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.
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The 10 best bars in Rome
01 · Rome
Centro Storico
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Speakeasy · Email for password
You email for the password. Unmarked door near Campo de' Fiori. Old-school cocktail historians; the menu rewards classics geeks.
Order: A Sazerac, made the long way
02 · Rome
Piazza del Popolo
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Hotel bar · Garden
At Hotel de Russie. The garden bar between the hotel and Pincian Hill is one of Rome's most romantic drinking rooms.
Order: Negroni Bianco in the orange-tree courtyard
03 · Rome
Trastevere
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Aperitivo + late-night
In a former mechanic's garage. Aperitivo buffet with €10 cocktails — the tradition done well. Late-night, the room becomes a cocktail bar.
Order: A negroni + their aperitivo plates
04 · Rome
Centro Storico
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Aperitivo · Sidewalk
Iconic central Rome aperitivo bar under a fig tree. All-day café, all-night bar. The most Roman drinking room in Rome.
Order: A Spritz under the fig tree
05 · Rome
Prati
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Aperitivo + restaurant
Prati neighbourhood favourite. Aperitivo with serious food (cured meats, cheeses), wine list that's deeper than the format suggests.
Order: A glass of Lazio wine + their charcuterie
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06 · Rome
Centro Storico
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All-day · Cocktails
Coffee in the morning, cocktails by night. The Barnum is the most useful all-day room in central Rome.
Order: A negroni at any hour
07 · Rome
Testaccio
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Cocktail bar + dinner
Testaccio neighbourhood cocktail bar with a dinner menu that takes itself seriously. Modern Italian drinks paired with Roman food.
Order: A Roman-spirit-led cocktail + cacio e pepe
08 · Rome
Monti
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Tokyo-meets-Rome · Modern
Patrick Pistolesi's modernist room. Tokyo-aesthetic, Roman-ingredient. Top of Italy's cocktail bar list for the past five years.
Order: Whatever's the seasonal Italian-spirit signature
09 · Rome
Esquilino
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Hotel bar · Colosseum view
At the Palazzo Manfredi hotel. Direct view of the Colosseum from the bar window. One of Rome's most underrated hotel bars.
Order: A martini with the Colosseum visible
10 · Rome
Centro Storico
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Speakeasy · Hidden
Hidden speakeasy near Campo de' Fiori. Reservations only. Quieter than Jerry Thomas; the technique is equally serious.
Order: Bartender's choice with Italian amaros
More Rome bars by categoryCocktail, rooftop, hidden gem, date night — the full Rome index.
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How to drink the Roman way
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.
