have a train to catch. Was lovely to have so much choice, ended up with the Hot Dog Calzone, which is just what the doctor ordered. And you simply HAVE TO HAVE the caramel cheesecake with salt, comes in a glass and is so good I nearly wept.
Read morePros: All vegan , Reasonably priced , Friendly staff
Guest
elithreeee
Points +477
So authentic - Edit
Typical italian food, average price for rome, so many different desserts. We had the apperitive plate, the carbonara and the cacio e pepe. Everything was delicious but the cacio e pepe was outstanding. For desert we definitely recommend the tiramisu and the Nutella panna cotta. I would revisit for sure.
Read moreGuest
Nathaly
Points +111
Déception totale - Edit
Complètement déçus vu les avis lus précédemment. Les goûts n’étaient pas du tout au rendez-vous, tout était fade (lasagnes artichaut et risotto), les textures mal travaillées (panna cotta) et les photos non représentatives des plats servis (hoummous).
Read moreSeul l’arancini était délicieux.
L’accueil était glacial et désorganisé. Le cadre vraiment bas de gamme.
Cons: Le service, La cuisine, La décoration
Guest
MarineLardé
Points +177
Lovely place for lovely dinner - Edit
They have a lot of choices, everything is vegan and you want to try them all.
Read moreThe pasta are amazing. And their cheeses are home made.
Pros: Amazing choices , Fully vegan , Great pasta
Cons: None
Guest
Deerflowerheart
Points +282
Cute & cozy vegan place ✨ - Edit
Nice traditional italian dishes, all made vegan 💚 Rustic, easy going vibe, all food we had was yummy! We came here twice when in Rome! Booking recommended as was a steady flow of people, also some outdoor seating 💕 Really nice experience!
Read morePros: Yummy vegan food, Nice recipes, Easy going vibe
Guest
golingola
Points +172
Amazing food in Rome! - Edit
Went with my non vegan family and they absolutely loved it! The food was full of flavor, and the staff were lovely. We tried a few dishes and loved every single one. It’s a cozy spot, so I’d recommend booking ahead as it gets busy!
Read moreGuest
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