If you’re looking for restaurants near the Spanish Steps, look no further. This guide to lunch or dinner near the Spanish Steps reviews a range of restaurants for every budget. So here we go with the ultimate Spanish Steps restaurant guide!
In the meantime, if you’re looking for the best rooftop bars in Rome head here, while the best places for an outdoor aperitivo can be found here.
Tre in Lucina, restaurant in Piazza di S. Lorenzo in Lucina
Situated in one of the prettiest piazzas in Rome, the historic Piazza di S. Lorenzo in Lucina, Tre in Lucina is a convivial restaurant and bar serving all day from breakfast through to the small hours.
At this charming spot, about a 10 minute walk from the Spanish Steps, plan to order breakfast, brunch, lunch, aperitivo and dinner inside its beautifully designed and curated interior, or seated outside in the gorgeous piazza opposite Louis Vuitton’s flagship store.
The restaurant prides itself on a smart take on Roman cuisine with typical dishes like bucatini al’Amatriciana, cacio e pepe made with local Pecorino Romano cheese, carciofi alla romana, homemade gnocchi which the Romans traditionally eat on thursdays, plus all-time classics like carbonara and nonna’s secret meatball recipe, polpettine alla romana in a fresh tomato sauce. If you’re looking for something a little different, the pasta al mojito zings with fresh lime and mint. Fish dishes include spaghetti with clams and a superb lobster linguini.
Don’t miss the house tartufo – its signature chocolate dessert. Tre in Lucina is the sister restaurant of the historic trattoria Tre Scalini, in Piazza Navona 28, which has cultivated international fame for its chocolate tartufo, so you can’t go wrong!
Tre in Lucina, Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina 2, Rome, tel 06 8354 0220

Frezza Restaurant, near Piazza del Popolo & Via del Corso
Taking pride of place in the charming Via della Frezza, a quiet and leafy street joining Via del Corso and Via di Ripetta, Frezza is a new restaurant bringing the traditions of Roman cuisine to the heart of the city. Situated just a ten minutes walk from the Spanish Steps, Frezza is the brainchild of iconic Roman actor Claudio Amendola, who has developed a reputation as a serious restaurateur in his own right in recent years. Frezza is his third restaurant and the first project in the historic heart of the city. And what a location he has chosen for this new adventure! Via della Frezza has been a hive of construction activity over the past five years as it prepares to welcome the first Bulgari Hotel to the capital. Furthermore, this bar-lined street is planning further openings in the coming months.
Why should you dine at Frezza? This is the perfect restaurant to try a taste of down-home Roman cuisine, which is usually associated with neighbourhood trattorias in Testaccio or Garbatella. Chef Davide Cianetti, executive chef of the excellent Numa al Circo, has designed an unpretentious menu rich in tasty fried antipasti – from deep fried mozzarella through suppli and fiori di zucca – to excellent light and crispy pizzas, plus the pasta classics of Roman cuisine. Don’t miss this chance to get close to locals-only recipes right in the heart of the city.
Frezza, Via della Frezza 64-66, Rome, tel 0670452605
Gina Restaurant near the Spanish Steps
Gina Restaurant is a quiet and refined spot just seconds from the Spanish Steps, but away from the hustle and bustle. Offering affordable menus and all-day-dining, you won’t want to miss out on breakfast, lunch or dinner at Gina when near the Spanish Steps in Rome. I recently went along to try some of the highlights of the new Gina menu and I wasn’t disappointed.
Expect delicate starters such as an aromatic potato puree (the perfect comfort food) to zucchini flower stuffed with ricotta and served with a melon salsa; while pasts dishes included home-made gnocchi with clams. We also tried an excellent beef tartare and a delicate baccala. Don’t miss the dessert plate at Gina, which is a work of art in its own right, containing a mix of tasting portions. I highly recommend the zabaglione and the soft-hearted dark chocolate pudding! Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 8am until 10pm. Gina Restaurant, Via di S. Sebastianello, 7A, Rome, tel 06 9451 8540

Don Pasquale at Hotel Maalot
Don Pasquale at Hotel Maalot is a welcome addition to the heart of Rome, offering original and delightful spaces for all day dining or a glass of wine. This plush and awe-inspiring eatery is hidden from the main drag, and describes itself as a ‘restaurant with a hotel inside’. The welcoming lobby and glam dining hall with a skylight and a chandelier are definitely not what you’re expecting when you dive inside Don Pasquale!
Don Pasquale is a place for people watching, for a lunch or dinner from the kitchens of Domenico Boschi, and above all, for a little affordable luxury. Expect to spend €15 for a plate of pasta or a burger under the deliciously ironic works of art by the hugely talented Stanley Unlimited. Highly recommended as one of the most glamourous yet affordable restaurants near the Spanish Steps. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for cosy yet luxurious rooms, book a stay at the Hotel Maalot by following this link. Don Pasquale, Hotel Maalot, Via delle Muratte, 78, Roma, tel +39 06 878087
Terrazza Ciampini at Caffè Ciampini
If you’ve ever fancied eating a pizza on a rooftop in the heart of old Rome with scintillating Spanish Steps views, I’m here to tell you that it can be done! Terrazza Ciampini, which looks like a green den from the roadside, enjoys incredible rooftop views of the back of the Spanish Steps and Via di S. Sebastianello, while remaining a great place for a relatively affordable and simple dinner. The ample menu contains something for everyone, whether you fancy pizza and a beer, or pasta with a glass of sparkling wine – Terrazza Ciampini has it all.
Come for the views and stay for the cool breeze when it’s hot in the city. Terrazza Ciampini is one of Rome’s best-kept secrets and one of the prettiest restaurants near the Spanish Steps. Terrazza Ciampini, Caffè Ciampini di Marco Ciampini, Piazza della Trinità dei Monti, 2, Rome, tel +39 06 678 5678

