The Gigi Rigolatto Roma restaurant and cocktail bar has opened on the seventh floor of the Hotel Orient Express La Minerva, where the atmosphere of the Eternal City blends with the elegance of Rome’s most beautiful terraces overlooking the Pantheon.
Gigi Rigolatto Roma was born inside the first 5-star luxury hotel signed by Orient Express, located on the terrace of Palazzo Fonseca, built in 1620 for a noble family of Portuguese origin and transformed into a luxury inn in 1832, a must-see for young aristocrats on the Grand Tour and many artists and writers, including Stendhal, Herman Melville, and George Sand.
Gigi’s isn’t a place for those in a hurry. It’s a refuge for those who appreciate the slow pace of a lunch that stretches until sunset.
The story of a legend: who is Gigi?
The Gigi Rigolatto brand was founded in 2019 in St. Tropez, and is now carried forward by the vision of Paris Society and RIKAS Hospitality Group, creators of successful projects such as Mimi Kakushi and La Cantine du Faubourg.
The name is inspired by an imaginary “host,” Gigi, a cosmopolitan aesthete who loves Italy, good wine, and the never-ending tables of Dolce Vita style. Architect and interior designer Hugo Toro has orchestrated a space that pays homage to the 1920s and 1930s with polychrome marble, brass details, and Pierre Frey fabrics.
The Cuisine: Signature Italian Tradition
At the helm of the kitchen, Gigi Rigolatto Roma’s team interprets Italian tradition, striving for perfection from the finest ingredients.
Among the iconic dishes to try:
– Fresh pasta: rigorously hand-made every day; don’t miss the spaghetti with clams or the fusillone with three tomatoes.
– Raw fish: selected from the best local markets, served with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil that enhances the purity of the Mediterranean.
– Gigi’s Tiramisu: generously served at the table, a symbol of delicious Italian style.
Mixology: The Bellini Bar
Breaks at Gigi Rigolatto Roma always begin (or end) at the Bellini Bar. Here, the iconic Venetian drink made with champagne and white peach pulp is elevated to a Signature Cocktail.
At the bar, bartenders mix artisanal Italian spirits and vintage wines to accompany the magical transition from the golden afternoon light to the velvety blue of the Roman night on one of Rome’s most scenic terraces.
The Secret
It’s fascinating to note how the opening of Gigi Rigolatto Roma represents a return to its origins. The hotel’s cosmopolitan destiny was already written in 1832: born from the intuition of Frenchman Joseph Sauve within the walls of a noble Roman palazzo, the Minerva has always had in its DNA that embrace of Parisian elegance and the Dolce Vita, which today, almost two centuries later, finds its ultimate expression in Gigi’s debut on its rooftop.
Useful Info
Gigi Rigolatto Roma
Orient Express La Minerva
Piazza della Minerva 69
00186 Roma
Tel. +39 06 844293
contact@gigi-roma.com
Appetizers: from €21
First courses: from €28
Second courses: from €34
Signature cocktails: from €23
