Right in the heart of Rome, there is a garden with over 400 plants where you can enjoy dishes that are halfway between Rome and Naples. It is Anima, the restaurant at The Rome Edition.
Rome can be intense, with crowds and beauty that can almost overwhelm you. But that's precisely why, every now and then, finding a place where time slows down, where you can sit, breathe, and enjoy a well-prepared dish, feels like a rare luxury. That's the feeling you get when you walk through the doors of Anima, the restaurant at The Rome EDITION, just a stone's throw from Piazza Barberini.
THE RESTAURANT
We are located in the heart of the city, on Salita di San Nicola da Tolentino, among majestic historic buildings and streets beloved by travelers. Yet, just step through the hotel entrance and you will find yourself in a world apart, the Garden: a place of quiet elegance, where contemporary design blends with an intimate, almost suspended atmosphere. And it is in this quiet corner, in the hotel's charming inner courtyard, that Anima welcomes those seeking a moment to themselves, surrounded by the aromas of Mediterranean cuisine and the lush greenery of its inner garden, with over four hundred plants enveloping the wrought-iron tables.
The cuisine is the work of Executive Chef Antonio Gentile, who has roots in Naples (Ercolano) but has found a new home in Rome, where he has also gained prestigious experience working alongside Heinz Beck and at the Hassler. His menu is a bridge between two cities, two culinary memories, two different and complementary ways of loving food.
THE DISHES
Every recipe tastes like home, but what really stands out is a certain elegance that is never pretentious. Start with an excellent butter puff pastry and a basket of large, homemade bread rolls. The eggplant parmigiana, usually an impetuous dish, retains its warm welcome here but with a palette of clear and delicate flavors. The spaghettone “Benedetto Cavalieri” with tomato and basil seems to tell this story: the essentiality of Italian taste, the power of simple things done well.
Al dente, fresh and tangy, with a wonderful texture: this is perhaps the first real taste of summer. Dishes that arrive at the table laden with history and affection, but revisited with a light and refined touch. This is the case with the tortello stuffed with chicken and peppers or the veal sweetbread with Roman artichokes and mint. The desserts are the work of talented pastry chef Giulia Zarattini, who shared the role of chef de partie at La Pergola with Gentile before moving on to Joël Robuchon and perfecting her skills in leavened products alongside Gabriele Bonci.
Every day, in addition to the à la carte menu, there is also a surprise: one or more dishes that follow the seasons, the chef's inspiration or, quite simply, what is available at the market. In short, an invitation to let yourself be amazed. "It is classic cuisine that recalls dishes we already know, where the flavors of the Neapolitan and Roman traditions come to the fore. Sweetbreads, Parmigiano, and classic spaghetti with tomato sauce are five-star dishes here, presented elegantly to a lively clientele," explains chef Gentile. What brings Neapolitan cuisine to Rome is perhaps its timeless classicism, which is capable of reinventing itself and adapting to all tables, just like at Anima.
Customers are also catered for at lunchtime with more indulgent dishes such as traditional Roman first courses, as well as a selection of lighter options, from club sandwiches and delicious focaccia to seasonal salads. The Roof, also run by Gentile, offers similar fare, with dishes for lunch by the pool (reserved for hotel guests only), small bites for an aperitif, and then, for dinner, a feast of fresh fish and fine cuts of grilled meat. The terrace offers a breathtaking view of the Pantheon and the ancient rooftops. Just a few steps away is the Punch Room, a cocktail bar inspired by vintage speakeasies, where drinks explore the history of the Roman Empire.
THE HOTEL
The result of the creative vision of Ian Schrager, an icon of contemporary hospitality and visionary entrepreneur, and built by the Statuto Group, which owns it, The Rome EDITION is undoubtedly a landmark in the capital's high-end hotel industry. With its 93 rooms, perfectly balanced between style, meticulous attention to detail, and a design that envelops the impressive interior spaces, it is capable of transforming itself into a true hub where travelers from all over the world converge, but not only. This is its strength: keeping its doors open to Romans in the heart of Rome.
CONTACTS
Anima- The Rome Edition Hotel
Salita di San Nicola da Tolentino, 14 – 00187, Rome
