For the New Year, we have compiled a list of 15 Roman restaurants that deserve the visit of locals and passing visitors alike.

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Rome’s dining scene keeps moving in 2026, with new openings that blend tradition and innovation, local roots and international influences, casual energy and polished settings, from to characterful bistros.

From the historic centre to emerging neighbourhoods, these addresses capture the capital’s culinary buzz: 15 different places to explore, with flavours worth discovering, spaces worth lingering in, and menus that reflect a city constantly in dialogue with global food trends. Below, a curated, narrative guide to the restaurants, bistros and pizzerias to have on your radar this year.

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Set inside a 16th-century palazzo just steps from Piazza d’Aracoeli, Tribuna Campitelli has quickly become one of the most talked-about openings of 2025–2026. The concept goes beyond a standard restaurant: think of it as a dining lounge, with a strong wine list, a carefully designed cocktail bar, intimate rooms and an outdoor terrace overlooking the square. Chefs Francesco Brandini and Roberto Bonifazi build seasonal menus that pair modern technique with solid Roman–Mediterranean foundations, focusing on quality ingredients and clean execution. It works equally well for a formal dinner or a refined aperitivo with selected labels and champagne, while the elegant setting, and a cellar overseen by Daniele Gizzi, ties the experience together.

In Torrevecchia, is a neighbourhood trattoria with a contemporary lens on Roman cooking. Warm and straightforward, wooden tables, open kitchen, a rustic touch, it keeps the offer focused and seasonal. Under the guidance of , the kitchen balances memory and modernity, with careful sourcing and cooking methods designed to let flavours speak. An easygoing spot for dinner with friends or a relaxed date, with simple, functional service.

Gnocco is a central Rome address that leans into Italian tradition with a playful, “pop” twist under chef Davide Cianetti. The spirit is convivial and unfussy, but the cooking is solid: seasonal ingredients, familiar flavours, and a menu that nods to the Roman table. As the name suggests, gnocco takes the spotlight—fried gnocco, the classic potato version, and the Roman-style semolina variation. A reliable choice for honest Italian plates in a simple, well-kept setting with good value for money.

INSPIRATION

Nobu Restaurant Roma brings its internationally renowned Japanese-fusion philosophy to Via Vittorio Veneto, with a subtle Mediterranean touch. It’s known for high-end sushi, signature dishes like Black Cod Miso, and carefully crafted cocktails, all served in a sleek, show-stopping setting. Nobu remains a go-to name for anyone looking for top-level contemporary Japanese dining in Rome, especially for special occasions or trend-led nights out. Its prime location and global brand appeal also make it a strong option for visitors from abroad.

Nomos Ante is the fine-dining restaurant on the ground floor of the Nomos Hotel, quickly emerging as one of Rome’s most interesting new openings of 2025–2026. At the helm is chef Giulio Luigi Zoli, a 35-year-old Roman with an international background shaped by years alongside Anthony Genovese and in top kitchens abroad. His cooking is precise and personal, blending Italian roots with global influences through a technique-driven style focused on balance and carefully selected ingredients. The menu is offered through tasting journeys – Arché, Métron and Télos – while HENRYTIMI’s pared-back interiors of travertine, wood and clay tones set an almost contemplative mood.

Opened in in autumn 2025, Stecca is the result of a collaboration between Flavio De Maio (the longtime host behind Velavevodetto) and Abruzzo-born Franco Franciosi (of Mammaròssa). The space is intimate, around 35 covers, and conceived as a “multisensory lab” where food, music and conviviality overlap, with design cues drawn from the neighbourhood’s historic homes. Stecca refuses a single identity (not strictly Roman, not strictly Abruzzese): instead it serves shareable plates, a constantly changing daily menu, and a wine list built around authentic producers. Bread plays a central role as a symbol of craft and sharing, while the mood shifts with light and music, turning dinner into conversation as much as cuisine.

A staple name in San Giovanni’s food scene, SantoPalato revisits Roman classics with a modern edge, aiming for a balance between tradition and contemporary flair. The remains the headline act, alongside a roster of reworked favourites supported by a wine list designed to complete the experience. New daily specials on the blackboard keep regulars, and newcomers, coming back.

Inside the five-star InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, VICI stands out for a well-crafted contemporary Italian offer, handled with precision by chef Marco Ciccotelli and a sharp front-of-house team. The kitchen finds a solid middle ground between familiar classics and modern interpretations, supported by a carefully chosen wine and cocktail selection. It’s a convenient option for light lunches, business moments, or relaxed, intimate dinners in a polished setting.

In Piazza della Minerva, Gigi Rigolatto sits between restaurant and bar, offering Italian and European-inspired dishes reinterpreted with contemporary techniques. The vibe is lively, the menu familiar but updated, an easy fit for a business lunch or an informal dinner while exploring the Pantheon area.

INSPIRATION

Bap is a popular, informal address with a young, dynamic approach to street-food-style dishes and bistro comfort. Set in a high-traffic area, it works for quick breaks, light lunches or casual dinners, with a strong focus on ingredient quality and good value. It’s also a dependable stop, thanks to its baked goods, cakes and carefully prepared hot drinks.

Mazzo lands in Rome with a hybrid restaurant–wine bar format, built around bottles and dishes meant for the table to share. Chefs and owners Francesca Barreca and Marco Baccanelli frame the experience as convivial and flexible: a curated selection of labels paired with a menu that moves between tradition and more creative ideas. A strong pick for long aperitivi, informal dinners, or evenings centred on discovering interesting Italian wines in a youthful, lively setting.

A longtime fixture in , is a wine bar and bistro known for its bottle list and simple plates executed well. It’s kept its personality through the city’s shifting food trends, offering thoughtful food-and-wine pairings in a comfortable setting, ideal for a relaxed date night or an evening with friends.

Casa Malgarini offers a more intimate, high-quality experience outside the tourist centre. Chef and owner Leonardo Malgarini puts ingredient quality first, shaping month-by-month menus that lean increasingly vegetable-forward without losing balance. Service is warm and attentive, and the garden adds a distinctive note—perfect for slow dinners or Sunday lunches with time to spare.

YEZI brings contemporary Asian flavours to Rome with a confident, international feel. The menu blends tradition and creativity with careful presentation and balanced seasoning, drawing on pan-Asian influences, an appealing alternative when you want something beyond Italian without leaving the city.

Avenida Calò is a standout pizzeria known for a well-worked dough, quality ingredients and a style that bridges tradition and innovation. With a varied menu and a loyal following, Francesco Calò is widely considered one of Rome’s top contemporary pizza makers. The dough, offered through different techniques and formats, can be explored via tasting routes or shared at the table. Don’t skip the kitchen starters, and save room for desserts that avoid the obvious.

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