Best dining experience in Italy. Hands-down. No competition. The quality and quantity of the food was fantastic, and actually very affordable. The restaurant has a very intimate, cozy ambience. Our waiter was so nice and took the time to explain the dishes, checked in on us when we looked like we needed anything, and never rushed us. Everyone has already mentioned the key logistical points: the entrance is a bit hard to find, and you'll need reservations unless you are extremely lucky and arrive right when they open (that's what we did, and were lucky to be able to get a table). read more

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A fellow hotel guest discovered Machiavelli's Club and suggested we go for dinner. This restaurant is a bit off the main road, so it wasn't something we'd just seeing walking down the sidewalk. It was definitely worth finding! Their menu is limited, so between my friends and I, we probably tried most items on the menu. I had the eggplant for the first course and the millefeese for dinner. Both were delicious! read more

Wonderful adventure & food. Went twice & almost worth making a trip to Rome for that reason alone. 4 star

I can't express how delicious this meal was. Everything was perfect from start to end. We showed up with no reservation as a party of 6 (pro tip you need to make a reservation), but they were able to squeeze us in. They promptly served us and got us water, followed by wine. The server then reviewed the menu and took our order. From there we enjoyed the homey atmosphere, which feels like you are in a friend's house tucked away in a slightly cramped space but still cozy. When the food arrived, we were salivating. It all smelt so good. We ordered two of 3 different types of dishes for everyone to share- beef cheeks, a white truffle pasta dish, and another pasta dish. Every dish was spot on. The flavors were perfect and paired well with our wine. This was hands down our best meal in Rome. We then ordered desserts. We got a chocolate tort and coffee ice cream/gelato. Both of which were very yummy and well plated. I preferred the tort and highly recommend it. And to end the whole meal the restaurant offered complimentary limoncello or another liqueur of our choosing, which was a nice touch to end the evening. So if you are in Rome, definitely visit Club Machiavelli. You won't be disappointed. Keep in mind that the restaurant can be tricky to find. Its entrance is off an alley from its main addresses and has hardly any markings other than a candle lighting the way. We passed it a few times before we found it, but we were determined. read more

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My wife and I made a spontaneous decision to attempt to get an early dinner here and surprisingly we managed to get a table without a reservation. The restaurant is at the end of an inconspicuous alley/driveway a off the street, however once inside the atmosphere becomes very intimate and laid back romantic. The staff are friendly and attentive without being annoying. The staff recommended a very good red, that paired well with our chosen dishes. Our dinner began with spinach turnovers, which were excellent, the dough was flaky but not overly dry and the spinach/cheese filling was rich and savory. I then had the Rabbit with vin santo, which was cooked perfectly, was tender and very flavorful. My wife had the Tonnarelli with caramelized onions and bacon, the pasta was cooked just right. The caramelized onion and bacon were an amazing combination. For dessert we split a Capri's cake which was moist and not too sweet. After dinner we were given complimentary limoncello, that tasted typical of this type of liquor. Mauro, the owner/chef (I believe) met with us and we began talking about the dinner and he shared some passito wine with us. Overall, this was a great dinner and one of the best dining experiences I've had in Rome. A must do if in the area. read more

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This restaurant is a little out of the way, hidden on an avenue. We almost couldn't find it! We didn't make a reservation, but luckily they could seat us. (They prefer reservations because they only prepare a certain amount of food each night and the seating area is small.) Everything about this place is atmosphere! You feel like you got accepted into a little family. The area feels like you're eating in someone's dining room. The owner and chef comes out and personally explains to you the menu, the ingredients, and the way he prepares everything! After he talked to us, I wanted to eat absolutely everything on the menu. My fiancee is Celiac and has to be careful about what she eats (imagine how hard Italy was for her!) and he was willing to accommodate her. For starters, we shared a gluten-free pasta with bacon and cheese. It was one of the most delicious pastas of our trip. For the main entrees, I had beef cheek and my fiancee had an 1800s Verona-style chicken. Both were cooked for more than 24 hours for maximum delicious-ness. The beef cheek was absolutely tender and amazing. Unfortunately, we couldn't have the dessert. The owner mentioned that if you have a dietary restriction and let him know ahead of time that he would definitely accommodate. We recommend this restaurant to any traveller and foodie to Rome! It was an experience that we will never forget. read more

