Il Pagliaccio
A two-Michelin-star tasting-menu restaurant near Via dei Banchi Vecchi blending Italian roots with global technique.
The call
Worth it if you only have one day and you are traveling as a couple.
Why
- 01
An intimate, design-quiet room where Anthony Genovese's cooking weaves in Asian and far-flung influences.
Our read - 02
Cerebral and elegant — fine dining without the stiffness of the grand hotels.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
You only have one day
Even on a tight schedule, Il Pagliaccio earns the hours.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Il Pagliaccio works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, Il Pagliaccio works.
Food is a reason to travel
For food & drink, Il Pagliaccio delivers.
Think twice if
You are traveling with kids
With kids, give Il Pagliaccio a miss.
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Il Pagliaccio isn't cheap for what it is.
You want context, not just the photograph
For depth & learning, Il Pagliaccio is hit or miss.
You are planning for two
For romance, Il Pagliaccio is hit or miss.
The plates that decide it
- The full tasting menu — the intended, signature experience
- Wine pairing — thoughtfully matched to a wide-ranging menu
- Signature cross-cultural courses — reliably the high points
- Going expecting only Roman classics — the appeal is the global riff — come open-minded
Plan it well
- Cost
- €€€€ — tasting menus in the high two- to three-figure range per head
- Timing
- Dinner; book ahead
- Booking
- Reservations essential
- Allow
- 2.5–3.5 hours
- Accessibility
- Small, refined dining room
Sources and method (2)
- Holds two MICHELIN stars in the 2026 Guide; intimate centro-storico dining room led by chef-patron Anthony Genovese blending Italian, French, Calabrian and Asian influences. guide.michelin.com ↗
- Wine list of around 2,000 labels curated by sommelier Luca Belleggia. ristoranteilpagliaccio.com ↗