This page is for the nicer Rome reservations I’d actually save room in the budget for. Not just the famous ones. Six restaurants split between date-night tables and stylish splurges, all chosen to feel like a real night out in Rome.
Date Night
My take: Stumbled across Per Me while walking near Via Giulia. One Michelin star, seafood focused, and the chef's table seats overlooking the open kitchen are the ones to ask for when you book. Go for the surprise menu and add the wine pairing.
My take: The meal at Orma starts at a small bar where Chef Roy Caceres comes out and introduces himself before the first course. From there the tasting menu takes you through Italian, Latin American and Asian influences in a way that feels completely cohesive. Modern room, spaced tables, relaxed energy for a Michelin star. One of the more surprising dinners I had in Rome. Ask for the chef's table when you book.
My take: Inside Palazzo Ripetta, which was a 17th century monastery before it became a five star hotel near Piazza del Popolo. The restaurant has that same energy, stone walls and elegance without the stiffness. In summer they move dinner to the internal courtyard by the fountain, which is worth asking for when you book. Good neighborhood to walk after.
Trendy Vibes
My take: Dark room, velvet, bronze finishes and a crowd that does not look like it wandered in from a hotel lobby. Campocori is inside Chapter Roma near Campo de’ Fiori and it earns its Michelin listing. The oxtail ravioli is the dish to order and the lobster runs through several courses if you go for the tasting menu. Start with a cocktail at the Hey Baby bar downstairs.
My take: One Michelin star tucked into a cobbled alley in Trastevere, in a space that used to be a carriage workshop. High ceilings, exposed brick, a glass floor section, and food from Chef Cristina Bowerman that takes Italian ingredients somewhere unexpected. We did the tasting menu and every course landed. The liquid Parmigiano ravioli is the one to know about going in.
My take: Quiet square a few steps from the Pantheon, dark walls, candlelight, and a room that feels romantic before the food even arrives. The menu blends French and Roman which sounds odd until you try it. Start with the foie gras and brioche, order the cacio e pepe or the amatriciana.
