Travellers warned to stay away from ‘tourist trap’ restaurant in Rome – where a quick lunch could set you back more than €100 and angry waiters ‘chase’ visitors for tips

• Tourists have been urged not to visit Bar Moretto (Caffe Moretto) in Rome, Italy
• READ MORE: Tourists send warnings over notorious Greek restaurant

A café near Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome has been slammed for being a ‘tourist trap’ by angry customers who claim they’ve been ripped off.

Tourists have been warned to stay away from the Italian diner, which serves a selection of food including sandwiches, pizzas and desserts. Coffees and other drinks are also available.

Bar Moretto (Caffe Moretto), located right by Vatican City, has been accused of ‘daylight robbery’, with dozens of disgruntled customers on TripAdvisor claiming that they’d been charged extortionate prices for food that tastes ‘terrible’.

Visitors also said that they felt pressured to tip, with one traveller telling FEMAIL that she saw customers get ‘chased by an angry waiter’ for gratuity.

‘It was a classic waiters outside trying to get you in by being lovely, and then being charged over €100 for two rubbish pastas and two cokes,’ she added.

A café near Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome has been slammed for being a ‘tourist trap’ by angry customers who claim they’ve been ripped off

‘The menu’s outside had prices (but the waiters ushered you in so quickly you couldn’t see) and then the menu’s inside were pictures only.’

Of 1,511 reviews on TripAdvisor, 648 rated the restaurant ‘terrible’, the lowest ranking available on the site.

The café doesn’t fare much better on Google Reviews, where it has an average score of 1.5 stars out of 5. 

One visitor from Warsaw, Poland, complained of a ‘disguisting scam’ that saw them fish out more than €50 for a few sandwiches.

‘We wanted to eat a quick breakfast and drink coffee,’ they wrote on TripAdvisor.

‘We ordered two triangular toast bread sandwiches and a ham and mozzarella + cappuccino ciabatta. The waiter brought us a bill for 53€.

‘This is a disgusting scam that takes place right next to the Vatican. For sandwiches they charged us 14-16€ each.’

A second added they would have preferred ‘a Maccies’. 

Tourists have been warned to stay away from the Italian diner, which serves a selection of food including sandwiches, pizzas and desserts. Coffees and other drinks are also available

Another tourist from Saudi Arabia shared their hefty receipt for €143, claiming that the bill comes up to much higher than what visitors are led to believe

Bar Moretto, located right by Vatican City, was accused of ‘daylight robbery’, with dozens of disgruntled customers on TripAdvisor revealing that they’d been charged extortionate prices for food that tastes ‘terrible’

‘I wouldn’t even rate the 1 star! It was awful, really was a scam,’ they penned.

‘Wanted to treat my boyfriend for what I thought would be a Italian lunch but was not. Really wouldn’t recommend. STAY AWAY!!! Overpriced and food was awful. Maccies would have been a treat compared to this place.’

They continued: ‘Waiter pressured us to tip which was not going to happen, and when we said we didn’t have change he got argumentative and TOLD us to pay him in English money even though there was a service charge included.’

‘Daylight robbery,’ a third added. ‘A sham place to rip off tourists. Ask for the price first. The lady in charge won’t even look you in the eye as she charges you. E38 for 3 coffee and 2 croissants.

‘Shame as great location and only bad experience in Rome. Should really be closed down as really poor example for the city.’

Another tourist from Saudi Arabia shared their hefty receipt for €143, claiming that the bill comes up to much higher than what visitors are led to believe.

Of 1,511 reviews on TripAdvisor, 648 rated the restaurant ‘terrible’, the lowest ranking available on the site

The café doesn’t fare much better on Google Reviews, where it has an average score of 1.5 stars out of 5

Visitors also said that they were pressured to tip, with one traveller telling FEMAIL that she saw customers get ‘chased by an angry waiter’ for gratuity

‘To all tourists who will visit in Vatican…BEWARE of this restaurant,’ he wrote.

‘They have MODUS OPERANDI to their customers..they will show menu which has lesser price and after you eat and ask for your Bill… You will be shocked with the prices of your orders.. DOUBLE.

‘Really, we were disappointed despite of the holiness of the place.’

However, while the reviews were overwhelmingly negative, a few people had nothing but good things to say.

‘Absolutely amazing burgers, wonderful, quick and friendly service by a wonderful waiter named Alexander,’ one happy customer praised.

‘The desserts are divine, beautiful fresh food, great coffee…. cannot fault this caffè/bar….. 5 star all the way.’

One visitor from Warsaw, Poland, complained of a ‘disguisting scam’ that saw them fish out more than €50 for a few sandwiches

Elsewhere a couple from Hull recounted enjoying a wedding anniversary meal at the cafe and said it was worth the hefty bill.

‘We had visited the Vatican Museums and it was raining heavily so we decided to have a meal here to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary,’ they said.

‘Our waiter Alexander was very charming and when we said we were celebrating he and other waiters sang Happy Birthday to us which I found very amusing.

‘My starter a tomato bruschetta was flavoursome, my husband ordered a cheese and meat platter, he was not happy at 18 euros seeing some processed cheese slices on it!

‘For our main course we shared a platter of steak, french fries and salad. The steak was outstanding, melted in the mouth and delicious. We enjoyed our deserts tirmuisu [sic] and pistachio cheesecake and this was all washed down with a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

‘All in all a wonderful Anniversary meal, the bill was big and yes it was expensive but you are in Rome, you have choices and if you want a cheap meal go to McDonalds.’

Numerous attempts were made to contact the restaurant for comment.

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