Bettoja family from S. Maurizio d’Opaglio, Piedmont, decided to divide their assets around 1840, and their second son Maurizio was assigned the properties in Rome. Maurizio was a very dynamic boy and started a trade of grain, oil and wine, which broadened soon out of the city borders.

Rome was experiencing the impact of new urbanization after the building of Termini Station in 1862, and Maurizio realized that being near the station would certainly help his business. In 1875, he purchased the first and the second floor of a building on Via Cavour, which already housed a restaurant with large cellars in the basement.

In 1878, Maurizio Bettoja opened Massimo D’Azeglio hotel and restaurant together with his sons. , Since then, three generations of heirs have followed maintaining the traditional gastronomy and the original design.