La Campana Ristorante, located in Rome near the Pantheon, between Via Scrofa and Piazza Nicosia, is claiming to be the oldest restaurant in the world. Recently discovered tax documents prove original owner Pietro della Campana paid six scudi for road maintenance taxes in 1518, which could solidify their claim. Currently, the Guinness World Records has named Restaurante Botin in Madrid as the oldest since it has been operational from 1725. La Campana has been owned and operated by generations of the Tracassini family for over a century. Paolo and his wife Francesca, seen in the cover photo are the present day owners. They care greatly for the history and Roman tradition they carry and it shows in the cuisine they serve.
Roman specialties found on the menu include carciofi alla giudia, cacio e pepe, lamb, tagliolini with anchiovies and pecorino, oxtail soup and sweetbreads to name a few. Celebrities and royals alike have passed through the doors of La Campana to be seduced by flavors that can only be captured by hundreds of years of perfection. If you ever have the opportunity to dine at La Campana, please comment below to let us know how it was to eat at the oldest, most historical restaurant in the world!
One of my favorite restaurants in Italy!