Coromandel is known to serve one of the best breakfasts in Rome, and even though located in the city center, so quite far from where we live, we really wanted to try it. I had read and heard so many enthusiastic comments and reviews that I just couldn’t believe that even though I live in Rome, I had never experienced the place.
Since we have been exploring Rome with our baby, we have been preferring the things to do in Rome during more comfortable hours rather than early morning or dinner. We have even tried twice to visit Coromandel for breakfast but unsuccessfully since once, we hadn’t booked and once the baby got sick in the car and we went straight back home. Coromandel is open in the morning until early afternoon so they only serve breakfast, brunch and a light lunch. We first tried their breakfast but very likely we will visit them again for lunch.
If you are in Rome for a few days and your hotel doesn’t provide breakfast or you feel like trying something different, we absolutely recommend Coromandel to kick off your day in style and with energy. We wrote a full review of our mouthwatering experience including what we ordered and how much we paid.
Coromandel Restaurant – Our Experience + Full Review
Our Experience At Coromandel
We were booked for 9 am on a Sunday right at the opening and since it was early morning we also didn’t find much traffic driving in Rome city center. When we reached our destination, Coromandel was just open and we were given the option to choose our table since we were the first customers. We had booked through WhatsApp and our allocated time was between 9 to 10.30, so plenty of time for us to enjoy a relaxed breakfast in Rome, make a few orders, and take plenty of pictures. The latter is by no means to discard, as soon as you step over Coromandel’s threshold, you will see how lovely and picturesque it is!
The place is small and cozy, the décor is old-fashioned and hints at old Paris-style cafés. When we went, they already had the Christmas decorations but it wasn’t tacky at all, light and sober, perfectly blending with the rest of the interior. Homely and intimate, the place features a ceiling painted in antique green, wooden chairs and tables, artsy plates framing the vault that divides the two small areas, metal and fabric lamps, a large mirror on the biggest wall, a long sofa with large cushions, and vintage tarot cards prints all around on the walls as well as as a decoration on the tables.
Right after grabbing our table, the waitress gave us a written menu as well as the bar code to access the menu with our mobile. We placed our orders and were served the drinks first, cappuccino for my husband and matcha latte with almond milk for me. Soon after that (my husband had already finished his cappuccino), we were served our mains: pancakes with smoked salmon, crème fraîche and chives for me, scrambled eggs with bacon for my husband.
Even though we were already pretty full, we just didn’t want to let go and since we could keep our table for a while, we made a second order to share: the vegan pancake with Gianduia chocolate cream, strawberry jam and almonds, then an espresso for my husband and a herbal tea for me. I did want to try one of their juices, but I really had had way too much compared to my daily breakfast and couldn’t push it. The vegan pancake was delicious, very soft and fluffy. I always make vegan pancakes at home but the result is not quite the same.
Everything was served in their antique-looking flowery tableware, cups, plates and cutlery. At first, you might feel a bit overwhelmed and afraid of breaking something. But then probably the delicacies and sensory overload contribute in chasing this fear away.
Coromandel Menu and Prices
Coromandel is not a cheap eat. They offer well-presented dishes clearly made using high-quality ingredients and well-balanced without any ingredient killing the flavors. Now, let’s dive right into Coromandel’s menu and fares.
All their pancakes, be they sweet, savory, or vegan, cost 12 €. They are a pretty abundant dish as each consists of a tower of three large and hearty pancakes with a satisfying amount of topping in between each of them, making the serving succulent and fulfilling. Along with the ones that we ordered, some other pancake options are simple with maple syrup and a sprinkle of icing sugar, Pancake dell’Innamorato (also known as Lover’s Pancake) with banana and berries (this comes also in a vegan option), Pancake del Diavolo (or Devil’s Pancake) with banana, toasted almonds and gianduja cream, or the savory ones with scrambled eggs and bacon.
These are not the only options on the menu. If you are not into pancakes, you can order among a large selection of eggs Benedict (12-13 €), scrambled eggs and omelets (5 to 12 €), Scotch Eggs (12 €), bagels (sweet and savory, 12-13 €), hamburgers (15-16 €), sandwiches (7 to 10 €), porridge (also vegan, 7 €), cakes, pastries and toasts from 5 to 13 €, scrambled tofu (12 €), vegan waffle (9 €), maritozzo typical Roman pastry (7 €), and more.
Also on the drink side, there is no shortage of options. You can order anything from different types of coffee, smoothies, juices, soft drinks, tea, yogurt and more. Prices range between 2 € for espresso, 3.50 for American coffee and cappuccino, 6/7 € for a smoothie or juice, 6 euro for tea. They also have a small selection of beers, cocktails and wines, for which they will give you a separate menu.
