Rome is a city renowned for its sights, history and perhaps most importantly to some; food. If you are planning a visit to the Eternal City, make the most of its cuisine by enjoying a meal at a fine dining restaurant. From somewhat traditional to unconventional menus, look no further than this list for the best fine dining restaurants in Italy’s capital, which all enjoy at least one Michelin star in 2024.
[See also: The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Rome]
Enoteca La Torre
The two-Michelin-starred restaurant exudes timeless luxury and beauty in every way, starting with its prime location in the Villa Laetitia. The residence has a rich history and is also home to Anna Fendi of the Fendi fashion house. The interiors are spacious, and the restaurant’s dining room can also accommodate large groups, making Enoteca La Torre the perfect spot for anything from romantic dates to intimate celebrations.
Although the architecture alone is worth visiting for, it would be a shame to miss out on chef Domenico Stile’s curated dishes at Enoteca La Torre. He takes inspiration from his native region of Campania, famed for its culture and gastronomy.
Choose between tasting menus of six or eight surprise courses – though the dishes are crafted and presented so meticulously that they look almost too perfect to eat. The restaurant also boasts an extensive wine list, claiming to have one of the best wine cellars in Italy.
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Acquolina
Despite his relatively young age, Acquolina’s executive chef Daniele Lippi has made a mark on Rome’s culinary scene and his cooking has recently earned the restaurant a second Michelin star. The restaurant is located in The First Roma Arte hotel, just steps away from some of Rome’s main attractions, so you will be in the center of the city’s culture and history.
Acquolina is perfect for those seeking a less conventional dining experience in Italy. The two tasting menus mix and match unexpected ingredients from the sea and land, taking guests on different journeys along the Mediterranean. Lippi’s creativity and playfulness shine through in imaginative dishes such as pennone pasta with strawberries, shrimp and rocket or Jerusalem artichoke presented as a regular artichoke. The wine list is well thought out and worth pairing with your dishes for an elevated experience.
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La Pergola
This acclaimed restaurant is the culinary star of the city and is widely considered one of the best places to eat in Rome by locals and international foodies alike. It is still the only restaurant in the city to boast three Michelin stars and has established itself as a favorite among the international jet set.
Located at the top of the elegant Rome Cavalieri hotel, La Pergola’s striking dining space is furnished with rare antiques and beautiful art from the hotel’s impressive collection, including magnificent paintings, tapestries and bespoke hand-blown glass pieces. It also features enormous windows, which showcase heart-stopping views of Rome.
The menu is full of chef Heinz Beck’s extraordinary, innovative Mediterranean dishes – underpinned by fresh ingredients and a chef with an adventurous and passionate approach to food. The dishes are complemented by a wine cellar containing 73,000 bottles, some more than a century old. For an unsurpassed, truly Roman summer experience, dine al fresco on the terrace in front of the twinkling lights of the city.
Orma Roma
Orma Roma is Rome’s latest Michelin-starred restaurant, helmed by Roy Caceres, who hails from Colombia but is “Italian by adoption”. Caceres’s tasting menu combines Italian and international flavors with his South American roots, and diners can choose which “path” they would like to take. The restaurant’s service is particularly notable, with Caceres often coming out to greet guests personally, highlighting the head chef’s dedication to his craft.
Located close to Via Vittorio Veneto, renowned for being one of Rome’s most elegant and expensive streets, this restaurant is definitely the place to see and be seen in Italy’s capital.
Orma Roma’s setting will also delight interior design fans. It was designed by a famous Milanese studio and the restaurant’s interior features a harmonious combination of wood, leather and metal to create a classy yet cozy atmosphere.
Il Pagliaccio
This elegant, intimate two-Michelin-starred restaurant is a Roman favorite. Head chef Anthony Genovese offers a clever fusion of international cuisines, with a particular focus on Asia, using a simple list of ingredients. Recent offerings have reflected the growing demand for vegetable-based dishes with many of the dishes now available in plant-based variants.
Diners can opt for tasting menus ranging from four to ten courses, but Il Paglicaccio’s newest Parallels menu is definitely our top pick. The exclusive experience features 14 new courses in a private room that only seats a maximum of six people. With an impeccable culinary pedigree and a central Rome location, it is the perfect place for a business dinner.
[See also: Romeo Napoli Welcomes Alain Ducasse]
Aroma
The rooftop of the Palazzo Manfredi hotel hosts the sumptuous and stylish dining experience Aroma, where fresh, sophisticated blends of traditional Roman and Mediterranean flavors come with show-stopping views of the Colosseum. Roman-born Chef Di Lorio has been Aroma’s head chef since it opened in 2010 and his fine work has earned the restaurant a Michelin star.
