It’s one of those questions we are often asked by our guests (& future guests): where to find specific types of food in Rome? Think lactose-free, high protein content, gluten-free… And so on and so forth.

Some guests have very specific meal plans they have to follow, even while on holiday, be it because they exercise a lot or there are certain types of foods they cannot eat, so having your own apartment is particularly convenient in situations like these.

Because it’s true, restaurants try to accommodate everyone, still there are certain specific ingredients that are not readily available in their kitchens – so a holiday rental such as one of those in will allow you to prepare your own meals. But where to find what you need? This is what this blog post is for!

Because of the high percentage of lactose intolerant and gluten intolerant Italians, there will always be a range of products to cater to your needs in every supermarket you encounter, from small branches the type of which you can find close to your Roman apartment to the bigger ones in more residential neighborhoods.

Remember that gluten free is “Senza glutine” while “lactose free” is “Senza lattosio”.

In any of the above you will also be able to choose from a wide range of vegan products such as chickpea or soy based “meatballs” or burgers, hummus and more, as well as high protein milk or yogurts.

While convenience stores can’t really help with those kinds of products, it will be a surprise to most of our readers to learn that most pharmacies do have a dedicated aisle for your dietary needs. Rule of thumb is “the bigger the pharmacy, the more chances of finding something specific” – because of course the main focus there will be on medication & drugs, not food. However, any decent sized pharmacy will have at least a few different brands of gluten free and nut free products.

What to do if you can’t find something specific, though?

This is where actual health food and organic food stores come into play. Naturasì, Biopolis, Bio Dop or Bio & Co are the most well known in Rome, with Naturasì & Biopolis being nation-wide chains roughly comparable to a Whole Foods, if you’re familiar with that one.

Bigger branches are, again, found commonly in more residential areas and the further away they are from the center, the harder is to reach them without a vehicle. But Google Maps is your friend, and you will be able to find some or all of the above by Campo de’ Fiori, minutes from Termini or from the Libia subway stop. If you can’t move around as much, some of these can also arrange deliveries. And of course you’ve got Eataly by the Piramide subway station – big enough to satisfy your every need, organic food wise.

One final, not-as-obvious destination for health food is Decathlon, the sporting goods retailer with branches all over the city. The most convenient stores for a visitor in Rome would be the one at the Happio mini-mall at the Furio Camillo subway stop, or the one across the road from, indeed, Eataly by the Piramide subway stop.

In the Decathlon stores, health foods are limited to an aisle or two by the checkouts and the availability there is mostly bars, dried fruits or specific powdered foods, just so you’re aware of this. However, their offering can often help supplementing other types of food found elsewhere so it’s always useful to give that a try (even by simply browsing their online store).

Have you got any more questions about your dietary needs while in Rome? We might be able to help! Drop us an email!