You can’t talk about Italy and not talk about food. That’s like Paris without shopping or St. Tropez without rosé all day. So, when in Rome, you want to do as the chic locals do. This is where to eat in Rome now.
The Restaurant: Gigi Rigolatto Roma
Address: Piazza della Minerva 69, 00186 Roma
The French have arrived in Rome, and it’s the hottest restaurant in town. Perched on the rooftop of the Orient-Express Minerva hotel, Gigi Rigolatto is part rooftop garden, part Roman fever dream. Expect upscale comfort food with an Italian soul, served in a setting where plush lounge chairs and ancient skyline views collide. The vibe is playful, the crowd is stylish, and the menu delivers everything from succulent lobster linguini to dreamy tiramisu. It’s bold, it’s elegant, it’s la dolce vita personified. Oh, and did we mention there’s also a bellini bar? Salute.
The Restaurant: Pierluigi
Address: Piazza de Ricci 144, 00186 Roma
The ocean is calling, and Pierluigi is picking up on the first ring. Here, seafood is the star of the show. We’re talking wild octopus soppressata, delicate tuna tartare, rich mussel risotto, and whole fish prepared however you’d like. Move over farm to table, sea to table is the new vibe. Set in a cozy 16th-century piazza, the ambiance is all cobblestone, candlelight, and ivy-covered walls. It’s not just a meal—it’s a masterclass in Mediterranean flavor.
The Restaurant: Matricianella
Address: Via del Leone 4 – 00186 Rome
Matricianella isn’t trying to impress you with trends—it’s too busy perfecting the Roman classics. Tucked away in the fairytale alleys between Piazza di Spagna and Via della Fontanella Borghese, Matricianella has been serving up the OGs since 1957. Think cacio e pepe, abbacchio alla scottadito, and gnocchi alla romana. Is your mouth watering yet? The décor is charmingly retro, the service refreshingly unfussy, and the food? As heartwarming and satisfying as nonna’s Sunday table.
The Restaurant: Caffè Doria
Address: Via della Gatta 1, 00186 Roma
Caffè Doria is what happens when an art museum and a café fall in love. Located inside the majestic Galleria Doria Pamphilj, this refined hideaway offers elevated bistro eats with a side of Renaissance splendor. Avocado toast for breakfast, salmon confit for lunch, and get this: a mini pastrami sandwich as an aperitif. But wait, there’s more. Enter: the gin trolley. In the ultimate choose your own adventure game, the house bartender is equipped with 80+ premium gins, and an assortment of tonics and garnishes to create any gin and tonic you could imagine. All served up on a silver platter — or trolley cart.
The Restaurant: Il Falchetto
Address: Via di Montecatini 12, 00186 Roma
You know what they say — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And believe us, there’s nothing broken about Il Falchetto. This quaint restaurant just off Via del Corso has been turning out Roman staples since 1916—yes, you read that right. From carciofi alla giudia to perfectly al dente spaghetti alla carbonara, this place doesn’t just serve food, it serves tradition. It’s where locals go when they want to eat like their nonna used to cook, but with white tablecloths and a novel-length wine list to match.
The Restaurant: L’arcangelo
Address: Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli 59, 00193 Roma
Chef Arcangelo Dandini’s Prati gem is like a love letter to Roman cuisine. L’arcangelo is thoughtful, nostalgic, and totally delicious. And you better mark your calendar, because Gnocchi Thursdays here are basically a local holiday. There might as well be a parade. But don’t worry, there are plenty of decadent dishes available every day: risotto with scampi cream, prawns with capocollo and roasted leeks, and Caprese cake to name a few. The vibe is warm, the décor is vintage, and the flavors are bold, soulful, and deeply Roman. L’Arcangelo is the kind of place where time slows down, and so should you.
The Restaurant: The Bulgari Bar
Address: Via Di Ripetta 73, 00186 Roma
At Bulgari Bar, the most important hour is aperitivo hour. And it isn’t just a bar—it’s a whole mood. Think black marble bar tops with hand-blown Murano glass accents. Located inside the ultra-luxe Bulgari Hotel, it’s basically a temple to aperitivo culture. Cocktails are crafted with couture-level precision, and the food menu offers a variety of bar bites and a la carte classics. It’s the perfect place to wrap up your day of sightseeing (or shopping) with a designer bow. Whether you’re sipping a spritz or something more adventurous, this is Rome’s high-fashion happy hour.
