A Very Subjective List of the Best Rooftop Bars in Rome

Issue #93

NOTOS Rooftop at the Six Senses Rome

There’s something magical about sipping a Spritz while watching the sunset over the terracotta rooftops of Rome. On hot summer evenings, being up on a rooftop with a nice breeze can feel so much better than sweating down at street level. Every now and then, I like to dress up and go for an aperitivo on a rooftop—it just feels so glamorous.

There are loads of rooftop bars in Rome, but they’re not created equal. My biggest pet peeve with them is that they tend to charge a premium. An Aperol Spritz that would cost €10 or less at a normal bar can easily run €18 at a rooftop bar—and that’s certainly not the highest price tag you’ll encounter. So I have mixed feelings about rooftop bars in general and there are plenty that I think are totally overrated. (There are also lots that I haven’t been to yet, like the rooftop bar at the Edition, which wasn’t yet up and running when I covered the hotel for Travel + Leisure.) For those times when I don’t mind splurging, these are the rooftop bars I would choose.

Cielo at Hotel de la Ville

It’s hard to beat the view of Rome’s terracotta rooftops and domes from this glamorous perch at the Hotel de la Ville, a Rocco Forte hotel atop the Spanish Steps. You can be sure that the cocktails here are top-notch too. They recently did away with the striped umbrellas and installed a large sun shade instead, but the view is the same. 

The Court at Palazzo Manfredi

This is the place for drop-dead gorgeous views of the Colosseum, which is truly magical at sunset. This open-air bar occupies the space between the old and new buildings at Palazzo Manfredi, a Relais & Châteaux hotel opposite the ancient amphitheater. The creative cocktails are by lauded bartender Matteo “Zed” Zamberlan and they come with a generous variety of gourmet snacks from the hotel’s Michelin-starred kitchen.

The Rooftop at Casa Monti

Sitting on the sixth floor atop the new boutique hotel Casa Monti, this intimate bar has a nice selection of creative cocktails you’ll only find there. I loved La Nonna, made with Hendrick’s gin, apricot marmalade, almond liqueur, Stillabunt magic velvet, lemon, and soda. The outdoor area is small, with just a handful of tables and the view isn’t the best, but I like that there’s a cozy indoor area too with a very funky, eclectic design, which means you can enjoy a drink here in the off-season or on a rainy day too.