Castroni
📍 Address: Via Cola di Rienzo, 196/198, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Since its establishment in 1932, Castroni has been a beloved high-end grocery store, captivating Roman gourmets. This main branch on Via Cola di Rienzo is truly a gastronomic theme park. The shelves are packed with carefully selected teas, spices, and chocolates from all over Italy and the world, making it easy to lose track of time just browsing.
What travelers absolutely shouldn’t miss is their selection of ‘Setaro’ pasta, a legendary brand known to connoisseurs. It’s also the perfect place to find elevated Italian souvenirs, such as dozens of types of salt, high-quality olive oils, and fragrant espresso beans available by weight. A nice touch is that they thoughtfully wrap your souvenir purchases in original wrapping paper. In the bar at the back of the store, you can take a break from shopping and enjoy authentic espresso, fresh juice, or gelato.
Eataly Rome
📍 Address: Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492, 00154 Roma RM, Italy
Eataly Roma, adjacent to Ostiense Station, is one of the world’s largest food department stores. Housed in a renovated former air terminal, its vast floors are filled with high-quality Italian ingredients. For food-related souvenirs, you can’t go wrong here, with pasta, olive oil, wine, cheese, craft beer, and more. Especially popular are Eataly’s original tote bags, practical and stylish, with a wide range of colors, making them perfect ‘scatter’ souvenirs.
Beyond its supermarket function, Eataly also boasts an impressive array of restaurants and cafes. You can grab a quick bite at the ground floor cafe or fritter shop, or for a more leisurely meal, we recommend the grill restaurant ‘Terra,’ where you can savor fresh meat and fish cooked over charcoal. Many travelers find themselves staying for hours when they only intended to stop for a moment due to the abundance of products, so it’s best to allow plenty of time in your schedule. While tempting, be mindful that large items like 1kg panettone or bulk pasta can be too heavy to carry on foot, so avoid over-buying.
Murano Max Murano Glass Rome
📍 Address: Via dei Banchi Nuovi, 8, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
While Murano glass is famous in Italy, if you’re looking to buy authentic glassworks in Rome, ‘Murano Max’ is highly recommended. Located within walking distance of Piazza Navona and Castel Sant’Angelo, this shop offers beautiful and delicate accessories, glasses, and interior items crafted on Murano Island at fair prices.
The friendly and kind owner provides attentive service, even if you don’t speak English or Italian, and helps you find items that suit your taste. Bracelets starting around 8 euros make perfect special gifts for friends. Many travelers worry about transporting glass products on flights, but here, they meticulously pack items to ensure they don’t break in your suitcase, offering peace of mind. You can enjoy a blissful time slowly admiring the artistic glass products while sipping a cool drink.
TUDAY CONAD
📍 Address: Piazza dei Cinquecento, 00185 Roma RM, Italy
For travelers using Termini Station, ‘TUDAY CONAD,’ located on the first basement floor of the station, is an invaluable ally. From ground level, the entrance is directly in front of you after descending the escalator near Uniqlo. Google Maps might sometimes point to the nearby construction area on the surface, so the golden rule to avoid getting lost is to enter the station building first and head to the basement using Uniqlo as a landmark.
Open from early morning until late at night, it stocks everything you might need during your trip: drinking water, snacks, bread, prepared foods, daily necessities, and more. You can buy small ‘scatter’ sweets, mini wine bottles (full bottles are also affordably priced), salads, and pizza, making it convenient for preparing dinner on days when you’re tired of restaurant meals. If you’re sensitive to Italy’s tap water and are looking for ‘soft water,’ look for products with a baby’s symbol. At the self-checkout, a tip to prevent errors is to place all your scanned items into your eco-bag *after* you’ve scanned everything.
Castroni
📍 Address: Via Frattina, 79, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Castroni, located on Via Frattina just a short walk from the Spanish Steps, is another of Rome’s renowned gourmet food stores, much like its main branch on Via Cola di Rienzo. Its biggest appeal is its location right in the heart of a major tourist area, making it easy to pop in between shopping and sightseeing.
The store offers a wide selection of popular Italian souvenirs, including truffle salt, truffle paste, dried porcini mushrooms, and conveniently sized olive oils. You can also find spice mixes that are the basis for famous Roman pastas like ‘Cacio e Pepe’ and ‘Arrabbiata,’ perfect for easily recreating local flavors at home. While prices aren’t cheap, the quality is guaranteed, making it an ideal spot for choosing gifts for loved ones or a special treat for yourself.
Shopping Tips for Supermarkets and Stores in Rome
Shopping in Italy comes with a few unique rules and considerations that differ slightly from Japan. Firstly, plastic bags at supermarkets are generally not free, so it’s smart to pick up a cute eco-bag early on, perhaps at Eataly, and carry it with you throughout your trip.
Also, when buying mineral water, pay attention to the difference between ‘Naturale’ (still water) and ‘Frizzante’ (sparkling water). If you tend to get an upset stomach from hard water, choosing water with a baby’s illustration on it, often sold for mixing baby formula, will provide gentle soft water for peace of mind. When bringing back bottled olive oils or pastes, in addition to wrapping them in clothes, it’s helpful to bring sealable bags like Ziploc from Japan as a precaution against potential leaks.
