Our Take on Rec 23

Trastevere is Rome's most crowded neighbourhood for bars, which makes Rec 23's position as the area's genuine craft cocktail destination all the more impressive. The bar sits on Piazza dell'Emporio at the edge of the neighbourhood, a position that puts it slightly apart from the tourist circuit while remaining easy to find. It opened in 2007 and spent years building a following among Rome's bartending community before that reputation expanded outward to serious drinkers who travel for bars specifically.

The menu structure at Rec 23 is organised around spirit categories, with each section representing a genuine depth of stock. The whisky selection runs to over 200 expressions including bottles you will not find elsewhere in the city. The cocktail list changes twice yearly and is written with the kind of precision that signals a kitchen rather than a bar — quantities are exacting, techniques are documented, and seasonal ingredients are sourced from specific producers. The team has competed and placed at international bartending competitions, which shows in the consistency and ambition of the work.

After midnight the bar transitions from focused cocktail service into something more energetic, and this is where Rec 23 has a second identity that distinguishes it from the more formal cocktail bars in Rome. The music gets louder, the crowd younger, and the drinks shift toward longer, more refreshing formats. Both phases are worth experiencing if the timing works. If you are planning a night that moves through Trastevere, Rec 23 works well as either a starting point for serious cocktails or a closing act after dinner in the neighbourhood.

What to Order

Single Malt Selection

Ask the bartender for a guided flight from the 200+ whisky collection. The house recommendation changes weekly.

Acid Trip

Mezcal, tepache, fermented pineapple, citric acid, and activated charcoal salt. Their signature adventurous cocktail.

Roman Holiday

Grappa, Nonino Amaro, Roman chamomile distillate, and elderflower. Surprisingly gentle for something so Italian.

Trastevere Highball

House-infused gin with Trastevere market botanicals, tonic, and fresh herbs. Their most ordered after-dinner drink.

Best Time to Visit

The 8pm to 10pm window gives you Rec 23 at its most focused. This is prime cocktail service time, before the late-night energy takes over and volume increases. Come here directly from dinner in Trastevere and plan to spend two hours at the bar properly. The after-work crowd finds it too late-night oriented for weeknights, so weekends are busier and better for the full experience.

Who This Bar Is For

Whisky collectors who want to drink through a serious Italian collection with guidance. Cocktail professionals visiting Rome who want to see what the local craft scene looks like at its most ambitious. Late-night drinkers who want somewhere in Trastevere that feels genuine rather than performative. The bar is also a reliable second stop after the more formal experience at The Jerry Thomas Project — the contrast in approach is instructive and both bars are doing exceptional work.