In Campo Marzio, Drink Kong rewrites the idea of the cocktail bar: a precise balance of contemporary aesthetics, Japanese influences and essential, clean, surprisingly elegant mixology.

There is a moment, as you step into Drink Kong Campo Marzio, when Rome seems to become more than just Rome. Campo Marzio is still there, with its layered elegance, but something shifts: the light grows deeper, the materials speak a new language, and time takes on an almost cinematic quality.

Here, in a city accustomed to overt beauty, Patrick Pistolesi chose a different path: he does not replicate, he does not insist. Rather, he distills. The new Drink Kong is a more intimate, conscious, almost quieter version of the original project in Monti. And perhaps, for this very reason, even more elegant.

The location is Via dei Prefetti 22, next to the new luxury hospitality venue Casa JK. The first impression is striking: a long bar counter, theatrical yet never ostentatious, reflecting a vertical bottle display like a stage backdrop. Gold and black interact without ever going too far, while clean geometries keep everything in balance. It is a contemporary luxury that does not try to impress, but to endure.

Then come the details. Japan, a stylistic reference that is never overstated, returns in subtle touches: in the surfaces, the lines, and the almost ritual care of the space. The Blade Runner reference is not a stylistic exercise, but a statement of atmosphere: a future already lived, made warm and accessible. And through vinyl records, rare graphics and echoes of Lost in Translation, a coherent narrative takes shape, never forced.

But it is in the glass that everything truly comes together. The drink list is essential, easy to read, and almost reassuring in its clarity. No unnecessary layers: here, everything is built through subtraction. The classics return to centre stage, filtered with surgical precision and made contemporary without losing their identity. 

The result is mixology that aims for absolute clarity of taste. Clean lines, recognizable flavours, impeccable execution. The Martini, reimagined, studied and respected, becomes a manifesto. The Gaijin remains a signature, but never overpowers. Every drink feels designed to balance technique and immediacy.

This is what makes the new Drink Kong most compelling: its ability to be sophisticated without feeling distant. Elegant without rigidity. Refined, yet alive.

In a city that often indulges in its own grandeur, this space chooses a different path: a clear idea, carried through to the end without compromise.

In the end, one clear feeling remains: not that of having discovered a new bar, but of having stepped into a place designed to last. A place where every element, light, sound, material and flavor, seems to have found its most essential form. And, precisely for that reason, it’s most intense.

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From authentic trattorias to new gourmet openings: where to eat in Rome this year

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 pizzerias 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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Tribuna Campitelli

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.

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Isotta

In Torrevecchia, Isotta Trattoria Cortese 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 Michelin-starred chef Davide Puleio, 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.

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GNOCCO Osteria Alla Scrofa

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.

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Nobu Restaurant Roma

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.

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Nomos Ante

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.

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Stecca

Opened in Garbatella 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.

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SantoPalato

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 carbonara 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.

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VICI Bistrot & Ristorante

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.

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Orient Express La Minerva – Gigi Rigolatto

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.

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Bap

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 breakfast stop, thanks to its baked goods, cakes and carefully prepared hot drinks.

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Mazzo

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.

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Cavour 313

A longtime fixture in Monti, Cavour 313 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.

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Casa Malgarini

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.

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YEZI

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.

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Avenida Calò

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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YEZI & art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio: arte, design e cucina asiatica d’autore. Dim sum, cocktail ispirati all’Oriente e brunch Yum Cha la domenica.

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Scopri la nostra selezione delle migliori gelaterie di Roma. Dove mangiare il gelato più buono a Roma.

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Segui la nostra guida ai migliori posti dove fare colazione a Roma.

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For the New Year, we have compiled a list of 13 Roman restaurants that deserve the visit of locals and passing visitors alike.

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For the New Year we have compiled a list of the newly-established, or recently renovated, establishments that most deserve a visit from Romans and passing customers.

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Eating out of town: beautiful locations near Rome. Our guide to 10 amazing restaurants outside of Rome.

The post Eating out of town: beautiful locations near Rome appeared first on Romeing | Rome's english magazine, events and exhibitions in Rome.

For the New Year we have compiled a list of the newly-established, or recently renovated, establishments that most deserve a visit from Romans and passing customers.

The post Dine to shine: the top restaurants in Rome in 2023 appeared first on Romeing | Rome's english magazine, events and exhibitions in Rome.