Restaurant

Taverna Flavia

– Traditional Cuisine –

History

To tell a piece of this restaurant’s history, we need to go back in time to the middle of the last century, when Domenico, known to all as Mimmo, the eldest son of Bernardino Cavicchia (already a restaurateur, but who himself would have preferred to be a lawyer), took over the reins of the family restaurant in the 1960s. The Taverna soon became a safe haven for American stars visiting the Eternal City. It was here that the love affair between Liz Taylor and Richard Burton blossomed.

Everyone passing through Rome, famous and not-so-famous, sat at the tables of the Flavia, seeking fame in the iconic setting of Fellini’s Dolce Vita.

In his restaurant, Mimmo Cavicchia graciously entertained everyone, especially the ladies, and in exchange, he would ask for a signed photo. Over time, he amassed a collection of paintings, which were displayed for decades at the Flavia as part of a precious treasure, sold at auction after his passing.

In the fabulous 1960s, Flavia entertained guests such as fashion designer Valentino, Alfred Hitchcock film director, and actors and actresses such as Peter Sellers, Charlton Heston, Burt Lancaster, Henry Fonda, Alberto Sordi, Liz Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Claudia Cardinale, Ingmar Bergman, and Gina Lollobrigida, to name a few.

In the 1970s and 1980s, stars such as Gloria Guida, Barbara Bouchet, Edwige Fenech, Raffaella Carrà, Walter Chiari, Tony Curtis, Philippe Leroy, Frank Sinatra, and many others graced the premises.

Above all, there was Elizabeth Taylor, the violet-eyed diva who was the object of Mimmo’s platonic love.

Liz was a loving companion, and she reciprocated with small gestures of friendship, partly to thank her for the room dedicated to her in the restaurant, where Mimmo displayed for years a fan-shaped display case containing a pair of blue-green sandals that the diva left him after a wild evening of barefoot dancing.

Nobles and royalty, from Soraya the Sad Princess to King Gustav of Sweden, to the Greek royals, to Nixon, Vice President of the United States, to the monarchs of Monaco, Rainier and Grace, have all passed through these tables, in complex and glittering times when many took refuge in the beautiful venues of Rome by Night, among which Flavia stood out.

Among the restaurant’s recent patrons were Liza Minelli, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Woody Allen, Diane Keyton, Bo Derek, Sylvia Cristel, Pedro Almodovar, Jodie Foster, Sharon Stone, Quentin Tarantino, Sylvester Stallone, Hugh Grant, Pierce Brosnam, Chuck Norris, Steven Segal in a white uniform on a set, the tiger Kabir Bedi, Thomas Milian, the iconic and curvy Serena Grandi, the ever-present Ilona Staller/Cicciolina, and a busty Anne Nicole Smith who attempted a spicy striptease.

Mimmo passed away in 2016 at the age of 79. Shortly thereafter, Flavia closed its doors for a long time.

Restaurant

Taverna Flavia will reopen its doors in the fall of 2025 after an extensive renovation and under the management of the Di Clemente family. Remnants of the Dolce Vita years remain in the furnishings, style, and atmosphere.

The restaurant today offers cuisine that combines traditional Roman fare with contemporary dishes inspired by seasonal ingredients.

Chef Andrea Lattanzi heads the kitchen brigade.

Discover the menu

Events

The restaurant offers several spaces, suitable not only for an a la carte menu but also for banquets, ceremonies, and corporate events. You can choose between the Hollywood and Dolce Vita rooms, or the outdoor terrace on Via Flavia.

Hollywood Room