Amatriciana and Carbonara Festival

A festival for pasta lovers in the heart of Ostiense

Amatriciana and carbonara are the two pillars of Roman cuisine: guanciale, pecorino romano, black pepper, and then tomato on one side, egg on the other. Every year, for two weekends in March, Eataly Rome Ostiense transforms its spaces into a grand celebration dedicated to these very dishes, with the best trattorias and eateries in the capital invited to showcase their own versions. The event takes place in the Municipality of Rome, in the province of Rome and the Lazio region, just a stone's throw from the Pyramid of Cestius and the Testaccio district, the cradle of popular Roman cooking.

The featured eateries

The format is that of a gourmet market: stalls side-by-side, each with its own signature dish, leaving visitors free to curate their own tasting journey. Regular participants include:

• Lo Sfoglino Romano, with fresh hand-rolled pasta: tortelli stuffed with amatriciana ragù on mountain butter and crispy guanciale, and cappellacci alla carbonara with pecorino fondue and carbocrema;
• Ma-trù, arriving directly from Amatrice with chef Daniele Bonanni's spaghettone all'amatriciana, prepared with tomato, crispy guanciale, and Amatrice pecorino;
• Flavio al Velavevodetto, a historic Testaccio institution, with their signature rigatoni alla carbonara;
• Osteria Cavour, with tonnarelli and mezza manica;
• Anvedi, for the Roman street food side, and Polpetta Gluten Free, offering gluten-free versions of the two classics;
• Eataly's themed burgers, the Amatriciano and the Carbonaro, featuring Piedmontese Fassona beef, grilled semi-aged pecorino, and crispy bacon;
• Merisù, closing the meal with tiramisu.

Showcooking, music, and atmosphere

Beyond the tastings, the program features showcooking sessions where chefs demonstrate the technique behind the perfect mantecatura and the elusive egg cream that doesn't scramble — the skill that, more than any ingredient, separates a successful carbonara from a failed one. In the afternoon and evening, the stalls are accompanied by DJ sets featuring tropical, afro, and funk selections, giving the event an informal and convivial tone, perfect for both families and groups of friends.

The dishes are paired with a selection of craft beers, draft cocktails, and wines by the glass, with a special focus on labels from the Lazio region.

How the tasting works

Admission to the event is completely free. To eat and drink, you purchase tokens at the dedicated cash desks: one token is worth 1.50 euros, and promotional bundles are available to reduce the unit price. Unused tokens are non-refundable, so it is best to assess how many to purchase after an initial stroll through the stalls.

Why it's worth a visit

The festival is not just a gastronomic occasion; it is a great vantage point on the state of contemporary Roman cuisine. On one hand, the orthodox versions, proudly defended by historic trattorias; on the other, the creative contaminations — stuffed pasta, fried foods, burgers — that show how these two dishes have become a shared language. For those visiting Rome in spring, it is also an affordable and relaxed way to sample signatures that, individually, would require weeks of reservations.