Where to Eat on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Rome
Rome is celebrated for the undisputed craftwork of droolworthy Italian dishes, and we are here to narrow down the very best spots in the Eternal city to enjoy your holiday feasting! So, leave the oven turned off and this year join us in indulging in one of our expertly selected Christmas culinary experiences in one of the food capitals of the world.
After all, a day without dishes? Now that’s the ultimate gift.
We have selected 15 mouth-watering options for you, from the most classic lunches and dinners to innovative and extravagant dining experiences.
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Restaurants for Christmas lunch in Rome
Here’s a selection of some of the best restaurants in Rome that are offering Christmas Day or Christmas Eve lunch in Rome:
Elio at The Hoxton
Largo Benedetto Marcello, 220 (Parioli)Indulge in a joyful celebration with Elio‘s special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menu. Delight your palate with a carefully crafted menu, a festive atmosphere, and all the details that make this evening magical. Both menus include shared appetizers, two pasta tastings, a main course, and a dessert. A vegetarian menu is also available.
Il Marchese
Via di Ripetta, 162 (centro storico)Il Marchese offers a delicious Christmas lunch this year, classic and juicy. Try their pumpkin, chestnut and seasonal mushroom cream soup, tortellini in chicken broth, but also their fornara-style brisket with potatoes and artichokes. A bottle of wine is included, every 5 people – all for 90 euros per person.
Castello della Castelluccia
Via Carlo Covina, 40Castello della Castelluccia is a magical place where Christmas traditions come to life. From December 1st to January 6th, families can enjoy the traditional “Pranzo della Domenica”, “A Christmas Carol” edition, with creative workshops for children and festive activities each week. Highlights include making Christmas tree decorations, becoming Santa for the day, and personalizing Befana stockings. Parents can relax with a special menu that celebrates holiday flavors.
Additionally, the Christmas and Boxing Day lunch promises a magical experience. Children will enjoy games and a visit from Santa, while adults savor an elegant tasting menu in a cozy atmosphere.
Il Giardino ristorante & La Terrazza at Hotel Eden
Via Ludovisi, 49 (Veneto)This year as well, Hotel Eden, the historic five-star luxury hotel in Rome by Dorchester Collection, stands out during Christmas for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, sophisticated style, and vibrant ambiance. Both Il Giardino Ristorante and La Terrazza will offer special menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas lunch.
The Christmas Eve dinner will kick off with an aperitif at 7:00 PM in La Libreria, accompanied by live jazz music from Francesco Fratini and his sextet. Throughout the holiday season, Executive Chef Salvatore Bianco will present a special panettone, while Il Giardino Bar will feature two signature cocktails for the occasion: the Frosted Ember and the Ruby Sleight.
Mirabelle Restaurant at Hotel Splendide Royal
Via di Porta Pinciana, 14 (Veneto)The Mirabelle restaurant, located on the seventh floor of the Hotel Splendide Royal, offers a special dinner on Christmas Eve and a dedicated Christmas lunch. Executive chef Stefano Marzetti has designed a seafood menu for Christmas Eve, while the Christmas Day lunch draws inspiration from tradition and local flavors, celebrating regional ingredients.
Campocori Restaurant at Chapter Roma
Inspired by the classic Italian restaurants of 1930s New York, and with interiors designed by internationally renowned South African designer Tristan du Plessis, Campocori is a gastronomic haven with many facets. Led by Chef Alessandro Pietropaoli, it offers a unique cuisine that is both classic and modern, attentive to sustainability and zero-waste concepts, yet always engaging and delightful.
Sky Restaurant at Aleph Rome Hotel
The Aleph Hotel invites you to celebrate a magical Christmas under a canopy of twinkling stars. Their “Starlit Christmas” experience merges the cozy atmosphere of traditional holiday festivities with the stunning ambiance of a celestial celebration. On Christmas Eve, you can enjoy an enchanting dinner crafted by Executive Chef Carmine Buonanno, while Christmas Day brings a festive brunch featuring a refined selection of Italian holiday dishes.
Eggs
Via Natale del Grande, 52/53 (Trastevere)Trastevere’s restaurant, Eggs, is always open for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen’s Day. Alongside the à la carte menu, special dishes such as the handmade tortellini from Bottega del Tortellante served in meat broth or Parmigiano cream, Russian salad, and Cappon Magro—a terrine of sea bass, salmon, shrimp, potatoes, beetroot, carrots, and green sauce, an ancient traditional Ligurian dish. Sounds like a delicious selection for the holiday season!
47 Circus Roof Garden
via Luigi Petroselli, 47 (Circo Massimo)Next on our list of the best restaurants open for Christmas feasting in Rome is 47 Circus Roof Garden. A roof garden featuring Mediterranean gourmet cuisine crafted by Chef Maurizio Lustrati, where sustainability takes center stage. Get ready for a special menu on Christmas Eve and a delightful lunch on December 25th.
La Pergola & Uliveto Restaurants at Rome Cavalieri
Via Alberto Cadlolo, 101 (Monte Mario)La Pergola Restaurant by Heinz Beck, Rome’s only Three-Michelin-Starred establishment, returns with its exceptional dinners for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, offering a celebration of healthy, light, sustainable dishes infused with Mediterranean flavors. At Uliveto Restaurant, Executive Chef Nicholas Cuomo presents a choice of meat or fish menus for Christmas Eve, while December 25 features the iconic and elegant Christmas Brunch at the Rome Cavalieri.
