Top 5 Restaurants in Rome

The Italian capital is renowned for its dining, whether casual and low-key or refined and high-end.

Here at Travel Seen we reckon Rome is one Europe’s best city break destinations too. So we thought we’d compile a list of the top five restaurants you have to try when visiting the city. With a little help from our famous friends too of course.

1. La Pergola

Whether you’re staying at the Rome Cavalieri or not, the hotel is home to the city’s premier dining experience, so worth a visit for dinner alone.

Rome’s only three-Michelin star restaurant - under the guidance of legendary chef Heinz Beck - it boasts one of the finest views of the Eternal City.

“One pinch me moment of our trip, which none of us will ever forget, was taking the boys to the three Michelin Star Heinz Beck La Pergola Restaurant,” @SeenOnSarah told us when she returned from her Travel Seen stay at Rome Cavalieri with her husband and children.

“Yes, it is eye-wateringly expensive (but deservedly so!) but after the first amuse bouche, my youngest son, Johnny, said it was the best mouthful of food he had ever tasted!”

The ten-course tasting menu features dishes like tortellini filled with Genovese sauce, artichokes and black truffle, and consistencies of dark chocolate, cocoa grué snow and hemp.

2. Bono Roma, Bottega Nostrana

This new kid on the block is already enjoying rave reviews, topping the Tripadvisor charts with comments like “it was one of the most delicious things I have every tried”.

A super trendy eatery and cocktail bar, Bono Roma Bottega Nostrana has made a name for itself thanks to a dish you might not immediately associate with Rome: sandwiches. Yes the team here is passionate about their paninis, and the menu is mouth-wateringly good; think cured meats and Italian cheeses encased by crusty fresh bread.

3. La Gatta Mangiona

You’ll be spoilt for choice by the many pizzerias in Rome, offering everything from the candlelight and tablecloth experience to a slice to take away and munch while you’re wandering.

A favourite spot, with many awards to its name, is La Gatta Mangiona, which has been going strong for more than two decades. The secret, we’re reliably informed, is in the pizza dough.

The menu has traditional Neapolitan favourites alongside quirky inventions to try, all served in a bustling atmosphere and accompanied by a vast selection of Italian beers. The supplì (fried rice balls) are a must-order.

4. Roscioli

From a simple, traditional carbonara to a sharing platter of Italian cured meats and cheeses, Roscioli is a great spot to refuel at lunchtime before heading out for more sightseeing in the afternoon. What’s more, it’s just a few steps from Campo de’ Fiori with its famous outdoor markets.

The concept is ‘deli kitchen’ and the restaurant is home to an epic deli counter featuring lots of homemade and seasonal favourites. And there’s a large wine cellar and a choice of tasty treats to take home as a souvenir too.

5. Pierluigi

For celeb spotting while you dine on Rome’s finest fish and seafood there’s Pierluigi.

Regularly hosting household names, this high-end trattoria has al fresco tables on a cobbled piazza or sleek, white-table-clothed seating indoors. Dine on langoustines, lobster fettuccine, roasted rack of lamb and tiramisu.

Be sure to arrive early enough to enjoy a pre-dinner drink at the American style cocktail bar- one of Rome’s best bars.

If that’s whet your appetite for a trip to Rome, the Travel Seen team can put together a bespoke quote. Buon viaggio!