7 rooftop bars in Rome, editor-picked by TableJourney. All Rome nightlife.
Hassler Bar ★ 4.6
Centro Storico · Piazza Trinita dei Monti 6, 00187 Roma
The Hassler's bar sits at the top of the Spanish Steps with a terrace that looks straight down Via Sistina and across the rooftops of the centre, a piano-lounge classic that has been the canonical aperitivo balcony at Trinita dei Monti for decades.
Tip: Book the small outdoor terrace at sunset rather than the inside lounge; the seats are limited and the Spanish Steps view is the reason to come. Smart dress, no shorts in the evening.
Settimo Roman Cuisine and Terrace ★ 4.5
Centro Storico · Via Lombardia 47, 00187 Roma
Settimo sits on the seventh floor of the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese with a wraparound terrace that takes in the Seven Hills and St Peter's dome, with chef Giuseppe D'Alessio running a modern Roman menu alongside a bar that opens for sunset cocktails.
Tip: Bar service runs through the dinner hours; if you only want a drink, ask for the lounge terrace rather than a dining table. The Villa Borghese gardens are a short walk after.
Aroma at Palazzo Manfredi ★ 4.7
Monti · Via Labicana 125, 00184 Roma
Aroma occupies the top floor of Palazzo Manfredi with a 28-seat dining room and a covered terrace pointed directly at the Colosseum, where chef Giuseppe Di Iorio runs a Michelin-starred kitchen alongside a 600-label cellar weighted toward champagne.
Tip: The Colosseum view is the entire point; reserve a terrace table at sunset for the strongest light on the arches. A short aperitivo at the bar without dinner is sometimes possible.
Cielo Terrace at Hotel de la Ville ★ 4.5
Centro Storico · Via Sistina 69, 00187 Roma
Cielo runs across two floors on top of the Rocco Forte Hotel de la Ville at the head of the Spanish Steps, with the sixth-floor bar handling cocktails, DJ sets and light bites under red-and-white striped umbrellas and the seventh-floor restaurant taking dinner service.
Tip: Sunset DJ sets on the sixth floor are the reason locals queue; arrive 18:00 if you want a table on the terrace edge. Cocktails run around 25 euros so this is a one-drink stop for most.
Terrazza Mirador ★ 4.3
Gianicolo · Via del Gianicolo 3, 00165 Roma
Terrazza Mirador opens for the warm months on the grounds of Villa Agrippina at the foot of the Gianicolo, with palm-shaded loungers, a Balearic-inflected cocktail list and a Japanese-leaning fusion menu run by Kobe-trained chef Koji Nakai.
Tip: Open from May through September only; reservations after 19:00 are essential on weekends. The view picks up Castel Sant'Angelo and the Vatican walls from the upper terrace.
La Terrazza at Hotel Eden ★ 4.6
Ludovisi · Via Ludovisi 49, 00187 Roma
La Terrazza crowns the Dorchester Collection's Hotel Eden with a Michelin-starred dining room and a wraparound bar terrace pointed across Villa Medici, the Spanish Steps and St Peter's, with a cocktail programme that runs alongside chef Salvatore Bianco's Mediterranean kitchen.
Tip: Drinks at the bar terrace are sometimes available without a dining reservation if you arrive at 18:00, but the dinner crowd takes over after 19:30. Cocktails sit around 23 euros.
The Court at Palazzo Manfredi ★ 4.6
Monti · Via Labicana 125, 00184 Roma
The Court sits on the ground-level terrace of Palazzo Manfredi directly above the Ludus Magnus excavations, where bar manager Matteo Zed runs a cocktail programme inspired by Rome's fountains with the Colosseum filling the sightline beyond the rail.
Tip: Cocktails here are 27 euros but include a Prosecco welcome and a long passed-bite list, so it works as a one-drink Colosseum sit. Book a terrace seat well ahead.