The Highlander hides down Vicolo di San Biagio, a tucked away lane about 50 metres off the largo in the heart of the old centre. It is a small Scottish pub that has built its name on one promise. When the football is on, it shows more of it than anywhere else in Rome.
The pub markets itself, in its own words, as one of the few rooms in the city fully dedicated to sport, with the accent firmly on football. The back bar runs Scottish ales and international taps alongside whisky, the natural Highlander pour for a half-time round. This is a drinking room first, with food kept simple so the screens stay the focus.
The claim that pulls fans down the lane is the Champions League. The Highlander broadcasts up to six Champions League matches at once, which it bills as the only full European-night experience of its kind in Rome. On a Tuesday in the group stage that means every meaningful goal across the continent lands on a screen somewhere in the room.
What to order is a pint of the Scottish ale and a whisky to follow, the pairing the bar is built around. The taps cover lager and ale for the long sit, and the spirit shelf rewards a slow nightcap once the last match settles. Keep the order light and frequent, since the table service moves quickly between kickoffs.
The screen list runs well past the European nights. The Highlander carries the English Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga, plus the Europa League, NFL and college football, NHL hockey, Formula 1 and Australian rules. A niche fixture that no one else in Rome will show often finds a corner screen here.
Who is it for. Champions League regulars who want every tie at once, travelling fans hunting a Premier League or NFL kickoff a short walk from the Pantheon, and groups happy in a snug rather than a hall. Skip it if you need a big bright sports barn, since the charm here is the low cosy warren.
Best time to go is a Champions League midweek from the 5pm open, when the three seating areas fill toward the bigger screen at the back. The pub trades every day of the year, so a quiet league night still finds a match and a seat without a wait.
Getting here takes a little hunting, which is part of the appeal. The entrance sits about 50 metres from Largo di Torre Argentina, close to the tram and bus lines that cross the centre. Arrive before a marquee kickoff, since the back room with the main screen claims its regulars early.
The snug scale is the point, not a limit. With three seating areas feeding one main screen at the back, the room stays loud and shared rather than split into private booths, so a late winner echoes off the low ceiling and the whole pub reacts at once. Regulars treat it as a clubhouse for European nights, and the staff know which tie belongs on which screen without being asked.
For the wider field, our guide to the best sports bars in Rome sets this hidden Scottish room against the larger Irish halls, and the city Rome bar guide maps where to drink around the old centre. Match-day planners should read our pillar on the best bars for watching the game in Rome, and travellers comparing cities can scan the global sports bars collection.
Sources: The Highlander official site, highlanderome.com (2026); Tripadvisor Highlander Pub Rome reviews; Yelp Highlander Roma listing; Novacircle The Highlander Pub Rome profile.
