Grocery shopping in Rome can be a fun and fascinating experience, offering a unique glimpse into local culture. This article aims to help you navigate the local supermarkets, demystifying their layout and shopping customs. We’ll explore the different types of supermarkets, discuss their layout and shopping procedures, and provide tips for a smooth and enjoyable grocery shopping experience.
Supermarkets in the City Center: Small But Mighty
The heart of Rome is filled with historical buildings, many of which are protected landmarks. This means you won’t find the large, spacious supermarkets that you’re likely accustomed to in suburban areas. Instead, the city center boasts a network of smaller supermarkets, often cramped with narrow aisles. These smaller shops are designed for convenience, catering primarily to locals who work in the city center, as well as tourists.
Common supermarket chains found in the city center include Conad, Carrefour, Coop, PAM, Tuodì, Pewex, and Todis. If you venture further out to the residential suburbs, you might also come across supermarkets like Esselunga, LIDL, and Eurospin. You’ll find the largest branches of these supermarkets located in malls, while smaller convenience stores, typically with signs saying “Alimentari” or “Frutta e verdura,” are readily available near major landmarks like the Colosseum or the Termini train station.
Limited Variety, but Still Satisfying
Due to the smaller spaces, these supermarkets offer a more limited selection of products compared to their suburban counterparts. While you won’t find every imaginable item, they do carry the essentials, including fresh produce, basic pantry staples, and some local specialties. Many Romans supplement their shopping by ordering groceries online or buying fresh produce, fish, and meat from local markets.
For higher-end groceries, popular destinations like Roscioli or Eataly are great options, but prepare for slightly higher prices. However, the smaller supermarkets typically offer enough to satisfy your holiday needs, including some delicious local treats to bring back home as souvenirs!
Basket or Cart: Finding the Right Tool
At the entrance of a Roman supermarket, you’ll find both baskets and carts. The carts are usually chained together and require a coin to unlock. Don’t forget to retrieve your coin when you’re done shopping!
If you find yourself with a mountain of groceries, know that some supermarkets offer delivery services for a small fee. Ask the staff if they offer this service if you’re interested.
Navigating the Produce Section: Weighing In
The produce section in Italian supermarkets is a unique experience. Each basket of produce comes with a plastic tag bearing a number. This number is crucial as it’s used to determine the price per weight of the produce.
Here’s how it works:
- Choose your produce.
- Place it in a provided plastic bag.
- Bring the bag to the scale.
- Enter the number from the plastic tag on the scale.
- Receive a sticker with the calculated price.
- Attach the sticker to the bag.
Don’t forget to wear the free, single-use plastic gloves provided before handling the produce. This helps prevent contamination. If you come across produce, like avocados, without a numbered tag, it usually means the price is per piece, so weighing isn’t necessary. If you encounter any confusion, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance!
In smaller shops, the clerk usually picks and weighs the produce for you. Alternatively, they might hand you a paper bag to pick the produce yourself, and they’ll weigh it afterward. This method is the opposite of what you’d encounter in traditional food markets, where you’re typically asked not to touch the produce.
The Plastic Dilemma: A Balance of Convenience and Sustainability
The use of plastic bags in the produce section may seem excessive, but it’s a measure implemented to minimize contamination by reducing the number of people handling the produce. While there’s a small cost associated with these bags, you can offset this by bringing your own reusable bags to carry your groceries at checkout. The plastic bags provided at checkout also have a cost (typically 0.10 EUR per bag), and they’re not particularly sturdy, as they’re made with biodegradable plastic. So, if you want to keep your groceries from spilling onto the streets of Rome, remember your reusable bags!
A Taste of Italy: Charcuterie and Cheese
Most supermarkets offer pre-packaged cold cuts and cheese in the refrigerated aisle, but if you’re craving a more authentic Italian experience, head to the charcuterie and cheese display. The best strategy here is to point at the items you want. If the clerk doesn’t understand English, they’ll likely catch on to what you’re looking for.
Prices are usually per kilo, unless otherwise indicated. For example, truffles are often priced per 100 grams. If you’re looking for a small taste, ask for “un etto” (100 grams), which is generally enough for two people, especially if you’re using it for sandwiches. For larger groups, 100 grams of each type of charcuterie is perfect for a charcuterie board serving 6-8 people. With cheese, you can try a little more, like “due etti” or “three etti,” if you’re a real cheese enthusiast!
Remember, many small supermarkets and delis can also prepare fresh sandwiches for you. This is a budget-friendly option for a quick and delicious meal in Rome.
Eggs and Milk: A Twist on Tradition
Due to differences in health regulations, eggs in Italy, and other European countries, don’t get washed but undergo other processing methods to prevent the spread of bacteria. This means you’ll find eggs in regular aisles, not refrigerated, unlike what you might be accustomed to.
Milk is similar in that pasteurization methods differ, and some types of milk with a longer shelf life are stored in regular aisles. You’ll find fresh milk in the refrigerated section, just like in North America.
Checkout: Bagging It Yourself
In Italy, baggers are a rarity. You’ll be responsible for bagging your own groceries, even at larger supermarkets with self-checkout areas.
Don’t be surprised if people in line seem close. Due to the small size of city center supermarkets, this is common.
Large supermarkets typically accept both cards and mobile payments. Smaller shops and food markets, however, almost always require cash.
Embrace the Experience
We hope this guide has provided you with helpful information about grocery shopping in Rome. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the information. It’s just a matter of getting familiar with the local customs. Even if you’re not planning on grocery shopping, we encourage you to spend some time browsing through a local supermarket.
It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and gain insight into the daily lives of Romans. Take the opportunity to observe the shoppers, learn the procedures, and even say hello to the staff. You might be surprised by how friendly and helpful they are, especially if you show interest in the local culture. Remember, a little bit of effort can go a long way towards having a more enjoyable and memorable experience in Rome.
