Mater Terrae

The story

Mater Terrae Rome – Bio Hotel Raphaël Rooftop Restaurant | Michelin Recommended

An organic rooftop in the heart of Rome

On the top floor of the Bio Hotel Raphaël, just behind Piazza Navona, Mater Terrae offers a different kind of Roman dining. The restaurant sits beneath a roof terrace with a 360-degree view over the city’s historic skyline, and its kitchen has been entirely plant-based and organic since 2013 – a rare commitment in the centre of a capital city. The Michelin guide has recognised this dedication with a Green Star, the only one in Rome, and a Recommendation for 2026.

The vision behind the menu

The culinary direction comes from Maestro Pietro Leemann, founder of the Michelin-starred Joia in Milan, who has worked with Mater Terrae since 2014. The menu follows the seasons, drawing on carefully selected organic suppliers to create contemporary dishes that are vegan, biodynamic and fully sustainable. Nothing is invented for effect; the ingredients do the work. The result is a cuisine that feels both precise and generous, rooted in the Italian tradition of letting produce speak.

An architecture of light and materials

The space itself was designed by the American architect Richard Meier, whose signature use of white and natural light sets the tone. Elegant finishes of oak, Carrara marble, Nero Portoro and Navona travertine create a calm, airy atmosphere. Every material was chosen to meet the highest standards of ecological building, so the dining room reflects the same philosophy as the kitchen: no compromises. On warm evenings, the outdoor seating lets you eat under the Roman sky, surrounded by the bougainvillea that climbs the hotel’s famous green façade.