Dining on the Top: Rome’s Rooftop Terraces


When summer lands in Rome, there are two directions where the gastronomic roads lead to. While most head to the direction of the nearby coasts, where the sea breezes undertake its rejuvenating role, another path heads upwards towards the rooftops. There might not be the caressing sea wind or the endless sea that gives a fantastic view, but there is the unparalleled picture perfect panorama of the Roman skyline filled with distinctive church domes, terracotta roofs, and ancient Roman monuments. Coupled with the exquisite Italian cuisine, and a sunset that gives that flaming orange tint in the sky and a cocktail in hand, Rome's rooftop terraces are the places to be right now when you are in the city. Here are some of rooftop terraces to visit for dining and for cocktails while watching the sun go down over the enchanting city of Rome. 



Jacopa Restaurant and Cocktail Bar

Opened in April 2019 inside Hotel San Francesco in the Trastevere zone, proprietor Daniele Frontoni describes it as not your typical hotel restaurant. It's a fun and modern place that offers dynamic cocktails and modern creative cuisine. The kitchen is headed by Jacopo Ricci and Piero Drago, two young chefs who had gained their most important learning experiences in the kitchens of double Michelin-starred Il Pagliacco of Chef Anthony Genovese and Secondo Tradizione Restaurant. 

The menu proposals are created from ingredients of prime quality that respect the seasons and the environment. Interesting proposals of Scallops, Veal and Sage (€18) or Tripe and Squid (€18) together in one plate as well as some handmade pasta. Appetizers range from €16 to €18, Pasta at €18, Fish and Meat between €24 to €38 for the Roasted Duck, and Desserts at €10 to €12. The chefs also propose tasting menus of 5 courses at €50 or with wine pairing of 3 glasses (€75) and 5 glasses (€85). The wine list presents natural wine proposals of both Italian and international production. Great interest also goes to the Cocktail Bar on the terrace where Barman consultant Emanuele Broccatelli puts together an impressive lineup of cocktails executed by Bartenders Cristian Straccio and Rebecca Sanzone.

 
Hotel San Francesco

Via Jacopa de' Settesoli 7, 00153 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 5809075

Website: https://www.jacopa.it/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jacopa.it/



The Court

Just opened last month, The Court is the new cocktail bar inside 5-star luxury hotel Palazzo Manfredi. This one is actually located one floor down at the courtyard of the hotel unlike the others that are on the rooftops that are on in this list. The view opens to the majestic view of the Ludus Magnus, the remains of the greatest gladiatorial school ancient Rome and the imposing presence of the Colosseum. It is indescribably beautiful and perhaps even one of the most beautiful locations in the world. The Court resembles an elegant and cozy open-air living room with the 7-meter long travertine bar counter where mixology, the soul of the place, is given life. 

Behind this counter is renowned bartender Matteo Zed who conceptualized the drink list and he is joined by Gennaro Buono, candidate for Best Sommelier in Italy 2016. Among the signature cocktails of Zed are the Rising Sun, a mixture of gin, yuzu, matcha tea and honey and Black Mamba, a mixture of Jamaican and Venezuelan rum, peanut water and tamarind extract. Gourmet finger foods and tasty creations are signed by Executive Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio of the Michelin-starred Aroma Resturant of Palazzo Manfredi and Pastry Chef Daniele De Santi.

Palazzo Manfredi
Via Labicana 125, 00184 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 77591380

The Flair

Christened with a new name and a new identity, the rooftop restaurant of Hotel Sina Bernini Bristol in Rome sets sail under the command of its new executive chef, Alessandro Caputo just a few months ago. A young chef who grew up in Sicily, one of Italy's celebrated islands for its rich and strong Mediterranean gastronomy, Alessandro creates a kitchen with indications of Italian and European cuisines marked with French style and cooking techniques. He has a contemporary approach with well-defined flavors that distinctly identifies the ingredients. Techniques, rigid attention to the quality of of the raw materials and years of training is a perfect amalgamation in the evolution of his autographed kitchen.

At such a young age, Alessandro had been exposed to an impressive lineup of Michelin starred restaurants where he gained professional experiences in the kitchen. First at Fat Duck with Chef Heston Blumenthal, London’s multi-awarded triple Michelin starred restaurant then to Le Gavroche with Chef Michel Roux Jr., another Michelin starred restaurant in London with two stars. Back to Italy, he worked as the second chef of Massimiliano Alajmo at triple Michelin starred Caffè Quadri in Venice.

