Antica Pesa

The story

Antica Pesa – Trastevere Roman Cuisine, Rome | Michelin Recommended

Antica Pesa, Rome

Since 1922, Antica Pesa has been a Trastevere cornerstone, run by four generations of the Panella family. The building itself tells a deeper story: in the 17th century it was a customs post where villagers weighed wheat—a history that lends the restaurant its name, "Antique Scales." What began as a tavern for neighbours in need has evolved into a Roman institution, recognised today by the Michelin Guide as a Recommended restaurant.

The Panella brothers—Simone (executive chef), Francesco, and Lorenzo—guide the kitchen and dining room with a shared philosophy: honouring Roman tradition while letting it breathe. Simone’s work "stems from respect and reinterpretation of tradition through technique, research and passion, declined in an innovative key." The dinner menu changes with the season but always returns to the pillars of Roman cuisine: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, tripe, and coda alla vaccinara. Each dish is recognisable yet refined, the result of a century of tinkering with the same essential ingredients.

The wine program is equally storied. Antica Pesa’s cellar holds over 1,100 labels and has been awarded "Best Wine Cellar of the Year" by L’Espresso and recognised by Wine Spectator. The restaurant is also committed to sustainability: guests can buy a tasting menu that plants a tree in the Antica Pesa Forest, a project that has already planted 1,000 trees across six countries.

Open Monday to Saturday for dinner only, Antica Pesa serves its Italian cuisine in a setting that balances historic character with comfortable service. The atmosphere is warm, unhurried—a place where the rhythm of daily Roman life still sets the pace.