There are cities you visit, and cities you live through. Rome belongs to the second kind — not a collection of monuments but a stage where history and daily life perform together.
Few places on earth allow you to drink a cocktail while looking at a monument that has stood for nearly two millennia, its arches lit by the same golden light that once fell on gladiators and roaring crowds. Rooftop terraces here are not simply vantage points. From Michelin-starred restaurants to casual terraces filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses, each offers its own angle on the Colosseum.
These are the five we send our guests to.
Aroma, at Palazzo Manfredi
Dining at Aroma is not just a meal. On the terrace of the Palazzo Manfredi hotel, it offers a front-row view of the Colosseum, glowing at sunset and dramatically lit at night. Every table feels suspended in history.
Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio’s Michelin-starred cooking rises to the setting: refined dishes that take Italian tradition somewhere new. The artistry on the plate mirrors the view in front of you.
Why it’s worth it. A rare blend of serious fine dining and the most iconic view in Rome. The right choice for a particular evening.
What to drink. A glass of Franciacorta — light, crisp, celebratory.
The Court, at Palazzo Manfredi
If Aroma is about dining with history, The Court is about drinking with it. Voted among the world’s best bars, it is an open-air lounge facing both the Colosseum and the Ludus Magnus, the ancient gladiator training ground. Soft sofas, gentle lighting and greenery frame the stone arches behind.
The mixologist Matteo Zed’s creations are sophisticated and surprising, blending unexpected flavours with Italian restraint.
Why it’s worth it. Unobstructed views paired with some of the most inventive cocktails anywhere.
What to drink. The Court Martini — a minimalist classic, reimagined.
Hotel Capo d’Africa
Hidden just behind the Colosseum, this terrace feels like an escape from the streets below. Warm furnishings, a relaxed atmosphere, and a panoramic view of the amphitheatre. Less formal than the others, and no less enchanting — ideal for watching the sky change colour as the sun drops behind the rooftops.
Why it’s worth it. An intimate rooftop with a direct view, without the stiffness of fine dining.
What to drink. An Aperol Spritz, at twilight, while the Colosseum begins to glow.
Royal Art Café
Steps from the Colosseum, Royal Art Café trades exclusivity for proximity. The roof garden is lively and unpretentious, a place for a relaxed meal or an aperitivo without ceremony. The Colosseum dominates the terrace, close enough to feel almost within reach.
Why it’s worth it. A friendly, casual rooftop with a spectacular front-row view and no pretension.
What to drink. A Negroni — bold, timeless, and as Italian as the view.
Oro Bistrot, at NH Collection Fori Imperiali
Not directly over the Colosseum, but offering a sweeping panorama of the Imperial Forums with the amphitheatre standing beyond. The terrace is stylish and modern, its design contrasting deliberately with the ancient stone below.
The atmosphere is cosmopolitan but distinctly Roman — best at golden hour, when the ruins of the Forum are bathed in warm light.
Why it’s worth it. A design-led terrace with a view that takes in the whole grandeur of ancient Rome at once.
What to drink. A Hugo Spritz — prosecco, elderflower and mint, which suits a Roman sunset.
Whether it is a spritz at Royal Art Café, dinner at Aroma or a cocktail at The Court, Rome’s beauty is worth seeing from above — glass in hand, Colosseum in view.