Now, I don’t know about you guys, maybe I’m just a little weird, but when it comes to food cravings, I definitely go through phases. I’ve had my double-stuffed Oreo phase, my salty popcorn phase, my sour candy phase, and my latest one is oddly specific too: mochi.

If you’re not familiar with it, mochi is a soft and chewy Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice that’s pounded into a smooth, sticky dough, which is then used to make the most delicious desserts. Personally, I’m obsessed with the chewy texture, and I used to always buy the boxed ones from my favourite Korean supermarket in Rome. For research purposes, I went on a hunt through Rome to find the best freshly made mochi by bakeries and pastry shops, and I can tell you, I was not disappointed.

One of my favourite things to do in life is discovering new food places and of course sharing them with you. While I love savoury food, sweet treats will forever have my heart, especially baked goods and pastries. Rome is such a culturally diverse city, full of flavours and influences from all over the world, which made me curious to see what it has to offer beyond the traditional pasticceria. For this blog post, I explored some of the best Asian bakeries in Rome that brought something new and refreshing to my pastry game. I visited both Chinese and Japanese bakeries, and I must say I can’t wait to share these places with you.

As someone who doesn’t drink coffee, the matcha trend is something I’ve welcomed with open arms. While I used to be a loyal chai latte girl, I have now fully embraced the matcha latte, preferably with coconut milk. In some cities, like Amsterdam, you cannot turn a corner without finding a matcha café, but in Rome it is not quite as common yet. That is why I created this list of the best matcha spots in Rome. Some offer the full experience with a café and sweet treats, while others are more focused on take-away. They are spread across different neighbourhoods of Rome, so you will always have the chance to enjoy a well-deserved matcha latte!