The Best Cocktail Bars In Rome

Although Rome is better known for its wine bars than its cocktail bars, the drinking scene is evolving and a variety of new watering holes have cropped up in the Eternal City championing beverages that are shaken, muddled and stirred. From swanky rooftop bars and secret garden locales to intimate speakeasies and local favorites, Rome has a wide variety of venues that will please cocktail lovers of all stripes.

Woman at Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti or ‘The Spanish Steps’, Rome, Lazio, Italy, 2019.

1. Salotto 42

Cocktail Bar, Pub Grub, Cocktails, Wine, Beer, Italian

Ranked as one of the world’s best bars, Salotto 42 has an enviable front-row spot overlooking the 2nd-century ruins of the Temple of Hadrian. When in Rome, why not enjoy your spritz with a view? It’s a stylish little ‘book bar’ with delicious drinks, tasty finger foods and cool music. Mingle with an upscale crowd in the evenings or enjoy a more relaxed ambience in the later afternoons and be sure to grab a seat outside or just behind the sliding glass door to enjoy the vista.

2. Blackmarket San Lorenzo

Cocktail Bar, Cocktails, Wine, Beer, Pub Grub, Italian

Blackmarket San Lorenzo, one of three Blackmarket venues in Rome, is an atmospheric cocktail bar with carefully curated aesthetics and an extensive list of mixed drinks that pay nod to the Roaring ’20s. The menu features a number of signature cocktails, inspired by barman Alessandro’s time spent in London, and variations on classic drinks, though the team is happy to whip up personalized beverages for guests. The interior décor is quirky and cool, with exposed brick walls, vintage sofas and cozy candlelight – complementing the bar’s warm and friendly service.

3. Stravinskij Bar

Bar, Beer, Wine, Cocktails, Pub Grub, Italian

One of Rome’s most exclusive locations is the Stravinskij Bar nestled within Hotel de Russie marvelous private garden: a truly verdant oasis just steps from Piazza del Popolo. Perched upon a private terrace designed by neoclassical architect Giuseppe Valadier, you can enjoy a wide range of signature cocktails while people-watching and soaking in the beautiful landscape around you. Hotel de Russie is a favorite hotel with celebrities and the well-heeled crowd so you never know who you may spot into while sipping your G&T.

4. The Jerry Thomas Project

Bar, Pub Grub, Wine, Beer, Cocktails, Italian

Rome’s most famous late-night speakeasy, The Jerry Thomas Project is a cocktail bar straight out of the Prohibition Era. Located behind an unassuming doorway in the heart of Rome, you’ll need to answer a riddle on the website to receive the secret password to enter the speakeasy and reservations are encouraged. Intimate, dimly lit and with great decor, Jerry Thomas creates a great atmosphere and offers top-notch cocktails to boot.

5. Freni e Frizioni

Bar, Cocktails, Wine, Beer, Pub Grub, Italian

A Trastevere favorite, Freni e Frizioni is one of the neighborhood’s liveliest places for an aperitivo and a great place to enjoy delicious cocktails in a convivial setting. The bar was once a mechanic’s shop – hence the name, which means ‘Tires and Clutches’. It spills out onto an enormous piazza, meaning most patrons take a seat along the wall or stand, mingling with friends. Hip but casual, it’s a great place to enjoy long summer nights. Don’t miss the mojito, one of the best in the city.

6. Co.So.

Located in Rome’s gritty but gentrifying Pigneto neighborhood, Co.So. is a surprisingly upscale diamond in the rough. Short for Cocktails & Social, Co.So. features typewritten menus delivered to your table in Manila envelopes, bubble wrap coasters, an all-you-can-eat popcorn machine, and gummy bears to snack on while you sip on your bespoke cocktails. Each drink is carefully crafted and served in a unique glass, and this may be the only place where you can sample a carbonara sour: the secret ingredient is guanciale-infused vodka which adds a savory flavor to the citrus classic.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.