The Restaurant: PER ME Giulio Terrinoni
Address: Vicolo del Malpasso 9, 00186 Roma
Nestled in a quiet alleyway between two winding streets in the center of Rome, is a restaurant that stands as the culmination of one chef’s life and career. Enter PER ME by Giulio Terrinoni. Here, Chef Terrinoni experiments with locally sourced meat and fish, with an emphasis on sustainability and a “zero-waste” philosophy. PER ME has an à-la-carte option, as well as three expertly curated tasting menus: “First Steps” (5 dishes), “Head, Hands, Heart” (10 dishes), and “Think Green” (5 vegetarian dishes). Oh, and did we mention there’s an adorably quaint, ivy-draped garden? But you better make a reservation if you want to score one of the few Instagrammable spots outdoors.
The Restaurant: La Pergola
Address: Via Alberto Cadlolo 101, Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts – 00136 Roma
It’s obvious that Rome has no shortage of delicious destinations. But only one has earned the coveted three Michelin stars. Perched atop the Rome Cavalieri hotel is La Pergola, from world-renowned chef Heinz Beck. And when it comes to fine dining, this place does not mess around. A combination of tasting menus and à-la-carte options expertly blend traditional Mediterranean and Italian flavors with playful gastronomical innovation. Plus, on top of a wine cellar with 70,000 world-class bottles, even the water list has a whopping 45 options. And La Pergola’s rooftop location means that while you’re sipping on the bougiest water known to man, you can take in a breathtaking view of the Eternal City.
The Restaurant: Il Pagliaccio
Address: Via Dei Banchi Vecchi 129/A, 00186 Roma
When you’ve had your fill of pizza and pasta (if that’s even possible), head over to Il Pagliaccio for a culinary experience from across the globe, right in the heart of Rome. Here, Mediterranean cuisine is fused with Asian flavors in two tasting menus: Mode.XL – “quaranta” and Scintille. But, the true star of the show at Il Pagliaccio is its Parallels Experience Menu. Dubbed as a restaurant within a restaurant, Parallels is a 14-course private dining experience for up to six people and includes everything from pork cheek and umeboshi to pigeon and abalone. So grab five of your closest friends, pull on some pants with an elastic waistband, and get ready to dine like royalty.
The Restaurant: Enoteca La Torre
Address: Lungo Tevere delle Armi 22, 00195 Roma
Where better to get your fine dining on than in a historical and ornate Italian villa? Located within Villa Laetitia is Enoteca La Torre — a two Michelin-starred restaurant served with a side of Art Nouveau flair. The restaurant offers elegant dishes with a heavy emphasis on Mediterranean flavors. Some dishes are even finished tableside, so you’re basically getting dinner and a show. Their menu boasts various tasting menus, but the real magic happens with the element of surprise. Dubbed “a journey with eyes closed,” Enoteca La Torre offers a blind tasting menu consisting of six courses hand-picked by chef Domenico Stile.
The Restaurant: Moma
Address: Via di San Basilio 42 / 43, 00100 Roma
If there’s a formula for the perfect dining experience, then Moma has cracked it. Everything at this restaurant is done to a pristine and minimalistic T. Even their menu follows strict guidelines. All products must be local and seasonal, from small-scale producers. The restaurant offers both à-la-carte and tasting menus for lunch and dinner. At Moma, each dish has one simple goal: to enhance the quality of the local ingredients without overpowering their original flavor. It’s basically haute-cuisine meets your local Italian farmer’s market.
The Restaurant: Imàgo
Address: Piazza della Trinita’ Dei Monti 6, Hotel Hassler Roma, 00187 Roma
Your chances of winning the lottery may be one in a million. But your chances of getting a table at Imàgo area little higher — twelve in a million. With only twelve exclusive tables and a focus on whimsical colors, flavors, and textures, a meal at Imàgo is more like a private performance than just a dining experience — the menu is even broken up into “Acts” instead of courses. We love a flair for the dramatic. Imàgo rotates between a Spring-Summer and an Autumn-Winter menu, ensuring that diner’s receive the best seasonal ingredients, transformed into something fresh and new.
FAQs
Q: Does PER ME Giulio Terrinoni have vegetarian options?
A: Yes, PER ME’s “Think Green” tasting menu consists of five vegetarian dishes.
Q: Does La Pergola have a dress code?
A: At La Pergola, long trousers and a jacket are mandatory for men. There are no explicit requirements for women, but the restaurant is quite fancy. You can view the dress code information HERE.
Q: Does Imàgo take reservations?
A: Yes, Imàgo takes reservations online.
