Cacio e Pepe Festival

A festival for Rome's signature dish

Few dishes define Rome like cacio e pepe: just three ingredients—pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper—and a technique that allows for no shortcuts. This apparent simplicity is the foundation of the Cacio e Pepe Festival, the culinary event that brings the Eataly Rome Ostiense space to life every January, located at Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492, in the city of Rome, Lazio.

The concept is as simple as it is effective: gather some of the best Roman restaurants under one roof and challenge each to present their unique version of the dish. The result is a true map of taste, allowing visitors to compare different styles, techniques, and philosophies surrounding a single recipe in just a few hours.

How it works

The event follows an urban food festival format, designed to be accessible and informal. Entry is free: you can freely enter the Eataly space and purchase tokens at dedicated cash desks to spend at the participating restaurant stalls. Promotional packages allow you to sample multiple dishes at a reduced price, encouraging the very tasting journey that defines the event.

Each edition spans two consecutive weekends, with lunch and dinner sessions on Saturdays and Sundays, and evening openings on Fridays. Cash desks close half an hour before the end of each session: it is advisable to arrive early, especially on Saturday nights, which are traditionally the busiest.

Between tradition and creative flair

The heart of the event lies in the variety of offerings. Alongside the classic tonnarello, tossed according to the canonical technique, the stalls offer annual reinventions that play with shapes, temperatures, and textures:

• stuffed pasta and first courses revisited with seasonal vegetables, truffles, or crispy zucchini flowers
• street food versions, from soft potato buns to supplì and fried cacio e pepe-inspired snacks
• gluten-free options and sweet variations, such as ricotta-based interpretations
• pairings with Roman craft beers on tap, selected wines, and signature cocktails

All of this takes place in a setting that is a destination in itself: Eataly Ostiense occupies the former Air Terminal Ostiense, a large converted building housing a market, restaurants, and event spaces across multiple floors.

More than just tastings

The program complements the culinary experience with a series of free entertainment events. Live cooking shows bring chefs and food artisans in front of the audience for practical demonstrations and technical insights; evening DJ sets accompany dinner with deep house and revival tracks, while Sunday lunch sessions offer a lighter, more family-friendly atmosphere. It is an event that works well for families, thanks to the indoor space and manageable wait times.

Why it's worth visiting

In a city where cacio e pepe is served in thousands of venues, the festival offers something rare: the chance to compare multiple versions in the same evening, understand what distinguishes a perfect emulsion from a failed one, and discover restaurants you might never have visited otherwise. For those visiting Rome in winter, when outdoor events are limited, it is one of the most authentic ways to connect with the capital's popular culinary culture.

The Ostiense district

The event is located in an urban area that has become one of Rome's most vibrant in recent years: Ostiense blends industrial archaeology, large-scale street art, nightlife, and the nearby Testaccio district, the cradle of Rome's most traditional cuisine. A visit to the festival is easily combined with a walk through the area, passing the Pyramid of Cestius, the Gazometro, and the murals of Via del Porto Fluviale.