Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Indian
Italian
Organic
Ayurvedic
Serves Vegetarian Ayurvedic food with meal-of-the-day which consisting of soup, basmati pulao, chutney, and salad. Uses organic ingredients and many items are vegan suitable - ask about dessert. Staff speak English and will accommodate dietary requests. Directions: Follow tram line toward Torre Argentina, and you'll find Via Celsa on right next to ruins from the Tempio delle Ninfe, it's near Piazza Venezia. Open Mon-Thu 12:30-22:30, Fri-Sat 12:30-23:30.
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Last update on 15 Sep 2019 by NomadEmma
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Added by KixChloe on 12 Jun 2008
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82 Reviews
First Review by KixChloe
Jirko
Points +331
good food but not cheap - Edit
the food is quite good but prices are a bit high for what you get. there is a menu for 30 eur per person or single dishes for around 12 euro, but i was still hungry after that. pity.
Read morethe regular waiter didn't understand us but the owner (I guess) spoke good english and was very friendly and correct.
Pros: good food, friendly service
Cons: expensive for what you get
Guest
CatherineM
Points +196
A gem - Edit
I loved this place. After too much pasta and heavy food, it was a refreshing change. The staff were helpful about dietary requirements and we had a delicious meal in a relaxed atmosphere.
Read morePros: Nice staff, Tasty food, Good value
Guest
Vestpocketvenus
Points +148
1st vegan food while in Rome - Edit
I have to agree with the reviewers who said it was expensive for the rather small portions. I was really hungry as even a big city like Rome does not have much options for vegans. The personnel was rather inattentive, I was sitting there on a table for about 10 min before I even got a menu. I had the daily menu and tea and cake and paid 26 Euros. The food was except for the soup rather bland and having as a main only rice with a few spices - seriously? I can go in any Indian restaurant in London and ask for something suiting my type and get it. And please don't tell me it has to be so expensive because it is all organic.
Read morePros: Cake was ok
Guest
mroot
Points +36
Delightful and Delicious Experience - Edit
The food was outstanding with an abundance of flavors tantalizing all my taste buds. The ambiance and owners were very pleasant and attentive. Highly recommend this restaurant. It was a nice change from traditional Italian food.
Read morePros: Good quality food, environment and ambiance, attentive staff
Cons: location somewhat-located on side street
Guest
blackvaldaswan
Points +37
A bit pricey but tasty - Edit
This is restaurant with a typical Ayurvedic food. It was hard to understand what to expect just by reading the menu, so I went with Curry in a hurry (which is daily menu and varies each day) as that gave a promise of at least a decent portion of food for my lunch. The options for A la Carte menu looked more like quite expensive small starters and I didn't want to risk.
Read moreHave to say that I really enjoyed the food and it was the right size for me, but others might want to have bigger portions. My partner wasn't keen on having lunch and ordered only a tea and cake and was charged €10 for that. We both thought the food was overpriced.
The atmosphere was very nice and calming and it felt like a quite oasis just off the busy tourist sites.
Pros: great atmosphere, tasty food
Guest
christopherjboyce
Points +984
Nice food but not easy to choose - Edit
I liked the ambiance in this place and I found the staff friendly and helpful but I found it difficult to choose what I wanted. Everything was explained to me well enough but I wasn't really that sure what I was going to get with some of the options. They have a thali type dish and then a menu of the day and it is hard to work out what the portions will be for each one - with only a small price difference. And then a third option on the main menu. I looked around the room to see if I could gauge what to expect from what others had in front of them. I just couldn't work it out so I went for a big soup in the end, and I was very happy with my choice as it was very tasty. Bread was good too. An English menu really would have helped though.
Read morePros: Friendly staff, Good food
Cons: No English menu
Guest
Eike
Points +198
expensive - Edit
There were two major things wrong with this restaurant – the food and the cost. First, the food. We ordered a rice and vegetable dish which was stodgy. The vegetables were a few green peas mixed in coloured rice and possibly a little bit of something which was unidentifiable. The menu promised organic and fresh food, but it was hard to detect either of these on our plates. Second, the food was overpriced. We should have been alerted to the high price of the food by the fact that there were no prices shown on the menu out the front of the restaurant. For a couple of spoonfuls of rice with a dollop of mango pickle, we paid an outrageous 12 Euros. For a teapot of water with 2 (non-organic) teabags thrown in we paid 8 Euros. In addition to this, the waiter was almost unintelligible as he was not able to communicate properly in either Italian or English.
Read moreTrina
Sorry you did not enjoy your experience at Bibliothè. I suspect you happened in between our lunch and dinner hours, which often happens with tourists. We stay open as a tearoom and cultural center from 3:30 to 7:30 pm but often accomodate hungry tourists for a meal. The tea we serve is all organic, as is 99% of all our ingredients. Please give us another try when back in Rome.
Read moreGuest
irmavepkitty
Points +26
Two visits so far & hopefully more in the future! - Edit
I visited here last year while on holiday and went again last week as it had been a very positive experience last time. There are a variety of options on the menu but I simply went for the daily special of soup (a lovely pulse and tomato), flavoured rice and pickle, and salad. I took a slice of vegan carob cake away with me which I later discovered had an incredibly light texture and was frankly delicious. All the food was excellent and the staff were very helpful and friendly. Bibliothe has a really good atmosphere and I will certainly revisit it when I am next in Rome.
Read moreThe earlier reviewer who goes on about malnutrition needs to get some perspective! This place provides good, fresh food, the menu is clearly labelled (in English) and there is friendly service. The price I feel is fair as it reflects this and the fact that you are in Rome!
Pros: fresh food, lots of vegan options, friendly staff
Guest
JesseWaugh
Points +415
tasty but expensive - Edit
Disclaimer: The food is super-tasty -- maybe the tastiest food I've ever had at a vegetarian restaurant. But it's not worth eating here for two reasons: grotesque prices, and utterly inadequate (read malnutricious) food.
Read moreThe food is Indian-themed, but don't let this put you off (I'm off Indian food which is generally over-spiced, over-oiled, protein deficient [unless you eat dairy], and often old and unclean) - because they know how to cook very very well. But here's what the €13 daily "menu" got me: First Course: a small bowl of delicious soup contains a few crunchy slivers of fresh coconut (delicious) and some boring bread; Second Course: a plate of yummy rice with a spoonful of excellent fresh coconut chutney; Third Course: little salad with scrumptious apple bits in the tastiest sauce I've ever had in my life (so good I wondered if it contained MSG - which I'm sure it didn't); Fourth Course: OH - there was no fourth course.
That's it! A few spoonfuls of soup, some rice on a plate, and a mini-salad. Zero protein!! Sorry but I need some beans or tofu.
So I ordered a piece of what might have been vegan cheesecake - it was okay. I went to pay and guess what! That little piece of cheesecake added another €6 to total €19 for a few morsels of malnutrition!
I grimaced at the charge so the guy reduced the bill to €16.
Trina
Sorry you had such a bad experience. In regards to the protein...our daily menu consists of soup (usually dhal or bean based) and rice which combine to make a complete protein. There are also other things on our menu that might have satisfied your intense protein need. Hope you'll give us another try.
Read moreJesseWaugh
My "intense need for protein?" It is this kind of insinuation which characterises the patronising attitude of the workers and owner of your restaurant. This attitude, in turn, is a reflection of your unwillingness to budge in any direction which might improve your offerings.
Read moreAlthough my body is fairly muscular, and this may affect my stance on protein inclusion in food, it should be common knowledge to all that dahl is an inadequate protein source, and must be supplemented - as it is in India - with liberal helpings of dairy ingredients. As your company advertises the availability of vegan options as part of your menu, it behoves you to offer protein-balanced food. Otherwise you are not serving healthy or adequate dishes.
Perhaps your intense need for commerce is what is truly at issue here. In my experience, your prices would suggest the probability of such a hypothesis.
Trina
I apologize if I sounded patronizing. When next in Rome, please stop by and let us offer you lunch. All the best to you.
Read moreGuest
Kathleenic
Points +29
The Very Best - Edit
I've been to many vegetarian restaurants in the USA and in Europe. Bibliothe is by far the BEST! The food is scrumptious and the staff is friendly, warm hearted, and I'll miss seeing all of them. Bibliothe offers a calm Eastern spiritual atmosphere. I've tried several other places in Rome mentioned on Happy Cow's website and I've decided to just eat at Bibliothe.
Read moreGuest
DonnaZ
Points +35
GREAT RESTAURANT - Edit
I loved going to Bibliothe with my husband and daughter during my day trip to Rome. It was easy to find via Google directions and nearby the Pantheon. The atmosphere was relaxed, not full of tourists. My family and I split the vegan bada, steamed vegetables with basmati brown rice, a salad, and ginger candy treats. The food was deliciously fresh. I really appreciated the wide availability of vegan options and that the ingredients were 99% organic! I wish I could have tried a vegan cake or pie. Next time I'll call ahead to make sure they have vegan desserts prepared when I visit. Prices were extremely reasonable too. No alcoholic beverages served. Waiters could speak English.
Read morePros: Excellent organic vegetarian/vegan food, Good value, Calm atmosphere
Cons: Need to call ahead for vegan desserts, Trouble swiping credit card, No alcoholic drinks
Guest
KevinSandler
Points +22
Best Indian restaurant I have ever been to!! - Edit
If you are vegan or not, you need to stop here. It's the best Indian food I've ever had and I've eaten Indian food all over the world. Aryuvedic cuisine at its finest with wonderful owners and staff who make you feel so welcome. They remembered me after I ate there one year ago!
Read morePros: Excellent food, healthy cuisine, friendly staff
Guest
Melisjoanne
Points +137
Wonderful! - Edit
The food is excellent and the staff extremely friendly. Vegan options are clearly marked on the menu with an asterisk, which makes it very easy to identify them. At least 50% of the menu was vegan, including one dessert. Quiet, relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. With ordering multiple courses, the meal did take a bit of time and we were in a hurry, but they were helpful in getting me out the door as soon as we finished. Went with my toddler who made a giant mess, and they were very sweet about it. Highly recommend!
Read moreGuest
dkinjer
Points +305
Tasty food, nice desserts, pleasant atmosphere - Edit
I'm not a big fan of Indian food, but I did enjoy the fixed lunch of the day. However, as I find with most Indian food, the portions are rather small. A large metal plate with a portion of rice, a small metal bowl of soup to eat with the rice, an even smaller bowl of chutney. We were given bread (for which I think we were charged extra, as is the case in every restaurant we were in in Rome) and bottled water (again, extra charge, as every place in Rome). There was also some salad, included. I had very good house tea and a very tasty dessert. My companion had a very tasty dessert (tea and dessert not included in the lunch meal). I would have liked the rice to be whole grain (it was very tasty basmati rice).
Read morePros: tasty, nice atmosphere, clean
Cons: small portion
Guest
ira
Points +189
We went back... - Edit
... because we just LOVED the food here! In a side street not far from main tourist places (Forum Romanum, Pantheon etc) we were delighted to find sitting space when Rome was filled up with tourists everywhere. It was a joyful experience, we got salads, a dosa variety and some vegetable pilaw as well as two sublime vegan fruit balls as 'dolce', as there were no vegan sweet things available. Together with tea (medium sized pot) and bread we paid 40 euros (for 2 people) which is not cheap but considering the taste (quite Indian for a European restaurant!) and the quality (organic, everything freshly made) we were very satisfied. The next day we had the 'daily menu' in a vegan variety which was also very nice!
