APERITIVIO Bars
IN ROME
APERITIVIO Bars
IN ROME
APERITIVIO IN ROME
TOP FIVE BARS AND RESTAURANTS
At the same time that you’d be tucking into afternoon tea in England, you can be enjoying aperitivo in Italy.
Instead of a cup of tea, you go for a glass of prosecco or wine. Or maybe even an Aperol Spritz! And bruschetta, olives and savoury snacks are served instead of sweet treats and scones.
Aperitivo is about so much more than just an aperitif in Italy. It’s an event that involves drinking and snacking in good company between lunch and dinner. The food on offer could be anything from small snacks like olives and nuts to a full-on buffet with risotto, pizza or pasta dishes. You never know quite what dishes to expect – or how nice they’re going to be.
We know that the quality can vary, and we want you to get the best value for money. So, are you ready for our top five recommendations for aperitivo in Rome? Trust us when we say you won’t be disappointed!
You may want to indulge in aperitivo on every day of your trip (and rightly so). With that in mind, we’ve suggested bars and restaurants in different neighbourhoods. That way, you’ll never be far from an amazing aperitivo spot where you can treat yourself to a tipple and a snack after a busy day of sightseeing and before you move onto pizza or pasta in the evening. 🙂
HERE’S WHAT
YOU NEED TO KNOW...
- You can expect to be served nuts, crisps or olives whenever you order an alcoholic drink.
- But if you want the full aperitivo experience complete with food, make sure you say so when you order. So, you could say “Un Aperol Spritz come aperitivo”. But if you literally just want to drink an Aperol Spritz and don’t fancy anything to eat with it, you could always say “senza aperitivo” to avoid any misunderstandings.
- If a bar or restaurant is serving aperitivo, you’ll usually only pay a few euros extra for the drink. But the food will be included for that price. Let’s say an Aperol Spritz costs EUR 7.00. You might pay something like EUR 10.00 for aperitivo but you’ll be getting plenty to eat for that extra money.
- Lots of bars and restaurants open up their aperitivo buffet between 6.00 p.m and 8.00 p.m.
- As the locals tend to eat their evening meals pretty late in the evening, aperitivo isn’t always an early affair. If you’re worried about finding somewhere to eat, it’s best to get your orders in early.
OUR
5 TOP-TIPS
MECCANISMO IN TRASTEVERE
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L’OASI DELLA BIRRA IN TESTACCIO
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CE STAMO A PENSÀ IN MONTI
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ROSSO NEAR CIRCO MASSIMO
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PIZZICAROLI NEAR PIAZZA NAVONA
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Drink with a view
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Trastevere has a reputation as a village within the city. There’s no underground station and the streets are too narrow for buses to squeeze through. Whilst the neighbourhood used to really just be the go-to for artists and students, it has come to be one of Rome’s most popular spots. People of all ages enjoy wandering around the delightful shops, dining in the traditional Italian restaurants, and meeting up at one of the massive squares for a drink at the end of the day.
How about Piazza Trilussa? Crowds of locals and tourists flock here in the evening to find somewhere to sit on the steps to the square. The perfect place to while away many a summer’s evening with good friends, a drink in hand and music playing in the background.
And just around the corner is a bar called Meccanismo. If you order aperitivo here, the friendly staff will bring you light bites like cheese balls, pizza slices, couscous and bruschetta on a tagliere or wooden board. The portion sizes are perfect for tasting a bit of everything, and there’s an authentic feel about the place.
Important information:
Price: EUR 10
Buffet: no
Piazza Trilussa 34
00153 Roma
daily from 07.30 a.m. – 2.00 a.m.
TIP 1
MECCANISMO IN TRASTEVERE
Testaccio is smaller than Trastevere and not so crowded. Not many people even know about its landmark hill made of old clay vessel remains that has been there for thousands of years. The locals used to dispose of the amphoras they had used to store wine, grain or oil here, when they couldn’t reuse them for hygiene reasons. Over the years, the artificial mountain of discarded clay fragments grew and grew. Upon discovery of its special cooling properties, the locals started building homes and businesses into the hill. The spaces can be kept cool without any power or air-conditioning – ideal for the summer months.
Home to a fountain with an amphora design, Piazza Testaccio is a little off the beaten track. But it’s a popular meeting spot from morning until night. And there’s a birreria that serves up delicious evening meals and gets the aperitivo experience spot on too. If you head there around lunchtime, your Aperol Spritz or beer will come with small snacks like crisps. But after 5.00 p.m., you’ll be served a little cured meat or cheese platter with bread or savoury snacks.
