LUDO Dine & Vibe 
3 Gluten-Free Pastry Shops in Milan 
To celebrate a special occasion or to spend an unconventional evening with a loved one, you need special locations: the restaurant scene in Rome is diverse and numerous, with a total number of surprises that seems to verge on the infinite. Addresses that celebrate the Bel Paese or indulge in a few escapes across the border, exotic and international flavours, sophisticated signs and timeless atmospheres.
Where to go, then? As in a theatrical performance – but of taste – let’s raise the curtain and shine the spotlight on the Eternal City’s establishments able to amaze the eyes and palate along an unmissable food and wine show: here are the best romantic restaurants in Rome, for a gallant date with guaranteed success.
GLASS HOSTARIA
Vicolo del Cinque, 58
Chef Christina Bowerman’s cuisine is a dialogue between cultures and places near and far under the skies of Rome, in the light of a Michelin star. Glass, a restaurant-hostaria, transforms – without ever denaturalising – ancient local traditions into something new to (re)discover, using skilful and delicate reinterpretations. The à la carte menu is a triumph of elements of land and sea that tantalize the five senses; the dishes tell of the Chef’s work and travel experiences, in a refined gastronomic synthesis. Two tasting courses are also available, for a surprising culinary excursus.
IDYLIO BY APREDA
Via di S. Chiara, 4/A
Photo Credit @Alberto Blasetti Ph.
Idylio By Apreda is the starred restaurant inside the luxurious The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel, a few steps from Piazza della Rotonda and the magnificence of the Pantheon. Confidentiality and auteur cuisine are the keywords of your experience, in which you will be spectators of Chef Francesco Apreda’s signature gourmet interpretations of Mediterranean, international and oriental flavours. Three tasting menus – 6, 7 or 8 courses -, an à la carte proposal and delicious vegetarian options will tickle your taste buds.
PIPERO
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
Not just a starred restaurant, but a true landmark of the contemporary Italian gastronomic scene. Cuisine, art and design intertwine at number 2 Corso Vittorio Emanuele, right in the centre of Rome, at Pipero, a restaurant with a multifaceted and cosmopolitan soul. You will step into the shoes of explorers on a voyage of discovery of an experimental cuisine that particularly exalts the excellence of our territory, with unusual and creative combinations. Each room is immersed in a magical atmosphere imbued with refinement, ideal for a special evening in the company of your sweetheart.
RESTAURANT VISTA – CASINA VALADIER
Bucharest Square, Villa Borghese
A refuge of taste in the heart of Rome’s most talked-about green oasis: Villa Borghese. Amidst fountains, ponds, Italian and English gardens, stands Casina Valadier, a 19th-century neoclassical building, now a meeting place that hosts the Vista Restaurant. At the helm is Chef Massimo D’Innocenti, who offers multifaceted dishes with seasonal ingredients along a minimalist, aesthetically elegant and flavour-balanced proposal. In winter, one eats on the covered rooftop, while in fine weather one sits on the terrace, warmed by the sun’s rays and lulled by the sounds of nature.
ADELAIDE
Via dell’Arancio, 69
Adelaide is a ‘lounge restaurant‘ with kitchen and cocktail bar whose name recalls the historic Princess Borghese. The elegance that characterises the location is a reflection of the place in which it is set, the Hotel Vilòn, among the emblems of exclusive Capitoline hospitality. Adelaide offers a menu that follows the course of the seasons, with Mediterranean dishes and great classics of the Roman tradition, slightly revisited. A spacious dining room, an ideal refuge on colder days, and an outdoor patio with an atmosphere of yesteryear, enlivened by patches of greenery, where you can sit all year round and perfect during the summer.
COLBERT
Piazza di Spagna, Viale della Trinità dei Monti 1a – Villa Medici
On the Pincio Hill, with a priceless view of the Spanish Steps, Colbert is a cafeteria restaurant for art-flavoured lunches. Set inside the prestigious Villa Medici, a fulcrum of national and European culture and art, it offers a menu that stands out for its simplicity, ranging from trofie with pesto sauce to lasagne, from paccheri alla carbonara to potato gnocchetti. An itinerary of taste that winds its way from North to South, along the traditions of the Bel Paese, studied ad hoc by Chef Nicolò Galeani, capable of enhancing local seasonal ingredients with an international touch in each dish.
VITTORIO SPICES AND COOKING
Via Foscolo, 20-22
From the Esquiline to the lands of the East, all the way to South America. As the name suggests, the one proposed by Vittorio’s is a gastronomic tour that goes from Rome through Italy, on a round-the-world trip. Fragrances and spices enrich the dishes on offer, whose ingredients come from the iconic Piazza Vittorio market. A restaurant yes, but also a cocktail bar dedicated to Mixology and a pizzeria where you can experiment with surprising doughs and combinations, with 72-hour leavening. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and every detail recalls the style of the 1900s; a magical place with a timeless atmosphere, for a romantic dinner immersed in another era.
ZUMA
Via della Fontanella di Borghese, 48 – Palazzo Fendi
A pit-stop in Japan, overlooking the Eternal City. Zuma, set in the iconic Fendi building, is a trendy eatery with a wonderful modern terrace and exotic contemporary cuisine that has won the hearts of Romans within a few years of opening. The menu revolves around Japanese flavours, constantly experimenting with bold combinations and quality ingredients. Sushi, sashimi and traditional soups are accompanied by meat cooked with the robatayaki method, such as Angus, Iberian pork and the highly prized Wagyu rib eye. The Rising Sun has never been closer.
PACIFIC
Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia, 2 – Palazzo Dama
That of the PACIFICO restaurants is a story that began in 2015, linked to Corporate Chef Jaime Pesaque, one of the best Peruvian chefs in the world, representative of the Peruvian Food Revolution and counted among the South America 50 Best. A true gastronomic brand represented by 3 establishments in our Peninsula (Milan, Porto Cervo and Rome), dedicated to Peruvian-Nikkei cuisine. If, therefore, you are in the capital just a few steps from Piazza del Popolo and would like a ceviche to perfection, a tiradito or a cause with an exotic flavour, Pacifico with its candlelit design location is the perfect address for your romantic date with a South American twist.
