Imàgo

Piazza Trinità dei Monti, 6, Roma, Italy

Think of Rome and what springs to mind – the Spanish Steps, St Peter’s Basilica? Dine at Imàgo, at the top of the former, and you’ll get a prime view across the Eternal City to the latter. The Michelin-starred restaurant crowns Hassler Roma hotel, whose classic rooms have hosted everyone from Grace Kelly to Karl Lagerfeld. Originally opened in the 1950s as Rome’s first rooftop restaurant, in 2006 Imàgo underwent a major transformation into a far more vibrant, daring space – all pale greys, deep reds and custom-designed mirrored tables against white marble flooring. Francesco Apreda’s supremely constructed yet understated food is the real showstopper though. Contemporary Italian in nature, with a focus on his native south, it also draws on global influences, not least from Asia. Roasted octopus with Roman broccoli is served with sansyo pepper-infused mascarpone; a parmesan ravioli comes in cold tuna broth, double malt and shichimi; black cod is glazed in sake to fall off the fork and melt in the mouth. Perhaps the greatest testament to the food is that, after a while, you barely notice the view. GW.