In February the Giardino degli Aranci, the Orange Garden on the Aventino, closes at 6pm and the sun sets at around 5:35pm. You can catch the sunset, but with little margin: aim to be in the park by 5pm. From October to February it is open from 7am to 6pm every day (source: Turismo Roma). From March the hours get longer, up to 9pm between April and August.
That matters in winter: turn up at 7pm in February and the gates are already shut.
When to go
Its official name, the one you will see on maps, is Parco Savello. It sits on the Aventino hill, in Piazza Pietro d’Illiria. For the sunset you want the moment when the sun is already low, which in February means from 5pm onwards.
A couple of practical tips for winter:
- Bring something warm: standing still outdoors at dusk in February, you feel the cold.
- If you also want to look through the keyhole of the Priory of the Knights of Malta, also on the Aventino, do it before sunset, because the garden closes at 6pm.
On 10 February the sun sets at around 5:35pm, and on the 14th a little later, at around 5:40pm. These times are calculated for Rome rather than official figures, so check a weather app on the day.
From the garden to the table
ROSSO Restaurant and Grill is at Viale Aventino 32, opposite the FAO, just below the garden. From the park it is a few minutes’ walk downhill, as our FAQ also says.
The kitchen takes orders until midnight and we stay open longer: until 1am Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, until 2am on Friday and Saturday. You do not have to fit Roman dinner hours: after the sunset you can eat early and then stay on for a drink.
What to eat after the garden
After an hour outdoors in February, most people want something hot. The pasta is rolled in-house every morning: tonnarelli for the cacio e pepe, mezze maniche for the amatriciana. The Rosso Carbonara is made with spaghetti and an egg marinated in Vermouth di Torino.
Then there is the grill, the centre of our kitchen. The butcher’s counter is open, in the middle of the dining room, and you choose the Prussian and Danish cuts there. For dinner for two the fiorentina, the Florentine T-bone, makes the most sense: it starts at about 800 grams and is meant for two. If you would rather have a single portion, there is La Leggera, sliced Prussian beef with rocket, cherry tomatoes and Grana Padano DOP. Grilled vegetables on the side.
If you do not want meat, there is pizza, on three doughs left to rise for at least 72 hours, and the pizza menu has meat-free options. Ingredients and allergens for every dish are on the dinner menu. After dinner, the drinks list has classics such as the Negroni and the Bellini, and a few alcohol-free cocktails.
Between the park and dinner: aperitivo from 6pm
The garden closes at 6pm and our aperitivo starts at 6pm and runs until 7:30pm, at the bar or on the terrace. Leave the garden at closing time and you arrive just as it begins.
The aperitivo menu is food for standing up or sharing: supplì, small panzerotti, a mini wok, tacos, and the Lingue di Pizza, long thin pizzas in eight versions, from Margherita to Marinara. The tacos come with pulled pork or, for those who do not eat meat, with stir-fried vegetable strips, and can be made vegan on request. At 7:30pm the aperitivo ends and, as the menu says, tables are cleared at the end of service: if you want to stay for dinner, book a table for dinner time.
Wine for two
The wine list has 68 labels, 12 of them by the glass. For two people the glass is handy: each of you drinks what you like, with no need to agree on a bottle. If you go for the fiorentina, a red such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or Chianti Classico is also available by the glass. Glasses are 15 cl, and the full list, with prices, is on the wine list.
If it is Valentine’s evening
In 2026 Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, 14 February. Book from the booking page and write in the notes what time you expect to arrive from the garden. The menu for the evening and how to book are in our Valentine’s guide. The same sequence, sunset and then dinner, works on any evening in February.
Good to know before you come
- The cover charge (coperto) is 2 euro per person.
- For a particular cut of meat, write it in the booking notes or ask at the counter when you arrive.
- For allergies and intolerances there is no need to call ahead: allergens are listed dish by dish on every menu, and you can ask the staff if in doubt.
- If you are more than ten, write to us from the events page rather than using the booking form.
FAQ
What time does the Orange Garden close in February?
At 6pm. From October to February the park is open from 7am to 6pm; hours can change, so check Turismo Roma before you go.
Can you walk from the Orange Garden to ROSSO?
Yes: it is a few minutes’ walk downhill from the park.
How late can you have dinner at ROSSO?
The kitchen closes at midnight. We stay open until 1am, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
How do I book for dinner after the sunset?
From the booking page, with confirmation by email, or by phone or WhatsApp on +39 342 189 9629, in English too. In the notes you can add your arrival time, any allergies and a particular cut of meat.
Does the menu show allergens?
Yes, dish by dish, with the key at the bottom of every page. For a specific question, ask the staff.
Book a table online or call +39 342 189 9629, also on WhatsApp.
More practical questions, on hours, parking, dogs and accessibility, are in our FAQ.
