Sharing my top trendy restaurants in Rome right now! Plus a few places for an aperitivo!
One of the highlights of visiting Rome is indulging in the delicious food and drinks the city has to offer. From traditional Italian dishes to local specialties, there is something to satisfy every palate. Don’t miss out on trying classic Roman dishes like carbonara, cacio e pepe, and supplì. For pizza lovers, a visit to Rome wouldn’t be complete without trying a slice of authentic Roman-style pizza. And of course, you can’t forget about gelato! Rome is home to some of the best gelaterias in the world, where you can indulge in a variety of flavors. Wash it all down with a glass of local wine or a refreshing Aperol Spritz. Exploring the culinary scene in Rome is a must for any food lover.
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Best Trendy Restaurants in Rome, Italy
If you know me, you know we love a great meal! We were so excited to try the world class cuisine in Italy. Below I am sharing a few of the places we ate in Rome and a couple we wished we had time to explore. Be sure to make reservations in advance in Rome if available.
Marzapane
Marzapane was easily our favorite trendy restaurant in Rome. It has the most charming dining room as you head up the original wood staircase to the second floor. You can choose the chef’s menu or order a la carte from the ever changing menu.
We had so many creative dishes with my favorite being the ravioli with peas, broad beans, and horseradish. We also tried the tempura zucchini, fresh catch of the day, and white asparagus gratin which was so unexpectedly amazing. To end, we tried both desserts (because, pregnancy obviously) which was a cannoli with oranges and a chocolate cake made with black olives. We were hesitant about the cake, but so surprised by the flavor of the olives. Must try!
Note: the first two dishes pictured are half size! We shared things so they graciously split them on separate plates for us. They also made my zucchini without blue cheese since I’m pregnant – I wasn’t even thinking about that, but was so impressed that they did!
Osteria da Fortunata
Osteria da Fortunata is located right around the corner from Piazza Navona so it was perfect to have dinner then a stroll through the piazza and to the Trevi Fountain. Get there early because they will have a line! They serve the best homemade pastas and you can even watch as the roll the pastas. I had the gnocchi with tomatoes and my husband got the cacio e pepe which was so good!
BIVIUM at Six Senses Rome
I mentioned above that I am a huge fan of Six Senses so we had to stop in to their new hotel for lunch at BIVIUM! It’s a beautiful space and I recommend dining on the open air terrace! We had one of our favorite pizzas of the trip here and great salad. They also have plenty of plant based options so it’s a great spot to *try* to have something healthier!
Aroma
Aroma is a Michelin star restaurant with views overlooking the Colosseum. It’s one the most popular places to dine in Rome so definitely make a reservation as soon as you can. We booked our trip about 6 weeks out and it was already too late to score a table.
Ristorante Roscioli
Another one I really wanted to try. Roscioli is a family owned gourmet food shop, wine bar, and restaurant in Rome. I’ve heard you have to try the burrata with sundried tomatoes and stick to the classic dishes like carbonara, cacio e pepe or amatriciana. The wine list is extensive and the best seats are the bar, main floor or outside. Book here in advance – I watched for cancellations for weeks and there were never any!
Retrobottega
Retrobottega is a super trendy restaurant in Rome for dinner. You’ll enjoy a tasting menu experience paired with wines while dining at their communal tables or chef’s counter.
Bistrot64
We heard of Bistrot64 via Stanley Tucci’s Italy show! I was dying to try their famous take on cacio e pepe. The chef is Japanese so he creates a super creative menu by blending elements from Japanese and Italian cuisines. He earned a Michelin star in 2017.
Salaria Gelato
And don’t forget to try all of the many gelato shops! This one was located right across from our hotel and was so good offering a dairy-free gelato option!
Trendy Bars in Rome, Italy
A few places you should hit for drinks and appetizers!
The Court
The Court is one of the top bars in Rome located at the Palazzo Manfredi hotel overlooking the Colosseum. It’s listed on the World’s 50 Best Bars round up! Make a reservation early to have drinks here before moving on to dinner!
Beverly at The Hoxton Roma
The Hoxton Rome is one of the trendiest new hotels on the scene. It’s located in a more residential part of town which is great for escaping the crowds in this tucked away oasis! They have many dining/drinking outlets, but the outdoor terrace is such a great spot. We enjoyed many pre-dinner cocktails and snacks like aperol spritz, champagne, crudites, and other snacks!
Terrazza Borromini
This place is magical and is worth a stop for the views alone. Enjoy drinks on the rooftop terrace overlooking Piazza Navona.
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