Ristorante Sibilla
Perched on the very edge of the Aniene gorge with the Temple of Vesta as its literal garden ornament, Ristorante Sibilla has been feeding travellers since 1730, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Italy — and the view from its terrace, with the circular Roman temple framed by cypress trees and the gorge dropping away below, is arguably the most theatrical dining backdrop in Lazio.
What to Order
The kitchen leans into Lazio's pastoral traditions: start with supplì al telefono (fried risotto balls with stretching mozzarella) and local cured meats from the Tiburtine hills, then move to rigatoni alla pajata (pasta with veal intestine in tomato sauce) if you want the full Roman experience, or a simpler cacio e pepe made with aged Pecorino Romano.
Second courses centre on abbacchio (milk-fed lamb) roasted with rosemary and white wine, and baccalà alla romana (salt cod with pine nuts and raisins) — both dishes that have appeared on Lazio tables for centuries.
Finish with a slice of torta di ricotta flavoured with lemon zest and a small glass of Amaro del Lazio to close the meal properly.
The Setting and Booking
The outdoor terrace wraps around the ancient Temple of Vesta, which is floodlit at night — an evening reservation here feels genuinely cinematic. Grand Tour-era travellers including Goethe and Liszt are said to have eaten at the inn that preceded the current restaurant.
Reservations are essential for weekend lunch and any evening visit; the terrace tables with direct temple views book out days in advance in summer. Call ahead or use their website booking form.
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