No food and wine tour of Italy is complete without the daily aperitivo. From a spritz or sbagliato to a glass of natural Lazio wine or craft beer, Rome’s best bars make this ritual special.
Lazio, the region around Rome, produces some delicious wines – and wines from all over Italy gravitate to the capital – so the selection at Rome’s best bars is fabulous. My list of the best Roman bars for aperitivo includes a swish rooftop terrace, a chilled natural wine bar in cobbled Trastevere and an under-the-radar cocktail bar near Vatican City. Whether you want to try wines directly from a wine-making family or take a guided tour of Italian regions with a knowledgeable sommelier, there’s a Roman bar for you. Rome is a great city for food lovers, and you’ll often nibble on some fritti alongside your drinks – irresistible deep-fried treats ranging from rice balls (supplì) and stuffed olives (olive Ascolane) to zucchini flowers like the ones in the video below. Salute!
Latteria Trastevere
This bustling little wine bar in Trastevere was once a dairy, thus the name. It has a great selection of natural wines, which I love, but also less ‘alternative’ options for those who prefer them, as well as a good range of craft beers. Staff are happy to make suggestions or pour tastings to help you select. A great spot to perch at the counter, sip and people watch.
T’SaBaR (previously E’Mbar)
In a side street near Vatican City, T’SaBaR draws travellers from across Europe and beyond. But this is no typical tourist crowd. They’ve sought out Marco by reputation or been lured by the relaxed, friendly, slightly crazy vibe. He reads what each guest needs: recommending where else to eat and drink, introducing strangers. Drop by for a quick aperitivo or settle in and let Marco take care of you with his superior cocktail making skills.
Rimessa Roscioli
The Roscioli family has been feeding Romans since opening their bakery over a century ago. Today there’s also the salumeria, pasticceria and this fabulous wine bar restaurant offering entertaining sommelier-guided wine tastings over dinner. It’s popular and packed; they do two sittings and sometimes spill over into the moody basement of adjoining Rimessa FAB. You may have to queue on arrival despite having a booking. It’s worth it!
Collegio
The original ‘vini e olii’ sign tells the history of this restaurant/wine bar in a sienna-coloured palazzo shared with Rome’s oldest pontifical college. I love eating in the high-ceilinged dining room for the friendly service and cool soundtrack, but most of all for the narrow metal mezzanine full of wine running around it. The Santarelli family, who also own Casale del Giglio winery south of Rome, take their wine as seriously as they do their food.
The Roof at The Rome EDITION Hotel
One of the things I love most about Rome is looking out over its rooftops, so this al fresco bar atop the stylish The Rome EDITION hotel is a compelling location. It’s lush with greenery (echoing the courtyard of the Anima restaurant below) with comfortable outdoor furniture and moody lighting. The focus is more on spirits and cocktails than wine, but I’m happy with a glass of vermentino and my Roman roofs.
Aperitivo is the Italian ritual of pre-dinner drinks, enjoyed in the early evening.
In Rome, bars often serve aperitivo alongside fritti – irresistible deep-fried snacks including rice balls (supplì), stuffed olives (olive Ascolane) and zucchini flowers.
Aperitivi is the plural of aperitivo.
An enoteca is literally a ‘wine repository’ – a wine shop that often also serves wine by the glass alongside snacks or a short menu.
In Rome the terms enoteca and wine bar are often used interchangeably, though a traditional enoteca also sells bottles to take away.
Rome attracts the best wines from every Italian region, so the selection in Rome’s best bars is exceptional.
For local Lazio wines, look out for cesanese – the region’s only significant indigenous red grape – and whites made from malvasia puntinata and bellone, both ancient Lazio varieties experiencing a revival among quality-focused producers.