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I wanted to like this place, I really did. It wasn't very clear that they preferred reservations, so we showed up without. The woman who reluctantly seated us (when there was plenty of room from when we arrived until when we left) was curt to us, but kind to other tourists (British, not Americans like ourselves) who arrived without a reservation. We tried to speak Italian but our waitress didn't seem to care. The atmosphere is great, and the food is okay. I will not be back on a return trip, even if we are staying next door. read more

Keep your eye out when it comes to finding this place as we had to go into a small alley that was lit with soft lights in order to enter the restaurant. I mean, blink and you'll miss it! However, I didn't and I'm super happy about that. The restaurant is very tiny. Their menu changes weekly! The dish I had, while the name slips my mind, was amazingly delicious. Al dente pasta in a beautiful light sauce. While I'm not a big wine drinker it really complemented the pasta dish I had. Dessert was amazing too. read more

Club Machiavelli - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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We booked a private apartment about 2 blocks from Club Machiavelli thru AirBnB. Our host strongly recommended this small restaurant. She knows the chef, so I was a little apprehensive that she might be inflating our expectations based upon that friendship. She was not. This is a small well appointed restaurant, with a great wait staff. The chef came to our table to explain the menu. He actually sat down with us for 10 minutes or so (it was rather early, so they were not yet too busy. He serves local food, primarily from organic farms, and tries to make everything authentic to certain regions of Italy. His signature pasta dish (wish I could remember the name) was flavored with carmelized onion. Best pasta we had in 2 weeks in Rome / Tuscany. Spinach flan appetizer was excellent. Cannot recommend more highly. Reservations required. Oh, and he does not accept credit cards. We did not have cash on us, but because he knew our host, he simply gave us our check, and told us to leave the money with our host to bring to him the next day. read more

Finally found a great meal in Italy. On our last day we found Club Machiavelli, Quaint quiet out of the way. It is a small 30 seat restaurant. We didn't have reservations, but were seated promptly. Limited menu, but awesome choices. Food was amazing. Service excellent. Be sure to check it out! read more

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Amazing dining experience, I am so happy we went to this great little spot in Rome. Everything about this restaurant is incredible, the service is friendly, the food beautiful and fantastic and the atmosphere perfect (oh and the prices are very affordable). The owner clearly takes great pride in his food and ingredients and gladly explains the daily menu to you. We went with his recommendation on a bottle of wine and were pleasently surprised when we got the bill and saw that it was less expensive than not only our original pick but from all others on the menu as well. The menu changes daily so I recommend listening to how each item is prepared and picking accordingly. We definitely will be returning to this restaurant and highly recommend you check it out as well. PS: the restaurant is a bit hard to find but if you go down an unmarked random alley and are following your GPS directions you'll find it just fine. read more

Very cute outside but inside was stuffy and didn't turn on the AC until 8:30 so it was hot and stuffy. The place opens at 7:30 pm and was recommended by a local with fresh made pasta and traditional Italian cooking. We were very excited to try it and was a short walk, 15 min or so, from our apartment near the Colosseum. We went there with our kids and I have to say this place is not kid friendly so if you have kids, spear your time and money and go somewhere else. Their menu consisted of 3 choices of appetizers, 3 salads, 3 light dishes and 3 main dishes. If you do not speak or read Italian make sure you ask exactly what your choice is as we found discrepancies between the 2 menus. Unfortunately, our server was not very attentive, she was on her phone most of the time, and didn't explain anything so what we thought we ordered of Fettuccine with avocado, Cherri tomatoes and tuna roe came as Fettuccine with fennel flowers and anchovies but they did remove it from our bill. I ordered eggplant parmigiana and was outstanding, but if you are expecting fried eggplant, this is not what was served. It was grilled eggplant with fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. Nevertheless this was my favorite dish at this place. It could have been another discrepancy in the menus but because I loved it I didn't complain. We also ordered salad with green tomatoes which was also delicious but it came with ripe tomatoes not green. The kids ordered tonnarelli (type of spaghetti) with swordfish and caramelized onions. Even though they didn't like it, my hubby step up to the plate and finished theirs. This was way better than the Fettuccine. Also, this place only serves wine. Even though it stated beer on the menu, they didn't have any and for non alcoholic beverages they had only coke or Fanta. You could tell they used high quality ingredients, however I am giving them 3 stars because of discrepancies in their menu (which was not a pleasant surprise), our server experience was poor, and it was not kid friendly. Dinner for 4 would run you about €100 read more