Di Lorio is a champion of sustainable cooking practices and recently took the drastic step to remove all tuna from the menu. Instead, he has altered his dishes to showcase species that are lesser-known and therefore not as intensively fished. Like a true Roman, there is also a strong emphasis on pasta with five different variants available in the main courses alone.
While the sleek and elegant interior dining space offers a refined, welcoming ambiance, Aroma has to be experienced alfresco, with a superb evening repast on the candlelit terrace and the night-lit Colosseum seemingly almost close enough to touch.
Marco Martini Restaurant
Chef-owner Marco Martini revels in the art of surprise and searches in the most unexpected places to find unbelievable flavor combinations. His eponymous restaurant, located just minutes away from Rome’s Colosseum, has been awarded a Michelin star three years in a row, making him one of the youngest starred chefs in the country.
Have a cocktail at the stylish bar before taking your seats in the charming restaurant, which has been decorated to appear like a traditional Italian winter garden. Although the food is of a very high standard, the ambiance is modern and relaxed.
Martini regularly offers a seasonal tasting menu, as well as a vegetarian menu that can be made vegan upon request. The Roman Dishes tasting menu features the chef’s take on classic Roman cuisine, such as mortadella with white pizza and pistachio. Put your fate in the hands of Martini by choosing the signature 10-course Empathy menu, which offers the ultimate look at his culinary talent.
Imàgo
Michelin-starred Imàgo, the star of the fine dining scene at the prestigious Hotel Hassler, is easily one of the best restaurants in Rome. Not only does it offer superb Italian food with inventive international touches from a creative young chef, but it also has a fantastic wine list to boot.
Andrea Antonini gained experience in some of the world’s top kitchens and has been the executive chef at Imàgo for five years. He recommends the blind-tasting menu that showcases some of his best dishes.
As you indulge in the restaurant’s sophisticated seasonal dishes the exceptional sixth-floor location provides a spectacular rooftop view of the Spanish Steps and the city skyline. It is a breathtaking place to dine in some of the finest Italian cuisines that Rome has to offer.
All’Oro
Owned and run by executive chef Riccardo Di Giacinto, All’Oro has earned a Michelin star for its modern interpretation of Italian classics. Situated in the five-star H’All Tailor Suite hotel, it is a hotspot for Rome’s power elite. The restaurant’s décor blends an unapologetic old-school glamor with contemporary modern design. The dark-wood ceilings and brass lamps give it the feel of a traditional Italian trattoria.
The tasting menu offers the very best of Di Giacinto’s creations, including the famous “tiramisù” of potatoes with salted cod and bacon, and raviolini stuffed with mascarpone cheese, served with duck ragout and a red wine reduction. Diners can also pick their favorites from the a la carte menu, which is divided into the traditional four courses of Italian cuisine.
Glass Hostaria
Chef Cristina Bowerman did not take the usual path when cutting her culinary teeth. She spent 14 years living in Austin, Texas, before returning to Rome to take charge of the kitchen at Glass Hostaria. She went on to earn a Michelin star for a menu full of crazy flavor combinations, such as cauliflower with white chocolate cream, sweetbreads and cocoa beans. Bowerman also offers a vegetarian menu and a la carte dishes so diners are spoilt for choice.
The restaurant is located in the middle of Rome’s lively, character-laden Trastevere district, and its interiors are a superb example of contemporary design. It features sleek bronze fittings, creative lighting and innovative modern furnishings that bring an eclectic menu to life.
With Michelin-starred contemporary Italian cuisine bursting with creative flair, Glass is an injection of pure up-to-the-minute cool in a neighborhood characterized by its quaint, historical charm.
Pipero
The one-Michelin-starred Pipero Roma is the work of Alessandro Pipero, a legendary restaurateur with an enviable black book filled with the city’s elite. The kitchen is entrusted to Ciro Scamardella, a Naples native who succeeds in delivering accomplished dishes with as few ingredients as possible.
Diners are spoilt for choice (depending on one’s appetite!) since the tasting menus range from three to 10 courses in which the chef has reinvented Italian classics like carbonara and risotto. There’s no doubt that a lot of work and effort goes into everything that comes out of Scamardella’s kitchen.
The restaurant itself is a go-to for Rome’s rich and famous. The main dining room is full of beautiful reproductions of master painters, all with slight alterations. There is also a mezzanine for those wanting a touch more privacy.
[See also: Rising Stars: Next Gen Chefs in the Michelin Guide]
