Rome is so full of magnificent ruins, charming alleys, and vintage doorways with distinct Palazzos dotting the city; and it’s hard not to get a view. However, Rome is also mostly overflowing with tourists in its cooler months and its restaurants on rooftops and star chefs are meant to burn a hole in your pocket. What this article offers is a mix of trattorias, cafes and proper restaurants that are genuinely affordable and offer a lingering look at this beautiful city and its historical sites.
Restaurantes are basically polished versions of Trattorias (eateries). In the latter, you can get a meal for two for around 30 Euros and in the former, it’s possible for two to dine at 80 Euros if you stick to the list below.
Ambrosia Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Category: Restaurante
Overview
Ambrosia sprawls over the substantial terrace area of Hotel Artemide and you can pretty much see the entire historical centre of Rome from the rooftop. Chef Massimo Gonnella who presides over its kitchen is well known for his gnocchi and ravioli. The food is modernised Roman classical food and exceptionally well crafted though the menu is limited. Ambrosia is well known amongst the locals for its cocktails.
Seating and Ambience
Ambrosia certainly has a unique romantic vibe. Order a fruit-based Prosecco or an Espresso Martini and look at Roma while sitting on a side table or sit at the bar and watch the team whip up a special Negroni.
Food
Try the buffalo mozzarella ravioli, Parmesan risotto with the balsamic reduction, creamed salt cod, or lamb chops if you want the classics. Or you can order the prosciutto with melon, duck breast in fruit sauce (comes with finger potatoes and greens) and the Chefs special cavatelli if you are looking for slightly modern fares. Seafood dishes are highly recommended including the swordfish and the monkfish. The pasta menu is compact and delicious with cheese & spinach ravioli and tonnarelli with shrimp, lemon and tomatoes being some of the popular entrees.
The dessert menu is fabulous with crunchy hazelnut biscuits topped with basil mousse, red velvet, and lemon delight. A complete dinner for two with drinks would come up to around 100 Euros.
Service
Special mention must be made of Maurizio at the bar who is an excellent mixologist and a great entertainer. Eugenio (server) and the rest of the team make sure that all tables are well attended to and offer complimentary desserts to guests who are celebrating special occasions. On the flip side, the service is rather slow at times.
View
You will get a nice view of the historical centre even if you are seated inside as there are large glass windows. Outside, you can sit at the bar (no reservation required) or at a table (reservation required).
Location
Via Nazionale is one of the oldest and most important roads of Rome that connects the city’s historical core to the Termini station. This is also one of the best shopping areas.
Address & Contacts
Via Nazionale 22, Located in Hotel Artemide, 00184 Rome
Phone: +39 06 4899 1763
Timings: Open every day from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Restaurant Website
Tip: Reserve beforehand and order a platter of cheese with wine to savour your time while watching the sunset from the Ambrosia outdoor tables.
La Fata Ignorante – Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Category: Restaurante
Overview
Interestingly, the La Fata Ignorante (which means the ignorant fairy) is pretty smart when it comes to re-interpreting classic Italian dishes in a creative and healthy way.
Seating and Ambience
The interiors are carefully synchronized in muted nut warm colours and accentuated by life-size copies of Tamara de Lempicka’s works. There is unobtrusive background music and an intimate, almost romantic atmosphere with well-spaced tables.
Food
Contemporary Italian food with some inventive touches with a tasteful presentation, excellent taste but moderate portions would describe this place best. The pesto pasta, Strozzapreti, beef cheek, and gnocchi (the cheese fillings simply melt into the mouth) are especially recommended.
Dessert entrees include an inventive mango bavaroise and a classic tiramisu. The wine list has a great range of wines (for every budget) from all Italian regions. Please ask for menu recommendations… they are good and heartily offered.
Meal for two with the main course, dessert and drinks would come up to about 100 Euros.
Service
The staffs are uniformly kind and attentive yet a little slow. Gianluca and his team are always friendly and try to accommodate language preferences (they speak Italian, German, English and French) and seem well trained
View
The sprawling restaurant is on a terrace that overlooks Opera House Square (Teatro dell’Opera di Roma). To know about this famous Roman attraction, read this article on Rome’s Nightlife.
Location
On the top floor of the iQ hotel, near the Opera House (nearest station (Repubblica– Teatro dell’Opera)
Address & Contacts
Via Firenze, 8, 00184 Rome Italy
Phone: +39.324.7474306 (call after 5 p.m. or WhatsApp at all hours)
Restaurant Website
Timings
Open every day from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tip: Make a reservation; this is really a busy place. You can also visit the restaurant’s website to book a table online. You also get free Prosecco and a detailed history of the place when you visit.
