Mercato Centrale


To say Mercato Centrale is a food hall inside Termini station would be giving the wrong impression. Yes, like  a food court within a shopping mall you can choose from different vendors and eat at central tables but where Mercato Centrale differs is in the quality of the food offerings.


We bow at the altar of Gabrielle Bonci and have to visit Pizzarium every trip but now we no longer have to make our way to Prati. We can get our fix from the 'Michelangelo of pizza' right here.


Another favourite food vendor featured  is Beppe Giovale with his gorgeous cheeses from Piedmont.



His store in the Jewish ghetto, Beppe e il Suo Formaggio is a great choice for lunch or aperitivo but a selection of cheeses from the counter here would make a delicious train picnic. They also have salads and sandwiches.


Stefano Callegari is well known for his clever invention of the portable snack, trapizzino, a cross between a pizza and a sandwich. 


If you are in the mood for fritti these can be supplied by Martino Bellincampi. Normally you would have to make your way to Montesacro to sample his fried delights.


As a change from Italian cooking you could try the hamburgers made with chianina beef from Enrico Lagorio.


If you are eating in the Mercato, once you have your food, you can ask the staff at Luca Boccoli to recommend a wine by the glass to compliment your choices.

We have yet to try the Oliver Glowig restaurant but aim to put this right on our next trip. The recently introduced Sunday Brunch comes highly recommended.


From the vantage point of the restaurant you get a birds eye view of the massive marble canopy that dominates the ground floor space. Another star of Mercato Centrale is the Fascist Era architecture. The building was used to prepare food for trains and workers so it is sweetly appropriate that its use continues in the same vein and in such a successful way.