Head-to-Head · Rome
Aroma vs Idylio by Apreda
Two one-star Rome rooms: Aroma for the Colosseum-rooftop occasion, Idylio for spice-led invention near the Pantheon. Book Aroma for romance.
The Verdict
Aroma is the view. Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio cooks on the roof terrace of the Palazzo Manfredi hotel on Via Labicana, where the open-air tables look straight onto the Colosseum, and his one-star kitchen turns out refined modern Italian and Mediterranean cooking across four tasting menus, one of them vegetarian, with a la carte also available. The average spend runs around 180 euro before wine. It is the most romantic high-end setting in the city, which is why it draws proposals and anniversaries. Our read scores it 8 for food, 9 for the room and 6 for value.
Idylio by Apreda is the flavour adventure. At The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel a few minutes from the Pantheon itself, chef Francesco Apreda draws on years cooking in India and Asia, lacing spice blends and global technique through Italian structure across tasting menus of his classics, his newer dishes and a dedicated vegetarian one, from around 120 euro. The cooking is more aromatic and cross-cultural than most Rome fine dining. It holds one Michelin star and suits a diner who finds straight Roman cooking too familiar. Our read scores it 9 for food, 8 for the room and 7 for value.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | Aroma | Idylio by Apreda |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Value | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| Proposal or anniversary | AromaThe rooftop terrace over the Colosseum is the most romantic setting in Rome, hard to beat for a milestone night. |
| The most original meal | Idylio by ApredaApreda's spice-led, cross-cultural cooking is the more adventurous and distinctive plate of the two. |
| Impress a visiting client | AromaThe view does half the work, and the Colosseum backdrop makes an instant impression on a guest new to Rome. |
| A serious food traveller | Idylio by ApredaThe Indian-Italian crossover gives a curious diner something they will not find elsewhere in the city. |
| Best value at the high end | Idylio by ApredaTasting menus from around 120 euro undercut Aroma's premium for the rooftop, the cheaper way into a one-star night. |
Price Comparison
Idylio is the cheaper ticket. Its tasting menus start around 120 euro a head before wine, while Aroma averages near 180 euro and climbs from there, with the rooftop setting carrying a premium and a la carte available too. Both sit in Rome's top fine-dining tier, with pairings on top, but Idylio lands lower at the entry point, which is why our read scores it 7 for value against Aroma's 6. Weigh both against the field in our guide to the best fine-dining restaurants worldwide, and note that both appear on our list of the best vegetarian tasting menus in Rome.
How to Book
Both take reservations directly, and both want notice. Aroma is the harder table for a prime slot, since the open-air terrace is small and the Colosseum view is in constant demand, so book several weeks ahead for a weekend and request an outside table when the season allows. Idylio, set in a hotel dining room, has slightly better odds but still fills for weekends. Start the wider map from the Rome dining guide, and read the Aroma review and the Idylio by Apreda review in full before you choose.
For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh them against our guides to the best restaurants for an anniversary and to impress clients. For another Rome match-up see La Pergola vs Da Remo, and browse the full set on the compare index.