Rome offers some outstanding dining opportunities. There’s no doubt that you can enjoy the very best of Italian cuisine at the top restaurants in Rome.
In this beautiful, lively and historic city you can sit down to a meal to remember with a view of the Spanish Steps, dine at a roof garden with three Michelin stars, or feast on fare from the kitchen garden.
If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the Michelin-starred restaurants in Rome – or you cannot bag a table – you can also find a quick run-down of Rome’s best Bib Gourmand eateries at the bottom of my guide.
Read on to discover my pick of the 15 finest dining establishments in the Italian capital, based on my own experience of eating my way through the city plus a few recommendations from fellow travellers.
Here are the best Michelin Star restaurants in Rome.
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1. La Pergola
Address: Via Cadlolo 101, 00136 Rome
Accolade: Three Michelin Stars
Best for: Rooftop views
La Pergola is home to the best-loved roof garden in Rome, prized for its panoramic city views.
Food-wise, the restaurant offers classic dishes executed with elegance and flair, accompanied by wines selected by the skilled sommelier.
As well as the rooftop terrace and Italian and international wine lists, highlights include the cheese platters and choice of delicious desserts.
Believe me when I say that the chocolate soufflé is a masterpiece.
For a luxurious overnight stay to complement your fine dining experience, I’d recommend booking into the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria, where the restaurant is located.
Note: The restaurant is closed for renovations until June 2024.
2. Acquolina
Address: The First Roma hotel, Via del Vantaggio 14, 00186 Rome
Accolade: Two Michelin Stars
Best for: A Mediterranean feel
The First Roma hotel is home to Acquolina, one of the finest restaurants in Rome.
Boasting two Michelin stars, this forward-thinking establishment specialises in fish and seafood, featuring complementary Mediterranean flavours. Meat and vegetable based dishes are also available.
Slick decor enhanced by aqua blue lighting adds to the coastal feel, while the wine list is both interesting and perfectly judged.
Exceptional service adds to Acquolina’s overall appeal.
3. Enoteca La Torre
Address: Hotel Villa Laetitia, Lungotevere delle Armi 22/23, 00195 Rome
Accolade: Two Michelin Stars
Best for: A sense of occasion
You can find the double Michelin-starred Enoteca La Torre at the magnificent Hotel Villa Laetitia.
The majestic dining room dates from 1911, and has arched windows, ornate plasterwork, and original columns.
The Campania region he hails from inspires chef Domenico Stile’s cooking, which also features Italian and international creative touches.
For a special occasion, I consider both the food and setting to be sublime.
4. Il Pagliaccio
Address: Via dei Banchi Vecchi 129/a, 00186 Rome
Accolade: Two Michelin Stars
Best for: Asian influences
If you want to look beyond Italy when dining out in Rome, I’d recommend booking a table at Il Pagliaccio.
In a slick, contemporary setting, the food served here features flavours and influences from as far afield as Japan and other parts of Asia.
Dining here is centred on the tasting menus, which feature chef Anthony Genovese’s signature dishes.
There’s also a shorter lunch menu served on Saturdays, or the more personal Parallels Experience for up to half–a-dozen guests.
5. Sintesi
Address: Viale dei Castani 17, 00072 Ariccia
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Cutting-edge classics
I’d definitely say it’s worth venturing out to Ariccia, southeast of Rome, to savour a memorable meal at Sintesi.
The restaurant’s ethos centres on combining classic, contemporary, and cutting-edge gastronomy.
Both the menus and the wine list reflect the changing seasons, and dishes draw on influences from northern Europe and Asia as well as Italy.
This refined restaurant also offers al fresco dining on the terrace in summer.
6. Zia
Address: Via Goffredo Mameli 45, 00153 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Innovation and imagination
The buzzing Trastevere district is home to Zia, one of Rome’s more inventive Michelin-starred eateries. It’s named after Antonio Ziantoni, the talented chef at the helm.
Despite his dedication to innovative, creative cuisine, dishes served at Zia are invariably based on classic combinations and techniques.
Each plateful is packed with flavour, and there’s an imaginative wine list to match the food.
7. Pulejo
Address: Via dei Gracchi 31, 00192 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Modern Italian
When in Rome, why not sample a modern take on Italian culinary traditions?
You can do just that at Pulejo, a restaurant with one Michelin star located in the Prati area, close to the Vatican City.
Dishes are deceptively simple, yet every tiny morsel is filled with flavour.
Expect a modern dining room and a somewhat reverential atmosphere, allowing the incomparable cuisine and impeccable service to shine through.
8. Idylio by Apreda
Address: The Pantheon Hotel, Via di Santa Chiara 4, 00186 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Neapolitan flavours
Situated on a peaceful street in the heart of Rome is the Pantheon Hotel, and it’s here you’ll find Idylio by Apreda.
