Roman & Seafood · Tridente, Rome · €60–70 per person
Roman & Seafood€60–70 per personTridenteOpen since 1971
"A family-run Roman trattoria off the Tridente, pouring cacio e pepe and Champagne since 1971. Book it for an unhurried solo dinner."
8Food
8Ambience
7Value
About Settimio all'Arancio
Settimio opened his trattoria on Via dell'Arancio in 1971, a few steps from the Mausoleum of Augustus, and the family has run it the same way ever since: Roman classics, fresh fish off the Lazio coast, and a Champagne list that surprises for a neighbourhood room. Tonnarelli cacio e pepe and coda alla vaccinara anchor the menu, with lunch or dinner landing around €60 to €70 a head before wine. Tucked on a quiet street in the Tridente, it is the kind of address Romans keep for themselves. It belongs among the best Italian restaurants worldwide.
The Kitchen
This is a family kitchen, not a chef's stage. Settimio started the restaurant in 1971 and ran it with his wife and children before opening a sister room, Arancio d'Oro, in 1988; the same family still cooks the Roman canon here without reinventing it. The pasta is the heart of the menu: tonnarelli cacio e pepe, rigatoni alla carbonara, spaghetti alle vongole, and a lobster pasta that regulars order ahead. From the secondi come coda alla vaccinara, the slow-braised oxtail that is one of Rome's defining dishes, grilled fish and lamb, and Roman artichokes prepared every way. Frying is done well, from potatoes to the day's antipasti.
What sets Settimio apart from the trattoria around the corner is the cellar. The wine list runs unusually deep in Champagne and sparkling wine, an oddity for a room this traditional, which makes it a quiet choice for a celebration or a long lunch. Prices land around €60 to €70 a head before wine. The address is Via dell'Arancio 50, on a calm street in the Tridente near the Mausoleum of Augustus and a short walk from the Spanish Steps. For more of the city, see the Rome dining guide and its best seafood tables.
The Room
Settimio is a small, traditional room on a quiet Tridente side street, the kind of trattoria where the walls carry decades of photographs and the tables sit close together. It is warm and unfussy rather than designed, with white cloths, wood, and a steady hum of locals and regulars rather than a tourist crush. The noise level is conversational, comfortable for eating alone at the bar end or for a table of two talking business. There is no dress code to speak of; smart-casual fits. Service is brisk, family-run and old-school Roman, attentive without hovering, and happy to steer a solo diner toward the right pasta and a glass.
Best for Solo Dining
Settimio suits solo dining because it is the rare Roman classic that makes a single diner feel like a regular: an unfussy room, family service that will guide you to the day's best pasta, and a Champagne-by-the-glass list that turns a plate of cacio e pepe into something to linger over. The tables are close enough that you are never eating in a silent corner, and the kitchen is fast when you want it to be. It is just as good for a business lunch, where the quiet street and quick service keep a midday meeting on schedule.
Not for
Skip Settimio if you want a designed, modern dining room or a quiet, widely-spaced table; this is a close-packed traditional trattoria where neighbours hear neighbours.
Frequently Asked
Is Settimio all'Arancio worth it?
Yes, for traditional Roman cooking done by a family that has run the room since 1971. Settimio all'Arancio sits on a quiet Tridente street near the Mausoleum of Augustus, serving tonnarelli cacio e pepe, coda alla vaccinara and fresh fish for around €60 to €70 a head, with an unusually deep Champagne list. It is a local's address rather than a tourist trap.
What should I order at Settimio all'Arancio?
Order the tonnarelli cacio e pepe or the spaghetti alle vongole to start, then coda alla vaccinara, the slow-braised oxtail that is a Roman classic, or grilled fish off the Lazio coast. Roman artichokes are a reliable side, and the lobster pasta is worth ordering ahead. Pair it with something from the Champagne list.
How old is Settimio all'Arancio?
Settimio opened the restaurant in 1971 and has been run by the same family for more than fifty years; they later opened a sister trattoria, Arancio d'Oro, in 1988. The cooking is the traditional Roman canon, unchanged in approach, which is much of its appeal.
Where is Settimio all'Arancio and how do I book?
It is at Via dell'Arancio 50 in the Tridente, near the Mausoleum of Augustus and a short walk from the Spanish Steps. Book by phone on +39 06 6876119, especially for dinner, as the room is small. See the Rome dining guide for more tables across the city.
Reserve by phone or TheFork; the room is small, so book ahead for dinner.
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Practical Information
AddressVia dell'Arancio 50, 00186 Rome
NeighbourhoodTridente (near Mausoleum of Augustus)
CuisineRoman & Seafood
PriceAround €60–70 per person before wine
Established1971 (family-run)
SpecialityCacio e pepe, coda alla vaccinara, Champagne list
