Il Marchese: Europe’s first Amaro Bar & Roman Trattoria

Meet il Marchese, a restaurant & cocktail bar with two souls in Rome’s centro storico

Il Marchese unites the best of two worlds: a bar with elegant French salon accents and pompous chandeliers, and a restaurant with the coziness of a Roman trattoria. But it’s not just the décor that’s impressive. When you walk into Il Marchese you step inside Europe’s first Amaro bar with more than 500 different Amaro labels.

Captained by Fabrizio Valeriani you’re sure to get the perfectly crafted cocktail at Il Marchese. Great importance is given to the ideation and preparation of what makes up the drink such as cordials, syrups, infusions, fake limes, all prepared at home.

The Cocktail and Amaro bar has a stunning bar counter offering a selection of predominantly Italian labels and some international labels. It’s also the first Amaro bar to offer a cocktail list based entirely on bitters, and a list of 30 amaros that change each month. The menu is divided into three categories: Twist on Negroni & American Style Cocktails, Signature & Seasonal, and Unforgettable & Great Classics. And for the bitter aficionados, try the vintage amari selection, with bitters from 1950 to 1970. The must-try cocktail? The Milkamaro punch! But you’ll find both classic and experimental cocktails at Il Marchese. 

Come by from 6pm – 9pm to indulge in aperitivo. Order from three different aperitivo menus to accompany your drink: romano with a carbonara or amatriciana tasting and a supplì; tagliere with your choice of cured meats and cheese; or homemade pinsa romana with ham and figs or mortadella, buffalo mozzarella and pistachio. Cocktails will set you back €12, and for an extra €15 per couple you can choose one of the aperitivo menus.

Or better yet, stop by for lunch or dinner before navigating the streets of Rome. With its perfectly central location footsteps from Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo, Il Marchese is surely a great place for a short break. You can dine directly at the kitchen counter or in one of the cozy wooden tables. If you see the chefs walking around the dining area, don’t be alarmed, they’re not slacking off, they’re just getting fresh ingredients from the market. That’s right, Il Marchese has its own indoor food corner where chefs grab ingredients on the go and where even clients can purchase fresh local produce.

What to order? With Chef Daniele Roppo, you’re sure to have a fantastic dining experience. Authentic cuisine that does not know half portions, yummy meat specialties and seafood specialties, and main courses marinated in distilled and bitter bases is what awaits you. Not to mention delicious homemade pasta! But the iconic dish is la carbonara del Marchese. The guanciale is perfectly crispy, the pasta is homemade and al dente and the sauce creamy to the point. And wait until you taste their Roman-style grilled meat and seafood such as the cod with zucchini and mint cream!

But how can you describe Il Marchese? After all, it’s a mix of Roman recipes with a contemporary twist and countless Amaro labels. I’d say it’s a locale with two souls, it’s a way of mixing the past with the present, a new way of spending time together in contemporary Rome, seven days out of seven, from 11.30am till 1am. Il Marchese is a place that puts together some of the best life has to offer: quality food, quality drinks and quality people, all day long.