VII-Coorte
Category: Restaurante
Overview
If you are a seafood lover looking for a decently priced meal with upper-class presentation and taste along with a great view then you really can’t go wrong with VII-Coorte.
Seating and Ambience
The interiors are artistic and intimate but you should aim for grabbing the outdoor seating. You can get high chairs on request. There is a nice view of the interesting Trastevere neighbourhood which is one of the most artistic places in Rome.
Food
This restaurant specializes in seafood with a combination of Sicilian and Roman tastes and the dishes are a fine balance of herbs, savoury elements and acidic elements. You can start with the Mare Misto (antipasto)… it is a combination of four separate plates including shrimp-infused pecorino fonduta, artichokes, olive and octopus salad, shrimp and lard crostini. There is a good selection of wines including Vermentino, Cattarato and Müller Thurgau; all reasonably priced… around 18 to 22 Euros per bottle.
The white fish tartare, lobster tonnarelli, octopus linguine, calamari with soft cheese and lemon and the Paccheri all’ Amatriciana di Mare is especially recommended. The pastas are also excellent. For dessert, you can try the panna cotta with mixed berries or the Sicilian chocolate cake
Food portions and presentation are both outstanding.
Service
They have free Wi-Fi and accept American Express, Visa and Master Cards. The digital payment option is available. Staffs are uniformly friendly and explain the menu in detail while offering curated wine recommendations. The waiters Loris and Gaetano deserve special mention. On the flip side, the service is rather slow sometimes and the staffs need some more training in English
View
In case, you do not reserve in advance then you will probably be asked to sit on the ground floor or outside. The roof terrace is the place with the best views but advance reservations are a must.
Location
This small and quaint-looking restaurant stands at the start of Viale Trastevere in Piazza Sonnino.
Address and Contacts
Piazza Sidney Sonnino 29 Trastevere, 00153 Rome Italy
Phone: +39 388 898 5314
Facebook Page
Timings
Open every day
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
7:00 PM – 10:30 PM
On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant closes at 11 p.m.
Tip: Book in advance and you can get 20% off on your bill
47 Circus Roof Garden
Category: Restaurante
Overview
This Mediterranean rooftop cocktail bar & restaurant sits on the terrace of the 47 Boutique hotel. Apart from fantastic views, you also get a view of some of the prettiest Roman architecture. If you stay here in the hotel, expect a 20% discount on the food bills.
Seating and Ambience
The rooftop is dotted with Pristine white tablecloths decking elegant round tables. All of them are well spaced apart and supplied with minimalistic chairs. The ambience is understated luxury and relaxed, offering a sanctuary amidst the busiest part of a busy city.
Food
The menu is seasonal and the food genre is healthy Mediterranean with an inventive twist. The Circus Roof Garden claims to use only the best spices and herbs and the Chefs Gabriele Enrico and Antonio Gentile pay special attention to the raw material quality.
Some of the best entrees are the beef filet tender, gnocchi, saltimbocca, pastas (green tea with lobster/ mussels/ Zucchini flower and truffle/ ricotta cheese)…there is gluten-free food too. Look for unusual fare like miso sauce black cod and fillet in pistachios. For starters, you can try the fried courgette flower, tempura prawns or the organic egg with truffle and parmesan. The dessert menu is limited but do not miss the tiramisu though the chocolate parfait and strawberries with ice cream are great too.
Order an aperitif and your drink will come with finger foods laid down on an original Ferris wheel. Order a cheese platter and a bottle of wine and the staff will serve you free appetizers.
Do not forget to look at the gin menu… it has 47 different Gin labels from around the world. The mains are priced at 30 Euros each. The tasting menu is a good way to get a little bit of everything and it’s 85 Euros.
It is quality over quantity here so do not expect big portions!!
Service
The manager Darione offers great service. The staffs are unobtrusive, well versed in English and rather unhurried. They will give you plenty of time to choose and since the food is most likely prepared from scratch… the service is rather slow.
View
The rooftop is veritably at the heart of the busy circus of Roman life (hence the name) and you can enjoy views of the temples of Hercules Victor and Portunus. there is also a nice view of Piazza Bocca della Verita and Forum Boarium.
Location
At the heart of Central Rome in Luigi Petroselli
Address and Contacts
Via Luigi Petroselli, 47, 00186 Rome
Phone: +39 348 016 2378
Restaurant Website
Timings
Open every day
Monday to Friday: 4.00 P.M. – 12:30 A.M.
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 P.M. – 12:30 A.M.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant closes at 11 p.m.