The spectacular panoramic view that The Flair bestows is one of the best in Rome. It faces Piazza Barberini on the Quirinal Hill with the early 17th century Fontana del Tritone sculpted by Bernini standing in its full splendor. Looking more upwards, the iconic roofs of the capital create an absolute picturesque perspective of Rome. 

The Flair has a capacity of 40 both indoors and outdoors during the warm season. Both ways, dining is rewarded with different viewpoints. Indoors, the dining area overlooks the large open kitchen while the chefs prepare the dishes while outdoors, with weather permitting, a striking prospect awaits the diners.


Hotel Sina Bernini Bristol

Piazza Barberini 23, 00187 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 42010469

Email: theflair@sinahotels.com
W
ebsite: www.sinahotels.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflair.rooftoprestaurant/




Rooftop 7 Terrace

Centrally located in the Prati area and within walking distance to various shops and restaurants, this newly-refurbished modern 4-star hotel provides its guests a ground floor indoor and courtyard restaurant as well as a rooftop terrace. At the Rooftop 7 Terrace, activities and events for the hotel guests and outsiders take place throughout the summer season until September. Every Sunday, Monday and Thursday, there is live music. In addition, on Thursday evenings, the hotel also organizes the barbecue nights on the terrace.  

The kitchen is directed by Chef Massimo Orsini, who prepares a new menu composed of entries that keep the Italian gastronomic tradition with a flair of originality, while maintaining simplicity. He attained his experiences in the Michelin-starred restaurants of Rome's luxury hotels alongside Chefs Heinz Beck and Oliver Glowig. At his own kitchen, he proposes a cuisine that is strongly linked to the genuine aromas and flavors of his roots and land that the local products can truly offer. Quality, passion and simplicity are the essential ingredients that characterize his philosophy in cooking.

Le Meridien Visconti Hotel

Via Federico Cesi 37, 00193 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 3684

Website: https://www.marriott.it/hotels/travel/rommd-le-meridien-visconti-rome/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lemeridienviscontirome/




Diana's Place on the Roof

Just a few steps from the splendid gardens of Villa Borghese and the elegant Via Veneto, one of Rome's most expensive and famous streets, Diana's Place offers excellent views of the eternal city from its 7th floor location of The Tribune. Chef Andrea Fusco, well-known for the Michelin-starred Giuda Ballerino Restaurant is the new Executive Chef of AG Foodies in which Diana's Place is a part of. AG Foodies is one of the five divisions of AG Group of Andrea Girolami, which specializes in offering new and authentic experiences in the excellence of Italian gastronomy and great Italian and international wines with highlight on French wines, especially champagne. Aside from the rooftop terrace of The Tribune, Diana's Place is also located in some key locations in the capital like Via Volturno, the Trevi Fountain area, the rooftop of The Independent Hotel and Campo Marzio.

The kitchen at Diana's Place has a rich offering of innovative and refined cuisine while also developing the traditions of the territories using modern cooking techniques and the right ingredients. The proposals at the menu have a range of interesting Roman and original dishes. Appetizers of meatballs and salty maritozzi range from €3 to €6, Pasta and Risotto dishes at €18, BBQ proposals between €20 to €30, Salads at €14 and Desserts at €10.


The Tribune

Via Campania 45, 00187 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 62283753

Website: https://www.tribunehotel.it/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dianasplaceofficial/


 

Acquaroof Terrazza Molinari

The view, spectacular as Rome always displays, Acquaroof highlights the Trinità dei Monti, Villa Medici and the imposing structure of St. Peter's Basilica amidst church domes, Roman roofs and monuments. Renovated last year to the design of architect Antonio Marincola, the restaurant on the 6th floor of The First Roma - Arte Hotel at Via del Vantaggio, partnered with Molinari, the Italian distillate company famous for its sambuca.  

Behind the counter is bar manager Valeria Bassetti who created a drink list with a marine undertone. In the kitchen is Chef Claudia Ceppaluni, a budding young chef who gained her experiences at the kitchens of starred restaurants, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London and Del Cambio Restaurant in Turin. Shaped by Chef Angelo Troiani, the menu, mainly from the sea, is more approachable, with aspects of simplicity and essentiality as opposed to the more complex proposals of the Michelin-starred restaurant downstairs, Acquolina. The wine list on the other hand, is handled by the same sommelier of Acquolina, Emanuele Pica. Cocktails range from €15 to €25. Acquaroof is open all day from morning for breakfast, lunch, aperitif and dinner.


