History
Imàgo, the Hassler Roma's panoramic restaurant satisfies the needs of an increasingly discerning and exclusive clientele by presenting creatively-thought traditional and refined flavors against the backdrop of Eternal City, viewed as never before from its incredible position. It is a place where sight and taste are welded to seal a unique dining experience.
Walking into Imàgo, the Hassler Roma's 6th floor panoramic restaurant, one is overtaken by the view which projects the same impact of a beautiful painting. Except that the painting is life size, and fills every one of the wraparound windows. Soft music, elegant marble floors with an antique-wooden inlay, dimmed lights reflecting off the mirrors all conspire to create an impossibly romantic mood, as well as the sense of being in another time and space, overlooking the Roman skyline. Sitting down one is instantly attended to by the Maitre, who is happy to point out the names of the various monuments and cupolas on the horizon as he pours your glass of sparkling white wine.
What can we see, from the top of the Spanish Steps, starting left to right: the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, the Quirinale, Villa Colonna and the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, the Campidoglio (Capitol Hill) and monument to Victor Emmanuel II, Palazzo Venezia, the Aventino hill, the Pantheon, the church of Sant Agnese in Piazza Navona, Castel Sant'Angelo, the obelisk and Trinita dei Monti Church which one can almost reach out and touch, Villa Medici and the Borghese gardens.
Imàgo is a full experience. The background music and the stunning view is complemented by the texture, aroma and, most of all, taste of Executive Chef Andrea Antonini's creative Italian cuisine. Dishes are each carefully prepared and presented, and his menus vary according to the season to always offer his clients different yet refined tastes. The variety of what he presents is thought for each type of palate an explosion of flavors that include the most refined combinations as well as traditional Italian cuisine, characterized by the ingredients and fragrances embedded within Italys rich history and culture.
Fifty years since the very first panoramic restaurant in Rome - the Roof Restaurant, as it was known then - opened its doors, Roberto E. Wirth inaugurated it for the second time on December 5th, 2006, after a complete restyling, personally directed by Roberto Wirth and with the collaboration of Interior Designer Astrid Schiller. It's new name, Imàgo, derives from the Latin image, vision and thought. The restaurant not only hosts the prestigious hotels regular clients, but is the new restaurant in Rome for all those who wish for a unique gastronomic experience along with the breathtaking view of the Eternal City.
Fifty years ago, in the Autumn of 1956, Oscar Wirth, then-Owner and General Manager of the Hassler Roma, had the Hasslers 6th floor panoramic terrace covered to transform it into what would become known throughout the world as Rome's celebrated first panoramic restaurant, the Roof. It was the first restaurant built on the last floor of a hotel, a decision criticized by Romans at the time, used to restaurants located only on ground floors. Nonetheless, it soon gained enormous prestige around the world and was frequented by a dizzying amount of important international and national celebrities.
Until 1956 the Roof was used an open-terrace Tea Room, until it was transformed into a restaurant as unique as it was beautiful, calling the greatest personalities from the 20th century to admire its view, including politicians, royalty, musicians, authors, actors and directors. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Federico Fellini, Igor Stravinskji and Giulio Andreotti are only a few of the great names that were regular guests to delight in the gastronomic delicacies of the restaurant with the incomparable view of Rome
Looking back on the years since Imàgo's inauguration, the Hassler is proud of the changes that were set in motion. Besides having been many important Italian and international publications, it has appeared as one of the Top 95 Restaurants in Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List and received the prestigious 2 forks recognition by the Gambero Rosso guide. It was awarded its Michelin star in 2009!