3 Unique & Fun Cafes in Ostiense, Rome: Perfect for Coffee, Catching Up & Cats
Lately, I have found myself more and more in Ostiense. If you have no idea what I am talking about, Ostiense is an industrial style neighborhood in Rome, which I have written an extensive guide about in a previous blog post. For me, this neighborhood is perfect to plan some dates with friends or go on a walk, because it can be a very inspiring place.
In this blog post, I will share my three favourite cafes in Ostiense, where you can meet up with friends or go alone to study, for example. All three of them are very unique, with one even being a completely vegan cat café. After this article, you will know all these cute cafes in Ostiense, making your trip to the neighborhood complete.
Café Merenda
Café Merenda is an amazing breakfast, brunch and lunch spot in Ostiense, located on Via del Gazometro 5, less than a 10 minute walk from the Piramide metro station. As you can see in the pictures, they serve stunning pastries, which taste just as good. Besides pastries, they also have different savoury options, such as avocado and egg toasts.
If you go to their Instagram, you will see that they have quite some followers, and the café, especially on the weekend, can be busy. There are a couple of seating options both outside and inside, but if you want to be sure of a spot, it is best to come a little early. It is really fun to follow them on Instagram, because they also post about special events or dishes. On the 21st of March, for example, they organised a “coffee table country jam” with live music.
For me, Café Merenda is a great spot to meet with a friend, or to take one of their specialty coffees and a pastry to go. The downside is that, compared to other breakfast places in Rome, I would say it is definitely more expensive, but the pastries are so beautifully crafted that I would say it’s worth it.
Café Merenda is open from Tuesday to Friday from 8 to 15, and on the weekend from 8:30 to 15:30.
Romeow Cat Bistrot
Romeow Cat Bistrot is located on Via Francesco Negri 15, and is one of my favourite spots for a meetup with friends. This bistrot is completely vegan, and as the name suggests, they house a lot of cats. The entire interior is adapted to the cats living here, so it hides cat stairs and little spots for them to relax and people watch. While I am slightly allergic to these lovely creatures, it never stops me from coming back.
Romeow offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a vegan menu that changes every season. The colourful and creative interior adds to the great atmosphere, and for me it fits perfectly within the neighborhood. The only thing about Romeow that I like a little less are the opening hours, because while they are quite extensive, you do have to pay a bit of attention to them.
Romeow is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 23. From 10 to 11:30 you can go there for breakfast, and I really like their vegan pancakes and fresh juices. Then from 11:30 to 13 they are closed, and they open again from 13:00 to 14:30 for lunch. From 16 to 18:30 they welcome guests for a snack, and then they open for dinner from 20:00 to 23:00. Did you follow along?
It is important to keep in mind that for both lunch and dinner they require a reservation, which you can make online on their website. For the other time slots, so breakfast and snack time, you can try a walk in without one. On the weekend it can be very busy, but during the weekdays you should be able to find a place without a problem. During the weekdays it is also allowed to go there to study, so you might find me there among my cat friends, writing my thesis.
If you have been following me for a while, you know my favourite vegan bakery is Julietta Pastry and Lab, and I have tried multiple vegan bakeries in Rome. Julietta is located right next to Romeow, and they have the same owner, get it? Romeow and Julietta, how cute is that??? In Romeow, they also sell cakes directly from Julietta, and I think they complement each other super well. If you find yourself at Romeow, I can highly recommend going next door as well, you will not regret it.
Caffè Letterario
Last but not least is one of the most unique cafes I have ever visited. Caffè Letterario is located on Via Ostiense 95, also very close to the Piramide metro station. I have written about Caffè Letterario before in my article about the best places to study in Rome, and after all this time, I am still a fan.
Calling Caffè Letterario just a “café” is honestly underselling it. It is a basement book café with a library, study and workspace, and it often hosts events like live music, especially on the weekend. I recommend following them on Instagram, where they keep you updated about upcoming events.
When you get to Caffè Letterario, you have to walk through a hallway down to the basement level. There is art everywhere, and the space feels very alternative, edgy, and creative. Inside, it is quite dark, but personally I can study well in this type of atmosphere. Inside the café there are different zones, for example quiet zones and zones where you are allowed to speak or play a game.
The concept at Caffè Letterario is unique to me. You start by buying a day ticket for 5 euros, which acts as your credit for the café. You can stay all day, and the 5 euros can be used for drinks, snacks, or whatever you like. If you spend more than 5 euros, you just pay the difference.
Caffè Letterario is currently open every day from 9 in the morning until 2 at night. It is the perfect spot to read and relax for a while, alone or with a friend, or to study.
Conclusion
I hope with this article I could inspire you to visit Ostiense and these amazing cafes. All three of them have different vibes, so depending on what you are looking for, you now know where to go in the future. If you have a favourite café in Ostiense, feel free to let me know in the comments. I am always on the lookout for more spots! If you are looking for more cafés, for example the best cafés in Rome to study, I definitely recommend checking out that article as well.
