Rooftop Restaurants in Rome, Italy

If you are looking for rooftop dining options in Rome to take in the glory of the seven hills while tucking into traditional Roman dishes such as penne all'arabiata or trippa alla romana, look to the hotels. The hotels can exploit the tops of their buildings in the way that other buildings generally cannot. Expect the prices to be higher than you would find dining al fresco at street level, but as they say, location is everything. These locales will give you an unparalleled chance to take in the historic sights of Rome from vistas that are difficult to reach unless you have an apartment with roof access. You may dine at the restaurants listed in this article without having to stay at the hotel. Reservations are recommended.

Hotel Forum Rome

Hotel Forum Rome, across from the Imperial Forum, is close to Campidoglio, Piazza Venezia and shopping on the via Corso as well. Its rooftop terrace offers views of the Colosseum and Basilica Giulia in the Forum. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, and the menu is a mix of Italian cuisine and international dishes.

Hotel Forum Rome
Via Tor de' Conti, 25-30 (Fori Imperiali)
00184 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 (06) 67 92 446
hotelforumrome.com

Imago Restaurant

The Hotel Hassler's Imago Restaurant is on the sixth floor of the hotel, which is just a few paces away from the Spanish Steps. It offers a high vista facing the sunset, overlooking the Tiber and beyond. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2009 and has an ambitious menu of sophisticated pastas and main courses.

Imago Restaurant
Hotel Hassler
Piazza Trinita dei Monti 6
00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 (06) 69 93 47 26
imagorestaurant.com

Hotel Eden

Just a stone's throw from the Imago Restaurant, on the other side of the Villa Medici, is the Hotel Eden with its rooftop restaurant, La Terrazza, where you'll find an elegant setting. (Jackets are recommended, no jeans or shorts at dinner.) For a slightly less formal environment, the hotel's other restaurant, the Giardino dell'Eden, has views of St. Peter's, and if you ask the right person, you may be able to get Federico Fellini's table. (No jeans or shorts at dinner.)

Hotel Eden
Via Ludovisi 49
00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 (06) 47 81 21

Raphael Hotel

Smack in the middle of Rome's "centro storico," near Piazza Navona, is the restaurant at the Raphael Hotel. It features seasonal cuisine, which in Rome leaves a lot of options; you can get fresh tomatoes from Campania, just a few hours drive away, for much of the year. You can dine on the open terrace during good weather.

Raphael Hotel
Largo Febo, 2 (Piazza Navona)
00186 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 (06) 68 28 31
raphaelhotel.com

Article Written By Bill Brown

Bill Brown has been a freelance writer for more than 14 years. Focusing on trade journals covering construction and home topics, his work appears in online and print publications. Brown holds a Master of Arts in liberal arts from St. John's University and is currently based in Houston.

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