The First Roma - Arte Hotel

Via del Vantaggio 14, 00186 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 45617070

Email: info.arte@thefirsthotel.com

Website: https://www.thefirsthotel.com/arte/roof-garden

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcquaRoof/




Mirabelle

The 7th floor rooftop terrace of the early 19th century building of the luxurious Hotel Splendide Royal of the Naldi Family entrances every diner with its picturesque view from Villa Medici to Trinità dei Monti, Gianicolo and up to the Monte Mario, the highest hill of Rome. The fine dining restaurant has the sophisticated elegance of the Baroque style, its gold details, rosy marbles and plush velvets. It gives the impression of an opulent dining room of the Italian aristocracy in another era. Tables are located indoors and outdoors. 

The protagonist of Mirabelle is Chef Stefano Marzetti who has been maintaining a kitchen for the past 8 years with unforgettable traits, a mixture of traditional and extraordinary innovativeness with particular links to Umbrian and Roman cuisines. His kitchen is done of research of the raw material, realized through careful scrutiny of suppliers and small producers of quality. As a child in a Roman household, he learned to love food through the conviviality of the big round family tables, he went to culinary school at a young age and gained his experiences in the kitchens of Roman restaurants including La Pergola with Heinz Beck and Antico Arco. Some of his proposals are Tuna with Bloody Mary Sorbet as well as Andalusian Gazpacho, Octopus, Black Rice and Melon Sorbet. Tasting and Chidren's Menus are also available.

In the dining room, Restaurant Manager Luca Costanzi leads the staff to an impeccable orchestra of refined and welcoming service. The commitment to their clients is almost one on one which gives them the chance to better understand the needs of each diner. Luca in fact, has been awarded several times for the Best Dining Service he has provided by some of the most important Italian Restaurant Guidebooks. 


Hotel Splendide Royal

Via di Porta Pinciana 14, 00187 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 42168838

Website: https://www.mirabelle.it/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MirabelleSplendideRestaurant/



47 Circus Roof Garden

Contemporary Mediterranean is decisively the main characteristic of the cuisine here. 47 Circus Roof Garden is the 6th floor rooftop terrace restaurant of the 4-star 47 Boutique Hotel along Via Luigi Petroselli, located right in the very center of some of the capital's important ancient Roman monuments, between Piazza Venezia and Circus Maximus. From the terrace which is open in the warm season, you can enjoy one of the best topview panoramas in Rome: the Temple of Vesta, Piazza della Bocca della Verita, Arch of Janus and the San Giorgo al Velabro Church.  

The kitchen has recently been reorganized with Chef Antonio Gentile now holding the controlling rein. Formerly from Ristorante Red Fish, one of the best seafood restaurants in the the Roman coastal town of Ostia, he now sets his kitchen enriched with well-defined flavors on the rooftop of 47 Boutique Hotel with a new set of clientele to fascinate. Antonio's kitchen reflects his great sense of creativity, respect for quality ingredients and knowledge of techniques. With the menu, he puts together some dishes influenced by traditional aspects as well as the signature dishes that he has become well-known for. At the cocktail bar is Beatrice Oliviero who with 47 different kinds of gin from all over the world, homemade syrups, various liquors and youthful passion, creates cocktail drinks with decisive balance of aromas and flavors.


47 Boutique Hotel

Via Luigi Petroselli 47, 000186 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 6787816

Website: https://www.47circusroofgarden.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/47CircusRoofGarden/

 

MadeIterraneo & Sunset Bar Up

After the success of Madre and Michelin-starred Ristorante All'Oro in the 5-star boutique hotel H'All Tailor Suite, Chef Riccardo Di Giacinto and his wife Ramona Anello expanded their gastronomic enterprise and opened MadeIterraneo on the 6th floor & Sunset Bar Up on the 7th floor of the luxury store collection Rinascente at the corner of Via del Tritone and Via dei Due Macelli. There, right in the historic center, just a few steps from the Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna, award-winning Riccardo Di Giacinto welcomes guests with the amazing dishes he has come to be known for. Truly Italian, with every plate and every element contains all the taste of traditions with the perfumes of the Mediterranean.



