Rome Nightlife Guide: Best Bars in Rome

Where to drink in Rome

Alembic

Piazza in Piscinula, 51 (Trastevere)
AlembicRoma

Dimmed lights, a trendy yet cozy atmosphere, chill-out music floating in the air, and the perfect mix of unique cocktails and art. This is Alembic, the funky bar in the heart of Trastevere where you’ll be spending most of your nights. Wax dripped on wine bottles, beautiful chandeliers, great people and modern art everywhere. Sit in one of the chairs or couches or walk around and mingle. Whether it’s for aperitivo or drinks, Alembic will deliver and will become your ultimate spot in Trastevere. Check out their facebook page for info on events.

La Punta Expendio de Agave

Via di Santa Cecilia, 8 (Trastevere)
expendiodeagave

If you are the traveling type and love reminiscing about your adventures over good food and cocktails, Agaveria La Punta is for you. Following three years of travel through Mexico, and a collaboration between city hot spots The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy and Freni e Frizioni, Trastevere’s newest bar has opened its doors to Rome’s wanderlust minds. The owners are well versed in the Mexican cocktail, specifically those influenced by the region of Oaxaca, after having researched the area extensively. Tequila and Mezcal play a strong role in the drink list which also includes a few beers on tap that can be read off of a passport inspired menu.

Read the full review of Agaveria La Punta

Coffee Pot

Via del Politeama, 12 (Trastevere)
coffeepotcompany.com

Set in an uber-cool, collective space featuring lounge and an outdoor patio for the summer months, this is the type of place you don’t want to leave in a hurry. Specialising in sushi, tacos, and great drinks from an extensive cocktail menu, Coffee Pot is the perfect place for drinks in Trastevere. Hip, stylish and with great music!

Bar del Fico

Piazza del Fico, 2 (Navona)
bardelfico.com

This is where all Romans go for a cocktail or just to show off and be seen. It’s a great place to meet posh but cool locals and wait around with a cocktail or beer until the clubs are full and ready for dancing the night away. Inside is always packed and the crowd spills out into the piazza making this the ultimate place for pretty-people-watching in Rome.

Clorofilla Cucina e Distillati

Vicolo delle Grotte, 17 (Campo de’ Fiori)
clorofillacucinaedistillati.it

Tucked away on a quiet side street footsteps from  Campo de’ Fiori, Clorofilla is the ultimate place for dinner and late night drinks. Step inside this locale to be immersed in a completely different atmosphere…warm tones, good vibes, bricked walls, a stunning L-shaped bar with over 100 liquors, a cozy and trendy dining area and plants surrounding the whole setting. Browse the cocktail selection – which changes every three months – to be swept off your feet. Each drink is named after a plant… Calendula, Hedera, Artemisia… And every Thursday, don’t miss out on live music with Clorofilla Live: from jazz to blues and karaoke, each week a different musical program awaits you with live performers.

Jerry Thomas Speakeasy

Vicolo Cellini, 30 (Campo de’ Fiori)
thejerrythomasproject.it

Everything inside is 1920s/1930s from the decorations to the bartenders to, more importantly, the drinks. The care in the selection of the best beverage products on the market, meticulous preparation of syrups, infusions, bitters, macerated, cocktails and spirits aged in wood and glass, makes this Speakeasy a benchmark in quality and passion in the world of Mixology. To enter this place we suggest looking up the site, you need a password that changes every month.

Argot

Via dei Cappellari, 93 (Campo de Fiori)
Argot

Gianluca, Francesco and Gabriele are three friends who shared a common dream; to open a unique, speakeasy inspired cocktail bar that would make people feel at home. After 8 months of tearing down, rebuilding, recycling and designing what used to be an old theatre, their dream has finally been fulfilled in the form of Argot. Rome’s cocktail lounge and cultural association, Argot gives off warm, friendly vibes steeped in sleek, vintage nostalgia. With unique and enticing cocktails, live music every weekends and events and a quirky, intimate ambience- Argot is the perfect place to step back in time.

Barnum Cafè

Via del Pellegrino, 87 (Campo dei Fiori)
barnumcafe.com

You want somewhere cosy, cool, in centro but hidden from the tacky tourist traps around Campo dei Fiori? Sexy lighting, mismatched timber tables, vintage couches and artwork and an eclectic crowd of local Italians. After dark, you can hang out here drinking and snacking on their aperitivo until late.

Open Baladin

Via degli Specchi, 6 (Argentina)
openbaladinroma.it

This place takes its beer so seriously and has such a vast choice of labels that you can even do a little beer tasting as you would normally with a glass of vino in order to make the perfect choice. They also offer up classic companions to a pint of beer, from hamburgers to hot dogs, but with quality beef and homemade ketchup.

