The story
Mercato Centrale Roma, perched just steps from Termini station, has earned a loyal following among travelers and locals alike for its sprawling, lively hall of food stalls. As creator Giuliacrossbow notes, it’s “a great food market” offering “a wide variety of stands, from sweet pastries to savory cornetti.” The sheer range is impressive: standout bites include a Sfogliatella con Mandorle, a Bignè al Pistacchio, and a Crostatina al Lampone, alongside savory surprises like a Cornetto alla Carbonara or a Cornetto all’Ossobuco con Maionese allo Zafferano. A Centrifuga drink and Cheesecake con Gocce di Cioccolato round out a strong showing for sweets.
Still, not everything hits. Prices at the market run “medium-high,” and Giuliacrossbow flags the fried octopus as particularly disappointing. For a venue that leans into casual, tourist-friendly energy, those misses sting a bit. But for those willing to navigate the buzzy, modern space and pick carefully, Mercato Centrale remains a reliable, one-stop introduction to Roman street food culture—especially for pastry lovers.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2021.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 8 dish mentions say about the food
Reviewers rave about the Centrifuga, a vibrant juice that captures the market’s essence, with an overall vibe of bustling, authentic Roman energy.
“We also got a centrifuga (fresh juice). As we all know, centrifuges usually cost a lot — this one cost exactly as much as the carbonara cornetto (5.50 euros). It's good, but it's a bit pricey for what it is.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Mercato Centrale Roma. Most active: Giuliacrossbow
A great food market near Termini station with a wide variety of stands, from sweet pastries to savory cornetti, though prices are medium-high and some dishes (like the fried octopus) are disappointing.
Dishes mentioned
Sfogliatella con Mandorle
I got a sfogliatella with almonds. The almond is soft, not too hard — a common problem is that almond pastries taste too much of almond, but this one is delicate. The pistachio version is like a cloud, less bitter than some others. Very good, 5/6 out of 10.
Bignè al Pistacchio
We got this bignè that looked like a dream in size. Since we're pistachio lovers, we wanted to see how good it is. The pistachio cream is not one of those watery ones — it's thick and creamy. Very good, 5/6 out of 10.
Crostatina al Lampone
I also got the raspberry tart. Oh my god, it fell on the floor — I can't eat it anymore. The other piece I can still eat. You can see the criminal raspberry, it's dirty. This one is very almond-y and the pistachio cream is not one of those watery ones. But it fell, so it's a waste. 3.50 euros down the drain.
Cornetto alla Carbonara
We got two cornetti — one with carbonara. Look how creamy it is, artisanal — they make everything themselves. It's literally a bomb. The pecorino is well balanced — the danger with carbonara is that it becomes too salty, but this one is perfect. The pastry is crunchy and you can see it's well made. A guy came by asking if we wanted a drink because he saw us struggling with all these carbs and saturated fats. 5.50 euros. I'd recommend it, but maybe share it because it's heavy.
Cornetto all'Ossobuco con Maionese allo Zafferano
We also got the ossobuco cornetto with saffron mayonnaise. The ossobuco was cooked very slowly — 56 hours of cooking. You can taste all the aromas of the long cooking at low temperatures. It's an explosion of intense flavour. The saffron mayonnaise adds a bit of sweetness. It's not extremely light because ossobuco is meaty, but it's incredibly good. I'd recommend this even more than the carbonara one. 5.50 euros.