Tip: time your visit and drop in half an hour before sunset so that you can see the wonderful colours of the Roman sunset before the night lights come up!! Pick the right climate as the terrace isn’t covered though there are heaters as well as umbrellas (and even blankets).
Terraces at Singer Palace Hotel
Category: Restaurante
Overview
Located at the core of the Historic region of Lazio, the Singer Palace Hotel is a historic building (it was the headquarter of the Singer sewing machine company) constructed in a 20th-century style. The terrace (fifth floor) has The Terraces rooftop restaurant and the Jim’s Bar offering the option of a breezy brunch or a romantic dinner with a view.
Seating and Ambience
The Terraces Restaurant & Lounge has a cosy vibe and is flanked by a huge terrace filled with jasmine and rosemary shrubs, olive trees limes and kumquats. There are formal tables as well as relaxed lounge sofas.
Food
The menu has different variations every day. You can sample succulent beef filet over wilted chicory, chestnut and chicory soup or savoury pumpkin panna cotta.
This is the best place for trying out Roman signature dishes like zabaglione, bresaola and amatriciana.
Try an Alessandro Fiacco (house chef special) like octopus roasted in lime with chilli pepper, garlic oil and turnip greens. Finish off your meal with tiramisu or the light-as-air pastries.
The cocktails come with a plate of home-fried potato chips and they are mostly re-imagined classics. The bartenders Ali and Alex will prepare the signature “Singer Sparkling” for you. There is an extensive gin menu too.
The mains cost around 26 Euros each.
Service
Warm, friendly and courteous, the staff usually does everything to keep guests happy. The atmosphere is relaxed, however, you can find the service slow.
View
Overlooks Via del Corso so you will get a spectacular view of the neighbourhood’s Spanish-tiled roofs, San Marcello church and the Italian flag over the Palazzo del Quirinale. The rooftop bar Jim’s (higher up) will offer an even better view of the famous attractions around.
Location
Close to Piazza Venezia, arguably the best Roman square. the Spanish steps, Trevi fountain, and the iconic Borsalino hat store (northeast) and Roman Forum and Venezia (south) are all within quick walking distance. Walk west and you can reach the Navona, Vatican City, Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori and Trastevere.
Address & Contacts
Via Alessandro Specchi, 10, Pantheon, 00186 Rome
Phone: +39 06 697 6161
Restaurant Website
Timings
Open every day from 12.30 p.m. to 12.00 a.m.
Tip: This is a popular place both amongst locals and tourists so reserving in advance is a good idea. There is a lift but if you fit enough, take the fantastic marble Carrara staircase to the top… enroute you can spot the vintage singer machines made in this building.
Oro Bistrot Roma
Category: Restaurante
Overview
The Oro Bistrot sits on the sixth level of the NH Collection Fori Imperiali Hotel (near Trajan’s Forum). The Hotel itself is a Patrician structure of the Trevi district and its terrace offers a stunning direct view of the Pantheon… arguably the best rooftop view in Rome. The flavours are a fusion of Rome and Sicily with a distinct gourmet touch.
Seating and Ambience
The accents are done in teal and gold offering an elegant and rather lux atmosphere. The annexe of the Oro Bistrot restaurant allows you to imagine that if you draw your hand out, you can actually touch the wonders below.
Food
This place is known for its tasting menus exquisitely crafted by Natale Giunta. Each menu has approximately six entrees and comes up to an average of 80 euros per person (with well-matched wine pairings). Expect dishes like stuffed aubergine peppers, pasta with smoked oysters and pureed squash, creamed yoghurt and cannolo.
They have a special candlelit dinner menu comprising of cucumber caviar, Sicilian prawns with raspberry, taglioni pasta with squid sauce, sea bass and citrus sauce and white chocolate mousse and cocoa meringue. This is served for the candlelit dinner and costs around 100 euros per person… far from cheap but it is an exceptional experience.
The Caol Ila Talisker whiskey and the Aperol spritz are wonderful. Drinks are a bit expensive but you will get complimentary snacks with them.
Service
The staffs are the kind who puts candles on the desserts if it’s your birthday and sing happy birthday in Italian style. Special mention must be made of Alessandro who manages the dining team well. Service is unhurried (Italian normal)… be prepared to wait for your cheque or your food to arrive
View
The fantastic view from the annexe terrace is definitely one of the biggest draws. You will get to see the Pantheon in all its glory along with the adjacent architectural wonders.
Location
At the heart of central Rome, the nearest station is Termini and the nearest metro is Colosseo/Cavour (line B)
Address & Contacts
Via di Santa Eufemia, 19, 00187 Rome Italy
Phone: +39 349 889 2632
Restaurant Website
Timings
Open from 12.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day
Tip: Call ahead and make a reservation for a table with an unobstructed view. The entrance is through the NH Hotel’s main gate and it’s a new establishment so maybe you will not see a sign for the Oro Bistro. Go straight up and take the lift to the sixth floor.
