A visit to Rome isn’t complete without sipping on a cocktail on one of its many hotels’ rooftop bars. With charming terracotta rooftops, secret terraces overflowing with plants, and birds-eye views of iconic monuments, the city is a marvel to behold from above. America Domani has compiled a short list of four of Rome’s best rooftop bars for your next trip to the Eternal City. Cin Cin!
Les Étoiles Terrace
Located on the rooftop of the five-star Hotel Atlante, Les Étoiles Terrace is a cocktail bar renowned for its stunning view of St. Peter’s dome. With 360-degree views spanning the Vatican Museums, the Astronomical Observatory of Monte Mario, the Villa Borghese Park, Villa Medici, and a touch of Piazza Venezia, Les Étoiles Terrace is an ideal place to sip on a beautifully handcrafted cocktail while gazing out at one of the best panoramas the Eternal City has to offer. Aperitivo, which includes a drink and some nibbles, is served every day between 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm. Reservations are required between April 1 and October 31.
Zuma
Housed in Rome’s iconic Fendi palazzo, the modern, London-based Japanese restaurant covers two whole floors. Their rooftop terrace offers sparkling views of central historic Rome, with Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish steps being the crown jewel. Gaze out at the city’s terracotta rooftops while sampling tuna sashimi, spicy edamame, and wagyu ribeye. Reservations for Zuma Rome are required.
Hotel Forum
Hotel Forum is a 4-star hotel housed in a former monastery located just steps away from some of the city’s most iconic monuments including the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, and of course, the Roman Forum. The elegant hotel has an open-air restaurant, as well as a small garden rooftop terrace, both of which offer panoramic views of the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum. The cocktail bar is open from 4:00 pm on the weekdays and 1:30 pm on the weekends until midnight. It serves a variety of cocktails, long drinks, wines, spirits such as rum and whiskey, and grappa.
Hotel Otivm
This 4-star hotel tucked on a narrow street just off of Piazza Venezia has a romantic rooftop bar with views of the Campidoglio and the Altare della Patria, the Altar to the Fatherland, the massive white structure that crowns the historic piazza. Guests can book a table for a maximum of two hours and must spend a minimum of €25 ($27), which includes drinks and appetizers. Reservations must be made online.
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.