"A globe-spanning luxury izakaya on a Fendi rooftop — the black cod is excellent and identical worldwide. Come at €28 lunch to impress a client cheaply."
About Zuma Rome
Here is the case against Zuma Rome before the case for it: this is a luxury chain. Rainer Becker opened the first Zuma in London in 2002, and there are now outposts from Dubai to Hong Kong, all serving the same modern-izakaya playbook. The Rome version arrived atop Palazzo Fendi on Via della Fontanella di Borghese in 2017, and choosing to eat Japanese in the city of cacio e pepe is, on paper, a strange decision.
The case for it is narrower and real. The cooking is genuinely good — Becker's kitchen runs to a global standard and the black cod is the same excellent dish here as in Mayfair — and the rooftop over Piazza di Spagna is one of the better views in the centre. Just know what you are buying: a polished international product and a Fendi-rooftop scene, not a taste of Rome. For the city's own cooking, our Rome dining guide points elsewhere; for the best Japanese worldwide, Zuma earns its place on the list.
The Kitchen
Order the miso-marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf — it is the signature for a reason, sweet and silken and worth the menu price on its own. The spicy yellowtail with sansho pepper is the other plate to chase. The kitchen splits across three stations, the main range, a sushi counter and the robata charcoal grill, and everything is built to share, which is also how the bill compounds.
The value move is the ebisu set lunch, about €28 on a weekday for a proper run through the same kitchen — the single most honest thing on the price list. Dinner is the opposite: shared plates climb fast, the bar pours forty kinds of sake, and a table of four can spend like a Michelin night without a tasting menu to show for it. The cooking does not change between the two. Only the theatre does.
The Room
The setting is the product, and it delivers: the restaurant sits on the fourth floor with the sushi and robata counters as its focus, and the fifth-floor lounge opens onto a terrace with views across Piazza di Spagna toward St Peter's. The bar is a scene of its own — raspberry-and-passionfruit martinis, the sake wall — and the volume climbs as the night goes on. Dress up; this is a room built to be seen in, not to lean across in a whisper.
Best for impressing a client or a buzzy night out
Book the terrace to impress a client or close a deal over shared robata and sake; the energy and the view also make it a confident, high-impact first date.
Not for
A quiet, intimate or budget dinner. Zuma is a loud, high-end scene built for sharing plates, and an evening here adds up fast.
Frequently Asked
Where is Zuma in Rome?
Zuma Rome occupies the upper floors of Palazzo Fendi on Via della Fontanella di Borghese, steps from Via del Corso in the historic centre, with a rooftop terrace over the city.
Who is behind Zuma?
Zuma is the global contemporary-izakaya concept created by chef Rainer Becker. The Rome outpost opened inside Palazzo Fendi in 2017.
What is Zuma Rome's signature dish?
The signature is miso-marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf, alongside prawn and black-cod gyoza and robata-grilled dishes from the charcoal grill.
How much does Zuma Rome cost?
The ebisu set lunch is the loophole, about €28 for a full Zuma kitchen run on a weekday. Dinner is a different animal — shared plates from the kitchen, sushi counter and robata grill climb fast, and the wall of forty sakes does not help. For the cooking without the full bill, come at lunch; for the rooftop scene, accept the dinner spend.
Is Zuma Rome good for a special occasion?
Yes, for the loud, high-impact kind. The rooftop terrace over Piazza di Spagna, the scene at the bar and the sharing menu make it a confident client dinner or buzzy night out. It is not the room for a quiet, intimate evening — the volume rises with the night, and conversation competes with it.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Zuma Rome
Book well ahead for dinner and the rooftop; the bar and terrace are in heavy demand.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressVia della Fontanella di Borghese 48, 00186 Rome
NeighbourhoodPalazzo Fendi / city centre
CuisineContemporary Japanese izakaya
Price$$$$ · ebisu lunch ~€28; dinner a special-occasion spend
FounderRainer Becker (Zuma, London 2002); Rome opened 2017
SignatureMiso-marinated black cod in hoba leaf
