Restaurant
La Pergola
Heinz Beck's rooftop restaurant at the Rome Cavalieri was the first in the city to earn three Michelin stars and remains its only three-star table.
Armando al Pantheon
A family-run trattoria steps from the Pantheon since 1961, Armando serves classic Roman cooking under the Gargioli family's care.
At a glance
- Type
- Roman trattoria
- Area
- Pantheon, Rome, Italy
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- armandoalpantheon.it
Good to know
- Family-run
- Online booking
- Wine list
Why we recommend it
In 1961 Armando Gargioli moved to the area around the Pantheon on the advice of merchant friends and took over an old, struggling eating house at Salita de' Crescenzi 31. He turned it into a bottiglieria con cucina, a wine shop with a kitchen, and his cooking soon gave the little restaurant a reputation. More than six decades later the Gargioli family still runs it: Claudio Gargioli has written a novel about life in the kitchen, and Fabiana Gargioli is the sommelier who manages the dining room and the wine list.
The menu is traditional Roman cooking, done carefully and without fuss. Expect pastas such as cacio e pepe, carbonara, gricia and amatriciana, seasonal vegetable dishes and hearty Roman secondi, with dishes changing according to the day and the season. The wine list focuses on Italian native grape varieties and has a particular strength in Chianti Classico, and the staff will suggest a bottle to match the meal.
The dining room is small, with tables close together, and it has a traditional feel that contrasts with the crowds outside in Piazza della Rotonda. Given its location a few metres from one of the most visited monuments in Rome, it books up quickly. Reservations are taken online only through the booking page on the restaurant's website. The published email address is only for questions about bookings already made, and booking requests sent by email are not processed.
Lunch is served from 12:30 to 15:00, Monday to Saturday, and dinner from 18:00 to 23:00, Monday to Friday. The restaurant is closed on Saturday evening and all day on Sunday, so plan accordingly. It suits couples and small groups looking for a reliable Roman meal in the centre, and lunch here makes an easy break between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Prices are moderate for the location.
Book as far ahead as you can, especially for dinner, and arrive on time, as tables are turned carefully. After the meal, Tazza d'Oro and Sant'Eustachio, two of Rome's historic coffee bars, are both a couple of minutes' walk away for an espresso. Buses and tram 8 stop at Largo di Torre Argentina, about five minutes away on foot.
Armando al Pantheon FAQs
How do I book Armando al Pantheon?
Online through the restaurant's booking page; booking requests by email are not processed.
When is it open?
Lunch 12:30 to 15:00 Monday to Saturday, and dinner 18:00 to 23:00 Monday to Friday.
When is it closed?
On Saturday evening and all day Sunday.
When did it open?
Armando Gargioli took over the restaurant in 1961, and his family still runs it.
What kind of food is served?
Traditional Roman cooking, including classic pastas and seasonal dishes.
What is the wine list like?
It focuses on Italian native grape varieties, with a strength in Chianti Classico.
Where is it?
At Salita de' Crescenzi 31, a few metres from the Pantheon.
What is the email address for?
Only for questions about existing bookings, not for new booking requests.