While there’s plenty of information around about good places to eat in Rome, it can sometimes be tricky to locate the right bar for an afternoon drink, pre-dinner glass of wine, or a late-night cocktail. Never fear! We’ve rounded up some of the best cafes, bars, and pubs in the Eternal City to ease the transition from day into evening. All of the places listed are in the historical center or located near metro stations. Cheers!
1. Barnum Café
Via del Pellegrino 87, Tel +39 0664760483
Part coffee shop, part wine bar, Barnum really comes alive at night when its talented bar-staff mix some of the best cocktails in town. In pleasant, shabby-chic surroundings not far from the crowds of Campo de’ Fiori, cosy armchairs, fresh breakfasts, gourmet sandwiches, burgers, aperitifs and occasional DJ sets make it good to go day or night. Free wifi just adds to the experience. (coffee, wine, cocktails)
2. Club Derriere
Vicolo delle Coppelle 59, tel +39 0645502826
Accessed through a white wardrobe at the back of a restaurant called Osteria delle Coppelle, Club Derriere is one of Rome’s trendiest new drinking dens. Deliberately hidden from view, this windowless speakeasy is part Scottish castle, part wartime bunker, with leather sofas, worn carpets, and suits of armor. Open from 9.30 pm until late, order a classic cocktail here or home-brewed spirits and enjoy the live music on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s also an anonymous street entrance in Vicolo delle Coppelle, where you have to ring the bell. (cocktails, digestifs)
3. Porto Fluviale
Via del Porto Fluviale 22, Tel +39 065743199
Dressed with hurricane lamps, white wood, and gleaming ceramic tiles, this all-day bar and trattoria is a big fish in an up-and-coming area awash with restaurants inspired by Rome’s nautical past. While Porto Fluviale is ideal for a fragrant pastry and coffee for breakfast, a lazy brunch, or lunch, it really comes into its own after 6 o’clock when locals pop in for an aperitivo. Try an Aperol or Campari based cocktail, a glass of wine from the daily-changing list, or sup on Porto Fluviale’s in-house ales – a crisp lager, floral Weiss beer, or a very hoppy IPA – rigorously accompanied with mouthwatering snacks and taster sized portions from Porto Fluviale’s kitchens, including creamy risottos and tangy pasta dishes, as well as fat black olives and hand-cooked chips. (coffee, tea, wine, craft beer, cocktails)
4. Luppolo 12 (low-key)
Via dei Marrucini 12, Tel +39 066838989
This buzzing craft beer pub is adored by Rome’s students and it’s easy to see why. Located in the university district of San Lorenzo, not far from Termini station, it’s a simple enough spot with a premium tap list of Italian and international beers. With happy hour prices until 9 every evening and all night on Tuesdays, grab a table and enjoy the freshly prepared bar snacks with your drinks, including cold cuts and sandwiches. (coffee, craft beer)
5. Apt
Via Clementina 9, Tel +39 338 942 8143
Apt is the latest Roman cocktail bar in 1930s style, although it’s not a speakeasy, making a pleasant change. Located in trendy Monti, while this an underground hang-out, it has a spacious, airy vibe due to its high ceilings and well-placed vintage sofas and chairs. Here, the bar staff and DJs – all very smart in 1930s gear – seem to be enjoying themselves as much as the hip clientele. Expect new and old-world cocktails served in vintage glassware, light bites, and a music set featuring electro-swing and Big Band tunes. (coffee, wine, craft beer, cocktails)
6. Chakra cafe (cocktails)
Piazza S. Rufina 13, Tel +39 3382917593
In eclectic, warm surroundings, this is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Trastevere for a glass of wine or beer, a hot chocolate, or a cocktail prepared by the knowledgeable and friendly staff. Occasional live music nights or a big game on discreet screens add to the cozy atmosphere, while in spring and summer, expect to sit outside in the pretty lane, using a beer barrel as a table and watching the world saunter by. (coffee, tea, wine, beer, cocktails)
7. Apartment bar (cocktail bar)
Via dei Marrucini 1, Tel +39 0693576164
This wine and cocktail bar 10 minutes from Termini station offers a great selection of drinks, with DJs thrown in at weekends. Come early for an aperitivo, served with cold snacks, or join the young crowds after dinner for long drinks and cocktails. Sit at high tables in the shabby-chic ground floor bar or recline on its rooftop Paradise Garden amongst tropical plants in the heart of the trendy San Lorenzo district. (craft beer, wine, cocktails)
8. Open Baladin
Via degli Specchi 6, Tel 0039 066838989
This buzzing craft beer pub is hugely popular with young people enamored by its tap list and excellent bar food, featuring burgers, hand-cooked chips, and gourmet ketchup. With guest beers on rotation from all over Europe and the United States, as well as a huge menu of regular favorites, ask the friendly staff for their tips, or flick through the weekly menu. Lookout as well for special tasting events, led by local brewers. (craft beer)
9. Coffee Pot Trastevere
Via del Politeama 12, coffeepot-roma.com
The latest cool address in Trastevere is Coffee Pot, a restaurant and cocktail hang out which specializes in sushi, tacos, and mescal, replicating the successful formula of the original Coffee Pot in San Lorenzo. Come for a pre-dinner buffet and drink, stay for the a la carte menu which includes a sushi taco and bento boxes, or drop in later for imaginative cocktails. (craft beer, wine, cocktails)
10. Ai Tre Scalini
Via Panisperna 251, Tel +39 +39 0648907495
This extremely popular wine bar in hip Monti is packed with locals all year round, plus a fair share of tourists that manage to squeeze into its atmospheric interior. Friendly staff, excellent wine by the glass, and surprisingly good bar food are just some of the hallmarks of this institution in Via Panisperna. The craft beers include gluten-free options and they also have a good range of long drinks but don’t expect cocktails. In terms of food, they’re best at cold-cuts and cheese boards, pack mean porchetta, and the buffalo mozzarella will leave you licking your lips. Perch at the bar if tables aren’t available – you can still eat and it’s actually more fun. This bar is open virtually all year round and is a great spot for some wifi business and a glass of wine in the afternoons. (long drinks, aperitifs, wine, beer)
Contact The Luxe team to find out more about our gastronomic tours of Rome and Italy!