Rome New Years Eve
 

Where should we have dinner and enjoy the celebrations at midnight?

What do you like to eat and how do you like to celebrate?

PH...

I won't be able to help you with any recommendations, but I will also be in Rome for New Year's Eve and was going to post a similar question, you just "beat me to the punch"! :)

I'll be intersted to see some of the recommendations that get posted.

Maybe to help others reply you could mention what price range for dinner you are looking for and if there is a particular type of restaurant you prefer.

For me I'd say I'm looking for a restaurant (could also be a trattoria) and would plan to spend somewhere between 150-200 euro for 2 inlcuding wine on New Year's eve.

We are a couple in our 60s so the Pub Crawl is not what we are looking for. It is our first visit to Rome and the budget for New Years Eve is about 200 euros for two. It would be lovely to be where Roman couples of this age group are.

Something informal rather than very fancy would suit our "out of a suitcase" style best. For us it is more about the people than the food - which has always been teriffic in other Italian cities.

Anyone have recommendations?

Roman couples your age are likely to be with their families, or coming back from ski vacations in Swizerland or France. The one place I can tell you that you don't want to be is the Piazza del Populo, which is the traditional site for reveling, and it get can extremely rowdy.

I'm not a reveler myself, but if I had my mother visiting me in Roma and she wanted to go someplace, I would check out the possiblity of a late dinner at the restaurant on top of the Hotel Forum, which overlooks the Forum. I've never heard anybody rave about the food there, and it is pricey, but it might be a special setting for noting the passage of time. To me, the happiest people in Roma are always the ones eating fried artichokes, so I might plan a late meal at Da Giggetto, near the Portica D'Ottavio.

Last but not least, it wouldn't suprise me if there are midnight masses in some of the best churches, which are decorated to a high style in the holidays, and have choirs and organs. Not exactly party hat stuff, but it might be a spectacle.

Typo -- it's Portico d'Ottavia

I'm also interested in ideas. I'll be there with family and friends.

I definitely agree with zeppole... some of the best churches have choirs and organs and might offer a exciting spectacle!

about the food: http://www.osteriaromana.it/home.html this is great but a bit expensive.

Something more affordable and very nice would be "Trattoria Der Pallaro",in Largo di Pallaro (nearby Campo de' Fiori) where you will have a parade of simple food, prepared well, and served in ample portions.Don't expect fancy or any choices and you will do well there. Be patient, too -- the staff is small and very busy.

Hope it helps!
:-)

We will be in Rome for New Years as well.

Zeppole - how do you define rowdy? We had planned to check out the festivities in Piazza del Populo, but it sounds like we might need to consider making other plans. I'll be celebrating my 2nd 39th birthday while I'm there - not a teen any more, but definitely young at heart.

hmmm...seems like we may have a fodors get together opportunity in Rome around New Years :)

I agree with Valeria about Trattoria Der Pallaro. I had dinner there last year on Christmas and the meal was excellent. But I'm always looking for new places to try!

For the fireworks, go to Campidoglio. Go behind the Palazzo Senatorio and find a nice spot on the wall facing Trajan's market. This will give you an excellent view, without the insanity of the crowd below. Get there no later than 11pm for a good spot.

Most restaurants will require a reservation for New Years Eve. In what area of Rome are you staying?

dave

maestrette,

I define rowdy as bottle throwing, pushing, running crowds, public vomiting, getting sprayed with beer or bubbling wine, etc. This is not your usual behavior for Italian celebration, which are normally simply festive, but New Year's Eve has gotten a special reputation for wildness at the Piazza del Popolo.

I would worry about that at Campo dei Fiore as well, which already has public drunkeness problem. I wouldn't hesitate to eat in a restaurant near there, but I would avoid the campo itself as the night wears on. Around Piazza del Popolo, it's a real convergence point for revelers, rather like Times Square, so I would avoid the area entirely.

I wouldn't be surprised to find revelers in lots of the piazzas. On the days leading up to Jan 1, if you've acquired a favorite neighborhood piazza, think about strolling by at midnight.

