Agata and Romeo Caraccio run this quintessential temple to Roman fine dining that has been in Agata's family for three generations. Romeo is the expert sommelier with over 1500 labels in his cellar and Agata, his wife, is in the kitchen preparing her unique and updated versions of many different traditional Roman delights. The menu changes according to the seasons. For dessert, be sure to save room for her classic millefoglie, filled with sweet cream and available year-round. Reservations necessary. METRO: Vittorio Emanuele; BUS: Santa Maria Maggiore

Il Ristorante 34 is located in Rome's shopping center, so it is a convenient stop after a day of touring and shopping. The excellent Roman meal includes dishes like pasta lentil soup, spaghetti with clams, and rigatoni with pajata. The pasta in pumpkin cream sauce is a chef specialty. The interior is classy and the atmosphere is comfortably elegant. Reservations required. METRO: Spagna

PARIOLI DISTRICT. The Milozzi sisters, from the Marches region, welcome you to their authentic Roman restaurant in the well-heeled Parioli neighbourhood. The interior is decorated with a classic mix of antiques and oil paintings. Olive ascolane are large olives stuffed, breaded and fried, and make a great starter. Follow with the linguine, fettuccine or spaghetti for your pasta course. Don't miss the raw sea bass (fish carpaccio) or the fillet of swordfish. Of course, you will want to end with a dessert. How about a ginger mousse in liquorice sauce or a coffee and ricotta sweet? BUS: 910 from Termini station.

A sprawling, lushly-gardened 400-year-old estate with a real sense of history is the setting for Hostaria L'Archeologia. A favorite for weddings, birthdays and corporate functions and with a seating capacity of 360 spread over several rooms, it still nevertheless exudes an intimate atmosphere. The service is personalized too. The kitchen serves up traditional Italian pastas and gnocchi with wild boar sauce. The extraordinary wine cellar is found in an excavated ancient Roman tomb where you can still see the holes of the funeral urns. Reservations recommended on weekends. BUS: 118 or 660

TESTACCIO. Checchino features traditional Roman favorites, with an added twist to some of the dishes. If you are feeling adventurous, you may wish to try the veal hearts with artichokes or oxtail stew. For more conventional diners, there is a wide selection of pastas, salads and meat dishes. The Italian desserts are outstanding. Reservations recommended. BUS: 30. TRAM: 3.