As I said, Coromandel is not a cheap restaurant. For two, we spent around 50 €, but again, we ordered way more than breakfast for two people as we wanted to try more dishes on the menu. It was very abundant and we skipped lunch as we were not hungry until 7 pm!
What To See and Do Around Coromandel
Located in the very city center, there are so many things to see and do around Coromandel that it’s the perfect spot to start your day out to discover the jewels of Rome’s historic and artistic heart. You can easily spend the whole day walking around and still, you won’t be able to see everything. It’s perfect if you are in Rome for only one day and have also booked your hotel in Rome’s city center. Here are some of the places right outside of Coromandel’s doorstep and some others a few steps away.
- Santa Maria della Pietà church and Chiostro del Bramante. A beautiful church very close to your place, impossible not to enter.
- Piazza Navona. This is the main biggie close to Coromandel and stands less than five minutes walk away. Piazza Navona needs very little introduction. Here, you can visit Borromini’s Sant’Agnese in Agone church right in front of the famous Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain, you can view the other two fountains, Fountain of the Neptune and Fontana del Moro, if it’s open, you can go underground and visit Domitian Stadium. After breakfast or brunch and Coromandel, I doubt you will have room for ice cream, but in case you are coming back here after lunch, GROM is one of the best gelaterias in Rome.
- Pantheon. Just across Corso Rinascimento from Piazza Navona stands the Pantheon in all its majesty and eternal beauty. The temple of all gods, it is now a Catholic church and one of the must-see places in Rome for its historical and architectural value.
- Via del Corso. Famous shopping street in the city center, you can easily reach it on foot and find great gifts to take home and for yourself.
- Piazza del Popolo. On the one end of Via del Corso is the beautiful Piazza del Popolo from where you can see Villa Borghese’s Pincio Terrace, the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto, as well as the “Flaminio” obelisk in the middle and three fountains, the one of the lions in the middle right under the obelisk, the of the goddess Rome located under the Pincio Terrace and the one of the Neptune on the opposite side.
- The Spanish Steps. A short detour from Via del Corso, and you are walking through the luxurious Via dei Condotti before ending up in Piazza di Spagna with the beautiful Spanish Steps and Bernini’s fountain.
- Piazza Venezia. On the opposite end of Via del Corso from Piazza del Popolo is Piazza Venezia where you can see the Vittoriano complex, visit the Museum of the Risorgimento and also the Capitoline Museums nearby.
- Colosseum. If it’s your first time and you are staying two or three days in Rome, don’t miss the Colosseum, one of the most famous symbols of the city. We give you a few tips for visiting the Colosseum and also suggest some great Colosseum tours if you want to skip the line and get deeper into historical facts, including visiting areas usually closed to the general public.
Tips For A Perfect Experience At Coromandel
- Book in advance. I can’t stress this enough. It’s absolutely mandatory you book one day in advance if you want to have breakfast at Coromandel, two days if you are going on a weekend. The first time we went, we didn’t find space. When we managed to book, we saw other passers-by who gave it a try like we did and were as unsuccessful as we were. Since we don’t live close to the city center, we obviously won’t rely on fate for another Coromandel breakfast or brunch (because there will surely be another one), and we will always book. If you are on a holiday and have limited time in Rome, reserving your place is your best bet to ensure a scrumptious kick-off of your day.
- Use Google Maps. Coromandel enjoys a fantastic location nestled in a maze of quaint cobbled alleys right behind Piazza Navona and Santa Maria della Pace church. For as gorgeous as this ancient district is, it’s also easy to get lost. Rely on the good old friend Google Maps to reach your destination on time.
- Arrive hungry. If you know you are going to have breakfast or brunch at Coromandel, don’t eat beforehand. Not only the portions are quite plentiful, but I won’t rule out placing a second order as the menu is pretty big and yummy.
- Plan your itinerary. Being in such a privileged location in the city center, you might take for granted that you can easily go sightseeing everywhere. True, many of the landmarks are close but trust me, it does take time to reach and visit them. This is why you might want to plan your itinerary beforehand to avoid wasting time deciding what to see after breakfast and then visiting less than what you hoped for!
Practical Info + How to Reach Coromandel
- Address: Via di Monte Giordano 60/61.
- Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 am-3 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9 am-4 pm. Closed on Monday.
- Website.
- Contact: Email coromandel@coromandel.it, to book WhatsApp +39 350 5181233.
- How to reach: Take any bus to Corso Rinascimento (30, 70, 81, 87, 492, 628, C3) or Corso Vittorio Emanuele at Piazza Navona stop (46, 62, 64, 916) and reach Coromandel with a short walk.
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