Blackmarket Hall

Via de Ciancaleoni, 31  (Monti)
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For those of you who want to be transported back to the roaring twenties, and for the lovers of cocktails, good food and live music, Blackmarket Hall will definitely be your new haunt. This cocktail bar has nestled itself into Rome’s Monti neighborhood, just a few steps from Blackmarket Monti on Via Panisperna.  The aesthetic charm of the place also finds its way into their bar, where the cocktails and drinks are prepared by their mixologists. And as far as dining is concerned, Blackmarket Hall is definitely a place where you can enjoy a hearty burger or a fish and chips if you find yourself feeling peckish, and for those of the vegan persuasion there are a couple of veggie burger alternatives along with a number of salads to choose from.  Each weekend will be a chance for you to enjoy live music entertainment where a host of different artists will enter the hall to whisk you away on a soulful night of musical discovery.

Read the full review of Blackmarket Hall

The Race Club

Via Labicana, 52 (Colosseo)
theraceclubspeakeasyroma.com

A relaxing nightcap at a speakeasy is a great way to end a wild night out, but what if there was a speakeasy that had the energy, vibe and cocktail menu to become your go-to spot at any time of night. A stone’s throw from the Colosseum and Monti, The Race Club is a new speakeasy that’s fast becoming a beloved  late-night underground den.

Read the full review of The Race Club

Drink Kong

Piazza San Martino ai Monti, 8
 drinkkong

Drink Kong is the newest addition to Monti’s nightlife scene. Owned by the legendary bartender Patrick Pistolesi, Drink Kong is the place to relax while sipping perfectly mixed cocktails and tasting delicious food right at Piazza San Martino ai Monti. There is the main bar that greets you as soon as you walk in with a wall of carefully chosen spirits. To your left, there is a futuristic lounge. Walk right, and you’ll find yourself in “the jungle room” where you can enjoy beer on tap, long drinks, and live music nights twice a week. In the back, there is a room with walls covered in Japanese art and a long, natural wood table, where you can reserve a spot to try crafted cocktails made by the owner himself. The bar’s motto is “drink kong, think kong, be kong” but the basis of the bar is that the bartenders and the owner do not want you to have a drink. They want you to have an experience.

Sacripante Gallery

Via Panisperna, 59 (Monti)
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Built into the bones of an old convent, Sacripante Gallery strives to mix the old with the new. As you step inside this dual art gallery and bar, you feel transported to another place, to an older time, and with its range of classic cocktails reminiscent of 1920s American speakeasies. In addition to events like gallery openings and readings, Sacripante has DJ music sets some evenings, as well as an aperitivo on Tuesday and Sunday that starts every day at 8pm.Class is the definition of Sacripante.

Read the full review of Sacripante Gallery

Ai Tre Scalini

Via Panisperna, 251 (Monti)
aitrescalini.org

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the service is top notch, while their music ranges from jazz to traditional Roman stornelli. Along with the selection of a hundred or so wines on the list, one can taste the excellent Menabrea beer and a number of great distilled spirits. They boast wines by the glass to suit all budgets. The strictly Italian wine list is not intimidating in price yet you can certainly find all the country’s classics.

The Gin Corner

Via di Pallacorda, 2 (Centro Storico)
thegincorner.com

The Gin Corner, with an emphasis on the word “The”, is The first lounge dedicated to Gin in Italy. It opened in 2013 in the very central Hotel Adriano and has been hugely successful ever since. This gin mecca is not only popular with Gin aficionados who can enjoy hundreds brands of Gin but it is also frequented by those who enjoy a good cocktail. The Gin Corner has more than 100 different kinds of gin from all over the world, all hand picked by head barman Patrick Pistolesi. The cocktail menu is obviously centered around gin: from a Gin & Tonic to a great classic like the Martini and the more common Negroni.

Read the full review of The Gin Corner

Zuma Bar & Lounge

Via della Fontanella Borghese, 48 – Palazzo Fendi (Spagna)
zumarestaurant.com

Accessible through an independent entrance in Via della Fontanella di Borghese 48, the Zuma Bar and Lounge – on the 5th floor of Palazzo Fendi – is surrounded by a terrace with unparalleled views of the historical centre of Rome. Open from 6pm till 2am, the Zuma Bar offers a cocktail menu with an exciting mix of Zuma signature and seasonal cocktails such as raspberry & passion fruit martini; rubabu, with rhubarb infused sake, vodka, passion fruit and lemon; shiso and yuzu mojito, with rum, shiso, yuzu, lime and soda water.