PS: I don't want to leave a permanent impression of awfulness about the big outdoor fireworks and music parties around Roma. Some people's boisterousness spills over into unpleasantness, arrests get made, etc, but no doubt the vast majority who enjoy big, noisy crowds, have fun.

Here's a video from New Year's last year, around the colosseum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6N2-...eature=related

That night will be terrific anywhere anyway, outside private houses or luxurious restaurants.

Sorry, I meant terrifying, awful....

Valeria, you made me smile. I had a friend visiting from France years ago and we went on the Giant Dipper (a big rollercoaster) at the boardwalk in Santa Cruz. After the ride was over she said, "That was terrific!" And I said, "You want to ride it again?"

But she meant terrifying.

Keep in mind that you can't get a cab between 12MN and about 3 AM...they won't come out because of people throwing glass out of their windows!!!

And the buses stop running at 9 PM, so don't count on those either.

Thanks for all your advice. We are staying in the Navona/Campo Fiori area of Rome. Will definitely keep the transportation issues in mind.

So keep in mind "Trattoria Der Pallaro": Largo del Pallaro, 15 Rome

You will love it! ;-)

New Years day in Rome is lots of fun too.

Everyone eats Fava beans and takes a walk - un passeggiata.

Be sure to eat the beans, as they are good luck!

Piazza Popolo on New Years day has all kinds of music and above in the Borghese Gardens there are kiosks with food, art fair etc.

Pretty much the entire city is closed New Years day so everyone will be in the streets.

Last year New Years eve we ate in Rome at a wonderful restaurant, right around the corner from Fendi, on Via all'Arancio:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=172

Nice video of holidays in Rome here:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=311

Thank you all for your suggestions and information. We probably can firm up plans closer to the trip dates.

I had this same dilemma years ago, while traveling with 4 teenagers over New Year's. Sandro, who owns Romalimo, came to my rescue and recommended going to Da Meo Patacca in Trastavere.

Although Patacca has had some poor reviews in the past...mainly, that it's too touristy...we found it to be fantastic! Sandro said to ignore poor reviews. He takes customers there all the time and they love it. I'm so glad I took his advice. We loved it also.

They had a New Year's package that was about $125/person. There was more food than any of us could eat (set menu with several courses), tons of wine, great entertainment by the "table hopping" musicians, wonderful service, hats, noisemakers, etc., and a Champagne toast at New Year's. After midnight, tables were moved around and a DJ played top 10 music and everyone danced. The restaurant has about 3 floors and DJ's were playing in all the rooms. After we left, we walked up to Campo de Fiori and things were still going strong at 3:30 a.m. We did find taxis back to our hotel from Fiori, but could find any from Trastavere. It was an easy walk to Fiori and we didn't mind stretching our legs.

I can't get the link to paste for the restaurant. It's too long to become a link, but just try typing it: http://www.ristorantedameopatacca.com/chi_siamo.asp.

It's a very atmospheric restaurant. We just took friends there this past April and they loved it also. Again, the musicians were terrific, service was extremely friendly and efficient (Our waiter actually told us we were ordering too much. He told us we could always order more, if we were still hungry after our appetizers and main course. He was right. We were stufffed.) and the food was some of the best we had in Rome on this trip.

Valarie

Hooray...the link posted.

Hi Pat,

i'm roman, here there are lots of restaurant that make a special "veglione" is the italian name for the 31th december dinner, if you want a very special night with meal and a good party i can suggest you this risto/disco 45giri thay have also a website: www.quarantacinquegiri.com, for sure they'll have a good party aftere the dinner, i've been there on 12th of december just for a party and was really good, consider that for the end of the years all the restaurant are sold out and you risk to have not the best food, i suggeste to invest your night in a good place to joy a party !!!

Thanks tourimania. Are there any organized fireworks displays planned for New Year's Eve? We will arrive in Rome on December 30. Is there a magazine or such in English that lists the events during the week?
Pat

Pat,

Go to Campidoglio around 10pm. Walk around to the back of Palazzo Senatorio, then head to the left. Grab a seat on the wall. Don't go down into the crowd area, it gets nuts.

Bring some drinks and snacks and enjoy yourself.