Palazzo Manfredi

Palazzo Manfredi is a small Relais & Chateaux hotel of around 21 keys directly facing the Colosseum, built over the ancient Ludus Magnus gladiator training ground. Its rooftop restaurant, Aroma, holds one Michelin star and serves chef Giuseppe Di Iorio's cooking with a face-to-face Colosseum view.

"A Relais & Chateaux townhouse of around 21 rooms facing the Colosseum, crowned by the Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant Aroma."

Aggregate 9.3/10 on our editorial scale (Room & Design, Service, Location). Independently scored; see our methodology. This is our opinion, not an aggregate of user reviews.

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from bookings at no cost to you. We never accept payment for placement. Facts verified against official sources and the 2026 Michelin Guide in July 2026.

What makes Palazzo Manfredi special?

Palazzo Manfredi's defining feature is its face-to-face relationship with the Colosseum. The 17th-century residence stands directly opposite the monument, built over the ancient Ludus Magnus, the gladiator training ground, so both the hotel and its rooftop look straight onto one of the world's most recognizable ancient sites. That view is the whole point of the property. The hotel is small, with around 21 keys made up of 12 rooms, 2 suites and 7 grand-view suites, and it belongs to both Relais & Chateaux and Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which places it firmly in the intimate, service-led category. The crown is Aroma, the rooftop restaurant led by chef Giuseppe Di Iorio, which has held one Michelin star since 2015. With around 28 seats and direct Colosseum views, Aroma delivers a dining experience that few hotels anywhere can match, backed by a separate rooftop bar and terrace. What Palazzo Manfredi does not offer is resort infrastructure. There is no full spa and no pool, the rooms are modest in size, and the hotel is defined by its view, its restaurant and its history rather than by facilities.

Which room should you book?

Book a grand-view suite if a Colosseum view is your priority, and set your budget accordingly. The hotel has around 21 keys spanning 12 rooms, 2 suites and 7 grand-view suites, and the categories vary enormously in size, from a roughly 25 square meter Master up to the roughly 150 square meter two-floor Grand View Penthouse. The entry-level Master rooms are honestly modest at around 25 square meters, and some guests report wear for the price, so manage expectations if you book the smallest category. The grand-view suites are where the hotel delivers its signature experience, pairing more space with the Colosseum outlook that defines the property. If the view matters most, confirm with the hotel exactly which rooms face the Colosseum before booking, since not every category does. One trade-off applies across the front of the house: Via Labicana is a busy road, so rooms facing it contend with traffic noise despite double glazing. Weigh the view against the quiet, and ask about both outlook and noise when you choose your room.

Where should you eat and drink?

Aroma is the centerpiece of dining at Palazzo Manfredi and one of the best hotel restaurants in Rome. The rooftop restaurant has held one Michelin star since 2015 under chef Giuseppe Di Iorio, and its roughly 28 seats look directly onto the Colosseum, a pairing of Michelin cooking and ancient-monument view that very few places in the world can offer. Reservations are essential, and demand comes from non-guests as well as those staying in the hotel, so book well ahead, particularly for a table at sunset. Alongside the restaurant, a separate rooftop bar and terrace offers the same Colosseum outlook in a more relaxed setting, ideal for a drink before or after dinner. Because the restaurant is small and the setting is the draw, this is a special-occasion experience rather than a casual one, and prices sit at the fine-dining end. For a hotel of only around 21 keys, having a one-star destination restaurant on the roof is a genuine distinction, and it is the single strongest reason many guests choose Palazzo Manfredi.

Where is Palazzo Manfredi, and how do you get there?

Palazzo Manfredi sits at Via Labicana 125 in the 00184 district, directly facing the Colosseum, which is about a three-minute walk from the door. Few hotels in Rome are closer to a major ancient site. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are within roughly ten minutes on foot, so the core of ancient Rome is effectively on your doorstep. This is a superb base for sightseeing, but the immediate setting comes with a caveat. Via Labicana is a busy road carrying traffic, buses and the occasional siren, so the area is lively and loud rather than tranquil. For transfers, the Colosseo Metro station on Line B is a short walk away, connecting to Termini and the wider network. A private car or taxi from Fiumicino or Ciampino is the simplest airport option. The payoff for staying on a busy road is unbeatable proximity: you can walk out of the hotel and be at the Colosseum within a few minutes.

What do guests consistently say?

Guests consistently rave about the Colosseum view and the Aroma restaurant. The face-to-face outlook onto the Colosseum, from the grand-view suites and especially from the rooftop, is the single most praised feature, and many describe it as the highlight of their trip to Rome. Aroma draws repeated compliments for its cooking and its setting, living up to its Michelin star. The small scale and personal service of a Relais & Chateaux property are also noted positively. The recurring criticisms are consistent and worth taking seriously. Noise from Via Labicana, including traffic, buses and sirens, comes up regularly, and guests report it intrudes despite the double glazing. The rooms are also described as modest in size, with some reporting wear for the price they paid. In short, travelers who prioritize the view, the restaurant and the location tend to be delighted, while those sensitive to street noise or expecting spacious, resort-style rooms are the ones most likely to leave disappointed.

Honest cons: who should skip it?

Skip Palazzo Manfredi if you are a light sleeper sensitive to street noise. Via Labicana is a busy road with traffic, buses and sirens, and soundproofing complaints recur despite the double glazing, so a front-facing room can be loud. The hotel is also short on facilities: there is no full spa and no pool, which is a gap for anyone wanting a wellness-focused stay. Rooms are modest in size, with the typical Master around 25 square meters, and some guests report wear for the price, so travelers expecting large, pristine, resort-style rooms may be let down. Families needing a pool and space, and anyone who wants a quiet, tranquil setting, should look elsewhere. The strongest reasons to stay, the Colosseum view and Aroma, come at a premium. Palazzo Manfredi is best for couples and food-lovers who want an iconic Colosseum view and a Michelin-starred rooftop dinner in a small, personal hotel, and who can accept the noise and modest room sizes that come with it.