Baccano

Via Delle Muratte, 23 (Trevi)
RistoranteBaccano

Baccano is a Mediterranean Bistro that looks like it could be in Paris but tastes of Rome. A few steps from the Trevi Fountain, the sophisticated interior and extensive Italian menu appeal to locals as well as nearby tourists. But the real draw is the man behind the bar (but not always literally) Mario Farulla. There is a wide selection of beverages to choose from but the most quintessential would be an Aperol Spritz, made by the entertaining and dashing Alessio Giovannesi. It’s the most universal (and most popular) drink in Italy – and also the perfect segue to dinner.

Club Derriere

Vicolo delle Coppelle, 59 (Centro Storico)
clubderriereroma

Club Derriere is a hidden bar located in the heart of Rome. Hidden because the main entrance is in a small alleyway off of the bustling Piazza delle Coppelle – the other secret entrance is through one of the back, private dining rooms of the massive restaurant Osteria delle Coppelle. Inside you will find a dark, intimate space much like a living room which makes Club Derriere the perfect spot for a nightcap and a popular after-hours spot for industry peeps. Simple ingredients, complex flavors and easy to drink cocktails are in store.

Bukowski’s Bar

Via del Ombrellari, 25 (Prati/Borgo)
bukowskisbar.com

Vintage finds, bohemian Roman style décor, a library of books and pop culture references will certainly appeal to your senses. Odes to Fellini, Bukowski and even Star Wars, are carefully placed throughout while art shows grace the walls. For entrées one might get prosciutto and hummus, go for a sandwhich, their special tartares or an especially gracious list of salads. The highlight? Bukowski’s Bar offers twelve different kinds of spritz! And wine lovers, go for the good stuff with Bukowski’s wine selection of Italy’s tastiest. Art, dinner, drinks, and leisure are just around the corner from the Vatican, Bukowski’s Bar has established itself as a place worth seeking out by any pursuer of good things.

Read the full review of Bukowski’s Bar

Chorus Cafè

Via della Conciliazione, 4
ChorusCafeRome

Experience the most beautiful city in the world at Chorus Cafè, amidst timeless elegance a stone’s throw from St. Peter’s. Chorus isn’t just a restaurant and bar, it’s more of a Roman living room, where in a unique and glamorous setting, Massimo D’Addezio, already Best Bar in the World 2008 – Best of The Best Virtuoso – and the internationally-experiencedChef Andrea Sangiuliano will tempt you with their extraordinary proposals.

La Conventicola degli Ultramoderni

Via Di Porta Labicana, 32 (San Lorenzo)
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With their Conventicola degli Ultramoderni, “Mirkaccio” and “Madame De Freitas” have lit a fire under Rome’s bar scene, carrying a style that can best be described as vaudeville meets variety show meets café chantant. Hosting about a dozen, vastly different artists each night, along with the occasional burlesque performance, this venue is like nowhere else in Rome. While everything about the space is designed to entertain, from the blue sparkly seat cushions to the cabaret style furniture, a serious devotion to the arts defines its purpose. That is, there is nothing hokey about it. Mirko denies the label “vintage,” which he deems to be merely a modern trend; he is interested rather, in timeless artistic talent. Although the emphasis on beverage has been intentionally overshadowed by the locale’s main draw of live performance, the cocktails are outstanding. Open Wed-Thurs, 9pm-4am; Fri-Sat,10pm-5am.

Read the full review of La Conventicola degli Utramoderni

Stadlin

Via Antonio Pacinotti, 83 (Ostiense)
stadlinrome

Located near the “Ponte di Ferro” this trendy club has an industrial style and is connected to an adjacent electronic vinyl store, which boasts a selection of underground records ranging from deep house to Dubstep. Stadlin serves a decent aperitivo (with vegan options as well), and tasty cocktails accompanied with electronic and funk DJ sets from Tuesday to Sunday. Softer acts open the night, and are followed by energetic acts later on.

Ch1887

Via di Monte Testaccio, 30 (Testaccio)
ch1887

Simone Mina, sixth generation of a famous restaurant family here in Rome, is the mastermind behind this tiny establishment. He’s also the only person operating it. His concept was to create an imaginary museum of liquids in this hidden space located on the second floor of Checchino dal 1887, a restaurant that has been around for 130+ years. Taking inspiration from his family and the surrounding neighborhood of Testaccio, Ch1887 combines food and cocktail culture, by experimenting with flavors and ingredients that can be found in traditional Roman dishes.

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