A rare gem of taste and hospitality in the center of Rome, a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, which offers traditional dishes prepared with refinement and the romantic atmosphere of the French wine bars with cuisine.

La Ciambella encompasses three souls: that of a French wine bar, that of the typical Roman fraschette (traditional al fresco eateries) and that of a high cuisine restaurant. To understand why the alchemy between them is perfect, let’s take a step back and find out more about its protagonists.

Opened in 2016, it was born from the meeting between chef Francesca Ciucci and Mirka Guberti. The first, Roman by birth, in soul and roots, was initiated into her great love, cooking, in the family fraschetta, where she discovered all the secrets of the typical territorial ingredients of Lazio such as guanciale, pecorino, offal, artichokes, puntarelle.

We take you through the alleys of Rome and the stories that inhabit them, bringing back to memory flavors also through tales of different kitchens and pantries, near and far.
(Francesca, Mirka and Radion)

At her side, Mirka, from Emilia Romagna, a passionate and very curious sommelier, with a starred past at Glass Hostaria with chef Cristina Bowerman and at Pascucci al Porticciolo with chef Gianfranco Pascucci, manages the hospitality of La Ciambella.

When they decided to open, they wanted to leave all sorts of stress outside when entering La Ciambella. And so it was. The decor is all about the relaxing tones of white and natural, with lots of reclaimed wood, curtains, candles, and shelves full of bottles, in which the Provence shabby chic style meets the warmth of Roman taverns.

The large open kitchen is stunning, Francesca’s kingdom, who smiles slyly when guests seek her gaze after tasting yet another delicacy.

The name of the place came spontaneously because the restaurant is located right in front of the famous “ciambella” (donut), or the only remaining section of the ancient Baths of Agrippa, the oldest public baths in Rome, whose name apparently derives from that of a crown found that resembled a donut.

On the menu, we find dishes that revolve around traditional recipes and carefully selected ingredients that Francesca buys from her “allies”, suppliers with whom she has had a friendly and collaborative relationship for years.

Thus, among the appetizers, the offal recipes cannot be missed, such as in the Sweetbreads, wild field chicory with garlic, oil, chili pepper and Brie sauce, or Roman-style meat such as rolls Saltimbocca; while among the second courses, we find the Chianina tartare with crispy wasabi, egg yolk bottarga and mustard mayonnaise and the Picchiapò-style boiled meat braised with tomato, crispy onion and Roman mint.

The first courses, based on artisanal Mancini pasta, obviously deserve a chapter of their own: Spaghettoni alla carbonara with crispy bacon, Fusilloni ham and figs with sheep ricotta, Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe…the choice is yours!

To pair, Mirka will be able to recommend extraordinary wines and tell you stories of fantastic winemakers, primarily French ones, her great love, but also Lazio ones like those of the Tenuta di Fiorano on the Via Appia with its Fiorano Bianco of important vintages.

Next to the restaurant, there is Mirka’s “kingdom”: a wine cellar where over 1000 references are kept, all enclosed in the remarkable wine list, an elegant book bound like a vintage family photo album.

A place of good flavors, nice people, ancient roots, this is why La Ciambella is one of those places where you always return.

The Secret

The location was once the breakfast room of the hotel above. When Francesca and Mirka saw it for the first time, they fell in love with the winter garden room and immediately decided that it would be the perfect location for their restaurant.

Useful Info

La Ciambella
Via dell’Arco della Ciambella 20
00186 Roma
Tel. +39 06 6832930

Tasting menu: from 75 euro excluding wines
Appetizers and first courses: 16 — 22 euro
Second courses: 15 — 32 euro