A local’s guide to the best hidden gems and things to do in the Garbatella neighborhood of Rome; from street art to sculptures, coffee shops and secret streets!
Years ago, when I moved to Rome for the third (fourth?) time, I chose the Garbatella area as my home for a few months.
Before I moved into this village-like neighborhood, I didn’t really know the place, and had really never visited; in the same way I had never set foot in Rome when I moved there from London.
It’s only later, when I started living in Torpignattara, that I spent more and more time in Garbatella, around its winding streets and socially-committed street art pieces.
Garbatella, Rome: Hidden Gems of a Village-Like Neighborhood
Founded in 1920, Garbatella is undeniably one of Rome’s most beautiful neighborhoods, oscillating between a bygone era and a modernity brought about by its lively nights.
It’s known amongst locals for its unique architecture, with cloisters of hidden houses resembling tiny villages, its vibrant street art and rich history.
And while Viale Ventimiglia is much more reminiscent of London’s Notting Hill than Garbatella, the latter is still often compared to the colorful English neighborhood.
We’re only a few metro stops away from Termini, Rome’s main station; you can easily access Garbatella by bus, tram or metro: it’s quick, pretty, and makes for a romantic day out in Rome.
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Walk Around the Courtyards and Lotti
Garbatella’s architecture is characterized by “lotti”; small clusters of buildings centered around communal courtyards.
These make Garbatella look like a village in the heart of Rome; for locals, the spaces foster a sense of community, and for travelers, they’re a way to catch a glimpse of true Roman life.
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Centrale Montemartini Museum
While the Centrale Montemartini Museum is technically nestled in Rome’s Ostiense neighborhood, it’s still a wonderful museum that blends ancient Roman sculptures, mosaics and other types of art with industrial architecture.
We’re here in the first public thermoelectric power plant, inaugurated in 1912, and everything from the architecture to the distinct smell shows us we’re in a historic place.
Centrale Montemartini’s permanent collection is part of the Capitoline Museums, and you’ll find inside hundreds of ancient sculptures, mosaics, and hidden corners.
To access Centrale Montemartini from the Garbatella station, you have to cross the white Brooklyn-style bridge and within minutes, you’re already in the Ostiense area – that’s how close these neighborhoods are!
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Breakfast at Guadagnino, Via Caffaro
On Via Caffaro, about 5-10 minutes from Garbatella metro station, you’ll find one of my favorite spots to have breakfast in Rome: Guadagnino.
This bar pasticceria is a really cheap spot where you can try famous Roman cornetti, have strong coffee, and enjoy life passing by on one of the tables outside.
The staff is particularly friendly there, and I have to admit that since I lived about 5 minutes away from Guadagnino, I was there almost every single day for breakfast.
Unique Places to Visit in Garbatella, Rome: CSOA La Strada
I used to live just a few steps away from the social center CSOA La Strada – there are quite a few social centers around Rome where young people gather to party from the end of the day.
But this one is really unique to me, because there are even more street art pieces all around the building here than other social centers I’ve come to know during my time in Rome.
Controversial pieces, socially-committed murals, poetic words; there’s a bit of everything around the CSOA La Strada that offers a very different vibe during daytime than it does at night.
Other Photos of CSOA La Strada, Garbatella
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Jewelry Shopping at Le Porte di Atlantide
Also close to the metro station, Le Porte di Atlantide is a unique shop you won’t really see on travel guides, but a great spot for jewelry lovers.
Every time I move to Rome, I make it a point to treat myself to a new ring (almost have no space left on my fingers!).
And, while I usually get them custom-made at Pucci Gioeilli d’Arte in Via del Boschetto, I’m yet to get one from Le Porte di Atlantide – can’t wait!
If you get a little hungry while in this area, you’ll find a really good gelato shop just steps away; many times, I’ve seen Romans enjoy ice cream there, even in the dead of winter!
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Check Out the Street Art and Murals
While walking around Garbatella, you’ll see the beautiful lotti buildings, and unexpectedly, turning your head the other way, you can come across gorgeous street art spots.
Not unlike the magical Tor Marancia, Garbatella is an open-air museum, with notable pieces including La Garbatella mural on Via delle Sette Chiese, which depicts a 1920s woman in Art Deco style.
The Outdoor mural by Sten&Lex (2013) is one of my favorite street art pieces in Garbatella, and one of the most famous.
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Check Out the C215 Stencil Street Art Around the Area
The street artist C215 has gifted Garbatella with a really recognizable lovers mural on Via Badoera, with stunning stencil technique.
There are other pieces by this artist around the area, too, which you’ll come across while losing yourself around Garbatella’s streets.
Best Things to Do in Garbatella, Rome: Teatro Palladium
Teatro Palladium opened in the late 1920s as a cinema and community space in Garbatella, and little by little, fell into disuse.
It’s quite close to the Garbatella metro station, too; you could maybe even start the day by visiting the Testaccio neighborhood nearby and stroll near the Gasometro, and end the day at Teatro Palladium.
In any case, its Liberty-style façade is a quirky sight in the area, and you’ll be able to attend various events there, from concerts to plays, most of which are experimental and contemporary.
Garbatella, Rome: Hidden Gems of a Village-Like Neighborhood
With this small guide to help you visit Garbatella for the first time (or maybe spots there you haven’t seen before!), I hope you’ve learned of a few new unexpected places.
Rome is filled with more secret neighborhoods than the famous Trastevere or the area around the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.
And these are precisely the places I aim to share with you with every single post here; hopefully, I’ve achieved my goal!
If you’re interested in learning more about Rome and its secrets, here are a few guides you may enjoy:
- Piazza Simpsonsimato in Trastevere, Rome’s Secret Street Art
- Rome’s Strange Museum: MAAM Museo dell’Altro e dell’Altrove
- Beautiful Palaces in Rome: 6 Wonders You Just Can’t Miss
And if you’re visiting Rome for the first time, these guides will very much come in handy to help you prepare your trip: