No food and wine tour of Italy is complete without the daily aperitivo hour. While I enjoy a spritz or sbagliato in many places, in The Eternal City I find myself drawn to some of the best wine bars in Rome for this ritual.
Lazio, the region around Rome, produces some delicious wines – and wines from all over Italy gravitate to the capital. So the selection in Rome’s best wine bars is fabulous. From a swish rooftop bar, though a chilled natural-leaning wine bar in cobbled Trastevere, to an under-the-radar hole-in-the-wall, whether you’re keen to try something directly from a wine-making family or take a vicarious tour of Italian wines guided by an entertaining and knowledgeable sommelier, here are some of the best wine bars in Rome to get your viniferous fix. In Rome you’ll often nibble on some fritti with your aperitvo, irresistible deep-fried treats that range from rice balls (supplì) and stuffed olives (olive Ascolane) to zucchini flowers similar to the ones in the below video.
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.
Rimessa Roscioli
The Roscioli family has been feeding Romans and visitors to The Eternal City since opening their antico forno bakery over a century ago. Today there’s also the salumeria, caffè/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 you’ll probably 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.
T’SaBaR (previously E’Mbar)
I stumbled across this bar on Via del Monte della Farina while walking back from dinner at nearby Salumeria Roscioli. Crazy owner Marco grabbed me a chair and introduced the other guests (who’d also only just met); before we knew it we were an impromptu drinks party on the tiny piazza. Marco, a native Roman who has worked all over the world, is a true hospitality professional and wealth of tips on where else to eat and drink well in Rome!
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.
