Editorial
Rome's bar scene is older than its modern cocktail scene by a century — the aperitivo tradition was built here. The 10 below balance both: the historic hotel bars (Stravinskij at Hotel de Russie has been pouring since the 1820s) and the modern cocktail rooms (Jerry Thomas Project, opened 2010, set the new standard). Most are in Centro Storico or Trastevere.
Rome doesn't bar-hop the way northern European cities do. The aperitivo (pre-dinner drink with snacks) is its own institution — Freni e Frizioni and Bar del Fico are the templates. After dinner, the cocktail rooms (Jerry Thomas, Drink Kong) take over. Most Roman cocktail bars run later than restaurants would suggest — 2 AM closes are common.
Global Cities Editor — Bangkok to Buenos Aires. Cultural context, not just cocktail tourism.