Hotel Locarno
Via della Penna, 22 (Centro storico)The holiday offerings at Hotel Locarno are a journey through the flavors of Italian tradition and original recipes. For Christmas Eve, you can choose between the traditional or vegetarian menu (€150 per person, excluding beverages). For Christmas lunch, the menu will feature dishes from the Lunch selection, enhanced with special off-menu options such as “Roman Holidays” (Roman-style artichokes cooked two ways, crispy tripe, and sweetbreads) and “Between Tuscany and Emilia” (Porcini mushroom tagliatelle pie with Parmigiano sauce and seasonal black truffle).
Terrazza Les Etoiles
Via dei Bastioni, 1 (Prati)For the Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day Lunch, the Terrazza Les Etoiles proposes new creations of Chef Anzidei in addition to their à la carte menu. Expect Roasted scallops, chestnuts and black truffle; Fagottini pasta stufed with smoked potato, truffle and scampi parcels and Lobster au gratin fradiavola on Christmas Eve Dinner. Beef tartare marinated with Teriyaki sauce and horseradish foam; Traditional cappelletti with prized black truffle; Veal fillet in a crust with porcini mushrooms on Christmas Day.
Do you want to know what Terrazza Les Etoiles has planned for New Year’s Eve? Click here.
Apicio 16 at Palazzo Velabro
Via del Velabro, 16 (Palatine)Apicio16, the gourmet restaurant at Palazzo Velabro, offers a traditional menu for Christmas lunch. Highlights include Roman-style artichoke with potato and artichoke cream, Tortelli pasta in capon broth, a main of meatballs with tomato sauce and grilled polenta, and for dessert, artisan pear and chocolate panettone.
Unique al Palatino
Via di San Teodoro (Palatine)The ‘Unique Al Palatino’ restaurant inside the Kolbe Hotel Rome on Via di San Teodoro offers an exclusive fixed menu to celebrate Christmas day in the company of friends and relatives in an exclusive venue in the center of Rome.
Aqualunae
Piazza dei Quiriti, 20 (Prati)Chef Emanuele Paoloni dedicates two tasting menus to Christmas Eve and Christmas lunch, to be savored in the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere, carefully curated in every detail. For the Christmas Eve menu, expect tuna meatballs with Passion Fruit mayo and crunchy vegetables, tortelli with leek and lime shellfish and seared croaker served with rösti, artichokes, prawns on saffron puree. For the Christmas lunch menu, there will be stuffed tagliatella with chopped artichokes and smoked ricotta and guinea fowl parcel with creamy filling and purple cabbage salad.
Adelaide at Hotel Vilon
Via dell’Arancio, 69 (Centro Storico)The Adelaide Restaurant at Hotel Vilòn, located at Via dell’Arancio 69 in Rome, is elegant and refined, led by Executive Chef Gabriele Muro. Once again this year, to celebrate the holiday moments with its guests, it offers dedicated menus for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas lunch, and New Year’s Eve dinner.
Osteria Fratelli Mori
Via dei Conciatori, 10 (Ostiense)Another of our favourites is this hidden gem in Ostiense. Crafted for those who love good authentic Roman cuisine and seeking wallet friendly dining. This holiday season they’re offering a price fixed Christmas lunch for 60€ per person which includes antipasto, a first and second course as well as a dessert handcrafted by pastry chef Nonna Giuliana. Trust us, you’ll return if not only for her famed Ricotta d’Ambrogio.
Hosteria Grappolo D’oro
Piazza della Cancelleria, 80 (Campo de’ Fiori)Roman tradition reigns during the holiday season at Hosteria Grappolo D’oro. Enticing guests with dishes like broccoli and arzilla soup and pumpkin ravioli with butter and sage on Christmas Eve, and tortellini in capon broth or the oven-baked lamb with potatoes on Christmas day. We’re positive this is a spot you’ll be happy you chose. Check out their menus starting at just 60€ per person.
Acquolina Restaurant
Via del Vantaggio, 14 (Popolo)Acquolina restaurant inside The First Roma, which has just confirmed its second Michelin star, is preparing for the holidays. For those who want to spend Christmas Eve under the banner of haute cuisine, chef Daniele Lippi’s menu might be for you. On the menu: tuna ventricina; blue lobster; red mullet; linguine pasta with langoustine; potato tortelli pasta; turbot; dessert.
Masa Rooftop
Via di S.Maria Maggiore, 143 (Monti)The terrace at Hotel Major is bustling during the Christmas season. From special menus designed for Christmas Eve and Christmas lunch, all the way to New Year’s Eve. Masa Rooftop, besides offering a breathtaking view of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, allows you to have lunch and dinner on the rooftop in a new heated structure. A wonderful spot for holiday dining with a stunning view!
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Went to Jacopa to book your ‘amazing deal‘ only to be told the information on your site is the incorrect. Very frustrating.
Sorry Elaine! As you may know, these are really difficult times and things have been changing so quickly during this situation (quite literally by the hour!). We were informed of needing to make a change post-publication and fixed it immediately, but I’m guessing it was after you made the inquiry 🙁
I’m not sure what you were trying to book but hopefully you were able to find another good solution for the holiday! Our apologies again for your frustration. And we appreciate your understanding during this extremely difficult time. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help!