A perfect day inâ€¦ Rome

with Heinz Beck - Chef at the Rome Cavalieri Hilton

8AM This is the time of day to enjoy the beauty of the light and the colours of this fantastic city. I’d head out for a cappuccino and cornetto (pastry) at Ciampini, a café where you can sit at an outdoor table under a sun umbrella.

10AM Then off for a walk around Piazza Campo dei Fiori, to enjoy the aromas of fresh fruit and vegetables at the open market. I’d buy cherries from Maria, my favourite fruit and vegetable lady, and eat them while walking to Piazza Venezia. Next, a brief stop at the Vittoriano museum, maybe to see an exhibition, then a stroll through the ancient Forum.

1.30PM At this point I’d pass by the restaurant Il Pagliaccio, on Via del Governo Vecchio, and drop in for lunch. They do Mediterranean and world cuisine – dishes like cuttlefish cannelloni and duck in Asian broth with shitake mushrooms. But for my espresso I’d move on to Bar Sant’Eustachio, as they serve the best coffee in Rome. They even hide the coffee machines from view to protect their techniques and recipes.

3PM Time for an after-lunch stroll in the grounds of the Villa Borghese, the largest public park in Rome, and through the Galleria Borghese with its Caravaggios and Rubens. After all that walking, I’d go home to freshen up before meeting friends for dinner.

7PM Dinner at La Trattoria, on Via del Pozzo delle Cornacchie, with a bunch of friends. Here I can also catch up with my friend Filippo La Mantia, as he’s the chef. We’d all relax and settle in for a good chat over his wonderful Sicilian food.

9PM After dinner, I’d head to the Pantheon and the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), which are illuminated at night.

10PM Lastly, a few beers and cocktails at Bar della Pace, which is open until 2am. At one of the outdoor tables, under the ivy, you can people watch. Celebrities are usually easy to spot in Rome, because the paparazzi are always chasing them.

Meet Heinz Beck at…
La Pergola, the inhouse restaurant at the Rome Cavalieri Hilton, where Heinz is chef. The restaurant has three Michelin stars and is open Tuesday – Saturday for dinner only. La Pergola, Via A. Cadlolo 101, +39 06 3509 2152, www.cavalieri-hilton.it