sluttiest eats of Rome's best beaches

you don't have to schlep all the way to Amalfi for spaghetti with clams ok

Breaking news: it’s hot as hell in Rome again. And, it’s only getting hotter.

Thank goodness it takes only a half hour minimum to get to the sea (where did you think those Jack Russell-sized seagulls come from?) With a quick train or car trip, you can be laying flat on a lettino (sun bed) or the sand, with a magnum classico ice cream in hand.

Or, if you’re me, killing a bottle of bubbles with a good plate of vongole. Apparently, I am indeed getting older and I need to balance my sun tolerance with shade, spaghetti, and questionable sums of alcohol.

There are quite a few beaches to head to from Rome, some simple while others insanely gorgeous. Nevertheless, where you go all depends on a few factors:

• if you have a car

• if you prefer rocks or sand (this is a serious question - many excellent beaches are rocky)

• how bougie you are (aka are you cool with a towel on the sand or you like to be elevated with a drink in hand)

• how hungry you are (aka how long you want to drive)

Don’t worry - I am making this decision easier by just dangling delicious food in front of your face. An excellent plate of pasta always makes the decision easier!

P.S. I included the rough travel time in a car for each place WITHOUT traffic :)

Fregene - Soffio and La Baia di Fregene

40 minutes

one of the best dishes I’ve had in a while - tonnarelli with mussels, black garlic, and castelmagno cheese. MY LORD!

Welcome to Rome’s Jersey Shore: Fregene, where Roman kiddos go to fist pump and party during sunset aperitivos. Don’t believe me? MTV’s Italia Shore is filmed here. You don’t head here for the beach - you go here to party, or in my case, to eat.

Beyond any spray tans and debauchery, Fregene also has spots with excellent food, free of bar fights.

If you’re hip or not guido, you head to Soffio - the beachfront kiosk from the crew behind Fischio in Rome with all the natural wine and bites cool kids want, like fish burgers, oysters, and cute strawberry skewers.

Just behind Soffio is La Baia di Fregene, a spectacular sea-front restaurant boasting fresh fish, a killer wine list, and a super relaxed staff. Also, a chalkboard full of specials that will have your heart singing. Fortunately, their outdoor seating is all covered so you’ll stay cool as you slurp up your spaghetti alle vongole. In the summer, they also set up tables for quick lunches of spaghetti alle vongole and seafood salad on the sand.

spaghetti alle vongole special from Baia - with local wild herbs