Read morePros: yummy, cosy place, prime location
Cons: not cheap, not fast
Guest
Laitio-Ramone
Points +40
Love this place - Edit
Me and my girlfriend searched this lovely place after reading really positive reviews here in HappyCow. Bibliothe was a bit hard to find first. We saw people doing art when entered address given here. We looked more and noticed restaurang door was in left. Restaurang, library and culture/ art room are next to each other and they are under same "commune." Restaurang had nice arts in walls. Bibliothe has around 20 seats.
Read moreFeeling is intimate and we got extremely friendly service. Everyone in staff was smiling, friendly, joked etc. Menu was only in Italian. We decided to take full menu..., and we felt we got eight course menu. It cost only 25 euros. Before first course was self-made drink etc. (They doesn't serve alcohol). We were eating 2,5 hours and we had many surprises. Everything else was also selfmade, not used any "consumer-ready food." what we noticed. Food weren't much spiced and salted (what was good), had original tastes.
We really fell in love with Bibliothe and will certainly visit again when travel next time to Rome.
Pros: Healthy, Friendly, Taste
Guest
PhilippeNicolitch
Points +87
Excellent indian food - Edit
This was a perfect break from a long morning of walking and visiting. The staff offered to prepare us a special vegan menu with a mung bean dal, rice and a salad. The atmosphere was great and the location is perfect for tourists. The food was simple but extremely tasty and prepared with care and attention.
Read morePros: Taste, Location
Guest
Moix
Points +345
Nice place! - Edit
Visited for lunch. Very helpful & friendly staff. The menu is completely in Italian however the vegan options have asterisks making it ultra easy. Also the chef was helpful & pointed out which dessert was vegan. I had the daily lunch special for 10 euro & a dessert (dried fruit ball) for 4 euro & while the food was lovely I felt that the serving sizes was small.. There was a larger lunch option available for 13 euro so next time I will try that one!
Read morePros: Friendly, Comfortable, Asterisks for Vegan Options
Cons: Small portions, Expensive for the Aussie wallet
Guest
SP
Points +1440
highly recommend! - Edit
Incredibly delcicious!! Plus, generous serving sizes.
Read moreGuest
Miggi
Points +2705
Refreshing juice - Edit
Quite a nice unhurried atmosphere, unlimited (and unsnooty provision of) jugs of tap-water which we desperately needed on such a hot day. They made a fantastic refreshing apple, mint and ginger juice as well.
Read moreVegan options / dishes are marked on the menu, though most of it is not in English it wasn't hard to order 2 vegan versions of the set meal for the day. This was 3 courses, a nice soup which was served with some very dry bread, a plate with two types of rice and some tomato sauce, and a salad. One of the rice dishes was very tasty but the other was quite boring and the tomato sauce was nothing special. The salad was ok, with a good flavour dressing, but again nothing amazing. It'd work better as a side to the rice dishes.
For the price, which was 13 euros each for the set meal, I expected something a bit more interesting. Might have been our mistake - the dosa looked a lot nicer, so maybe give that a go if you try this place.
The juice was 5 euros but that's a fairly standard price for frsh juice in Rome, and this was was freshly made, a good size portion and very tasty and refreshing.
Pros: vegan food, great juice, relaxed
Cons: not exciting for the price, dry bread, rice with rice?!
Guest
CraigFruitbat
Points +149
Extremely helpful staff/owner - Edit
I ate here twice this month and the owner and staff couldn't have been more helpful. On my first visit I arrived after luch had finished but the chef still allowed me to have a meal (the puri dish - Indian puffed bread with vegetables that were flavoured so deliciously).
Read moreDetermined to eat an evening meal I arrived a few nights later to find there was an event on in the bookshop and the restaurant had been fully booked. But the owner still allowed me a table and provided a huge plate of veg, rice and the nicest hummus I've had, and at a reduced price.