Caffetteria Ristorante Le Terrazze Castel Sant’Angelo
Category: Cafe / Trattoria
Overview
Castel Sant’ Angelo has enough historical context to fill up a booklet. The place started off as the staid Tomb of Hadrian with its own rooftop garden and then became an imperial tomb, a prison and then a fortress.
Castel Sant’Angelo was then redecorated as a gorgeous nook for the Papacy to showcase their collectables before it finally became a museum. You can read about this important attraction in great detail in this article.
This cultural potpourri also has its own café and restaurant at the upper level with a great view and prices that will not burn a hole in your pocket. Getting a true blue Italian restaurant in a tourist spot that is not overpriced and run by locals is a rare find.
Seating and Ambience
The restaurant is quiet and shaded, offering huge relief after some hours under the hot Roman sun. There is a beautiful vine-covered space with graceful archways that offer beautiful views of Rome. Small chairs and tables sit in these archways and the atmosphere is private and romantic.
Food
The food is basic but very well made and the menu is simply structured with a few selections of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and drinks besides some traditional Italian entrees. The lunch menu has pictures and is made in English so this is a place that is targeted mainly for tourists. A bottle of Prosecco is around 25 Euros. The lemon spritzes and sodas come with free chips and peanuts. The pizzas and the coffee are very good. You can have a meal for four including some drinks at around 80 Euros.
Service
The restaurant is known for its excellent service. Lourdes (one of the head waiters) is very good at menu selection and wine recommendations. Ramona and Yara (staff at the bar) deserve a special mention for their aptitude and friendliness.
View
Most tables in the restaurant are well placed but there is a particular one with a dramatic view of the Vatican. Most probably, you would have to tip the waiter handsomely to get this table (or arrive really early). The restaurant is the best place to view St Peters and the secret passage that helped Popes run away from the Vatican to hide in the Castel Sant Angelo.
Location
Castel Sant’Angelo is well visible on any map of Rome and it stands beside the Tiber. The place has its exclusive bridge filled with statues. Get down at the Termini Station to reach this place.
Address & Contacts
Lungotevere Castello 50 Castel Sant’Angelo, 00193 Rome Italy
Phone: +390668802598
Facebook Page
Timings
Open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. except Mondays (closed)
Tip: Do not miss having a look at the tiny museum of the Italian Risorgimento as you walk out of the café. The original tunics Garibaldi offered the Roman troops are on display here. The lower levels contain intricate frescoed rooms or the Papal apartments. There are many floors that host prisons and even a torture chamber. Do not forget that you have to pay around 10 Euros to enter Castel d’Angelo as it’s a well-known town tourist attraction.
Gran Caffe Rossi Martini
Category: Cafe / Trattoria
Overview
The Gran Café Rossi Martini dates back to 1935 and has a historic yet smartly commercial vibe. The effervescence of the servers, decently priced entrees and exceptional quality of the martini, as well as coffee, make this a great place to watch Colosseum and sample the different coffee blends. The Aperitif hour with a signature cocktail and finger food is also highly recommended.
Seating and Ambience
The interiors are warm, unassuming and welcoming. However, this is not the place for a long lingering lunch as there is plenty of tourist flow and a business-like vibe.
Food
Try the Italian salami, Italian cheese and Caesar salad for starters. Then you can move on to marinated salmon or simply a gorgeous pizza and the pesto ravioli. Or maybe a Pigs cheek Carbonara, Sea Bream with veggies, bruschetta di Pomodoro, and potatoes and oysters with half-shells.
The cocktail menu is decently priced and extensive with concoctions like the Negroni, Long Island iced tea and the Aperol Spritz made to perfection. Special mention must be made of the Limoncello and the Grappa.
For dessert, try the cheesecake, chocolate cake or some strawberries and cream. This is the perfect place to drop in for an affordable Italian breakfast (juice, pastries, warm buns and coffee) before you tour the Colosseum. Or maybe a Cappuccino/ Espresso Martini and a mozzarella panini after your tour.
A typical meal with drinks will cost around 50 Euros.
Service
Special mention must be made of Benedetto (server), Alba (bartender) and Corina (server), Nadia and Jasmine. It’s rare to find such warm and open-armed service in a busy tourist area in Rome.
View
The window seat overlooks the Colosseum (the cafe is right across the street from it). Just pray that a tourist bus doesn’t park itself right in front of your window seat!!
