Il Pagliaccio

Il Pagliaccio is one of Rome’s most distinctive and celebrated fine dining restaurants, holding two Michelin stars and located in the historic centre on Via dei Banchi Vecchi, just steps from some of the city’s most iconic sites. The restaurant was founded in 2003 by chef-patron Anthony Genovese, a globally travelled cook of Calabrian origin who was born in France and trained extensively in Japan, Malaysia, London, and Florence. It is widely regarded as the most international restaurant in Rome, and the diversity of Genovese’s experience is evident in every dish: Italian ingredients and Mediterranean instincts merge with Japanese technique, French precision, and influences from across Asia to produce a cuisine that is simultaneously rooted and adventurous. The multi-course blind tasting menus, which vary in length, take guests on a culinary journey that spans continents while remaining anchored in the quality of the finest Italian produce. Signature combinations, such as gyoza filled with Piedmontese finanziera finished with a Roman oxtail-inspired broth, exemplify the chef’s playful and deeply considered approach to fusion. The dining room is intimate and elegant, with just a handful of tables set on a classic checkerboard floor beneath exposed wooden beams. A dedicated private dining room accommodates up to six guests for an even more personal experience. The wine list, comprising close to two thousand references, is curated by sommelier Luca Belleggia and is considered one of the finest in Rome.