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It may sound exaggerated, but if in Rome, Club Machiavelli is in my opinion the best place to dine, especially if you need gluten free food. The restaurant is notoriously hard to find, located in a poorly lit side street, and with a modest sign that is easy to overlook. Be sure to bring Google Maps on our phone. We arrived late without a reservation and found the place full. However, the owner - name of Mauro - was very understanding, and put us in two comfortable chairs and gave each of us a glass of wine while we waited. As Mauro will explain, the menu does not offer many options. However, each course is delicious. If you need gluten free, relax - it is not a problem in this place. read more

A must when in Rome! As a tourist finding a great meal was difficult. Went to Machiavelli's in 2013 and still remember it vividly to this day. The daily rotating menu consisted of fresh, homemade, and absolutely delicious food. It was here where I tried my first gnocchi and none have compared since. The owner was welcoming, walked us through the menu, and gave us suggestions on what to see around the city. If we could have eaten there everyday of our trip we would have. read more

After 2 weeks traveling all over Italy and using Google/Yelp to find the best rated places to eat(I ate out every meal), this place was my favorite. Exquisite multi course meal, where every course was absolutely fantastic. Dessert and wine too! Loved the staff as well! Perfecto! read more

I wish I could give it 10 stars! The staff is amazing, great for gluten free and the food was top notch! Try the cheesecake, it's a must! House wine is good too. Definitely a hidden gem worth finding! read more

Great Restuarant, the chef is a culinary genius. Tasty seasonal dishes, and an almost family like ambience. Like sitting in a family room. This is not a touristy place, that makes it even more enjoyable. read more

We weroe lucky to Get a table even though we did not book. The staff was very kind and helpfull when we told them about our food allergies. The food tasted great, and the wine also! Be sure to book a table a couple days a head! read more

Absolutely worth the find! This restaurant I'd near the end of an alley off of via Machiavelli and is worth looking for! We had the rolled eggplant appetizer, which was served with a sweet and sour tomato sauce (very light) filled with a cream filling. Oh My God! It was amazing. For our main courses we had the spaghetti served with rabbit and the lasagna with goat cheese and spinach. So gooooood! The waitress suggested a delicious, crisp white wine to pair with both meals and she was spot on. The dessert was a dark chocolate mousse, but its consistency was between mousse and flan. It was creamy, not overwhelmingly rich and so delicious. What a great meal, with great service! The kitchen orders set amounts of ingredients and offers the menu based upon reservations and expected walk-ins. We suggest making reservations ahead of time, or show up well before the later dinner time when in Rome. We arrived at about 6:30, so there was no crowd. read more

My girlfriend and I came here on a whim. We had trouble finding it but when we did, it was SO worth it. The service was fantastic and the food was incredible - we ate beef cheek that was marinated in wine for 20 hours. The balsamic, limoncello, pomodoro, and wine were also as authentic as it gets. read more

One of my favorite finds on our trip. There was a sign at the address that said "private, no trespassing", but luckily... rules are meant to be broken and we found it past that sign in the alley. Love those sort of speakeasy vibes. It was such a sweet and cozy atmosphere, it felt like we were eating at a friend's house... a friend that is an amazing chef. The service was fantastic and the food was oh-so memorable! The menu changes, which means I will be back next time I'm in Rome. I went with what they recommended the swordfish pasta, which I wouldn't normally pick out on my own... but man! It was amazing! (Mouthwatering) We ended with limoncello...yum! (Sigh, I miss it). read more

