Food
Sips In The City: 11 Top Rome Bars
No Roman holiday would be complete without a taste of the Eternal City’s formidable scene for top-tier wine, classy cocktails and, yes, beer. Here’s where to go
When it comes to drinking, Romans do it right… that is, almost always with food. Cosy wine bars and bistros, aperitivo spots and classy cocktails bars inevitably serve up a little extra, both in the glass and on the side.
La Zanzara
Born as a bistro, the bar is centre stage at this sophisticated Prati neighbourhood mainstay, where chic French design meets Italian trattoria vibes. And with 1,000 bottles in the wine cellar (circa 15 by the glass), 100 gins, top-shelf distillates and a seasonal rotation of house cocktails, there’s something for everyone. It also stays open from noon to 1am – a rarity in Rome.
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Veleno
Veleno debuted in 2023 as a culinary-cocktail concept in the basement of the enduringly trendy Luciano restaurant. Upstairs, an open kitchen and minimal design focus the attention on the elevated Roman cuisine. Downstairs, ‘90s hip-hop plays on loop, giving the place a nostalgic underground club feeling. The full menu is available; pair carbonara and amatriciana with a curated cocktail like the Agrippina, an olive oil fat-washed gin-based creation infused with notes of fig and Mediterranean herbs.
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Fa Fiu Chè
This wine bar is going on 20 years, yet still feels like a hidden gem reserved for those in the know. With a warm and sophisticated atmosphere, tucked inside the hip Monti neighbourhood, Fa Fiu Chè offers 800-plus Italian wines by the bottle and plenty by the glass. Wine connoisseurs will revel in the largely Piedmontese selection, which includes a huge range of Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera. An equally curated menu features local dishes like vitello tonnato, ravioli al tovagliolo and specialty charcuterie.
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Enoteca Il Piccolo
Since 1980 and still kicking, Il Piccolo is the quintessential cool kids’ wine bar. Heavy on the natural wine and small producers, they also offer aperitivos on request. Your best bet is to come early (they open at noon), as tables fill up and overflow onto the street and the steps in front of the palazzo next door. The super-friendly staff is very busy but rarely rude. While it’s smack in the middle of the tourist hub behind Piazza Navona on Via del Governo Vecchio, it doesn’t get more local than this.
Salotto 42
Salotto 42 hits every mark – quality wines, great cocktails (try the gin and tonic), even a superb coffee. The inviting interiors are inspired by a book bar, with analogue library vibes and a nightly music selection that manages to appeal to Gen Z and the 50-something set simultaneously. The real draw is the alfresco seating in full view of a strikingly intact Corinthian colonnade of the Hadrian era.
Trapizzino
An essential wine stop for the ultimate in local flavour. The all-Lazio wine list at Trapizzino is meant to pair with their Roman street food creations – most notably the namesake trapizzino, Roman-style focaccia wedges stuffed with regional recipes like beef tongue and meatballs. An extensive by-the-glass wine list offers classically styled and low-intervention versions of local varieties like Cesanese, Bellone, Trebbiano and Malvasia.
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Masa Rooftop
Rooftop bars reign in Rome (see also Charlie’s and Zuma). A hidden gem atop the Major Hotel, Masa rooftop offers stunning views of the Santa Maria Maggiore Cathedral and the surrounding rooftops of old-centre Rome. Choose from a small, selective wine list and seasonal, multi-sensory cocktails made to complement the pan-Mediterranean menu.
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Bar Locarno
A true hideaway just off the rush of Piazza del Popolo and Via del Corso, the Locarno hotel bar has it all: chic coffee service, a small yet curated wine list, and exceptional cocktails. Their standard aperitivo is generous and includes house-roasted almond, olives and crisps, but the bar menu is also tempting. The interior courtyard is an oasis of green and wrought iron, while inside, Art-Deco-meets-Art-Nouveau design will make you want to move right in.
The Jerry Thomas Project
Rome’s first official speakeasy, Jerry Thomas pivoted Rome’s bar scene from hotel bar standards to innovative, on-trend establishments with global appeal. A rigorously 1920s style features low lights, glass cases, tuxedoed servers and top-tier mixology. From the perfect dry martini to experimental twists made with house-made tinctures and syrups, it’s no surprise this bar makes the 50 Best list year after year. Reservations are mandatory for entrance, as capacity is capped at 35. See also: their sister ‘bar room’ in Trastevere.
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Il Goccetto
Established in 1983, Il Goccetto set the pace for Rome’s wine bar scene as an institution for wine experts and a staple for those looking for a great glass and fun vibes. A perfect dichotomy of Rome’s old- and new-school charm. Keep your eyes out for the “Vino e Olio” sign above the entrance and an animated pack of smokers out front. Inside, 16th-century cosiness awaits; dark wood shelves are lined with bottles from owners Sergio and Anna’s collection of over 800 Italian and French bottles. Check the blackboard for daily offerings by the glass, then snack on charcuterie, cheese and creative small bites.
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Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa
Beer drinkers, don’t despair. Craft and artisan breweries have been popping up throughout Italy in recent decades. A first of its kind, this beer bar caters to football fans with a taste for pints. Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fa takes its name from a Roman expression mostly reserved for fans of the opposing team, but is affectionally applied here to a minimum of 16 beers on tap, including lagers, Belgian blondes and even an Italian grape ale. It’s located in the buzzy Trastevere neighbourhood, but despite the area’s recent tourist influx, it still attracts devoted locals and tops the list for best beer bars in town.
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