Trajan's Column and Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary
The popular catchphrase “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” applies perfectly today to this quick travel tip.
When I was in Rome in 2011 and visiting with my friends who live there (we had met on a previous cruise to Antarctica) we did a lot of sightseeing together and sitting down to eat.
They told us one of their favorite places to eat in Rome was a restaurant most tourists would think is a tourist trap, because of its location to famous monuments, but that it is in fact some of the best Sicilian food you can find anywhere in Rome. (And they considered it the best in Rome.) We all went together for dinner one night, and it was superb!
The Trattoria Melo is located near 3 famous sightseeing spots: Trajan’s Column (in Trajan’s Forum), Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary, and the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (aka the wedding cake). To get to it you take a slight detour and aim toward the stairs, it is located just before you reach them. Whew! lol 
This family restaurant has been running since 1986. Run by Carmelo (Melo) and his wife, Eva. Both of them were full of smiles and good humor. They pride themselves on hospitality. We ordered on menu and off menu and everything was delicious. At the end of the meal we capped off with some yummy Limoncello
Buon appetito!
Trattoria Melo is by the stairs to the right of Trajan's Column in this picture.
Directions:
Trattoria Melo
Via Magnanapoli, 6
00187 Rome, Italy
YouTube Video Exploring Inside of Restaurant:
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Seeing the video, it makes me definitely want to go back!
Doesn’t it? I want some more that that delicious limoncello and their tomato brushetta. Best ever.
Hi Keira:
I wanted to let you know we made it to Trattoria Melo on our last night in Italy. The food was wonderful and the men working were entertaining and so very nice.
We watched them work with a table of 5 Japanese tourists who didn’t speak more than 2 words English and not one of Italian. They were so very accommodating, even taking one of the girls into the kitchen to show her what the food was.
We had Vino de Mandorale (Almond wine), which was like a brandy to end our meal as we’re very familiar with limoncello and they gave us the choice between the 2. It was fantastic and I’m hoping to find some here in the states.
Thanks again for the tips. We’re already trying to figure out when we can go back.
Hi Jordan! I’m so glad you liked eating there. We thought it was exceptional too. That Vino de Mandorale sounds yummy. You will have to let me know if you find it in the States. I think how they handled the Japanese tourists shows a real grace.