Important information:
Price: EUR 5-10
Buffet: no
Piazza Testaccio, 39
00153 Roma
Monday – Saturday, from 8.30 a.m. – 0.00 p.m.
Sunday from 6.00 p.m. – 0.00 p.m.
Tip 2
L’OASI DELLA BIRRA IN TESTACCIO
Monti is a neighbourhood in Rome that’s becoming more hip and happening every year. Only a 15-minute walk away from the Colosseum, it’s the perfect place to pop to for lunch, gelato or dinner. Not a year goes by without new shops and restaurants being opened up by passionate locals. The word that comes to mind when we think of Monti? It has to be ‘vintage’ because there are so many businesses selling second-hand goods here and even the restaurants market their food as rustic and traditional.
One of the local eateries around here is Ce stamo a pensà (that means ‘We’re thinking about it’). Now, this tiny little place with warm and cosy vibes only seats a few diners inside. Diners who are treated to traditional Neapolitan dishes just like Grandma or Nonna used to make. If you order aperitivo here, you’ll have the joy of eating small fried pizzas with your drink. But will you find a seat inside or grab a spot on the square out front?
Important information:
Price: EUR 7
Buffet: no
Via Leonia 81
00184 Roma
Saturday – Wednesday, 10.00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m
Thursday & Friday, 10.00 a.m. – 2:30 a.m
Tip 3
CE STAMO A PENSÀ IN MONTI
After you’ve watched the sun set from the Orange Garden on Aventine Hill, be sure to wander towards Circus Maximus and pop into Rosso on the way. Via Aventino is home to lots of lovely places where you can treat yourself to a nice cocktail or a tasty meal. And if you’ve been on the hunt for the best gelato in town, look no further! This street’s central location makes it a hit with the locals too. And rightly so!
One of the most popular restaurants around here is Rosso. It’s usually heaving at lunchtime and in the evening. The aperitivo buffet has plenty of choice – often with something new to try. You’ll usually find the classic pizza and pasta options, but sometimes you’ll also be able to sample the likes of fresh prosciutto or mussels. One thing to bear in mind is that all drinks are the same price during aperitivo time. So, a bottle of water will set you back the same amount as a glass of vino.
Important information:
Price: EUR 10
buffet: yes
Viale Aventino 32
00153 Roma
Monday – Friday, 7.00 a.m. – 2.00 a.m.
Saturday, 8.00 a.m. – 2.00 a.m.
Sunday, 10.00 a.m. – 2.00 a.m.
Tip 4
ROSSO near CIRCO MASSIMO
Piazza Navona is lined with restaurants. Roof terraces? Incredible views of the Fiumi Fountain? They all have something special to offer. Whichever one you pick, you won’t be in a hurry to leave. If you keep walking on from there, though, you’ll stumble upon a little side street full of hidden gems. Small restaurants popular with the locals. You might not be able to enjoy a view of the fountain, but you can tell that the restaurant owners are passionate about what they do. That much shines through in their exceptional customer service.
Pizzicaroli is right here. A small and authentic wine bar that ticks all the boxes. Here, the vino comes with cheese or ham bruschetta served in a little basket. How novel! The prices may be on the higher side, but you can taste the quality when you bite into the cheeses and spreads.
Important information:
Price: EUR 15-20
Buffet: no
Via della Fossa 9
00186 Roma
daily from 11.30 a.m. – 11.00 p.m
Top 5
PIZZICAROLI near PIAZZA NAVONA
LITTLE EXTRA TIP
WINE WITH A VIEW
I have a tip for anyone who wants to take a break after visiting the viewing platform on the Vittoriano while keeping an eye on the Colosseum.
There is a bar on the intermediate terrace, from where you take the lift to the top. You should secure a spot on the balustrade there. You’ll either have a view of the Trajan’s Forum or the Colosseum!
The bar itself is nothing special, and the price was ok.
But the view: top!
Your Céline
Conclusion
What can we say? Aperitivo is an important part of Italian culture. It has become a culinary tradition that brings people together over a drink and a bite to eat. No morning is complete without coffee, right? And now you know that aperitivo is the best start to any evening in Rome.
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2020 – 2024
With the support of Susanne Vukan, who diligently went to all the aperitivo bars 😉
Cheers!