MadeIterraneo can be reached easily by the elevators on the ground floor or it can also be accessed slowly by going through the maze of the latest Italian brands of clothes and taking the central escalators towards the 6th floor. With a flight of stairs, the terrace of Sunset Bar Up opens up to a 360 degree panoramic view of the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Fratte, Palazzo del Quirinale and the endless rows of brick-colored roofs and domes. Open from 11:00 until 23:00 everyday, the restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Swift Business Lunch Menus are available between €19 to €24, Tasting Menus at €35 and €50, as well as à la carte choices. 

The kitchen of MadetIterraneo and Sunset Bar Up are influenced by the intermingling flavors of the Mediterranean gastronomic territories of Europe and North Africa. With the careful research and mastery of skills and techniques, Riccardo Di Giancinto creates his dishes with distinctive characteristics and balance using quality seasonal raw materials. So between the aromas of olives, spices, freshly-baked bread, pizzas, and fresh seafood, it's the perfect place to indulge on the enogastronomical cultural of Rome through the hospitality and creativity of one Riccardo and Ramona. 


Rinascente

Via dei Due Macelli corner Via del Tritone 23, 00187 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 87916650

Email: info@madeiterraneo.com

Website: http://www.madeiterraneo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madeiterraneo/


 

Ristorante Terrazza Trinità dei Monti

Stepping inside the magnificent centuries-old Grand Hotel Plaza gives its guests a dramatic welcome at its main hall, the Salone delle Feste with its richness of frescoes, velvet tapestries and immense crystal chandeliers. The majestic Art Nouveau details that greet the eyes is just the beginning of the Grand Hotel Plaza experience where the golden age era displaying its untouched prominence. This historical hotel in the heart of Rome has its unblemished antiquity to partake with its guests who are highly appreciative of arts, elegance, culture and gracious hospitality.

Built in early 1837 as a palace of Count Antonio Lozzano by architect Antonio Sarti and later in 1860 was transformed into a luxury 5-star hotel. Thus Grand Hotel Plaza has continued to serve its illustrious guests for the past one hundred and fifty years in its suites, terraces with the views and opulent salons where its original art and decorations are highlighted. It has always been an example of one of the most antique and prestigious hotels in Rome along its main arteries, Via del Corso. Having this particularly prestigious environment, it has also served as backdrop to many important Italian and international films.

And yet, boasting another feature, the hotel opens its 6th floor terrace to accommodate guests at the Ristorante Terrazza Trinità dei Monti where the backdrop of the capital is another setting to admire. In the kitchen is Chef Umberto Vezzoli who comes from the kitchens in various corners of the world specifically at the St. Regis Hotels and Intercontinental De La Ville Hotels. His cookery is an interpretation of traditional Italian cuisine attained with his philosophy of putting value to the raw materials, passion and culture. Tasting menus are available between €75 and €85 as well as à la carte proposals of mostly traditional dishes. The restaurant is open from 18:30 to 23:00 during the summer season.


Grand Hotel Plaza

Via del Corso 126, 00186 Rome (RM), Italy

Tel: +39 06 67495

Email: plaza@grandhotelplaza.com

Website: www.grandhotelplaza.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandHotelPlazaRoma/


 

Terrazza Montemartini

Throughout the summer season, Terrazza Montemartini opens its doors to its guests and serves aperitif and dinner on the top floor of Palazzo Montemartini Radisson Collection Hotel. Indeed, being at a suggestive position in the capital next to the Diocletian Baths and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the historical palace built in 1881 stands out for its resplendent structure and style. It is also characterized by its peculiarity of being the only hotel crossed by the Servian Walls that date back from the 6th century B.C. during the reign of the 6th king of Rome, Servius Tullius.

Every evening between 18:00 to 20:00 on the terrace, Executive Chef Simone Strano plays protagonist at a special show cooking of finger foods allowing the guests to meet him and see him at work during aperitif. Accompanying the chef's dishes are the cocktails of award-winning barman Riccardo Di Dio Masa who concocts cocktail drinks between tradition and innovation like Montemartini's Way, Tobago Daiquiri Zen and Negron HPM 19. Expect some delicious appetizers from the Chef Simone Strano's kitchen like classic club sandwiches to plates of red prawn carpaccio, candied mandarin and mullet bottarga. From the ground floor restaurant Senses, some of the proposals are also available at the terrace for aperitif, dinner and after dinner.


Palazzo Montemartini Radisson Collection Hotel

Largo Giovanni Montemartini, 00185 Rome, Italy

Tel: +39 06 45661

Email: info.palazzomontemartini@radissoncollection.com

Website: http://www.palazzomontemartini.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalazzoMontemartiniRome/