Rome does romantic dining better than almost anywhere else, but let's be honest: not all of it lives up to the hype. You want somewhere that feels special without being stuffy, where the food is as good as the setting, and where you're not just another tourist getting overcharged for mediocre carbonara. Whether you're planning a first date, celebrating an anniversary, or just want to eat exceptionally well in a city that practically invented the concept of a long, lingering dinner, these are the 16 spots that actually deliver. From Michelin-starred rooftops with views of the Colosseum to cozy neighborhood trattorias where locals have been eating for decades, this is where to go when you want a night out in Rome that's worth remembering.
Le Jardin
Photography: Hans Kläger
Le Jardin
Some people will tell you this is the most romantic garden restaurant in Rome, and honestly, they might be right. Tucked into the gardens of Hotel de Russie (one of the city's most iconic luxury hotels), Le Jardin feels like a secret oasis just steps from the Spanish Steps. Chef Fulvio Pierangelini oversees the menu here too, and the food is as stunning as the setting. Seasonal, ingredient-focused, executed perfectly. But really, it's the garden that makes this place. You're dining under stone pines and flowering citrus trees, fairy lights overhead, with just enough greenery to feel completely removed from the city outside. It's luxurious, but in that effortless Roman way. Whether it's lunch or dinner, this is an impressive date spot. The kind of place that makes someone feel like you really thought about it.
La Matriciana dal 1870
Established in 1870, La Matriciana is the kind of place that reminds you why Rome's dining scene has such a reputation. The restaurant's claim to fame is its bucatini all'amatriciana (obviously), but what keeps people coming back is the atmosphere itself. Low lighting, classic Roman interiors, and a staff that's been perfecting their craft for years create an environment that feels both welcoming and timeless. You're near the Teatro dell'Opera, so it's perfect for a pre-show dinner, but even if you're not catching a performance, it's worth the trip. The waiters are old-guard professionals, the kind who've been doing this for decades and make it look effortless. It's cozy, it's authentic, and it's the kind of spot that makes you fall a little bit more in love with Rome.
La Matriciana dal 1870
La Matriciana dal 1870, Photography: Eat, Sleep, Travel, Repeat
Dal Bolognese
Right on the corner of Piazza del Popolo, Dal Bolognese is one of those places that just gets it. The outdoor seating overlooks one of the most beautiful piazzas in the city, and the inside is just as stunning. Think classic Italian elegance with a lively atmosphere. The waiters are impeccably dressed (like, to the point where you notice), and the food lives up to the setting. They serve traditional Emilian cuisine, so yes, the Bolognese is incredible, but so is everything else. It's been a celebrity favorite for decades, but it never feels too scene-y once you're seated. It's just a beautiful, well-run restaurant where everything, from the service to the tagliatelle al ragù, is exactly as it should be.
Cielo
Cielo sits on the seventh floor of Hotel de la Ville, perched right above the Spanish Steps, and the view alone is worth the reservation. It's the kind of rooftop where you can watch the sunset over Rome with a cocktail in hand, surrounded by those iconic red-and-white striped umbrellas that somehow manage to look chic instead of cheesy. Chef Fulvio Pierangelini is behind the menu, so expect Mediterranean seafood done exceptionally well. Think octopus, seaweed tagliolini, seasonal vegetables, all with that light, refined touch he's known for. The vibe is glamorous without trying too hard, and whether you're there for sunset drinks or a full dinner, it feels like the kind of place where good things happen. Just book ahead. This is one of the most coveted tables in Rome.
Cielo, Photography: Far Niente Studio
Cielo
Ristorante Nino
Nino is the kind of place Rome regulars mention without hesitation. It's been open since 1935, tucked on a quiet side street near the Spanish Steps, and it's exactly what you want from a Roman institution. The cuisine is actually Tuscan (the bean soup and steak tartare are standouts), and the wood-paneled dining room has that old-world charm that somehow never feels dated. The waiters are the kind of professionals who make everything look easy. Efficient, warm, never hovering. You'll probably spot a celebrity or two (it's right by Maison Valentino, so the fashion crowd loves it), but the vibe stays low-key. It's perfect for a long lunch after shopping in the city center, or a dinner where you just want everything to be exactly right.
Retrobottega
If you want to feel like you're in on something, Retrobottega is the spot. It's sultry, dimly lit, and has that sleek, modern design that makes other restaurants feel a little bit stuck in the past. The open kitchen adds to the energy. You can watch everything happening in real time, and the crowd skews younger and cooler without being insufferable about it. They source locally and seasonally, and the food is genuinely incredible (this isn't style over substance). The wine menu is extensive, the minimalist dark-toned decor is exactly what you want for a city night out, and the whole vibe just feels current. It's a different energy than the classic spots, but that's the point. If you're tired of red-checkered tablecloths and want something a little more now, this is it.
Retrobottega, Photography: Glauco Canalis
Retrobottega
Pierluigi
Pierluigi is where you go for seafood, full stop. It's in a gorgeous piazza (Piazza de' Ricci), and if you can snag a table outside, do it. There's something about eating vongole in a Renaissance-era square that just hits. The vibe is chic in that old-school Italian way: white tablecloths, polished service, a wine list that could keep you busy for hours. It's a bit more formal than some of the other spots on this list, but not in a way that feels stiff. You can post up at the bar with a Negroni and some crudo, or commit to the full dinner experience. Either way, the seafood is impeccable. Fresh, beautifully prepared, and exactly what you came to Rome for. It's been a staple for decades, and for good reason.
Il Bar della Musa
If you've been on design TikTok lately, you've probably seen Il Bar della Musa. It's inside Palazzo Talìa, a stunning hotel tucked behind the Trevi Fountain, and the whole place is a love letter to old Rome meets modern design. The bar itself has frescoed ceilings (original grotesques that nod to the building's Renaissance past), but everything else is sleek, sophisticated, and sexy in the best way. It's designed by filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, so you know the vibes are immaculate. The cocktails are excellent, the Oyster Happy Hour is a whole thing, and whether you're there for pre-dinner drinks or a full evening, it just feels cool. It's intimate without being stuffy, glamorous without trying too hard. Basically, it photographs well and tastes even better.
La Pergola
Look, three Michelin stars speak for themselves, but La Pergola is more than just an impressive meal. It's an event. Perched on top of the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria, it's the only restaurant in the city with three stars, and everything about the experience lives up to that. Crystal chandeliers, panoramic views of the city, a wine cellar with over 50,000 bottles, and a tasting menu (seven or ten courses, your choice) that feels like a masterclass in Italian fine dining. Chef Heinz Beck has been running the kitchen since 1994, and his food is precise, creative, and rooted in Mediterranean tradition. The service is flawless,the kind of service where your water glass never dips below half. Maybe not a first-date spot (unless you're really pulling out the big guns and trying to impress), but for an anniversary or a major celebration? Absolutely.
Salotto42
If you need a nightcap after dinner, Salotto42 is the move. It's a cocktail bar that looks like someone's impossibly chic living room. Velvet sofas, bookshelves, low lighting, the whole thing. It's tucked away and feels a little bit secret, which only adds to the appeal. The cocktails are excellent (this is not your standard aperitivo spot), and while they do bring out the usual snacks (chips, breadsticks, peanuts), you can also order small plates if you need something more substantial. The decor alone is worth the visit, but the drinks are what keep people coming back. It's intimate, stylish, and the kind of place that makes you feel like you stumbled onto something special.
Aroma
If you're going to splurge on one meal in Rome, make it this one. Not just because the food is excellent (it is, one Michelin star), but because the view is unreal. Aroma sits on the rooftop terrace of Palazzo Manfredi, and you're eating with a direct, panoramic view of the Colosseum. Like, you can see every arch and column while you're working through a tasting menu. It's the kind of thing that feels almost too cinematic to be real, but somehow it is. You'll need to book months in advance (this is one of the most sought-after reservations in the city), but all the pre-planning is worth it for the view alone. The food is refined and innovative, featuring modern versions of classic Italian dishes. But let's be honest, you're here for the setting as much as the meal, and that view makes every course taste even better.
Aroma, Content: Marco Conforti
Aroma, Content: Bengü
Assunta Madre
Assunta Madre is a seafood institution loved by locals, and the second you walk in, you know it. There's a massive display of fresh fish right at the entrance. Lobsters, sea bass, scampi, all the good stuff, so you can pick what you want before it's cooked. The vibe is classic Roman osteria: black leather booths, white tablecloths, exposed brick, dim lighting. It's intimate and a little bit sexy in that way that only Italian restaurants manage to pull off. The seafood pasta is perfect, the ingredients are impeccable, and the whole experience feels indulgent without being over-the-top. It's located on Via Giulia, one of the prettiest streets in Rome, so even the walk there feels special. If you're craving seafood and want somewhere that's polished but not pretentious, this is the move.
Per Me Giulio Terrinoni
Per Me is proof that a Michelin star doesn't have to mean stuffy. It's a one-star restaurant that feels contemporary, welcoming, and genuinely romantic. None of that overly formal, intimidating fine-dining energy. Chef Giulio Terrinoni often comes out to greet guests, which immediately makes the whole thing feel more personal, and the open kitchen adds to the intimate atmosphere. The space is small and cozy (it's tucked on a quiet cobblestone street near Campo de' Fiori), with minimalist design and a focus on making guests feel at home despite being upscale. The food is seafood-forward, creative, and beautifully executed. The atmosphere picks up later in the evening (book for 8 p.m. or after if you want the energy), and the whole experience just feels... right. Modern but not trendy, special but not showy.
Per Me Giulio Terrinoni
Per Me Giulio Terrinoni
Armando al Pantheon
Reservations are essential here. With only 14 tables nestled under exposed wooden beams, the space feels quietly romantic before you've even opened the menu. Armando al Pantheon been around for decades, and the vibe is cozy in the best way: wood-paneled walls, booth seating, Art Deco windows that let in all that golden Roman light. The pasta is the main event (the carbonara and amatriciana are both exceptional), and the wine list is seriously impressive. The staff knows their stuff and will happily guide you through it, which is helpful when you're looking at everything from well-known bottles to more obscure natural wines. It's intimate, romantic in a low-key way, and feels like the kind of neighborhood spot that just happens to be steps from the Pantheon. Basically, it's exactly what you want from a Roman trattoria.
Armando al Pantheon
Content: Donata
Gigi
Gigi Roma sits on the rooftop of the Orient Express La Minerva, and the setting is as stunning as you'd expect. You're dining with panoramic views of the city, including a direct sightline to the Pantheon, so yeah, it's VERY romantic. The restaurant is polished and chic without feeling overly formal, with a contemporary edge that keeps things from feeling too traditional. The menu celebrates Roman culinary traditions but with a modern twist, and everything feels thoughtfully executed. It's inside a hotel, but it doesn't have that generic hotel-restaurant energy. This is a place where the setting, the service, and the food all work together to create something special. Whether you're celebrating something or just want an impressive dinner with a view, Gigi delivers.
Rocco
Rocco is what a Roman trattoria should be. Polished but not precious, neighborhood-y but still special. It's in Monti, and while it might be a well known spot to visitors, it's because this is where locals actually eat. The terrazzo floors and starched white tablecloths set the tone, but the vibe is relaxed, almost homey. The menu changes daily (written in elegant cursive on a chalkboard), so everything feels fresh and seasonal. Their cacio e pepe is textbook. Perfectly creamy, peppery, with spaghetti that's just the right side of al dente. They do a single dinner seating, which somehow makes the whole thing feel more intimate. It's the kind of place where you can dress up or dress down, and either way, you'll have a great meal.
Content: Noona Smith-Petersen
Content: Juliane Diesner
