In the 17th century, the Antica Pesa was an inn serving the peasants who came to deliver grain to the Vatican’s customs office. In the 19th, the bocce champions of Trastevere challenged each other in the in the court at the rear.

Now the Antica Pesa is one of the best restaurants in Rome, and the old bocce court is a charming garden where a well-dressed, well-heeled and well-known clientele revels on summer evenings. Everyone from Hollywood stars to high government officials has dined here, including many Trastevere-inspired artists from the mid-twentieth century, whose paintings and sculpture are on display.

The menu is a combination of regional traditional and innovative Italian under the direction of Simon Panella. Dishes change with the seasons and on a daily basis, and include steamed shrimp with zucchini blossoms, ravioli stuffed with white truffles, thyme-crusted lamb, and basil sorbet with caramelized apples. Enjoy the international wine list and the buzz in the air.

Welcome to Antica Pesa.