Bars in Rome

There are so many great bars in Rome from enotecas to rooftop bars and speakeasies. Read on for some of the bars I visited!

Salotto 42 (near the Pantheon)

Salotto 42 is situated in the gorgeous Piazza Di Pietra opposite the amazing temple of Hadrian. It is open from 10.30am serving coffee and light bites, transforming into a cocktail bar in the evening and staying open until 2am.

The cocktail list was so impressive and we were torn on which ones to choose. They focus on using homemade ingredients and offering an unique experience with each cocktail.

The menu is split into four section – Apertivi (€10), Cocktails (€12), Twist (€15) and Sparkling Cocktails (€15). Each section has over ten to choose fro, so if you love cocktails, go here! We opted for the Lady Bramble from the cocktails section with Gin, Sangue Morlacco, lemon, raspberry, cardamon syrup and the Aviation from the Twist section served with Gin, violet, maraschino, lemon and violet air.

Both were presented beautifully and were really tasty! There was a ‘cool’ vibe here and definitely worth a visit.

Les Etoiles Rooftop (near Castel Sant’Angelo)

I am always hunting for a rooftop abroad (even in the winter!) just to see the sights from a height. Les Etoiles rooftop is situated near Castel Sant’Angelo and offers panoramic views of Rome.

It is a fairly classy rooftop but we were allowed in a top, shorts and pumps. There are tables outside directly in the sun but also plenty of covering for when the temperatures soar. The views obviously come at a price with cocktails priced at €15. There are only four on the menu (Aperol Spritz, Americano, Negroni and Gin Tonic). I requested a Hugo Spritz which turned out to be €12 and was served with the cocktails are olives and savoury snacks.

The service was pretty average, as was the Spritz, but the views and outdoor seating truly made up for it. We also did not feel rushed to leave so bathed in the sun for a while.

Charity Cafe (Monti)

Charity Cafe is situated less than a five minutes from our hotel. It offers live jazz and blues throughout the week in an intimate and cosy venue. We visited late on a Thursday and sat enjoying the jazz band.

There was a minimum spend of €8 per person for a drink which covered the music. We ordered wine (which is normally €5) but you could just grab a cocktail and then you are paying the €8 anyway! From Tuesday to Saturday 6-9pm they also offer aperitivo with your drink.

Ai Tre Scalini (Monti)

Ai Tre Scalini is one of the oldest wine bars in Rome and was less than 5 minutes walk from our hotel. You can’t miss it with the greenery surrounding the entrance.

The atmosphere was relaxed and informal and we sipped on Aperol Spritz’s (€6) with some light nibbles. They also offer traditional Italian plates and have a smaller area at the back for dining. Lovely place to visit for a tipple.

Barzilai (Monti)

Barzilai is a bistro and wine bar located opposite Ai Tre Scalini. We had a late night spritz, vino and grappa (€20 together) whilst playing cards.

The decor was traditionally rustic and the service was friendly. We were also eyeing up the delicious dishes being served but didn’t have any more room in our stomachs!