Doppio Malto, brew pub near the Spanish Steps
Doppio Malto, a cavernous, American-style brew pub, has won over a lot of plaudits since opening near the Spanish Steps at the start of 2018. Beyond the sumptuous craft beer menu, expect moreish fried goodies at Doppio Malto Rome, tender roast capons, sausages, steak and hamburgers to suit all tastes. Part of the Doppio Malto brew-pub chain, which was born in northern Italy, near lake Como, the expert owners have got this formula down to a fine art.
The handsome space of Doppio Malto Rome picks up on the international restaurant trend of creating oversized, post-industrial environments, combined with a nod to the white tiles and monochrome signs associated with traditional butchers or trattorias in Italy. Exposed pipes, rust coloured tables and walls and a copper lined bar create a warm interior with just a hint of steampunk.
What about the food and drink? Expect a full list of Doppio Malto branded beers, while there is also an ample burger list, all at reasonable prices. There are even salads and a good range of desserts, so it’s not just for meatheads! Doppio Malto, Via Poli 50-52, Roma, Tel +39 0645251045
Emme Restaurant at Hotel Margutta 19
Emme Restaurant at Hotel Margutta 19 offers a taste of affordable luxury in smart surroundings, centrally located between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps. Situated in Rome’s former artists’ quarter, along the cobbled and atmospheric Via Margutta, Emme Restaurant is a perfect pitstop during a shopping trip to Via del Babuino or Via Condotti offering different menus for lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch options too.
Previously known as Assaggia, this restaurant near the Spanish Steps owes its welcoming vibe also to the fact that it acts as the ground-floor anchor to five star boutique hotel Margutta 19, part of Rome Luxury Suites’ diffused collection of contemporary lodgings in downtown Rome. Emme Restaurant’s beautifully appointed dining room makes this an excellent spot for a special occasion, but an easy daytime philosophy means you shouldn’t rule it out for a quick coffee, brunch or a light lunch. An open-air dining space beneath the sloped terraces of villa Borghese adds a pretty and private summer option. One of the most underrated restaurants near the Spanish Steps! Emme Restaurant, Via Margutta 19, Rome, Tel 0039 06 9779 7980
Agrodolce, best pasta near the Spanish Steps
Agrodolce is a sweet, authentic trattoria in the centre of Rome, just a few steps from the Trevi Fountain. Expect a menu focusing on classic Italian comfort food, starting with mouth-watering bruschette and salami and cheese selections, to elegant dishes such as beef tartare with truffle-infused soft Robiola cheese.
There are soups and salads if you fancy something light, or otherwise dive into a hearty pasta dish – like gnocchi with 4 cheeses, or seafood fettuccine. Of course, you can also sample the typical pasta dishes of Rome – carbonara, cacio e pepe, gricia and amatriciana, with Agrodolce serving portions fit for a king. There is also a list of select pizzas, and some wonderful meat and fish dishes. I hope you’ll leave space for dessert to try a handmade maritozzo, tiramisu, panna cotta or hot ganache chocolate cake. Booking essential – this popular place is always full. Agrodolce, Via dei Crociferi, 25, Rome, tel 06 678 8251

Hi-Res: hotel restaurant near the Spanish Steps
Right in the heart of old Rome, just a stone’s throw from Piazza del Popolo – indeed, enjoying tantalising views of this iconic, oval square – Hi-Res or High Restaurant is a dreamy, glass-walled palace overlooking terracotta rooftops and cobbled streets on top of the Hotel Valadier. Hotel Valadier in Rome is one of those iconic properties which has left an indelible mark on the city of Rome, but isn’t afraid of change.
While the hotel offers rooms from a very competitive €103 per night – just a five minute walk from the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo – its dining and drinking options plunge you into Dantean worlds of polar opposite: the dark and sexy lure of its basement cocktail bar and eatery, Valentyne, and the glass-walled halls of its lofty rooftop restaurant, Hi-Res.
Hi-Res manages to mix old and new in both its architecture and menu. The restaurant is housed in an extraordinary glass-house on top of this period building, with stunning views of Villa Borghese and Piazza del Popolo. Its menu is steeped in Italian lore, featuring the freshest fish, pasta, locally sourced meats and more – but the presentation and ingredient combinations are avant-garde.
My recent lunch at Hi-Res started with scampi tartare, combined with fresh mandarin and sichuan pepper for a wow opening. This was followed with a sumptuous dish of lobster pasta, dressed with buffalo mozzarella juices. We accompanied lunch with an excellent pink Franciacorta, and finished up with a house cocktail. Hi-Res, Hotel Valadier, Via della Fontanella 15, Rome, tel +39 06 361 0880