My wife and I had heard this was a good restaurant so decide to try. But it was clear from the start the woman who seated us wasn't fond of foreigners though we tried to speak Italian and be respectful. When we asked questions about the menu items and the portion size we got curt answers and didn't feel welcome. We waited for a very long time after dinner for a dessert menu--other Italian customers going ahead of us. So we decided to ask for check and that took another 15 minutes (didn't even get a gratis limoncellos! Lol) We've since seen similar experiences from other foreigners especially Americans. Food was good but after 4 days in Rome we already have experienced same quality food in other places. Just can't seem to understand the attitude--so unnecessary. read more

The BEST service, food, and wine in all Rome!! My husband and I loved our experience here. We had a four course meal, each course better than the last! For someone who speaks little Italian, the servers went out of their way to translate and make us feel welcome. It's a tiny spot, so be sure to make a reservation! read more

Club Machiavelli is amazing. My Girlfriend and I were in Roma and looking for a good restaurant where we could relax and enjoy our food. The restaurant is cozy and is a really comfortable and laid back atmosphere. I enjoyed the look and feel of it all. Club Machiavelli was a couple blocks from where we were staying so we decided to try it. We walked up the street and found it down a little alley. We did not have reservations but the staff was able to slot us in. I am so happy they did. The food was amazing and the service was phenomenal. We went with the recommendations of our server and split an appetizers and a bottle of wine, each had a pasta dish, a main, dessert and lemoncello. The pasta was linguini with swordfish and the main was parmigiano. It was perfect and the best meal of our trip. I would highly recommend dining here and suggest making a reservation to make sure you get in. We went at 7:30pm and they were able to squeeze us in but by 9pm it was packed. read more

Excellent!!! You can't go wrong coming to this place, the service is terrific, the food is fresh with a lot of flavors, very rich and inviting. The menu change every week but if you can try the mussels and any pasta, literally any pasta. let the staff recommend you the specials and just enjoy. read more

It was so good and the staff was super friendly! Possibly the best food we had in Rome! The menu is small but it's because they change it every week and keep the ingredients fresh. 1st courses (pasta dish) are around 11E, main courses (meat dish) are around 15E and vegetable sides were 6E. I definitely recommend calling to make a reservation since that's how most of their business is done so they do fill up. We called and got in 30 minutes later, which was at opening time for dinner. read more

Polenta was amazing. Pasta was outstanding and the beef cheek was ridiculous. Desert also outstanding. Go just go I spent 54 euro and got bottle of water and a glass of wine. Well worth it read more

A great find in Rome. Solid Italian food with a flair and a freshness not found in most restaurants in Rome over run with tourists. Small so plan ahead and make a reservation. You won't be sorry. read more

Read about this place on Yelp and we were hoping we could be a walk-in even though the reviews said it was small and a walk-in was chancy. Although busy, we were able to get a table for two right away. The space is adorable, located down an alleyway of sorts with just the address number out front. Walkway covered by what looks like grapevines that I'm sure are more prominent in warmer seasons. Enter into a cute, quaint spot with vaulted brick ceilings being greeted by the owner, Mauro, who introduces himself and shakes your hand. Sat down a cute corner table for two. Lighting is fairly dim which is great as we have been traveling Italy for a month and dim mood lighting is often hard to find. The wait staff was super casual but super knowledgeable about the menu and wine. Menu is limited due to the fact that everything is local and seasonal but be honest, a limited but great menu is better to me than a giant one that sub-par. ALL the food was amazing but everything the waitress suggested was delicious. And the wine we selected was also phenomenal. We know about wine but once she described the bottles we had in question, we were onboard with several but the one we chose was fantastic and 16€ a bottle (I heart Italy!!) Overall this was an amazing experience from ambiance to food to wine to location. Travel outside the tourist areas in Rome people. I mean there are some incredible meals to be had in the right places in those areas too but we are dedicated on this Roman Holiday to go beyond the usual and so far, have not been disappointed. read more