What does a local breakfast look like in Rome?
A Roman breakfast is fast, standing, and sweet: an espresso or cappuccino at the bar with a cornetto — the Italian cousin of a croissant, softer and slightly sweeter, often filled with custard, jam, or Nutella. The whole ritual takes about five minutes and costs roughly €1.50–€2.50 total if you eat at the counter, which is always cheaper than sitting down. Cappuccino is considered a morning-only drink; ordering one after 11 a.m. marks you immediately as a tourist. Sant'Eustachio il Caffè near the Pantheon and Roscioli Caffè near Campo de' Fiori are two bars where the coffee is genuinely worth the slight tourist-area premium. Neighborhood bars in Prati or Testaccio charge less and have the same quality ritual. Savory breakfast exists but is not the norm — Romans do not eat eggs, avocado toast, or anything resembling a full English in the morning. If you want to eat like the city does, order standing, pay at the register first, and leave when you're done.
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