There are places in Rome that don’t need Instagram to survive. Lo Zozzone, also known as Er Pizzetta de Centocelle, is one of them. A counter, a constant aroma of bread and warm croissants, and a line of locals who already know what they want. What you don’t know until you get there is that here you can also find the large Pangocciole for 1.50 euros.
Yes, the real one. The soft one with chocolate chips that, for breakfast—or at 11 p.m.—makes your day.
The bakery that has been passed down from one generation to the next
Lo Zozzone is a family-run bakery that has been in business for over 25 years at Via dei Ginepri 42, in the heart of Centocelle. A tradition passed down from father to son, with the same dough, the same rhythm, the same flavor.
This isn’t just rhetoric: in a neighborhood that has changed a lot over the years, this place has remained exactly as it was. And the people of Municipality VII know it all too well.
What you’ll find at the counter (and why it’s worth the trip)
The counter is an honest list of delicious treats: plain and filled croissants, maritozzi, honey-colored fried pastries dusted with sugar, ciambelle, sfogliatelle, mini pizzas with a surprisingly flavorful sauce, and pizza tongues.
All at prices that, in 2026, in Rome, are almost newsworthy. If you’re looking for delicious pastries in Rome or affordable spots in the city where you can really eat—not for Instagram, but for the taste— Lo Zozzone is a solid choice.
The €1.50 Pangocciole is generously sized, soft, and has that texture that’s impossible to replicate outside a real bakery. It’s not “big” just for the sake of exaggeration: it’s big because it really is, compared to what you find elsewhere at that price.
Because at night (or early in the morning) it tastes completely different
Lo Zozzone is open every day from 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and again from 3:00 p.m. to midnight —two stretches of the day that cover breakfast, a mid-morning snack, after-dinner treats, and late-night returns. It only closes in the afternoon, and only briefly.
It means that at 2 a.m. on Via dei Ginepri, you can eat a hot fried bomba, and at 7 a.m., the croissant is already there waiting for you. This is what makes Lo Zozzone the real answer to the question “where to eat at night in Rome” —or early in the morning, if you’re the type who doesn’t go to bed.
How to get to Lo Zozzone in Centocelle
📍 Via dei Ginepri 42, Rome — Lo Zozzone, Er Pizzetta de Centocelle
🚇 By metro (Line C): the closest stops are Gardenie or Mirti. From those stations, it’s about a 10-minute walk.
🚌 By bus: Lines 105, 544, and 548 pass through the area. Check Google Maps for the stop closest to your starting point.
🚗 By car: From central Rome, take Viale Castrense or Via Casilina heading east. Parking is available on the side streets (time-restricted parking in certain hours—check the signs).
🚲 By bike or scooter: Centocelle is accessible via the bike path along Viale dello Scalo San Lorenzo from the historic center.
