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 dinner. Delight your palate with a carefully crafted menu, a festive atmosphere, and all the details that make this evening magical. For Christmas lunch, spoil and pamper your loved ones with a unique menu from Elio. Enjoy delicious dishes, good company, and the joy of giving (and receiving) in the heart of Rome.
Il Marchese
Via di Ripetta, 162 (centro storico)Il Marchese offers a delicious Christmas lunch this year, classic and juicy. Try their beef carpaccio, tortellini in chicken broth, but also their cannelloni stuffed with lamb and chestnuts, and the unfailing, evergreen, Roman puntarelle. A bottle of wine is included, every 4 people – all for 90 euros per person.
La Terrazza at Hotel Eden
Via Ludovisi, 49 (Veneto)At Hotel Eden’s La Terrazza, mesmerising views of Rome accompany your meal for dining experiences like no other. Expect to celebrate in style. The Christmas Eve dinner offers a sophisticated menu featuring Scallops with precious black truffle and orange, Langoustine with Champagne dressing, Lobster and tarragon-filled Ravioli, Snapper fish with almonds, Yogurt, carrot, and grapefruit, Panettone, Pandoro, and a selection of Christmas delights. Meanwhile, for those opting for Christmas lunch, they can indulge in Mont Blanc with foie gras and prunes, Beef consommé with Tortellini, Monkfish and PGI Colonnata Lard as an alternative to Lamb and porcini mushrooms, Ricotta and sour cherries, Panettone, Pandoro, and a selection of Christmas delights.
Conciabocca
Via Rubattino 22 (Testaccio)Conciabocca, a contemporary osteria in the heart of Testaccio, presents the tasting menu specially crafted for the Christmas lunch on December 25th, 2023. €70 per person, and reservations are available until December 22nd.
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 handmade Tortelli in capon broth or Parmesan cream, Russian salad, and Capon salad with pomegranate and walnuts are featured.” Sounds like a delicious selection for the holiday season!
Jacopa
Via Jacopa de’ Settesoli, 7 (Trastevere)Next on our list of the best restaurants open for Christmas feasting in Rome is Jacopa. This elegant restaurant located in the heart of Trastevere is inviting guests to join them for a traditional Christmas lunch featuring incredible Italian staples like Roman-style mixed fry, Angus terrine, Guinea fowl and hazelnut tortelli, Cannelloni with goat ricotta, Braised lamb and Christmas dessert (cost €80 per person drinks excluded).
Uliveto Restaurant & Terrace at Rome Cavalieri
Via Alberto Cadlolo, 101 (Monte Mario)The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, is gearing up to celebrate the most magical time of the year with a holiday program packed with unmissable events, brimming with joy and surprises. Adding to the playful atmosphere of the hotel will be the playful Christmas tree, emerging from the retractable roof of a vintage FIAT 500.
Christmas will be celebrated at Ristorante Uliveto with a Christmas Eve dinner, featuring a menu crafted by Executive Chef Fabio Boschero and desserts by Executive Pastry Chef Dario Nuti (€120 per person). Additionally, on December 25th, Uliveto will host the much-anticipated Christmas Brunch, delighting guests with live stations offering authentic flavors that evoke Italian culinary traditions (€190 per person, €95 per kids).
Discover the New Year’s program and menus as well.
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 the Christmas holidays, Chef Domenico Smargiassi has prepared various options in addition to the restaurant menu. For Christmas Eve dinner, the menu (priced at €120 per person, beverages not included) is a voyage through memory and nostalgia. For Christmas lunch, the menu features special off-menu items.
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 fine truffle; drops of Mediterranean lobster, cream of shellfish and essence of basil and Anglerfish Cacciatore stew, dark cardoon terrine on Christmas Eve Dinner. Crispy quail with hazelnuts and eggs along with traditional cappelletti with fine black truffle on Christmas Day.
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 location 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 tonnarelli pasta with prawns, tender and crispy artichokes, lemon, and dried fruit; while for the Christmas lunch menu, there will be tortelli in capon broth, truffle, mortadella foam, and pistachio.
Christmas Eve menu costs 80€ (wine pairings available for an additional 30€); Christmas lunch menu costs 78€ per person (wine pairings 32€). Whether you prefer to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas lunch with the folks at Aqualunae, you’re in for an exquisite experience, no doubt.
Sdelaide 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 Di 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: Scallop, saffron, white truffle; Cod, cauliflower, caviar; Spaghettoni pasta, chickpea, langoustine, rosemary; Tortelli pasta, sole, white truffle; Blue lobster, orange, pumpkin.
Masa Rooftop
Via di S.Maria Maggiore, 143 (Monti)The new 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!