Location
Right across the street from the Colosseum
Address & Contacts
Piazza del Colosseo 3A/3B, 00184 Rome Italy
Phone: +39 06 700 4431
Restaurant Website
Timings
Open every day from 12.00 a.m. to 11.59 p.m.
Tip: Book online from their website and get up to 30% off on pre-booking meals.
Tazza d’Oro
Category: Cafe / Trattoria
Overview
Tazza d’Oro is known for serving the best Espresso in town and that is no mean feat as Rome is a city for genuine coffee connoisseurs. The place had opened just after the Second World War and it is still incredibly popular.
Seating and Ambience
The Tazza D’Oro is almost always crowded so do not expect serenity here. The café runs on the traditional system; pay beforehand at the cashier and take the slip to the bar where you might have to struggle to get the barista’s attention. If you want to sit and have your coffee it’s going to cost you more but it is also an excellent place to people watch and gawk at the Pantheon (it’s right opposite). The Tazza-d-Oro offers an authentic Italian café experience
Food
Definitely order the Granita Caffe con Panna (espresso with loads of cream and shaved ice). The food is limited to croissants, sandwiches and a selection of desserts. Breakfast is the best time to come if you want a proper meal and some time to spend. Coffee prices start at 90 cents and the flavour is exceptionally good and strong. The hot chocolate is also excellent and you will feel that you are drinking pure chocolate. A pot of tea is only 1.80 Euros while the pastries are 1 Euro each. The macchiato, espresso, cappuccino, and latte are all exceptional and so is the Tiramisu.
The food menu is limited but everything tastes exceptional. The cannoli stuffed with creamy ricotta and orange slices is a must-have. The sfogliatella is rich, decadent and creamy and it’s hard not to overeat the “dolci”.
Service
This is really a busy place and the baristas are sassy yet indifferent in a way that is quintessentially Italian. Go if you are looking for an “un-touristy” experience and a glimpse into the typical Italian coffee culture.
View
You can get a direct view of the Pantheon. Grab a chair and take endless photos before someone else takes your seat away.
Location
The place is at the corner of Pantheon square. The Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the exquisite Trevi fountain are just five minutes away. Stopping at the Tazza-d-Orro for a coffee has become a ritual in the area.
Address and Contacts
Via degli orfani 84, Roma – 00186
Phone: + 06 6789792 – 06 6792768
Timings
Mon-Sat 7:00 AM–8:00 PM
Sun 10:30 AM–7:15 PM
Tip: You can try buying the small espresso bean pouches they sell here… excellent souvenir value. Try the chocolate-coated coffee beans and the coffee mugs with quirky messages; they have a unique appeal.
Cantina & Cucina
Category: Cafe / Trattoria
Overview
This is more of a Trattoria than a fancy restaurant so expect a busy feel and a fast-moving line. However, it overlooks the famous Piazza Navona and arguably serves the best pizza in central Rome with free goodies.
Seating and Ambience
The restaurant has well decorated dimly lit, quaint interiors with comfortable seats and an eclectic collection of photos on the walls. Look for a table with a street view and you will be well entertained. If you reach early, you can sit in the quaint corner outside the restaurant and look at the famous Piazza Navona.
Food
this place is famous for pizzas so make sure you order one (preferably a Roma crust) loaded with fresh toppings, the pizza capricciosa is a good choice.
Other well-recommended dishes are Cacao e peppe meatballs, lasagne, ravioli, fried octopus, roasted artichokes with goat’s cheese and potato wedges.
Pricing is extremely affordable. For instance; a meal of simple tomato and lettuce salad, artichoke-infused carbonara and a glass of Chianti will cost only around 20 Euros. Desert entrees like the Pannacotta and the Tiramisu are great. There are lots of Italian entrees and it costs around €8-15 for mains while dessert is about €4-7. The restaurant offers a shot of local liquor as a digestive and free lollypops come with the bill.
Service
All over courteous service but special mention must be made of Georgia (server) and Fabio (oversees the waiting lines and speaks all possible languages). Lionello (bartender) is also very sweet and helpful. Staffs are very friendly (by Roman standards) but not intrusive.
View
The Piazza Navona with its Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi and the street artists.
Location
Just a few meters away from Piazza Navona, Central Rome. Learn all about this famous place in this article about shopping in Rome.
Address & Contacts
Via del Governo Vecchio, 87, 00186 Rome
Phone: +39 06 689 2574
Restaurant Website
Timings
Open on Sunday, Saturday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Closed on Mondays
Tip: There are usually two queues at the entrance (one for two people and the other for groups). Go early, it takes about 20 minutes to get a table but the wait is worth it as Cantina Cucina gives you free Prosecco.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.