With a Michelin star to its name, Idylio’s chef from Campania creates food based on Neapolitan fare, featuring Asian touches and spicing.
You can choose between a trio of tasting menus, with enthusiastic staff on hand to help guide your selection if required.
Expect an opulent, elegant setting befitting the Pantheon location.
Discover more of the best Rome attractions in my guide.
9. Imàgo
Address: Hassler Hotel, Piazza Trinità dei Monti 6, 00187 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Iconic city views
Imàgo benefits from an iconic Roman location, at the top of the Spanish Steps within the Hassler Hotel.
Influences from the Lazio region are evident in chef Andrea Antonini’s Italian fare.
You can pick between a la carte and blind tasting menus, with the latter featuring the chef’s favourites from the former.
Expect incredible food, stunning city views and exceptional service. One of the best restaurants in Rome, it’s definitely one worthy of any foodie’s bucket list.
10. Per Me Giulio Terrinoni
Address: Vicolo del Malpasso 9, 00186 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Sustainable and seasonal fare
Per Me Giulio Terrinoni is tucked away down an unassuming Roman side street, close to Via Giulia in the city centre.
This hidden Michelin-starred restaurant is dedicated to sustainable dining, and one of the tasting menus features only seasonal, meat-free dishes.
The restaurant has a compact outdoor space, so I’d recommend booking well in advance if you want to dine al fresco.
As well as the vegetarian tasting menu, the other two feature five of the chef’s signature dishes, or ten showcasing his unique culinary style.
11. Moma
Address: Via di San Basilio 42, 00187 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Regional cuisine
Moma in Rome offers both indoor and outdoor dining spaces. By day, expect laid-back lunch menus.
While at night, the restaurant offers a smorgasbord of more inventive gastronomic delights.
It’s clear that the utmost care is taken at every stage of the process, from selecting the finest ingredients and balancing the flavours and textures, to presentation and service.
Regional cuisine is the star of the show, and this concept also extends to the wine list.
12. Il Convivio Troiani
Address: Vicolo dei Soldati 31, 00186 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: A family affair
Il Convivio Troiani’s culinary heritage dates back to the early 1990s. This established Roman eatery is a family affair, with three brothers overseeing the kitchen and front-of-house.
The Lazio region and other parts of Italy influence the food, which mainly features modern takes on classics.
You can expect the occasional unexpected twist, though, as well as theatrical touches such as smoking platters and sauces poured at the table.
The wine list is extensive, with many you can order by the glass, which I think is always welcome.
13. Il Tino
Address: Via Monte Cadria 127, Fiumicino, 00054
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: A kitchen garden
Situated in Fiumicino, Il Tino has a nautical feel, by the banks of the Tiber and the boat-lined marina.
The chef’s open-mindedness means his creations are influenced by everyone from his grandparents to people he’s met working in kitchens, both in and beyond Italy.
While dining, you can see where some of your food might have come from: the restaurant’s kitchen garden supplying fresh seasonal herbs and other produce.
Expect high quality ingredients, innovative techniques, influences from Asia and elsewhere, and even delicious cocktails.
14. Pipero Roma
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 250, 00186 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Cuisine from Campania
Pipero Roma is named after its maître-d’ and owner, Alessandro Pipero, rather than chef Ciro Scamardella, a talented young creative from Campania.
He strives to create balance above all, in terms of both flavour and presentation.
Some dishes from Campania are included on the menu. Or I’d recommend sampling the mussel soup, which won the acclaim of the Michelin inspectors for its accurate, flavoursome interpretation of the ocean’s bounty.
15. All’Oro
Address: The H’All Tailor Suite, Via Giuseppe Pisanelli 25, 00196 Rome
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Best for: Al fresco dining
American and Anglican style is evident at All’Oro, where the decor of the two dining rooms resembles what you might find in New York and England respectively.
Dishes are authentic and packed with flavour, featuring the sort of flair that shows no fear of boundaries.
In summer, the outdoor dining area here is hugely popular, so do secure your table in advance.
Wherever you dine, it’s all washed down with wines from Tuscany and Piedmont in particular.
Bib Gourmand restaurants in Rome
In addition to those restaurants in Rome boasting one, two, or three Michelin stars, the city also has ten Bib Gourmand restaurants to its name.
These have been selected by Michelin because they offer simple, high quality fare at affordable prices.
If you want to sample the best food in Rome without the Michelin star price tag, I’d recommend heading to 53 Untitled for modern Italian cuisine.
Or try Lazio specialities at Trattoria Pennestri, book a table at Moi for local, seasonal dishes, or sample fresh seafood at QuarantunoDodici.
Do you have any favourite restaurants in Rome? Do let me know in the comments below!
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