The menu has 3 or 4 vegan dishes clearly marked on it as well as vegan desserts (which I was unable to try).
I'm looking forward to my next trip to Rome when I can order a full meal here.
The owner and chef also speak good English, which was appreciated when my limited Italian only got me so far!
Pros: Helpful staff/owner, Tasty food
Guest
tiffers787
Points +36
A real treat! - Edit
This place was a real treat! We went for lunch, and I think it was around 14 euros for the 4-course meal. Everything was perfectly flavored, and the atmosphere of dark woods and high ceilings makes for a very relaxing experience. Highly recommended!
Read moreGuest
MMC
Points +279
Cultural Cucina - Delizioso! - Edit
This is a very unique and lively place with kind and gracious owners (Trina and Enzo) and a small but attentive staff - who offer prix fix lacto/ vegetarian and vegan meals for 25 euros (for dinner) and 13 euros (for lunch). The meals include a pot of spiced chai tea, bread and dessert and are molto deliciozo - the Ayurveda recipes have an Italian influence naturalmente!
Read moreOn my visit I had a very generous sampler (that could almost serve two people) which included a well crafted salad of thinly sliced apple, fennel with slivered almonds with a whisper of citrus vinaigrette, fritters and lentil stew with rice pilaf and a choice of desserts
-( the orange, pistachio cheese tart was great). They are located right around the corner from the cat sanctuary at Largo Argentina (romancats.com) and just a few blocks from the Pantheon.
The cafe also multi-purposes as a classroom and performance/poetry space featuring Sanskrit lessons (on Mondays) and Art performances (on various days of the week and Saturdays).
Cash only and open hours are 1 pm until 10 or 11pm Monday through Saturday and they will serve dinner early if you desire. Buono appetite!
Guest
yorkie77
Points +45
Gorgeous - Edit
After a day pounding the streets of Rome we made our way to this place. It serves Indian veggie and vegan food. We had eaten so much pizza and pasta that this was a welcome change. The food was soothing and full of lovely flavour. The decor in the restaurant is lovely too. The service was so friendly and we left very full and content. It cost 25 Euros for mineral water, low alcohol beer, thali (lots of little dishes), dessert and yummy tea.
Read moreGuest
Mongus
Points +69
Nice indian atmosfere - Edit
The food is good and the indian music is nice. The atmosfere is meditatve and there is a big wall with books from the Bhaktivedanta Library. Walk from Piaza Venezia to Argentina and turn right halfway. It does look more like a bookshop.
Read morePros: healthy cuisine, friendly staff, good value
Guest
meatisfordummies
Points +186
OK - Edit
Food was good but expensive. Some vegan options that an English speaking waiter was happy to point out. All Indian food. Probably OK if you're a local, but if traveling there are a few other places to get better vegan Italian food.
Read morePros: friendly, location
Cons: price
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2357
Open and Outstanding Vegan Set meals!!! - Edit
We wandered into Bibliothe after a long hike through Roman Ruins starving to death the first time we ate here! Its a really quaint little restaurant in an alleyway so keep your eye's pealed for it! Its right next to a dinner theater. The owners speak perfect English (one is from my home town), you will leave very full! Cost was 15 Euro for a set vegan meal which included bread / side / soup / main dish during lunch and maybe 20 during dinner (we ordered 3 small bottles of water, too so 40 for two people) We ate here a second time before our flight home and they were so wonderful again. The chefs made us 3 amazing courses customized to our low fat vegan needs consisting of rice with peas and amazing spices, glazed carrots with chapati bread, and a cucumber mint tomato salad. I can't express how wonderful our food was and the ingredients were so fresh and the spices were jumping off our forks! They have expanded it over the summer break and the seating area is larger making this just the perfect place to escape from the hectic pace of a Roman Holiday!
Read morePros: Vegan Set Meal, Customizable, So friendly!
Guest
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